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SALT LAKE CITY -- After being thrown into the fire following Jerry Sloans abrupt retirement in February, Utah Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin has had to wait, albeit impatiently, for his first true season as head coach. Kevin Norwood . Now the former journeyman player finds himself in crunch time, with the lockout-shortened NBA season leaving him with precious little time to prepare a young, fairly inexperienced team. Those who know Corbin well say hes ready, even if the deck is stacked against him. "Hes been dealt a hand that will be awfully difficult to get off to a good start," said Jazz broadcaster Ron Boone, a good friend and golfing buddy. "But theres good talent here. I hope he gets a fair opportunity." That Jazz management hired Corbin without an interim tag is an indication he will be afforded such. The 48-year-old Corbin also is realistic. "I thought the honeymoon period was last year," he said during 18 holes at Eaglewood Golf Course in September. "The fans and everybody understood there were a lot of changes, especially for us here. It was a tough situation, but like I tell the guys, youre still expected to play and compete." Going into this weekend, he has nine players on his roster, plus two lottery picks, and whatever free agents the team can sign or re-sign. "I expect us to be competitive," Corbin said. "What number that is I dont know, but I expect us to be competitive every night we step on the floor." Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are the elder statesmen. But there also are four players -- Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favours, Jeremy Evans and C.J. Miles -- who are 24 or younger in addition to 19- and 20-year-old rookies. Equally telling are the numbers from last year when the Jazz set a futility mark for missing the playoffs at 39-43 following a 27-13 start. "The disappointing number is we were 8-20 the last 28 games," Corbin said of his record as head coach after Sloan retired. "Its not all bad in those numbers. We had some moments ... the energy we played with at the end and the identity we tried to create is going to be of great value going forward." Corbins stamp on the team, however, has yet to be determined. He said he learned a valuable lesson playing at DePaul, when he watched another great coach step aside. After 42 seasons as coach, Ray Meyer retired in 1984 and son Joey Meyer took over when Corbin was a senior. "He changed a lot of things because he wanted to let everybody know it was his team more than Coach Rays team," Corbin said. A squad used to running slowed down. Though it reached the NCAA tournament, it made a quick exit. Corbin said that experience taught him a lot. "I wasnt concerned as much about it being my team," Corbin said of taking over after Sloans unexpected departure. "It was the Jazz and you couldnt change everything in the middle. I didnt feel I needed to show the guys I was in charge. You have to be an authority figure, but you have to show them its not an ego trip." Boone seconds that, saying Corbin isnt about ego. And hes not about pleasing everybody. "I always thought the mistake coaches make is trying to be too buddy-buddy with players," Boone said. "Tys approach has been right on." Like so many others, Boone is eager to see Corbins offensive and defensive philosophy. "Hell be able to take bits and pieces from a lot of different coaches hes been under," Boone said, noting Corbin played for nine teams over 16 years. "Im sure there were certain styles he thought were most effective." Boone said Hall of Famer Sloan may still be the most influential mentor as Corbin spent three seasons as a player under him and almost seven as an assistant. Guard-forward Miles said he wouldnt be surprised to see Corbin let the team "open it up a little more" because of its youth and quickness. "Its just a matter of us earning the trust and showing we can do it without turning the ball over and taking bad shots," Miles said. Corbin is not Sloan, and hes surely not the average Utah resident. He is southern Baptist in a Mormon-dominated state, black where the population is 86 per cent white. Even his middle name -- Kennedy -- speaks to a different generation. This summer, the native of Columbia, S.C., was honoured with a key to the city. "For me, it was great because my family could be there and I had some friends come up," said Corbin, who displays a southern disposition with his personable style and infectious laugh. Columbia remains a place where he can still be "just Tyrone," cutting the grass, trimming trees at his moms house or sitting by a pond and fishing if he wants. Though hed spend the better part of two months there because of the extended off-season, and get a chance to see his basketball-playing son settle in at UC Davis, Corbin is champing at the bit to get the ball rolling again in Salt Lake City. "Im sure hes up in his office, sweating right now, itching to get on the court," Millsap said. "Hes a guy who wants to get better. Thats why guys respect him, why hes going to succeed." Corbin promised all off-season he would be ready to hit the ground running. "Youve got to be ready coming out of it because no ones going to feel sorry for you so you cant feel sorry for yourself," he said. "My mom never made excuses. She never allowed us to make excuses. You came where you came from but you can pick yourself up if you work your way through it." It helped that he had golf to relieve the stress of a long summer. If that outlet hadnt been available, Corbin said, "I dont think anybody would enjoy being around me." While Corbins golf game may have improved, his personality hasnt changed through the years. He can laugh at himself. He wont use balls that bear his name on holes where he might accidentally hit a house. And when his tongue curls up over his lip, a la Michael Jordan, after each swing, he quips, "Thats about the only trait we share." Then theres that propensity to sweat, which his assistants constantly rib him about. Even when putting a group of season ticket holders through workouts during the lockout, Corbin was drenched through his polo shirt. "He was into it," assistant Sidney Lowe said. "Thats who he is. Thats him all the time." Max Unger Jerseys . - The Washington Wizards are in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and John Wall has a lot to do with it. Robert Turbin Jersey Seattle Seahawks . Even the longest of tenures with the Twins, though, dont last forever. Versatile veteran Michael Cuddyer, voted by local beat writers as the teams most valuable player in 2011, is gone. He will be with the Colorado Rockies next season.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kiko Alonsos season is over before it even began after the Buffalo Bills starting linebacker was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left knee. General manager Doug Whaley provided the update in a statement released by the team on Wednesday, a day after Alonso was hurt while working out in Oregon. Whaley said Alonso will require surgery to repair a torn ACL, and "will likely miss the 2014 season." The Bills did not provide any details as to how Alonso was hurt. The injury is a significant blow to the Bills before they even open training camp in suburban Rochester on July 20. Alonso was an NFL defensive rookie of the year contender last season after being drafted in the second round out of Oregon. He led Buffalo with 159 tackles, two fumble recoveries and tied for the team lead with four interceptions while barely missing a snap in playing all 16 games. After playing in the middle last season, Alonso was moving to the outside linebacker spot as part of the Bills shift to a 4-3 defensive scheme under new co-ordinator Jim Schwartz. OBrien Schofield Jersey Seattle Seahawks. The position switch was also sparked in part by the Bills signing of run-stopping specialist Brandon Spikes, who is better suited to play in the middle. Alonso had hip surgery this off-season, which limited him in participating in spring practices. But he was expected to be ready for the start of camp. "We feel badly for Kiko, because he has worked very hard this off-season in preparation for the upcoming season," Whaley said. "But we look forward to his return with his style of play that made him one of the leagues outstanding rookies in 2013." The Bills do have some depth behind Alonso. Manny Lawson, an eight-year NFL veteran, has experience playing the position. The Bills also selected linebacker Preston Brown in the third round of the draft in April. ' ' ' |
