Featured Articles

Numbers Don’t Lie, KJ Got Snubbed

February 15, 2013 By

“The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.” ~ Lao Tzu

Thus is the plight of former Suns point guard Kevin Johnson.

Despite having one of the best careers a point guard has ever had in the NBA, the fact that he burned brighter but for a shorter period of time has, in my opinion, hurt the former all-star in his pursuit of enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

I’m usually not a fan of numbers — mostly because the largest one in my life is the one that appears when I step on a scale — but the best way to paint the picture of the man who made the No. 7 Suns jersey iconic is to look at the numbers compared to the contemporaries of his era. [Read more...]

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Tucker is a Throwback in Numerous Ways

February 7, 2013 By

When the Suns put on their retro black Hardwood Classic jerseys for the first time on January 30, you might have noticed something else that was a throwback to the 90’s, as well. P.J. Tucker’s shoes. Oh, and the way he plays the game, too.

Tucker was wearing vintage CB94’s by Nike. Charles Barkley made those very shoes famous while playing at US Airways Center (then America West Arena) and wearing the Suns black uniforms with the sunburst logo emblazoned across the front. [Read more...]

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The Greatest of All Time Returns

January 30, 2013 By

The “greatest of all time” returns to the US Airways Center Wednesday when the Suns take on the Lakers. At least that is my opinion. It’s only appropriate that the emotional reunion is being aired on national television. It may be controversial and people may vehemently disagree with such a bold statement, but the best ever will be back on the court in Phoenix after debuting in the same building during the 1990s. [Read more...]

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Hollywood Star: Jared Dudley

January 24, 2013 By

If you’ve been to the movies over the last few weeks or watched television you may have seen someone that looked slightly familiar flash on the screen for a brief second during the previews. The trailer was for what looks like a raunchy romp called Movie 43, and it stars big names such as Emma Stone, Terrence Howard, Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Common, Seth MacFarlane, Kate Winslet, Jared Dudley, Hugh Jackman and more.

That’s right, that face you thought you recognized, but weren’t sure, was Suns forward Jared Dudley. The Suns swingman, who co-stars — alright appears is probably a more accurate description — in the film with Howard and others. Don’t worry though, the role wasn’t much of a stretch, he just had to play a basketball player.

“It was basketball-related and Terrence Howard was in it so I just gave up an afternoon,” he said. “I was there three or four hours, did the same scene about a hundred times and got out of there.”

While Dudley spent roughly three hours filming his scene, he’ll appear in the film for around three minutes. While he knew his part would be small in the movie, he didn’t realize just how big the names in the rest of the movie would be or how big of an effort it takes to get it all done.

“I didn’t know it was going to be this big,” Dudley said with amazement. “ I didn’t know all these actors were going to be in it.

“It’s kind of cool seeing that. Actors gained my respect so much. I had one line and I’m going to be in the movie for two minutes, but those actors that put months upon months in I have a different respect for.”

Will they have respect for his performance though? Dudley seems to think so. When you ask him on a scale of one to five stars to rate his performance, he gives a pretty honest, yet gracious, assessment.

“Three and a half [stars],” he said with a chuckle. “I definitely carried the other athletes, Corey Brewer and Larry Sanders. I’m going to go see it. It’s kind of cool to go see a movie I’m in for a split section.”

It’s no surprise that, as a big movie fan, Dudley may have caught the acting bug. Does that mean we can expect him to star in any other films anytime soon?

“I’m trying to work something out with Space Jam 2,” he said sarcastically. “Hopefully I’m going to be in it. We’ll see.”

Indeed we’ll see. He may not be Michael Jordan on the court, but maybe he can outdo him on the big screen. We’ll find out Friday when Movie 43 debuts in theaters.

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Scola Ain’t a Beauty, But He’s Alright

January 4, 2013 By

When you’re a young kid, there are a million things you think are cool. You’re into whatever the fad of the week is. If you’re a child of the late ‘80s you fell in love with Alf, Pong, parachute pants and maybe even New Kids on the Block. That is if you had really poor taste. It’s rare that any of these infatuations stick with you for a lifetime, though.

