All-In Against A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez and Jay-Z

Reports have come to light in the past few days that Major League Baseball is summoning Yankees All-Star 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez to the Commissioner's office once again.  Only this time it's not for alleged steroid use, but instead for one of Rodriguez's hobbies that has nothing to do with baseball.  Gambling, and to be more specific, high stakes poker.  It is not the first time that A-Rod has been linked to poker games across the country and apparently MLB is taking these allegations very seriously.  After A-Rod was spotted at a popular poker parlor with Phil Hellmuth in New York City over 6 years ago, baseball officials told him to stop and stay away.  It appears that Rodriguez did not clearly understand the message because now reports are out that he participated in at least two different high stakes games, one in Beverly Hills with actors Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Leo DiCaprio amongst others, as well as a game he organized himself that ended in a near brawl with one participant who refused to pay up after suffering over $500,000 in losses that particular evening.  I understand that gambling is a very touchy subject in and around baseball with everything that happened with Pete Rose back in the 70's and 80's.  In fact, it is so taboo that it is merely referred to as the "G" word as to not even breath life into such a word.  However, the gambling that A-Rod is participating in has nothing to do with baseball, betting on baseball, or fixing the outcome of baseball games.  So many of these so-called "baseball purists" that are calling for A-Rod's banishment from the game certainly have their own skeletons in their closet, though they would have you believe they are holier than thou.  Gambling is so popular and common amongst professional athletes that if you were to take a poll throughout the 4 major professional sports, I'd be willing to bet (pun intended) that 85-90% currently or have in the past participated in some form of "illegal" gambling at one time or another.  The number of cards games such as booray, spades, poker, or dominoes that take place on any given professional teams bus, charter flight, locker room, or hotel is unbelievably high, to the point that I can guarantee you it is a DAILY occurrence.  Quite frankly, gambling is so popular amongst young male professional athletes who have a whole lot of money and a whole lot of free time on their hands.  To think that the only place that people go to gamble regularly is Las Vegas and Atlantic City is not only extremely naive, but a tad foolish.  To think that so many people are calling for Alex Rodriguez to be suspended for a significant amount of time, because he chooses to spend some of his $30 million annual salary playing Texas Hold 'Em is absolutely ludicrous.  In all reality, A-Rod wasn't the participant in that game that actually lost the $500k, but even if he was, that's not even a drop in the hat to him.  When word had leaked about Charles Barkley's gambling addiction and the money that he owed to a Las Vegas casino a few years back, certain folks across the country found cause for concern.  Turns out, Charles is a millionaire and can afford to gamble, but the fact of the matter is, Alex Rodriguez has made 4-5 times more money in his career than Barkley ever did.  He certainly can afford it, although it appears that money isn't the issue here.  If the MLB front office really wants to suspend Alex Rodriguez for how he chooses to spend his spare time, then they had better start taking a closer look at what "illegal activities" are taking place in and around their clubhouses, hotels and charter jets on a daily basis.  And for once, we are actually not talking about steroids and performance enhancing drugs.

Arizona Cardinals should trade for Carson Palmer

It appears that the current NFL lockout is in it's final stages and that the League and the Players Association should have a deal in place in the not so distant future.  Once this happens, teams can begin to assemble their rosters and prepare for the upcoming season.  Though it will be an abbreviated off-season and many moves and transactions will take place in a very short amount of time, one addition many Cardinals fans are eagerly anticipating is who will be the quarterback for the 2011 season and beyond.  Many fans and analysts alike believe that if the Cardinals can land a solid quarterback either through free agency or via trade, that they should have no problem getting back in contention for the NFC West division championship and another shot at the playoffs.  Since their Cinderella ride to the Super Bowl in 2009 and return trip to the playoffs in 2010, last season showed just how much they missed Kurt Warner, and just how much he meant to the organization as a whole.  Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton all took turns under center, and to quite honestly, all failed miserably.  Not that anybody expected them to fill Warner's shoes, when in reality, the man is a future Hall of Famer, but those three combined couldn't even find the shoe store, much less attempt at even trying the pair on for size.  Why many league pundits have been saying for months that Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb is all but next in line to be the quarterback here in the desert, many fans including myself have reservations.  For one, the man has only started a handful of games in the league, which doesn't exactly provide a thorough body of work to evaluate from.  Yes he did play behind Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick but my feeling all along has been that if the man was that great to begin with, then why has it taken this long for him to even be given a shot at starting and being "The Guy?"  The #1 quarterback on my list of future Cardinals signal callers has been Carson Palmer.  From the day the season ended last year, when Carson vowed never to set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again, I immediately said that the Cardinals need to do everything they can to appease Mr. Palmer and bring him to the desert.  Not only would he be a perfect fit in Coach Whisenhunt's system, but the southern California native would be much closer to his San Diego home, and would provide the perfect incentive to convince All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to re-sign after his contract runs out at the end of the 2011 season.  Let's be real here.  Fitz is not coming back to play with Max or Skelton.  I do feel that he would stay for Kolb but I know that with a former Pro Bowler like Carson Palmer, Fitz would undoubtedly retire a Cardinal.  While Bengals owner Mike Brown has stated the club has no intention of trading Palmer, the Cardinals still need to make every effort to try and lure him away from Cincinnati.  Carson is on record saying:  

“I have $80 million in the bank. I don’t have to play football for money. I’ll play it for the love of the game but that would have to be elsewhere. I’m prepared to live my life.”

