Why I love Robert Sarver.

[Cheesebeef]

Really? Well, sorry, it's hard to take that seriously when their only credential is "believe me, I know".

so, now you're basically putting words into other people's mouths that make them look like morons and calling another poster a liar. wow.

 

[Chaplin]

so, now you're basically putting words into other people's mouths that make them look like morons and calling another poster a liar. wow.

Huh? Putting words in their mouth. He said he knew simply because "some people know". How did I put words in his mouth? I never called anyone a liar.

I'd just like better clarification than "some people know", especially on a message board where you can say whatever you want without proof.

 

[mribnik]

Of all the things to argue about......

I could care less whether Sarver waves a foam finger or not.

 

[Chaplin]

Of all the things to argue about......

I could care less whether Sarver waves a foam finger or not.

Exactly. There are a lot more important things to worry about than how our owner looks on the sidelines, which recently hasn't been that bad.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

He was pretty embarrassing two years ago but last year he seemed to have learned his lesson.

 

[Chaplin]

He was pretty embarrassing two years ago but last year he seemed to have learned his lesson.

I won't argue with that. The chicken thing was pretty unbelievable in hindsight. But I love an owner that loves the franchise and the game of basketball. A lot of owners love their team, but don't really care about basketball. The Suns have been well-represented over the years, and Sarver genuinely likes the team, however his money issues present themselves.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Cheese, we haven't seen ANYTHING over the top from Sarver in quite some time, not since 2006-2007. He has actually held his own pretty well this past season. The guy's a fan, I'm not going to begrudge him using a foam finger.

I'd much rather have him blowing one of those big plastic horns you always hear in the background of baseball games. Foam Fingers are for dorks...but atleast its not a pompom

 

[sunsfan88]

“I don’t feel satisfied because we’re a good team, not a great team,” Sarver said. “In terms of our performance and record and the level we’re competing at right now, on an absolute basis, I feel OK. I don’t feel great because we’re not at a place that we want to be, a place that allows you to compete for a championship.

“We’re a work in progress. What I feel really good about, and what I feel, is optimism. It’s optimism that we have some really good pieces, a good coaching staff and a number of assets that, if we make smart decisions, will lead us back to the elite level of play.”

There are two very important things to know about the seasoned, mature Sarver, who led a group that purchased the team in 2004.

One: He is responsible for the re-signing of Goran Dragic, overruling the previous regime that preferred Raymond Felton. He actually struck a deal in the arena parking garage, while his top executives were off interviewing Eric Gordon.

“I don’t do that very often, though,” Sarver said. “I really don’t.”

Sarver also made the call on General Manager Ryan McDonough, selecting him over Milwaukee Assistant GM Jeff Weltman, one of the candidates endorsed by team President Lon Babby.

Sorry for the huge bump but I looked for a positive Sarver thread and this was the firs one to come up.

Here's the rest of the article, it's a pretty good read:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...wner-robert-sarver-on-road-to-redemption.html

 

[Chaplin]

Sorry for the huge bump but I looked for a positive Sarver thread and this was the firs one to come up.

Here's the rest of the article, it's a pretty good read:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...wner-robert-sarver-on-road-to-redemption.html

The whole Dragic story is pretty great. Between that and the hiring of McDonough, there has been very little to complain about when it comes to Sarver.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'll read article in a few but signing Dragic was huge. I remember after playing well with Rockets, how I was hoping we'd sign him back but I figured after Trading him that we had no shot...

I'd like to keep him, the way he's playing he'll easily earn next contract.

 

[sunsfan88]

The whole Dragic story is pretty great. Between that and the hiring of McDonough, there has been very little to complain about when it comes to Sarver.

Indeed.

 

[Gaddabout]

The whole Dragic story is pretty great. Between that and the hiring of McDonough, there has been very little to complain about when it comes to Sarver.

Once he admitted his mistakes (in the name of winning now and being philosophically against taking a step back) and embraced a holistically healthy organizational style, I was back on board. Everything changed after that. I don't think putting together a winner is easy. I do think building a healthy organization requires a great deal of humility and character at the top.

 

[elindholm]

Once he admitted his mistakes (in the name of winning now and being philosophically against taking a step back) and embraced a holistically healthy organizational style, I was back on board. Everything changed after that. I don't think putting together a winner is easy. I do think building a healthy organization requires a great deal of humility and character at the top.

But apparently Sarver brought Dragic back on his own, rather than as part of an group front office decision. How is that a "holistically healthy organizational style"? He still thinks his own ideas should trump those of the experts he has hired. In this case, he seems to have made the right call on Dragic, but that just shows that he happened to make a good call, not that he's learned the value of staying out of the way.

