This has to be the gloomiest time for our pro sports teams (credit, live)

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by magnum0417

Ray Horton rightfully felt slapped in the face. Much like Thunder Dan Majerle did when he was passed over for Lindsay Hunter despite Lindsay not being a part of the Suns as Dan was for many years on the coaching staff.

Bruce Arians is a good offensive mind. However, that Bowles from Philly was god awful as a Defensive Coordinator last year. He made Juan Castillo look like a genius. The strength of the team was defense and that has been messed up since Bowles has nothing on Horton. Back to Arians. Bill Walsh and Tom Brady would have issues behind that O Line. Unless the O Line magically becomes solid overnight, highly doubtful, all the good offensive ideas in Arians mind won't matter if the QB is rushed every snap.

The o line had improved a lot by the end of the season from what they had been early. Brown and Sendlein will be back - maybe with a new LT and Brown at right guard where I think he would be a better fit. Batiste is a better LT than Brown.

[magnum0417]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

The o line had improved a lot by the end of the season from what they had been early. Brown and Sendlein will be back - maybe with a new LT and Brown at right guard where I think he would be a better fit. Batiste is a better LT than Brown.

Ponderosa, still major issues at RB too. Neither are durable. Wells is a injury prone headcase and Williams has had bad luck. Even if healthy, Williams is too small to be a "featured back." Just too many what if's to believe the Cards will get out of the basement in an improved NFC West. We'll be dealing with Kaepernick and Wilson for the next decade. Definitely way behind the curve.

Levi Brown isn't that good but he is "serviceable", albeit overpaid for his production. STL,SF and SEA D Lines are their identities and our O Line cannot compete at this point. Time will tell. It's sad that certain posters here (not you) are content just to have teams in town. This is why southern fanbases are perceived as "soft" (PHX,SD and ATL). Part of it is Northern and Midwest Transplants who root for native teams and part of it is there are too many amenities available to divert fanbases from ineptitude. Jude LaCava epitomizes that and he takes too much of a softball approach in how he discusses the local teams on the air.

[magnum0417]

The one tv personality here that I truly believe speaks as a fan and doesn't mind ruffling feathers is Troy Hayden. The guy is a passionate fan and showed his disgust throughout the year with the direction of the teams. Jude's a nice guy, but he doesn't demand hard answers in those he interviews. It's like he's afraid to get on the bad side of the brass.

[azriverfan.]

With the exception of the Cardinals, I don't feel confident in the other pro sports teams due to their ownership issues. Yes, 10 years ago, this phrase would have been a joke since it was the other way around with the Cardinals having the cheapest ownership. When Colangelo pulled out of Valley sports, those teams he was once involved with has deteriorated. Robert Sarver has ruined the Suns. He is notoriously cheap and has poor judgement with regard to hiring people. There is some hope he will sell the team down the line but until he does, the Suns are doomed. The D-backs have become cheap as well trading Justin Upton for prospects. The Coyotes may not even last as their owner has until Thursday to sign a new deal or else those terms will end and if he does sign a deal it will be to terms less favorable to him which means the team is gone.

[magnum0417]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

With the exception of the Cardinals, I don't feel confident in the other pro sports teams due to their ownership issues. Yes, 10 years ago, this phrase would have been a joke since it was the other way around with the Cardinals having the cheapest ownership. When Colangelo pulled out of Valley sports, those teams he was once involved with has deteriorated. Robert Sarver has ruined the Suns. He is notoriously cheap and has poor judgement with regard to hiring people. There is some hope he will sell the team down the line but until he does, the Suns are doomed. The D-backs have become cheap as well trading Justin Upton for prospects. The Coyotes may not even last as their owner has until Thursday to sign a new deal or else those terms will end and if he does sign a deal it will be to terms less favorable to him which means the team is gone.