Though the Bengals front office has reiterated that they will call his bluff, it's hard to see them not taking advantage of the opportunity to receive something of value in return, rather than just letting him walk away and being left with nothing.  At 6'5 and 235 lbs, he has the size and arm strength to compliment Fitzgerald perfectly.  If Rod Graves and the Cardinals brass can pull the right strings, it's very conceivable that this team could lock up NFC West titles coupled with deep runs into the playoffs for the next 4-5 years.  If they really want to keep that sellout streak at University of Phoenix Stadium going, bring in Carson Palmer as the next quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals.  He will put butts in the seats, and W's in the standings.

The Return of Nancy Botwin

Weeds season 7 @ Showtime

In true mid-season form, as only the Queen of Green could do, after serving only 3 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of Pilar, Nancy Botwin was in fact released in New York.  Appropriately, that is where Season 7 of the award-winning Showtime drama "Weeds" picks up.  We last saw the Botwin family at the airport where Andy, Silas and Shane were boarding a plane for Copenhagen, Denmark, while Nancy reverted to Plan C and led Esteban out of the airport with their baby and right into the waiting arms of the FBI.  It was quite noble of her to take the fall for the murder that her son Shane committed, though I suppose it was the least she could do after everything she has put her family through since the death of their father just before we were introduced to this everyday, upper-middle class family from suburbia southern California.  After originally agreeing to a witness protection deal to ensure her safety and that of her family, Nancy is informed that Esteban passed away while she was locked up thus eliminating her need to go all "Henry Hill", as Tony Soprano would say.  Weeds has followed the Botwin children from elementary and high school kids on thru to their late teens and early twenties as they have a front row seat on the roller coaster ride of life with their mother.  It will be interesting to see just what Nancy has up her sleeve now that she is no longer wanted by the FBI or the Mexican drug cartels.  For my money, I'm betting she goes back to doing what she does best.  Exactly what got her and her family in all of this mess in the first place.  Nancy Botwin may very well be one of, if not the worst mother's in television history.  However there's no denying how interesting and exciting she makes everyday life in the suburbs.  Season 7 should answer the question of whether or not Nancy can handle the Big Apple, and perhaps keep herself out of trouble for a day or two.

The Next Chapter...

As this coming Monday, July 11th approaches, I am preparing to turn the page to the next chapter in "My Crazy Life."  While I can say that I am ultimately excited for this wonderful opportunity that awaits with the Arizona Cardinals, I am also curious as to if this will be the stop on my personal journey where I will plant some grassroots.  Trying to stay on an even keel has been a top priority as life has taught me that consistency in my demeanor will keep me in balance.  Never get too high when things are going good, and have the where withall to realize that the lows are never as low as they may seem.  Certain circumstances may have a lasting impact on how we view situations, but you should never let circumstance define who you are and what you are about.  Everything that has happened up to this point happened for a reason.  If things were supposed to be different, then they would have happened that way.  At the end of the day, God has the master plan and he has laid it out for me to play it out.  I may not have necessarily agreed with, or been extremely happy with all of the events of the past few years, but the only person that can do anything about said circumstance is me.  There is no sense in wasting energy stressing about anything that has already taken place because I don't own a DeLorean that can take me back in time to change any of it.  It is up to me to live for today, one day at a time.  Let positive vibes embody every facet of each day and don't let negativity creep into any aspect of your life.  Fact is you had better make the most out of each and every waking second because Lord knows we don't get a mulligan.  Forget about the past, don't live with regrets, and wake up every morning thankful for your next breath.  One of my favorite quotes I receive quite often via text message from a very special person who is near and dear to my heart simply says "make today your best day ever!"  We will cross the tomorrow bridge when we get there.

All-Star Snoozefest

It appeared that Justin Upton may have taken slight offense to being excluded from Prince Fielder's Home Run Derby squad that will be representing the National League next week at Chase Field.  So much so that when he smoked a mammoth home run to left-center field in the 3rd inning, Fielder turned his back to Upton as he rounded first base.  With baseball's new rule implemented this year that designates a captain for each team for the Derby, who then gets to choose his 3 participants.  Much like Bruce Bochy did with the All-Star roster, Fielder chose his teammate Rickie Weeks, and two of his "buddies," Matt Kemp and Mike Stanton.  Although Upton admitted to having no hard feelings and being more than happy to be hitting homers in situations and games that actually matter, it had to irk him being passed over, after basically openly campaigning for the opportunity a few days ago.  Fielder said that he would have liked to have had a D-backs representative in the Derby but he said that the players who he chose were his friends and he knows them well.  Apparently Prince thought this year's game was taking place at Miller Park  It will be interesting to see if this situation leads to a tinkering of the rules for the future to try and eliminate some of the bias.  I suppose Prince thought fans in Arizona would like the opportunity to see a few players that represent the cellar-dwellers of the National League showcase their skills on All-Star weekend.  The MLB All-Star game is starting to become more and more of a joke when you consider that Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia, who leads the A.L. in wins with 12, was snubbed as well in favor of guys you've never heard of named Glo Gonzalez, Brandon League, and Chris Perez.  Who you might ask?  Exactly my point.  Standball supporters in the Valley had to wait this many years for the All-Star game and this is the best product the MLB could put out on the field?  Wake me up when the lockouts end.