 

[Chaplin]

But apparently Sarver brought Dragic back on his own, rather than as part of an group front office decision. How is that a "holistically healthy organizational style"? He still thinks his own ideas should trump those of the experts he has hired. In this case, he seems to have made the right call on Dragic, but that just shows that he happened to make a good call, not that he's learned the value of staying out of the way.

When is the last time he was "in the way"? How long in your mind does he need to prove he isn't the same old Sarver? Sounds like nothing he'll ever do will convince you that he's made a change.

 

[elindholm]

When is the last time he was "in the way"? How long in your mind does he need to prove he isn't the same old Sarver? Sounds like nothing he'll ever do will convince you that he's made a change.

Did you read the article? Sarver overruled his front office to strike a deal with Dragic "in the parking lot." That's what it says. I don't know whether the article is correct, but we don't have any reason to assume that it isn't.

What used to bother us about Sarver was that he thought he knew best and didn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. Now ... he thinks he knows what's best and doesn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. The difference is that his last overrule seems to have turned out pretty well, not that he's changed.

You're right: Nothing he'll do will convince me he's changed short of, well, you know, him actually changing. If you can explain to me how overruling his GM staff in order to write out his own contract in a parking lot is a change, I'm eager to hear it.

And by the way, how is replacing Goodwin in the rotation with Barbosa a "build for the future" move instead of a "win now" move?

 

[sunsfan88]

Did you read the article? Sarver overruled his front office to strike a deal with Dragic "in the parking lot." That's what it says. I don't know whether the article is correct, but we don't have any reason to assume that it isn't.

What used to bother us about Sarver was that he thought he knew best and didn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. Now ... he thinks he knows what's best and doesn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. The difference is that his last overrule seems to have turned out pretty well, not that he's changed.

You're right: Nothing he'll do will convince me he's changed short of, well, you know, him actually changing. If you can explain to me how overruling his GM staff in order to write out his own contract in a parking lot is a change, I'm eager to hear it.

And by the way, how is replacing Goodwin in the rotation with Barbosa a "build for the future" move instead of a "win now" move?

Did you read the article? Sarver says "I don't do that very often" about overruling Blanks.

And when McD was hired, he himself said that McD will have full authority and that he's gonna just stay out of the way and let him do his thing.

What more do you want?

 

[ProdigalSun]

Win a championship. Quiet all doubters

 

[Gaddabout]

Did you read the article? Sarver overruled his front office to strike a deal with Dragic "in the parking lot." That's what it says. I don't know whether the article is correct, but we don't have any reason to assume that it isn't.

What used to bother us about Sarver was that he thought he knew best and didn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. Now ... he thinks he knows what's best and doesn't trust actual basketball people to make important decisions. The difference is that his last overrule seems to have turned out pretty well, not that he's changed.

You're right: Nothing he'll do will convince me he's changed short of, well, you know, him actually changing. If you can explain to me how overruling his GM staff in order to write out his own contract in a parking lot is a change, I'm eager to hear it.

And by the way, how is replacing Goodwin in the rotation with Barbosa a "build for the future" move instead of a "win now" move?

A couple of points:

- Sarver overruled Blanks, a different regime in which he was learning just how badly he'd screwed it up. He'd also lost faith in Blanks as GM. He made a deal based on his previous front office's esteem for Dragic. *shrug* Not a smart way to do business, but I get it under the circumstances. He's allowed McD to do whatever he wants since then.

- Barbosa over Goodwin was a McD/Hornacek decision. Horny was asked if he had confidence in Goodwin to fill a larger role. He said no. So the decision was made to find some playing time for Goodwin elsewhere and bring in Barbosa, whom they'd been in contact with for a bit. Sarver had nothing to do with it. Basketball ops decision.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Maybe rather then changing he is learning?

Blanks was a disaster. The end of the whole Kerr/DAntoni regime was a disaster.

But the trade for Nash, letting Amare walk, hiring McD, and trading for Dragic were all VERY important very good decisions. Theyll be good and bad in the future - the key is to limit the bad exposure and profit from the good decisions.

What the heck does Lon Babby do now anyway? Seems pretty useless.

McD? Love that guy. Even Len looks to be rounding into form. Has that guy made a dumb move yet?

 

[elindholm]

A couple of points:

- Sarver overruled Blanks, a different regime in which he was learning just how badly he'd screwed it up. He'd also lost faith in Blanks as GM. He made a deal based on his previous front office's esteem for Dragic. *shrug* Not a smart way to do business, but I get it under the circumstances. He's allowed McD to do whatever he wants since then.

- Barbosa over Goodwin was a McD/Hornacek decision. Horny was asked if he had confidence in Goodwin to fill a larger role. He said no. So the decision was made to find some playing time for Goodwin elsewhere and bring in Barbosa, whom they'd been in contact with for a bit. Sarver had nothing to do with it. Basketball ops decision.

Okay, fair enough. But I still take issue with the argument, "Sarver brought Dragic back; that proves he's learning to be hands-off."