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Post by acepurple84 on May 22, 2020 8:48:44 GMT -6
Just announced that our great person, player, and the Utah coach passed away. RIP
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 8:53:54 GMT -6
Never saw Jerry play in college, but saw him as a professional. The stories I heard and read about him while playing for the Aces are legendary. He will always be synonymous with the University of Evansville. God Bless Jerry for all he meant to all of us.
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Post by castle69 on May 22, 2020 9:18:16 GMT -6
If there was ever a "Mr. Ace," it was Sloan. Blue collar & overflowing w/ grit. While in my early teens, I was "weaned" on Sloan's lesser glorified skill package that represented the heart of those back to back Small College Championships. Kick ass "D"...God Bless.
Here's one proposing that Ford Center NOW name their playing surface "Sloan Court," forever memorializing his hoop character.
Here's a wonderful piece on Sloan:
I've watched this multiple times & still get goosebumps:
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Post by Ace78 on May 22, 2020 9:27:34 GMT -6
I never saw Jerry play for UE, but I did see him play with the Chicago Bulls. Wow, he was tough and competitive! Obviously, he was one of the NBA's greatest coaches with the Utah Jazz. I did have the good fortune of seeing him recognized at an Aces game with the undefeated UE team members. My condolences to the Sloan family and all of his friends.
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Post by acecard on May 22, 2020 9:34:54 GMT -6
He was one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen. When he went for the ball you better not get in his way. He was the heart, and soul, of every team he played for. What he brought to the court, you can not teach.
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Post by austinace on May 22, 2020 9:36:29 GMT -6
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Post by 83Ace on May 22, 2020 10:43:59 GMT -6
I was also too young to watch Sloan play with the Aces (my mom and dad may have brought me to a game but I would have been 3 years old), but I defintitely remember watching him with the Bulls. This was back when there was 1 NBA game on TV a week, and my dad and I would definitely be watching if the Bulls were playing. My mom was a few years ahead of Jerry at McLeansboro High School, so we were all huge Jerry Sloan fans. He was the ultimate competitor, even led the Bulls in rebounding one year as a guard. And of course he is undoubtedly the Greatest Ace of all time. RIP and sympathy to his family.
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Post by E-Villan on May 22, 2020 11:07:28 GMT -6
My mom was a cashier at the old Wesselman's across from UE back in those days. Sloan and other players would work in the store as bag-boys. All were classy and represented themselves as you would expect.
We have spent the last few weeks watching this circus play out with characters that are completely opposite of Jerry. As this program moves forward, I would hope that when we define the type of player we want wearing ACES across their jersey, we think of Jerry Sloan. They may not have the talent he had, but they can strive to have the class or character he did. Regardless of talent, I don't want anymore that don't.
If Stan Musial is Mr. Cardinal, we have just lost Mr. Ace.
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Post by aceschamps6571 on May 22, 2020 11:18:18 GMT -6
As a 9 year old boy, I got spoiled by the Jerry Sloan led Aces; they never lost. Only attended a few games in person that undefeated season, but my Dad and couple uncles saw every game and so there were stories galore for years. I was lucky enough to attend the Arad McCutchan basketball school in 1966 and '67. Sloan was a counselor both years. He was even "tough" on grade school kids if he didn't approve of their effort. Some kids were intimidated, but most of us loved him. We lined up by height along the baseline every morning. I took my spot at the end of the line both years, lol, and he seemed to enjoy working with us little guys. The Bulls played a number of "home" games at Roberts Stadium their first two seasons because Evansville would turn out for Jerry Sloan. The expansion Bulls handed the great 1967 champion 76ers team, with Wilt Chamberlain, one of their few losses before a packed Stadium crowd. The atmosphere was like an Aces game. He was the ultimate competitor. His 1975 Bulls team lost to Golden State in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, or he likely would have ended his playing career with a ring. That Warriors team swept the Bullets (now the Wizards) in the Finals. When Arad McCutchan announced at the Valpo game in January,1977, that Jerry Sloan would succeed him following that season, the fans went wild. Of course he changed his mind less than 2 weeks later, which ultimately saved his life. He didn't have the coaching experience but he no doubt would have found a way to succeed. He usually did. The court at Ford Center is already named for coach McCutchan, but it would be a classy gesture to find some way to honor Jerry's memory. He and his teammates gave the entire city memories to last a lifetime.
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Post by E-Villan on May 22, 2020 11:23:08 GMT -6
The court at Ford Center is already named for coach McCutchan, but it would be a classy gesture to find some way to honor Jerry's memory. He and his teammates gave the entire city memories to last a lifetime. I don't recall who Carson was, but Sloan Athletic Center has a nice ring to it. If not, maybe the armory, not sure what they are using it for.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 11:34:40 GMT -6
You can name a street or a park near the college after the guy. I suppose there's a statue they could erect.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 11:52:32 GMT -6
Wouldn't it be great to have a statue of him in front of the Ford Center...much the same as Stan's statue at Bush Stadium.
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Post by 6thman on May 22, 2020 13:02:44 GMT -6
Wouldn't it be great to have a statue of him in front of the Ford Center...much the same as Stan's statue at Bush Stadium. much the same as Indiana State did with Larry Bird
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Post by wildbill on May 22, 2020 13:10:34 GMT -6
Wouldn't it be great to have a statue of him in front of the Ford Center...much the same as Stan's statue at Bush Stadium. much the same as Indiana State did with Larry Bird That's definitely the way we should remember him, a grand bronze statue in front of FC.
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Post by castle69 on May 22, 2020 13:22:06 GMT -6
Here's a nice article re: Bill Wolfe, who sculpted the Bird statue @ Hulman Center. This would be a wonderful community fundraising project for Evansville @ Ford Center:
College basketball "Top5" statues in 2015:
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