Ian Kennedy feels the All-Star snub

D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy

The rosters for the MLB All-Star game on July 12th at Chase Field have been finalized and much to the surprise of D-backs players and fans alike, only one member of this year's squad was on the list.  Justin Upton was a no-brainer to make the National League roster after his stellar first half of the season in leading Arizona to surprise contention in the NL West.  What really rubbed some the wrong way was the fact that Ian Kennedy, the man who many consider the main reason for Arizona's successes this season, was curiously omitted.  The most unsettling part of the process is the fact that Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who will be managing the National League, chose 3 of his own pitcher's over Kennedy, even though the D-backs right hander had more innings pitched and a better ERA than both Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.  Obviously Bochy has every right to favor his own players who have indeed pitched well, and he undoubtedly wants to reward them for leading his club to a World Series title last year, but he has had the opportunity to witness the 26 year old right hander dominate his own club twice this season, with a front row dugout seat.  Unfortunately, the D-backs ace expeditiously went out and had his worst outing of the season Sunday against Oakland which could ultimately end up sealing his All-Star fate.  However, Kennedy still does have a chance to make the squad under a couple of different circumstances, though it shouldn't take an online fan poll or a pitcher withdrawing from the game last minute for him to receive his just due.  He rightfully deserves to be pitching for the National League at the mid-summer classic whether it was taking place in his home ballpark or not.  Perhaps baseball should employ the same rules as the NBA, where all coaches in each conference are given the chance to vote which players are deserving.  That way we can eliminate what appears to be nothing more than an obvious case of hometown bias and favoritism.

Locked Out

12:01am Eastern Time on July 1st, 2011 has come and gone, just like clockwork.  And with that, the National Basketball Association has officially locked out it's players, making that two of the country's big 4 professional sports leagues currently amassed in a work stoppage.  While optimism reigns supreme that a deal will get done in the NFL, it is the exact opposite with the NBA.  In fact, many people believe that most of, if not all of the 2011-12 season could be lost due to the lockout.  What a shame for a sport that has had every opportunity this past year to capitalize on an enormous circumstance by way of professional football.  While the NFL was embroiled in it's own mess, basketball had taken center stage and put on a wonderful show.  Never had it been more popular or ratings been higher than this past season.  With the advent of social media, mixed in with all of the storylines from LeBron and the Miami Heat, to Dirk winning finally winning his first championship, the Association's popularity was at an all time high.  None of that seems to matter now.  David Stern and the owners are stating that 22 of the 30 teams are operating in the red, and that the current system is flawed beyond repair.  With the players receiving almost 60% of basketball related income in the old system, the owners are determined to flip that percentage in their favor.  Billy Hunter and the Players Association refuse to settle for that and so now it has come to this.  1998 all over again.  If they really want an indication of the future to come, one need look no further than the National Hockey League.  They are still trying to recover from lockout that completely cancelled the 2004-05 season.  Fans were so turned off by the entire situation, billionaires fighting with millionaires on the sole basis of money and greed, that they completely walked away from hockey altogether.  The NHL still hasn't recovered.  All David Stern needs to do is give Gary Bettman a phone call.  One quick phone call and one simple question.  "Was it worth it?"       

Suns should consider David West

Hornets forward David West

New Orleans Hornets All-Star forward David West has informed the organization that he will opt out of the final year of his contract and test the free-agent market this summer according to ESPN.  Although the 30 year old suffered a torn ACL which required surgery in April, he is still projected to be one of the most highly coveted players available in what will be a less than stellar free-agent class this summer.  The two-time All-Star has said that it was his intention all along to opt out and test the free-agent waters in 2011.  Unfortunately for him, he didn't plan on that coming both during a major rehabilitation process on his knee, and amid the expectations of an impending league work stoppage on July 1st.  With all that being said, how do the Phoenix Suns factor into this.  With the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire last summer, the Suns could certainly use a power forward to play alongside center Marcin Gortat.  With West having played alongside Chris Paul for the majority of his career with the Hornets, he would almost certainly love the opportunity to be on the receiving end of many Steve Nash assists.  His toughness on the defensive end and rebounding abillity would also be a welcome asset in the desert.  The potential hold up that may cause the Suns to pass on West would be the injury factor.  After citing injury history as a main reason for not offering Amar'e a max deal last summer, the front office may be hesitant to turn around and offer a contract to a player who just recently had major knee surgery.  Factor in that West is 3 years older than Stoudemire and Lon Babby and Lance Blanks will have some decisions to make.  Blanks has stated that his goal is to change the identity of the Suns organization in moving away from strictly an offensive juggernaut and more toward a well-rounded defensive minded ball club.  The drafting of Markieff Morris over twin brother Marcus, who scouts deemed to be the better offensive player of the two, proved as much.  Now is as good a time as any for him to start making his mark on the franchise.   Blanks should give some serious consideration to adding a piece the caliber of David West this off-season, and show the fans in Phoenix that he indeed has the walk to back up his talk.

