CARDINALS RELEASE DOCKETT

After talks of trying to restructure the contract of Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett failed the team has decided to release him.

Docket was drafted by the team in 2004 but his $10 million salary cap hit was too much for the Cardinals to keep the three time pro bowl defensive standout.  He only missed two games in his career due to injury until a torn ACL in the preseason  ended his 2014 campaign before it even started.  The team and the fans of Arizona will deeply miss Dockett.

But his time in Arizona may not be over just yet.  He will test the free agent waters and who knows, if he doesn't get signed by another team he could end up back in a Cardinal jersey.

SUNS START WIN STREAK, BEAT THUNDER

The Phoenix Suns, behind point guard Eric Bledsoe, outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday at U.S. Airways Center in downtown Phoenix.  They won 117-113 in overtime.  They now are just one and one half games behind the Thunder for the eight and final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.

The Suns have now won two straight and are 31-28 on the season.  Bledsoe led they way with a near triple double, 28 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.  But perhaps the most impressive feat accomplished by Bledsoe was how long he was able to stay on the floor with five fouls.  Markieff Morris had a team high 29 points and Alex Len added 11 rebounds.

The win was a much needed one for the Suns.  A loss may have theoretically ended their season.  The win gives them to in a row and more importantly puts them back in the race for the last playoff spot.  The Suns next host the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow night.

SUNS GET BACK INTO WIN COLUMN

The Phoenix Suns finally got back into the win column after dropping their last 5 games.  They were in Denver to face the Nuggets and came away with a 110-96 victory.  The win improves the Suns to 30-28 on the season and ninth place in the Western Conference, one spot out of the playoffs.

Newly acquired Brandon Knight not only led the way in scoring he also made two late 3 pointers to keep the Suns safely in front of the Nuggets.  Will Barton led Denver with 22 points of the bench.  Knight, along with Eric Bledsoe had six assists.  Bledsoe had 18 points while Gerald Green chipped in with 15 off the bench.  Alex Len led all rebounders with 10 in 21 minutes of action.

The Suns come home today to host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game with huge playoff implications.  The Thunder will be without Kevin Durant but there is still bad news for the Suns.  Russell Westbrook will play and the Suns are hoping he doesn't do what he did on Tuesday when he had a triple double.  If the Suns want to make the playoffs they really need to win tonight against a team that is also battling for a playoff spot.

CARDINAL'S SMARTLY EXTEND ARIANS CONTRACT

Today the Arizona Cardinals front office continued their smart ways of making the team a dominate force in the NFL.  They extended the contract of head coach Bruce Arians and General Manager Steve Keim.

Arians was named NFL Coach of the Year and rightfully so.  His team went 11-5, won the NFC West and made the playoffs this season.  He did all of that without a quality quarterback for half of the season.  This was just Arians second season in Arizona.  Last year the team went 10-6 and just missed the postseason.

Arians quick success led to the contract extension.  Michael Bidwill showed how the organisation is going in the right direction in deciding to keep Arians longer.

The contract keeps Arians the Cardinals head coach through the 2018 and Arians plan to take the team to the Super Bowl before his time in Arizona is over.

SUNS FALL SHORT AGAINST TIMBERWOLVES

The Phoenix Suns took the floor last night for the first time since the all-star break.  It was also their first game since they traded away disgruntled Goran Dragic.  Because of the trade and a few others the Suns only had 10 players available for the game.  However, the result was a familiar one, a 111-109 loss.   They now have lost 6 out of the last 7.

There were some bright spot for the Suns.  Markief Morris had 31 points and center Alex Len nearly had a triple double, 11 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.  The Suns were also able to get Archie Goodwin some valuable minutes.  He scored 12 points in 21 minutes of action.

Leading the way in scoring for the Timberwolves was Kevin Martin who had 28 points.  The Timberwolves used a 14 point run in the second quarter to take a 52 to 42 lead into the locker room.  The Suns then score 35 third quarter point to cut the lead to just 3 points going into the fourth quarter.  The even took the lead with just over 3:00 minutes to go but could not pull off the victory.

