Jerry Colangelo owes Phoenix and it’s fans an apology

[cwamjn]

Sarver isn't even the worst owner in the valley.

 

[Phrazbit]

The beginning of the end is when Joe Johnson wanted out. Then Amare had to go because his knees weren't worth max money. Then Nash finally left primarily due to age. That wasn't on Sarver.

When Amare and Nash left we were left barren because we developed a terrible habit of selling draft picks or using them to dump contracts... THAT is on Sarver. He has learned his lesson but that is the biggest reason the last 7 years have been so bleak.

 

[pokerface]

When Amare and Nash left we were left barren because we developed a terrible habit of selling draft picks or using them to dump contracts... THAT is on Sarver. He has learned his lesson but that is the biggest reason the last 7 years have been so bleak.

Well Sarver is no Colangelo....


Didn't he sell just one pick?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Colangelo brought a franchise to this city when it's population had no business getting a pro team. His effort to build the arena and baseball stadium (yes, with taxpayer money) totally transformed downtown.

He also opperated both his franchises at a financial loss for years because his main priority was to win. He also treated his players with dignity and kept his promises (giving Manning that fat contract after he blew out his knee) but he also held them accountable (shipping off Jason Kidd when he beat the hell out of his wife and tearing down the mid-80s coke scandal Suns).

He was one of the best owners in all of sports, IMO he owes the city and the fans nothing and there is no way he could have known the kind of owner Sarver was going to be. JC's main priority when selling the team was that they'd stay in the city, and thank god for it.

It sucks that Sarver is what we got stuck with but that sale occurred at a time when the NBA has a whole was not doing well and the market was not exactly teeming with buyers. And even then, it took years for Sarver's incompetence to be exposed because Colangelo left the franchise in phenomenal shape.

There is no bigger Colangelo fan than I am. Good grief that’s what the JC in my screen name is for. I am talking about just one decision. After all he did for this city, to leave it in this guy’s hands. ..

He probably feels bad about it.

 

[Mainstreet]

There is no bigger Colangelo fan than I am. Good grief that’s what the JC in my screen name is for. I am talking about just one decision. After all he did for this city, to leave it in this guy’s hands. ..

He probably feels bad about it.

I do think Colangelo thought Sarver would be a good owner. Reportedly there was another offer on the table.

 

[BC867]

First off, Jerry doesn't owe anything to anybody. It was his team, he sold it. It is NOT the fans' team.

Oh, Stefan! Please reconsider that. It is not a private business. Professional sports are in the public domain.

They are not Kmart or Toys'R'Us. They damn well better act as the fans' team. Just as politicians are elected to serve the public rather than vice versa.

It is sad that our society has evolved into the middle class having to face the consequences of the mindset you mentioned, whether it is hoping for the country to do the right things for all of its people or rooting for a basketball team.

I think the problem is that politicians, corporate executives, professional athletes and their bosses, entertainers, etc., have twisted the system to make them millionaires, while young people can no longer afford to pay off student loans or buy a house. Or get a decent seat at a Suns game.

And I think it is too late to turn it around. It is all about the Fat Cats. And, as it pertains to our Phoenix Suns, that's Jerry Colangelo and his hand-picked successor, Robert Sarver. They call(ed) the shots.

 

[BC867]

And as bad as Sarver is, he isn't even the worst in his sport. As Ronin mentioned, Dolan is an unmitigated disaster in New York and I'd argue that Vivek in Sacramento is easily the worst owner in the NBA.

I am trying to not be facetious. OK, so we may not have the worst owner in the NBA, but we're near the bottom. We're not New York or any other city. This is the Valley of the Sun and I expect better.

It is one of the many, many reasons I left New Jersey for Phoenix 39 years ago, and have loved every minute of it.

 

[Phrazbit]

I am trying to not be facetious. OK, so we may not have the worst owner in the NBA, but we're near the bottom. We're not New York or any other city. This is the Valley of the Sun and I expect better.

It is one of the many, many reasons I left New Jersey for Phoenix 39 years ago, and have loved every minute of it.

I won't argue against that.

He is not the worst, but he has been really stinkin bad, but I don't blame JC for it.

 

[Chaplin]

Oh, Stefan! Please reconsider that. It is not a private business. Professional sports are in the public domain.

They are not Kmart or Toys'R'Us. They damn well better act as the fans' team. Just as politicians are elected to serve the public rather than vice versa.

It is sad that our society has evolved into the middle class having to face the consequences of the mindset you mentioned, whether it is hoping for the country to do the right things for all of its people or rooting for a basketball team.

I think the problem is that politicians, corporate executives, professional athletes and their bosses, entertainers, etc., have twisted the system to make them millionaires, while young people can no longer afford to pay off student loans or buy a house. Or get a decent seat at a Suns game.

And I think it is too late to turn it around. It is all about the Fat Cats. And, as it pertains to our Phoenix Suns, that's Jerry Colangelo and his hand-picked successor, Robert Sarver. They call(ed) the shots.

This is what they WANT fans to think. But you are wrong. The Suns are selling a product just like anything else.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This is what they WANT fans to think. But you are wrong. The Suns are selling a product just like anything else.

Now we are into corruption and conspiracies. Won't be long and we will have to take this thread to the politics discussion.

Listen. I don't do it often. But I was just venting about Sarver and how we got him. I wish JC had vetted this new owner better. I am bothered significantly about his behavior and reputation and I am even more deeply concerned that he might sell this team to someone who will move it out of town.

Why don't we all get an ownership group together and buy this team?!

 

[Covert Rain]

Now we are into corruption and conspiracies. Won't be long and we will have to take this thread to the politics discussion.

Listen. I don't do it often. But I was just venting about Sarver and how we got him. I wish JC had vetted this new owner better. I am bothered significantly about his behavior and reputation and I am even more deeply concerned that he might sell this team to someone who will move it out of town.

Why don't we all get an ownership group together and buy this team?!

I am still confused at this take. How do you vet an owner to find out if he will make a good basketball owner? Most owners have ZERO experience with sports franchises when they buy their first team.

What specifically should he have asked Sarver? How would any answer Sarver gave been any different than any other owner? What other offers were on the table and who did you think would have been a better owner out of that group?

Don't forget that IMO, Jerry did what most previous owners never get to do. That is run the front office, teach the new owner what you can and hope he follows that blue print. We know Sarver did not by trying to take a "business approach" in the front office after Jerry left.

Honestly, I just don't see how Jerry could have teed it up any better for Sarver. He could have just sold and said see you. He didn't. He stayed. He was instrumental in bring Nash here. He didn't have to do any of that. Jerry obviously cared or he would have took his cash and ran away. Remember that towards the end Jerry was getting pressure to leave sooner than he probably wanted to.