All Good Things....

As seems to be the case with so many popular entities both in life and television, all good things undoubtedly come to an end.  Such is the case with the widely popular HBO series "Entourage" when the first of 8 final episodes begins airing July 24th.  I personally feel the series had hit somewhat of a lull the past few seasons after developing such a huge following over the first 3-4 seasons.  At some point though life must go on and the audience's glimpse into the lives of the characters must come to a close.  HBO always seems to conclude their most popular shows in the same manner that attached so many fans throughout the course of it's run.  On the edge of your seat, and yearning for more.  Such was the case with The Sopranos and The Wire amongst others.  Surely fans will be hankering for a movie, which is already rumored to be in the planning stages.  Fans will be very interested to see just what becomes of not only Vincent Chase, but the rest of his friends who we have all witnessed grow and mature right before our eyes.  What once was a group of buddies who seemed to merely be riding the coattails of their celebrity comrade became a group of successful, grown men who legitamized their careers by pursuing their own dreams and aspirations.  Not only did it give people an inside perspective of what life is like for an actor trying to make it in Hollywood, but it showed that everything is not always so glamorous as it is often portrayed.  One day could you be starring in a James Cameron feature film, and the next be out of work and struggling to make ends meat, or find employment period.  Being somebody who has always had that dream to one day pursue a career in acting, I've loved being able to see what life is like in Hollywood, not only for the actors themselves, but the agents, producers, directors and the friends & family.  Where the lives of Vinny, Ari, E, Turtle and Drama go after Season 8 will be striclty for our imagination to decide.  With rumors are circulating that the creators are trying to secure a cameo from Charlie Sheen for one of the final episodes, we as fans can rest assure of one thing.  The final season of Entourage will be "Winning" on every conceivable level.

Boston Mob Boss "Whitey" Bulger Captured

WBUR exclusive booking photo of James 'Whitey' Bulger

 

Whitey Bulger in 1994

The former boss of the Boston mob, James "Whitey" Bulger,  who had spent the last 15+ years on the run from the FBI, was finally captured in Santa Monica, CA on Wednesday afternoon.  He and his longtime girlfriend, Catherine Greig, had been living a rather normal, modest life in an apartment in southern California.  They used the aliases Charles and Carol Gasko, and were reportedly found to have over $800k and dozens of weapons inside their apartment.  Bulger is wanted on numerous federal charges including extortion, money laundering, RICO conspiracy, and RICO murders of atleast 19 known individuals.  And that is just the murders that the government know about.  After being extradited back to Boston, the Feds are hoping that Bulger will help them tie up many loose ends in regards to all of the crimes that he oversaw throughout the 70's, 80's and 90's.  Best of luck with that, becasue I presume as with most mobsters, the code of omerta is most important to Bulger.  Though he is notorious for becoming a confidential informant for the FBI, it's hard to imagine him giving up much information when he is now 81 years of age, with a few years left anyway.  The biggest question many are pondering is how Whitey Bulger and Catherine Greig could go unnoticed for so long while still living a relatively public life.  Even though they had taken up residence over 3,000 miles away from Boston, Bulger had been on the FBI Ten Most Wanted List for 12 years, and numerous documentaries, including 16 appearances on America's Most Wanted, as well as the Martin Scorcese movie "The Departed" were made depicting the life of the former crime boss.  The Boston Police Department has long been known for it's corruption and one has to wonder if Bulger's whereabouts were known and the police and Feds knowingly turned a blind eye.  To think that it took a trained team of elite Navy Seals operating on a covert nightime raid to capture Osama Bin Laden, yet the man right next to him on the Most Wanted List was able to frequent long walks on the beach in southern California in broad daylight.  But after considering the FBI allowed him to continue his day to day criminal activities while he was also an informant, I suppose it really isn't all that surprising.  In the end, Bulger won't face the death penalty in Massachusetts though he does face murder charges in Oklahoma and Florida that could ultimately lead to capital punishment.  Upon his capture, authorities reported Bulger was in poor health so it will be interesting to see how long he actually stays alive behind bars.

Steve Nash again expresses desire to stay in Phoenix

PHOTO CREDIT DNAinfo/Patrick Hedlund

 On the eve of his annual charity soccer event in New York City, Steve Nash was again answering questions of whether or not he would like to play somewhere else or finish his career where it started, in Phoenix.  And again he made it clear that he has a loyalty to the Suns, the city, and the fans to stay and try and bring that elusive championship to the Valley.

