When something big comes around like the All-Star game or the playoffs, the Suns.com crew isn’t satisfied with just sitting in the newsroom watching the game on TV while simultaneously working. So long before I started working here, the department was given permission to work from what used to be the Organ Loft of the arena. We’ve begun calling it the “Skybox.”

The Skybox isn’t perfect by any means. We can’t see the scoreboard above the court, we’re higher than even the nosebleed seats and there is no elevator so we get to carry all of our computers, cameras and any other equipment we may have up several flights of stairs. But it’s definitely better than listening to the crowd have a good time and knowing we are at the arena but not really experiencing the game! [Read more...]

Celestially, if you’re going with the “stars,” you have to expect a little “Thunder,” too. 

Suns assistant coach Dan Majerle will throw down the clipboard, do his best Superman impression (sorry, Dwight Howard) and rip off the suit and tie to return to action for the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Friday night.

From center court at Jam Session, “Thunder Dan” will join a stellar list of expected Hollywood stars that includes actors Chris Tucker, James Denton (“Desperate Housewives”), Donald Faison (“Scrubs”), Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) and Michael Rapaport (“Prison Break”), as well as defending celebrity MVP and NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens. [Read more...]

It’s been a dream of mine to participate in an NBA All-Star Weekend since I started watching the NBA when I was about 11 years old.  The thought of being surrounded by the best basketball players on the planet was something amazing – and was also something I had only been able to dream about.  I wasn’t in Phoenix in 1975 or 1995 – the other two times the All-Star game was in town.  And I didn’t really have the means to travel to other All-Star games as I got older.

But now the All-Star game is in our beautiful city again and I’m going to experience everything I can during this week.  One of the things anyone and everyone can do to participate in the All-Star experience is attend NBA All-Star Jam Session to be held at the Phoenix Convention Center starting February 12 and going through February 16.  For those of you who haven’t heard of Jam Session before, there are games for everyone including contests on dribbling, shooting and dunking.  The Harlem Globetrotters will be attending showing off their skills.  Several NBA players will be there signing autographs for free including Amar’e Stoudemire, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Durant, Dan Majerle and Steve Nash.  And you can pick up the latest NBA All-Star merchandise at the NBA Store.

I’ll be taking my wife and kids to the Jam Session when Jam Session opens and my kids are already excited about the experience.  What eight-year-old wouldn’t want to show off his skills in front of everyone else as he tries his hand at dunking the ball, shooting free throws or dribbling through an obstacle course?  Especially when there is the possibility he’ll see one of the premier basketball players in the game today?

There is a lot more info about the Jam Session online.  I’m not going to miss this event.  You shouldn’t either.  See you there!