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.