 "When you're in a situation (where) you've given a lot of you career to one franchise, you feel at home there. I feel a loyalty to my team, our community in Phoenix. I want us to try to get back and try to compete for a championship like we did two seasons ago so that's kind of all I think about. So I don't plan on leaving."

Nash has been popping up in numerous trade rumors in the days leading up to the NBA Draft.  The Suns have the 13th selection in the first round, and depending on which route the front office decides to go with their selection, could be an indication of the direction the franchise is heading.  Will they go for a defensive stopper, a post player who can rebound, or a wing that can score and create his own shots.  Factor in that the next week will be the last opportunity that teams have to make trades for quite some time, with the impending lockout July 1st, and this is a crucial period for the club.  This year's draft isn't particularly strong and after the first couple of picks, it's really hit or miss as to whether or not there will actually be an impact player available.  Couple that with the fact that the front-office has been absolutely atrocious the past decade in regards to selling and trading draft picks, and it doesnt inspire much confidence across Planet Orange.  Suns G.M. Lance Blanks seems determined to change the identity of the organization and become more defensive minded.  With every year that passes, they seem to get farther and farther away from the fast-breaking, free-wheeling team that was beloved by basketball fans across the country.  At the helm of that operation has been the Hall of Fame point guard who will be 38 years old by the middle of the 2011-12 season.  Many think that if the Suns are going to move Nash, now is as good a time as ever if they expect to get something of value in return.  The New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland TrailBlazers and Toronto Raptors have all inquired about landing his services, only to be turned away vehemently every time.  However Nash is the Suns biggest draw - he puts butts in the seats - and moving him is a clear sign to the fanbase that it is time to re-build.  Robert Sarver has already made it clear that he has no clue how to run a basketball team, so fans can only hope that Lon Babby and Lance Blanks have even the smallest inkling what they are doing.  The resistance the organization felt after the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire last summer would be paltry compared to the full fledged mutiny that would emcompass the loss of #13.  For their sake and that of basketball loyalists across Arizona, let's hope that front office can finally get something right.

Heat Wave

As the thermometer creeps in upwards of 110 degrees today in Phoenix, it's hardly ironic that I took some initiative to plan my summer vacation.  The annual trek to my families time share in Carlsbad, California will be here before I know it and judging by the heat wave that has overtaken P-Town this week, the middle of July can not come soon enough.  It amazes me that I can hop a 45 minute flight just one state to the west, and have beautiful weather almost year around.  It has always been my dream to one day live near the water and with every sizzling summer that passes,  I realize that I might want to start chasing that dream sooner rather than later.  When I was younger the weather never seemed to bother me much.  All that mattered was running amuck with neighborhood friends and playing outside without even giving a second thought to the weather or how brutally hot it actually was outside.  As I've gotten older, I've wondered how most people can even stand Arizona during this time of year.  From November to April, it is absolutely beautiful, and there is no place I would rather be.  It's no wonder why snow-birds flock to this region every year.  Couple the 400+ golf courses with Spring Training for Major League Baseball and you will find a popular tourist attraction set amid a gorgeous desert oasis.  May thru October though is an entirely different story.  Take it from somebody who has lived 25+ years of my life in Phoenix.  This heat wave is for the birds, and this bird is ready to fly west.

Justin Upton becoming a superstar

Expectations can be overwhelming and sometimes unforgiving.  They can also turn out to be ingenious.  Justin Upton is starting to make believers of the latter.  The Arizona Diamondbacks #1 overall pick from the 2005 draft is developing into a bonafide superstar right in front of our eyes.  Upton capped an unbelievable weekend series against the Chicago White Sox by going 13-23 at the plate, with three doubles, five RBI, two stolen bases, and his first career walk-off home run Friday night.  The 5-tool right fielder entered the big leagues with more potential than any prospect in recent memory, and it appears that everything is finally clicking for him this season.  With the All-Star game coming to Chase Field in July, "J-Up" is certainly making a case for a spot on the N.L. squad after compiling a .302 batting average with 12 homeruns, 38 RBI, and 13 stolen bases to date.  Couple that with the fact that the Diamondbacks currently sit just .5 games behind the World Series champion San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West and credit is being given where it is justly due.  While kudos also go out to Kevin Towers, Kirk Gibson, Ian Kennedy and J.J. Putz for the D-backs re-emergence, it is great to see Upton not only embrace the leadership role, but also begin to show that all of the buzz and hype surrounding him was indeed warranted.  Upton's older brother, B.J., was selected 2nd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2002.  Baseball runs in the family genes as the Upton brothers were the only brothers ever to be selected #1 and #2 in the draft.  The excitement being generated by the D-backs is starting to gradually bring the fans back out to Chase Field, as attendance has steadily increased over the first quarter of the season.  Fans finally have something to be excited about with baseball again, and hopefully Justin Upton can continue his dominating display on the diamond for years to come.  A return to past glory is just what this organization, fanbase, and the city of Phoenix needs so desperately.