Nice take AZRiver. That Sarver guy is just so annoying to listen to when I am driving home listening to 620. Colangelo got vilified deferring lots of money to the D'Backs. It enabled them to keep the roster intact to win the only Pro Title in the history of PHX Pro Sports. I am a Colangelo fan and would like to see that aggression from someone like him reappear. Unfortunately, the D'Backs now look like a small market team (AKA the old Padres) content to win 75-80 games for the next decade while allowing the SF and LA to be the bullies on the block and own the Division.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

The D-backs have become cheap as well trading Justin Upton for prospects.

The Diamondbacks 2013 payroll is currently set at $74,664,999 after the Upton/Prado deal. In 2012 it was $74,284,833. You can make the case that they continue to be cheap, but not that the trade signaled much of a change.

I don't like the trade, but, in fairness, 2 of the 5 players were not prospects. Prado started 154 games for Atlanta in 2012 and hit .301. Delgado was the starting pitcher in 17 games for Atlanta in 2012 and has pitched 127.2 innings in the majors. Prado will be the starting third baseman and Delgado will compete for the #5 starter slot.

[goolsbyjazz]

I don't even know where to begin!

THE SUNS: After years of being one of the league's premier teams the organization is in rebuilding mode. We are competing in the highly competative Western Conference primarily with role players. Fans should buckle up and ride the roller coaster for the next few years in hopes that the current management can rebuild through the draft and free agency. For the record, thumbs down for the way management handled the firing of Gentry and the hiring of Hunter! So far Babby and Blanks have done just that--drawn blanks!

THE DIAMONDBACKS: The organization has not been the same since it won the title. Period.
Not sure if the current management will make the right moves to make the team contenders again as they, like the Suns, seem to expedite their best talent to other teams.

THE CYOTES: One word: Ownership! Will the team stay or will they go? In spite of the team's recent success this has been the perpetual question on everyone's mind! Until this question is settled not sure fans should expect any more than what they have already seen.

THE MERCURY: The only other professional team to win a championship in the desert. They don't get the same amount of attention, but for the most parts have probably been one of the more consistent teams in the valley, except last season.

THE CARDINALS: Saved them for last. Let's be clear; the team that went to the Superbowl was, at best, 9-7 during the regular season. They just got hot at the right time. This team, out of all the pro teams in the valley, has recruited good talent and has done nothing with it. The ineptness by management has been astonishing! Rod Graves departure may have been a step in the right direction. We will have to see how the new coaching staff does. Last year the offense was the problem, QB, line and the running back issues pretty much did them in. Without Horton, the defense may not be as good. With SF and Seattle on the rise and the Rams not far behind the Cardinal brass has quite a task on its hands to keep pace.

[swbrotha100]

One of the problems the local pro teams have is the California teams in their divisions. LA Kings and SF Giants are defending champions for NHL and MLB. SF 49ers could possibly win the Super Bowl. So since the other teams in the division are more competitive, the local teams will either get more competitive themselves, or be last place teams for awhile.

[magnum0417]

Originally Posted by swbrotha100

One of the problems the local pro teams have is the California teams in their divisions. LA Kings and SF Giants are defending champions for NHL and MLB. SF 49ers could possibly win the Super Bowl. So since the other teams in the division are more competitive, the local teams will either get more competitive themselves, or be last place teams for awhile.

Always seems a CA team stands in our way doesn't it ? The Lakers for decades and now the Kings last year. Fortunately, we have one more championship than San Diego has (excluding pre Super Bowl AFL Titles). In more ways than one, PHX and SD have and will always live in LA's shadows. People here think about how LA teams have kept us from potential championships. People in LA don't even acknowledge us.

It is annoying seeing so many kids around here wearing 49ers and Giants gear. I doubt many of them have ties to No Cal either. Just a bunch of bandwagoners IMO.

[magnum0417]

Lets not forget the 3 Texas teams over the last 20 years in the NBA. Mario Elie's shot ended the golden era of the Suns. So much so, Charles Barkley wanted to play for the Rockets and the team was never quite the same since. Of course the Spurs are probably more despised than the Lakers these days too.

Come to think of it. Outside of the 1993 Suns winning 3 straight to beat the Lakers 3-2 that year (Oliver Miller's 15 minutes of fame), when have we ever eliminated a California team in the postseason in any sport ?