The Substitution That Dare Not Speak It's Name.

Last night, after watching the game slip permanently and predictably out of the Jazz's grasp after Matt Harping was inserted into the 1st quarter line up, I vented that Jerry Sloan loves Harpring as much as any straight man can love another man.

Then I realized that I was selling him far too short: Jerry Sloan's feelings for Matt Harpring could never be compared to something as fleeting as physical desire. In fact, the more I though about it, it dawned on me that something truly special was going on right before my eyes. Something transcendent. Romantic relationships, after all, are plagued by infidelity or jealousy. Even the most trustworthy partner will sometimes fantasize about being with someone else. Not Jerry. No matter how many younger, faster, better players may sit on his bench, Sloan's eye never strays. No matter how many leads Harpring transforms into deficits through his mere presence, Sloan never waivers, never doubts, never even contemplates the indignity of infidelity. He accepts Matt for who he who is, wholly and completely. But it's more than that, Sloan loves him because of his flaws not in spite of them. Every time Matt falls to the floor, Jerry's heart skips a beat. Every time he flies wildly past a open shooter as another three point shot falls softly into the net Jerry's eyes flutter. Every time he commits an obvious foul by barreling into an opposing player, Sloan feels a warm glow all around him. Harp does everything that is asked of him, he gives Sloan everything that he has. How can Jerry not reciprocate because of something as tawdry and superficial as advancing age or massive decline in athleticism and ability? Harp's faults simply makes his effort all the more heroic, his playing time all the more deserved.

It would be an insult to compare what Jerry and Matt have to some run of the mill fling. Their bond is a naturally perfect union that is truly one in a million. Sloan loves Harpring in the way my grandfather loved my grandmother---unconditionally, non-judgmentally, and with every fiber of his being. And like my Grandfather, Jerry simply cannot contemplate another taking his loved one's place. I fully expect that if something tragic were to happen to Harping, Sloan would play 4 on 5 rather than have some else step into the role, that for Jerry, will only ever have one actor.