Amar'e Stoudemire reminds Suns fans what could've been

Amar'e posterizing Anthony Tolliver/Getty Images

While doing some promotional press and appearances in Manhattan this past Wednesday, former Sun Amar'e Stoudemire offered up his opinion on the Dallas Mavericks winning their first NBA championship.  He proceeded to stick a fork right in the heart of every Suns fan across the state of Arizona and remind us all just how good we had it during his career in the desert.  He also said he was happy to see former teammate Shawn Marion win a title, which may come as a surprise to many in Phoenix.  It was widely known that the two didn't always see eye to eye.  It was what he had to say about recent playoff failures that tug on fans heartstrings the most.  STAT pointed out that the three teams that the Suns often faced in the playoffs, Dallas, San Antonio, and the Los Angeles Lakers, had all won titles in recent years. 

"I figure all the teams that we battled with in Phoenix all went on to win a championship except for us," Stoudemire said. "I figure if we stayed together one more year, we might have had it. We played Dallas every year, the Spurs every year in the playoffs, the Lakers every year in the  playoffs. Each of those teams has won a championship."

While many fans were probably rolling their eyes at the mere thought, it's hard not to reflect back and think what might have been.  Especially after seeing the New York Knicks, led by Mike D'Antoni and Amar'e Stoudemire, take on the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.  Meanwhile the Suns failed to make the postseason for the second time in the past three years.  With Dirk Nowitzki finally being able to get the monkey off his back and win his the championship that had previously eluded him for the first 13 seasons of his career, many consider Steve Nash to be the best player currently still playing that hasn't had atleast a shot at playing in the Finals.  Fans seem to be divided on the notion of whether or not Nash should be traded to a contender to finish out his hall-of-fame career or remain with the Suns until the very end.  Unfortunately, the window is barely even cracked open at this point, and with the current state of young talent in the NBA, from Oklahoma City to Miami, the chance of the Suns returning to even the conference finals appears bleak to say the least.  Marcin Gortat is a nice piece, and fills the void at center that the organization has been seeking for years but the Suns desperately need that "go to guy" as Alvin Gentry stated last week.  Without having Amar'e on the pick and roll with Nash, those wide open 3 pointers aren't so wide open anymore.  Opposing teams don't fear Gortat on the roll the way they feared Amar'e.  Opponents knew that at anytime they could be on the receiving end of a vicious Stoudemire dunk that would be re-played on SportsCenter for days.  It is going to be a very interesting off-season for the Phoenix Suns organization.  Most people's advice would probably be for fans to just get over it and stop living in the past.  It's easier said than done.  When a former franchise player opens old wounds, it goes to show that even he is reminiscing about the good ol' days.  The 7 seconds or less era is sorely missed around the Valley.  It's times like this when you can empathize with the jilted fans in Cleveland.  To have seen your team come so close to the top of the mountain for so many years, and then all of the sudden one year later have that vantage point change so drastically.  That can make for an awfully bitter pill to swallow, looking up from the bottom.  Unfortunately for Suns fans, that could very well be our point of view for years to come.

Let The Dog Days Begin

Tonight was officially the first day of summer in the 623.  When I turn on the television and my only sporting options are baseball and more baseball, the dog days have officially arrived.  I've always said that the worst part of the sports year is from the end of the NBA playoffs in June until NFL training camps open at the end of July, beginning of August.  Factor in the current lockout situation and football fans will be lucky to see games by October.  The players and owners met again today and word is that they are looking to get a deal done as soon as possible.  If I had a penny for every time that has been a headline the past 3 months, though in reality, as long as games are not missed this coming season, fans will forgive and forget everything that has happened this summer with regards to the work stoppage.  If we get to the point where training camp is threatened, and pre-season games are missed, fans may begin to turn away.  Nevermind the fact that their is a potential lockout looming in the NBA as well which could make for a very interesting couple of months across the sporting landscape.  Suns forward Jared Dudley hit the nail on the head this evening on his Twitter account:

@JaredDudley619 Jared Dudley

End of June til about August is by far The worst time to watch Sportscenter, No more NBA, NFL is lockout, just baseball tonight!! Lol

2 hours ago via Echofon

 Thankfully the Arizona Diamondbacks are only 1 and a half games behind the Giants for 1st place in the NL West, and it is the middle of June.  Factor in the Mid-summer Classic coming to Chase Field in July, which is nearly sold-out.  Baseball in July in Phoenix, Arizona.  It might not be the most genius of ideas but apparently fans are still buying what the MLB is selling.  Bud Selig finally moved past his grudge with Jerry Colangelo over our World Series title we bought in 2001, and awarded the Valley the All-Star game.  How kind of Bud, who is a Valley resident by the way.  Long overdue, but the weekend should be exciting nonetheless.  As exciting as standball can actually be I suppose.  Actually, get back to me in August on that one.  Lord willing, I should be in Flagstaff attending training camp with the Cardinals.

What Should Nash Do?

