John Amaechi and Jerry Sloan

[Evilmav2]

Jazz, Amaechi have poor relationship


Associated Press
June 11, 2003


SALT LAKE CITY -- Comments made by Utah Jazz reserve forward John Amaechi to a London newspaper aren't expected to help his already tenuous future in Salt Lake City.

The Independent quoted Amaechi, a Briton who signed with the Jazz in 2001, as saying Utah coach Jerry Sloan told him recently, "You know what your problem is? You hate white people, you hate Americans and you think you're smarter than everyone else."

The comments attributed to Sloan in the article were actually made by Jazz assistant coach Mark McKown, Amaechi told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Team spokesman Kim Turner agreed that the comments came from McKown.

McKown did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Jazz spokesman Kim Turner said Sloan would not comment on the matter Tuesday.

Turner said the team did not defend the comments made by McKown. He described the incident as a "pretty heated conversation between the two of them," following a game earlier this season.

In a telephone interview from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., Amaechi said the comments were not made by Sloan and the newspaper's reporter misinterpreted him.

"But they were made right in front of Jerry and (team owner) Larry Miller," said Amaechi, who has two years left on a four-year deal worth $10 million. "I would want that to be perfectly clear. It's unfortunate that people thought it was (Sloan). But it was said by a member of his staff. My mother is white, for crying out loud, and she's dead. It is highly offensive."

Amaechi fell out of favor with Sloan shortly after he arrived in Utah and the team hasn't hid its interest in trading him or buying out his contract.

Miller said of Amaechi last month, "It doesn't make sense to go through two more years of what we had, so we've got to seek other alternatives."

[mavsfanforever]

No idea what goes on between Amaechi and Sloan but I would trust Sloan more than unknown entity.