For me, only two of my late ‘80s obsessions lasted into adulthood. One is the Phoenix Suns — which as you can tell, also became my profession — and the other is a love for Bruce Springsteen music. The latter was thanks to a father who would drop the needle of the record player (the precursor to the CD player and distant cousin to the iPod for you youngins) on one of the Boss’ many brilliant works of art every free moment we had in the house on a weekend.

There have been very few times in life that the two have crossed paths. That was until the other night while watching Luis Scola play. [Read more...]

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P.J. Tucker Appeals ESPN Ruling

December 21, 2012 By

They say that any publicity is good publicity as long as they spell your name right. “They” obviously have never seen themselves on SportsCenter on a Friday morning with circus music playing underneath. P.J. Tucker has. As a matter of fact, he now has a pretty unspectacular three-peat (Please don’t charge us for the use of the term alright Pat Riley. Remember you used to play here.)

Tucker is no stranger to getting dirty. He does everything for the team, even prompting certain people, — OK, just me — to refer to him as the Garbage Man. That doesn’t mean he likes to be told he “stinks” though. Despite that knowledge, ESPN, for the third time in six weeks of the NBA season, has included him in their Friday “Not Top 10” list. [Read more...]

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Suns May Have Played Last Game Ever

December 20, 2012 By

Well that’s it! After 3,586 games, the Phoenix Suns’ franchise has officially come to an end. That is if you believe the Mayan sports schedule. According to our ancient friends from the south, Friday is the final day of the season. That is, every season known to man.

If they’re right, the curtain will fall on the world and Planet Orange. Yes, the Suns will have played their final game in franchise history on Wednesday and what a way to go out! [Read more...]

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All For Giving: Shop with a Jock

December 13, 2012 By

Riding bikes, throwing frisbees, running around and laughing so loud that it rang through the aisle of Sport Chalet at Tempe Marketplace Tuesday night. It wasn’t because a large group of kids from the Guadalupe branch of the Valley Boys and Girls Clubs were in the store. No, it was just what Suns center Marcin Gortat and Suns alumni Mark West, Eddie Johnson and Alvan Adams were doing to have fun during Suns’ “Shop with a Jock” event. [Read more...]

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Retro Retorter’s Notebook: Suns Vs. Mavs

December 7, 2012 By

Pregame:

One Hour Before Game: On the court an hour before the game. Dan Majerle, in his Suns warmup t-shirt, was on the court with his son within five feet of former foe Reggie Miller, who was in his shirt and tie for TNT. When I asked him who would win in a 3-point shoot out right now he said “Me, because he’s wearing a long sleeve shirt.” Got to love Thunder’s sense of humor.

Minutes Before Tipoff: Packed crowd and all on their feet for the starting lineups. The song “Work Hard. Play Hard” is in the intro video. Sums up this team and probably most of the people spending their money to be in the building tonight.

First Quarter:

11:32: Satisfaction guaranteed? Yeah, that’s a great start with the alley-oop from Beasley to Gortat. Which may be the first and only time that phrase is ever said in the NBA.

9:29: For a good time Alvin Gentry has called on Markieff Morris and Michael Beasley so far. Keef has four points and four rebounds and Bease has three points and two assists of his own. [Read more...]

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P.J. Tucker the Next Dan Majerle?

November 24, 2012 By

It’s a little known fact what is P.J. in P.J. Tucker stands for. That’s because Tucker’s real first name is Anthony: named after his dad. So why aren’t his initials A.J.?

His father, a baseball player, was known for the pop in his bat and thus got the moniker, Pop. That’s how the Suns forward wound up with the nickname Pops Jr., or P.J. for short.

It’s funny because pop is exactly what Tucker has provided the Suns off the bench all season long. His energy and effort have been a large reason why the Suns have made more comebacks this season than Brett Favre and Guns and Roses combined. [Read more...]

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