If you've been following the playoffs in the NHL and NBA you undoubtedly have seen Steve Nash popping up all across the map.  The two-time MVP has been spotted in Vancouver and Boston taking in the playoff hockey action of his beloved hometown Vancouver Canucks.  It just so happens that his brother in-law, Manny Malhotra plays for the Canucks as well.  He's also been seen in Miami, supporting old pal Dirk Nowitzki and his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in their quest for that elusive championship.  After seeing his best buddy finally hoist the trophy after 13 years in the league, it makes you wonder just what exactly is going through Nash's thoughts these days.  He has always been viewed as a loyal employee who would never stir the pot and publicly ask to be traded,  Personally though, it has to really tear him apart, knowing how close he has come on several occasions, only to see his team blown up each and every time and never even given the opportunity to try and make it back.  Granted many people thought the cinderella Suns of 2010 were playing way above their heads to begin with, but had that Ron Artest putback in Game 5 missed, who knows what happens in overtime and Game 6 thereafter.  The summer of 2010 didn't stop with the players as the entire front office was overhauled.  After a while, you start to question just what the priorities of an organization are.  Three times the Phoenix Suns have made the conference finals since Nash returned in 2004.  And each time, the team has been torn apart the following summer with little chance to build on the previous season's accomplishments.  Nash will turn 38 this coming season, so the window of opportunity is barely even cracked open at this point.  You can't help but feel sympathy for a player who just saw his best friend finally conquer the mountain, and hope that he will be given atleast one more opportunity.  Selfishly, I would love to see Steve Nash end his career in purple and orange playing for the Suns.  But I wouldn't blame him one bit if he walked into Robert Sarver's office and asked to be traded to a contender.  For everything he has done for the Suns organization, the least they could do is give him one final shot at that elusive title.  Lord knows the Phoenix Suns won't be back in the Finals anytime soon.

NBA Finals aftermath

Mark Cuban via Twitter @mcuban

In the end, the best team always wins, and loyalty prevails.  No matter what seemed to actually be taking place on the court, all of the talk surrounding the 2011 NBA Finals seemed to gravitate back to LeBron James, the Miami Heat, the Big 3, etc.  What was Miami doing to lose instead of what did Dallas do to win.  Over the course of a 7 game series, the best team usually wins.  And during these playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks proved they were the better team.  ESPN is as much to blame as anybody for all of the overwhelming coverage and talk surrounding the Heat dating back to The Decision last July.  Hate them or love them, the Heat are interesting and relevant, and people watch.  The proof is in the ratings.  Granted not many people outside of the 305 area code wanted to see Miami win anything this season, and judging by the scene inside Club LIV last night, those same fickle fans were celebrating along with Dirk and the Mavs as they brought the Larry O'Brien trophy down to Club LIV @ Fontainebleau Hotel & Resort on South Beach.  Mark Cuban reportedly dropped anywhere between $200-$500k at LIV, including a bottle of Ace of Spades champagne for Nowitzki that cost $80k and had to be delivered in a gold wheelbarrow.  Apparently chants of LeBron Sucks even resonated throughout the club which sits relatively close to American Airlines Arena and is frequented by many Heat players quite often.  Oh the irony of the situation.  Mark Cuban will also foot the bill for the victory parade in Dallas saying that the city shouldn't have to pay for something of that nature.  The only question left to answer is which fanbase was more excited Sunday night......Dallas or Cleveland?

Nightmare on Jefferson St.

Throughout the course of the 2011 NBA Finals, I found myself pulling for the Miami Heat.  Like any other basketball fan, I found myself drawn to the compelling story of LeBron James, The Decision, the Heatles, and everything surrounding their traveling soap opera.  Couple that with the fact that I am extremely loyal to the Phoenix Suns, and the thought of the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Mark Cuban winning an NBA championship does more than just rub me the wrong way.  Couple that with the fact that Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion both played key roles in the Mavs title run, and you can understand my anguish.  It wasn't until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 6 that I realized my disdain for the Mavericks had temporarily subsided.  I actually found myself to be a bit more jealous than anything.  Jealous of the fact that the Mavericks were hoisting the gold trophy before my beloved Suns.  Jealous of the fact that Casper the Matrix Marion finally decided to show up for a playoff series, albeit with the wrong team.  But most of all, jealous of the fact that the fans of the Mavericks have an owner that actually cares.  Mark Cuban has made it clear from the first day he purchased the team from Donald Carter that his goal was to bring a title to the fans of Dallas.  Cuban isn't a fledgling banker trying to run his basketball team like a Wells Fargo.  Just be relevant enough to put fans in the seats.  Just making the playoffs and barely being above 500 isn't acceptable.  His focus is on winning, at any cost.  He too could have let his best player walk in free agency last summer and saved his money for a rainy day.  He could have chosen to hide behind past injuries.  However, he decided that Dirk was worth the money, and Nowitzki repayed him with the Larry O'Brien trophy less than a year later.  Fans of the Phoenix Suns can only dream of what it would be like to have an owner that cared more about winning than the bottom line.  An owner that cares more about the product out on the court, than just cutting a profit.  An owner that isn't satisfied with just making the playoffs for the couple extra million in revenue that those coveted playoff home games generate, but actually having a legitimate shot to compete for the title.  From Joe Johnson to Steve Kerr, Amar'e Stoudemire to Dave Griffin, prized employees are continually shown the door, only to flourish someplace else.  Bill Simmons' portrayal of the Seven Seconds or Less era and when that brand of basketball officially died in Phoenix will open up old wounds but if you can handle the painful recollection, it's worth the read.  Surprisingly, the end wasn't when you may have thought.  The Big Cactus makes for a large scapegoat but there is plenty of blame to go around.  Meanwhile the organization will be quick to remind you of their overall winning percentage, of which the Suns are 4th best in league history.  You will also be reminded of the 3 trips to the conference finals since 2004, when a local banker purchased the organization for $401 million from Jerry Colangelo.  Unfortunately in professional sports, jewelry and banners do all of the talking.  And last time I checked, the only hardware residing in US Airways Center belong to the Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers.  All the while leaving nothing but a disgruntled fanbase left to constantly ponder what might have been.  The sad truth for Suns fans is that this is no dream.  The nightmare that is Robert Sarver will be tormenting Suns loyalists for years to come.  How is that for a rude awakening?