The Suns travel to Chicago to face the Bulls tonight and they will have some more help.  Brandon Knight, Marcus Thornton and Earl Barron will make their debuts when the Suns take the floor tonight.

SUNS TRADE DRAGIC

 Yesterday after practice Suns guard Goran Dragic said "I don't trust them" when asked about the front office.  He also said the night before that he wanted to be traded and would not re-sign with the team if they didn't trade him.  Well he got his wish earlier today when he and his brother, Zoran were traded to the Miami Heat.  In exchange for the Dragic brother the Suns received Norris Cole, Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton, who they then sent to New Orleans for John Salmons.  The Suns also received forward Danny Granger, two future first round picks and $11.2 million in cash.

Dragic did not want to be here because he was not playing point guard.  He will do so for the Heat and is excited that he was traded to a team that was on his wish list.  The Suns dropped the ball on this trade.  Dragic is a great player and the Suns should have been able to get more for him.  They also traded Isiah Thomas away and got Brandon Knight, a younger point guard who is having the best season of his career.  The trade for Knight will help hide how bad the Dragic deal really was.  The Suns were better off keeping Dragic the rest of the season and make a sign and trade deal for a big name player.

This trade frees up a lot of roster space and salary cap money.  It makes you wonder will the Suns go after a big name Super star in free agency?

STILL A CARDINAL!

The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald have agreed on a contract extension.  The new contract will possibly allow Fitzgerald to retire as a Cardinal.  This means he would join a short list of players that have only played for one team.  The deal is reportedly 2 years at 22 million dollars.

Although this doesn't guarantee Fitzgerald will be a Cardinal for his entire career, it's very possible that he can play longer than two more years,  it does make the "Cardinal Faithful" extremely happy.  He is a talented receiver that need to come back for several reasons.

Reason one is even though he has lost a step when targeted Fitzgerald is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.  He won't put up Dez Bryant or Calvin Johnson numbers but he is someone the defense has to consider double teaming which open up more opportunity for the other receivers and the run game.  Reason number two is Fitzgerald is a fan favorite and many fans come to the games just to see him.  From a management standpoint that's good for business.  The final reason Fitzgerald needed to stay with the Cardinals is the intangibles he brings to the game.  He makes everyone around him better because he is a competitor.  The energy he brings sparks the rest of the team and the fans.  The Arizona front office made a great decision in bringing back Larry Fitzgerald

WHY THE SLAM DUNK CONTEST SUCKS!

Tomorrow is the NBA's All-Star Game which means we are in the middle of the pregame festivities.  Golden States Steph Curry won the three point shootout and Minnesota rookie Zach LaVine won the dunk contest.

I enjoy watching the three point contest, but lets be honest the slam dunk contest is a complete joke.  First of all the league's best dunkers are never in the contest.  Back in the 80's and 90's the best dunkers wanted to be in the contest and now they enter once and never enter again.  The other reason the contest is a joke is because of the format.  Each dunker gets a certain amount of time and as long as they make one dunk that dunk will be scored.  For instance, Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic missed his first two dunk and that makes a awesome dunk on his last attempt.  The score, perfect ten's across the board!  Are you kidding me?  Yes the dunk was great but just the fact that it took so long for him to make one should tell you that that's not perfect.  He should have gotten 9's.  The dunk contest would be so much more exciting if each person got one dunk.  You make it you get a score.  This forces guys to concentrate on the dunk and not all the antics before the dunk.

IRON MIKE KNOCKED OUT! 25 YEARS LATER

Do you remember what you were doing 25 years ago today? I was ten years old in the fifth grade. I remember watching T.V. And as the movie ended the anchor from 12 news came on to preview the upcoming news. When he started talking sports I paid close attention as I always did. The anchor said "Find out what happened in Mike Tyson's defense of his title."  Wow I thought I didn't even know he had a fight.