Anybody seen LeBron James?

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Nobody saw it coming, not even the second time around.  Perhaps a few bitter Cleveland residents had hoped for a repeat performance of what they were forced to endure during Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals.  But nobody could have predicted that one year later, after The Decision, the taking of talents to South Beach, Bump-gate, Cry-gate, etc, that LeBron James would check out of a playoff game again.  Only this time it happened on the NBA's biggest stage, in what should have been one of if not THE biggest games of his professional career.  It is one thing to defer as Robin to Wade's Batman as LeBron did in Game 3.  But the showing or lack thereof in Game 4 left King James looking more like Alfred the Butler, and many questioning what could possibly be affecting him off the court.  Much has been made of what may or may not have happened between Gloria James and Delonte West last season, and what LeBron may or may not have been informed of during that infamous series with the Boston Celtics.  Many believe that situation was one of the factors that ultimately lead to LeBron's decision to leave Cleveland for Miami last summer.  But now, with the Heatles and their supporting cast, James has exactly what he had asked for the past few years.  A strong core of role players and another superstar or two to carry the load so that he would be allowed to have an off night once in a while.  That is what makes last night's Game 4 in Dallas that much more perplexing.  Bill Simmons spoke for many as he was more "captivated by LeBron's meltdown than the Mavs resilience." Not only did LeBron not show up, but the imposter who was trotting around American Airlines Center wearing the red Heat #6 jersey didn't look like he had any desire to be there.  I turned to my brother midway through the fourth quarter and said "what is LeBron doing?  Why is he not attacking?  He looks like he doesnt even want to be there, much less actually win."  I can't imagine what Heat fans in Miami must have been thinking.   Dwyane Wade did everything he possibly could to carry the Heatles, but what more can you expect of Lennon if McCartney decided to stay at the hotel.  After the monumental collapse in Game 2 and the perplexing no-show in Game 4, many are left to ponder what exactly is going on in LeBron's head.  If the Miami Heat end up losing this series to the Dallas Mavericks, it may be something that LeBron James never lives down in his professional career.  Critics and Heat haters across the country are pining for his failure.  Somewhere in Cleveland, people are grinning devilishly, saying "karma is a bitch."

Farewell to The Diesel

After 19 illustrious and entertaining seasons, Shaquille O'Neal decided to hang up his size 23's on Wednesday.  By using a new social-media application, Tout, Shaq informed his many fans around the world that he indeed would be retiring from the NBA.  He will hold a news conference on Friday from his Isleworth home in Orlando to make the announcement official.  It is the end of an era in professional basketball as perhaps the most dominating specimen to ever grace the hardwood, as well as one of the most charismatic and entertaining, is finally calling it quits.  I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Shaq back in 2002 during the height of his popularity, and the Lakers 3-peat.  He had just finished toying with the Phoenix Suns, as was so often the case, and on his way to the team bus, stopped and shook my hand and autographed my media guide.  Shaq was by far and away, the largest human being I had ever encountered.  His hand alone stretched all the way to my elbow.  Not only is he larger than life in person, but he has the personality to match.  In the NBA years post-Jordan and pre-Kobe/LeBron, the face of the NBA was undoubtedly Shaquille O'Neal.  Having grown up in Phoenix and being a Suns fan through and through, Shaq was difficult to deal with as an opponent, I always could appreciate what I was fortunate enough to witness.  And once when the Suns were able to add Big Shaqtus to the roster in 2008, it was nice to know that he was finally on our side, be it the twilight of his career or not.  Going forward, the league will be a little less entertaining without the great sound bytes and post-game interviews.  Here's to hoping that we see @SHAQ sitting across from Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA next season.  That is if they can find enough room to have The Big Aristotle and Sir Charles on the same set.