The fight was in Tokyo, Japan and not even given much attention. Tyson put up his title against James Douglas. He was an unknown fighter with the nick name Buster.  He fought Tyson well and in the tenth round he delivered the uppercut that changed boxing.  Not only did he knock Tyson down for the first time in his career but he knocked the champ out giving him his first loss.  So you may not remember where you were 25 years ago but James "Buster" Douglas will always remember.

ARIZONA STATE UPSETS #6 ARIZONA

Today was "The Dual in the Desert" part two.  It was the second meeting of the season between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Wildcats.  This instate rivalry has been a bit one sided lately with Arizona dominating lately.  They blew out the Sun Devils in their last meeting.

Today's game was a lot different.  The Sun Devils came out aggressive and showed they were able to hang with the Wildcats.  The first have had 8 ties until ASU went on a late run.  They went into the locker room with a 41-34 lead.  This was the biggest halftime deficit the Wildcats have seen all season.  The second half was just as competitive as the first.  Arizona tried to get back into the game and trialed the entire half.  The Sun Devils were able to hold off the late surge and came away with the upset victory of the nations sixth ranked team.  They won 81-78.

Bo Barnes led ASU with 18 points and Arizona's T.J. McConnell had a season high and led all scorers with 25 points.  Tra Holder of ASU pitched in with 15 points, but it was his poise that made the difference.  The way he ran the offense has you thinking he was a senior and he is only a freshman.  Arizona State may not make the post season but for one day they were champions.

BROADUS CHOOSES UCLA OVER ASU

Yesterday was National Letter Of Intent Day.  This is the time when high school seniors decide where they are going to college to play their respective sport.  ASU had a great day of signings.  Their class was ranked 19th nationally.  They got a lot of guys they wanted including standout quarterback Bryce Perkins of Chandler High School.

They lost out on a few guys that they really wanted.  One of them was a wide receiver from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.  His name is Cordell Broadus.  He chose UCLA instead of becoming a Sun Devil.  He would have been a great pick up for the Sun Devils.  Man people thought he was going to sign because his dad helped introduce the new uniforms that the team will start wearing next season.  His dad, is famed rapper Snoop Dogg.  It would have been nice to see the younger Broadus play here, and partly because of his dad.  He is a great athlete who has been groomed for fame but just imagine the national attention ASU would get just because a famous rappers son is on the team.  ASU is on the verge of being a national powerhouse and the attention Snoop Dogg would bring would definitely help the cause.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WIN SUPER BOWL XLIX

Yesterday the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  The game was very excited and ended in dramatic fashion.

The teams were so evenly matched and after one quarter the score was tied at zero.  Both offenses got going a little bit in the second quarter and the teams ended the half tied again, this time at 14.  Seattle scored 10 points in the third quarter including a 3 yard pass from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin.  They were also led by a wide receiver with a familiar name, Chris Matthews.  While he is not the host of Hard Ball he did come to Glendale to play hard ball.  He caught 4 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.  He also caught a pass in the second quarter that seemed to ignite the rest of his team.

The fourth quarter seemed to being going the Seahawks way.  That is until the 7:55 mark when Tom Brady found Danny Amendola for a four yard touchdown.  the score put the Patriots just three points down with half of the fourth quarter remaining.  Then with just over two minutes remaining Brady this time found Julian Edelman for a three yard score to put the Patriot's up 28-24.  Seattle got the ball back and started to move the ball.  The Jermaine Kearse made an unbelievable catch to give Seattle the ball first and goal at the six yard line.  The they went into "Beast Mode" .  They gave MarShawn Lynch the ball on first down and he took it all the way to the one.  There was just 30 seconds left and Seattle seemed to be on there way to winning Super Bowl XLIX and repeating as champs.  But then coach Pete Carrroll decided to get fancy.  Instead of feeding the beast and giving the ball back to Lynch he opted to pass the ball, a quick slant with a pic that would have made him look like a genius.  But then "The Butler" took over.  Rookie cornerback Malcom Butler jumper the route and picked off Wilson's pass giving New England their fourth Super Bowl title in six tries.  Tom Brady was named the games MVP.