THE CURSE OF ARIZONA SPORTS

The NBA season just ended and football doesn't start for a couple more months.  Baseball isn't exciting until after the All-Star break and the NHL just completed it's draft for next season.

So that means there isn't much to watch in the sports world right now.  But here in Arizona maybe that's a good thing.

The major sports teams here in Arizona are the Cardinals, Dbacks, Sun's and Coyotes.  Including our 3 major colleges, Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona, Arizona is in a major drought when it comes to winning titles.


If you really think about it the state of Arizona has not won very much in the last 20 years!

The Arizona Cardinals have never won a Superbowl.  They have been a apart of the NFL since the merger with the AFL and have only been to the playoffs ten times.  Although the team was competitive from 2009-2015, they have been historically bad.  The Cardinals are coming off a very forgettable 3-13 season.

In the NBA Arizona is represented by the Phoenix Suns.  The Suns, at one point, was a team every fan respected and feared.  Players wanted to come here to play.  That all ended when the team was purchased by Robert Sarver.  Sarver has not allowed the coaches and front office to handle the basketball side of things.  This has caused the team to become one of the worst franchises in the NBA.  The Suns have not been in the playoffs since the 2009-2010 season.  The franchise has never won an NBA title, in fact, they only made it to the Finals twice and have been in the league since 1968.

The Arizona Diamondbacks has the states only title.  They won the World Series in 2001, their third year as a franchise.  Fans like to think the team is good but in reality they are mediocre at best.  The team usually starts the season off good but does not do enough to make the playoffs.  They have had successful seasons but don't seem to be nowhere near contending for a World Series.

The last Arizona team is the Arizona Coyotes.  I do not know a lot about hockey, and I won't pretend to.  But as a sports fan from Arizona I know the team has been near the bottom every year since they came to Arizona.  They have had a few good seasons but nothing established or for fans to get excited about.

So what is the problem in Arizona?  Is it our owners?  Coaches?  Fans?

What ever the problem is the Arizona teams better figure it out fast.  Arizona is a Sports state and deserves a winning team.

DID KAWHI LEONARD JUST CHANGE THE NBA?

On Thursday the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 to win their first ever NBA Tittle.  They won the series 4-2.

Toronto was led by Kawhi Leonard, who is in his first season with the Raptors.  Leonard came over from the San Antonio Spurs after he refused to play for them last year, saying he was ready to return after an injury.

Toronto took a huge chance on Leonard not k owing if they would have him after this season.  The chance paid off when Leonard and the rest of the Raptors took down a dynasty to win the NBA Tittle.

The question now is what will happen with Leonard?  Will he stay in Toronto? And did he just change the NBA as we know it?

If Leonard does decide to stay in Toronto he has a chance to start his own dynasty in Canada.  Leonard also has a chance to change the NBA.

If Leonard stays with Toronto he may start a trend of NBA players wanting to stay where they are at and win a championship.  The era of the "super team" may be over.

Leonard went to a team that had one all -star, and where he was the only superstar.  He carried his team to an NBA Tittle without another superstar and only having role players.

Leonard could change the NBA, unless he decides to jump ship.

ANDY RUIZ JR. BECOMES FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP

Three knockdowns in the third round and two more in the seventh round highlighted an action packed heavyweight bout between the Champion Anthony Joshua and the challenger Andy Ruiz Jr., a replacement fighter just added because Jarrell Miller tested positive on 3 different drug tests.

Joshua was making his debut in the United States and what he heard from the ringside announcer after the fight was not what or anyone from his camp expected.

"And New" heavyweight champ!  That's right not only was Joshua beaten but he was totally dominated and the referee eventually had to stop the fight in round 7.  Joshua was dazed and confused and unable to respond to the referee asking if he wanted to continue.

Andy Ruiz Jr. and his camp were not surprised.  He didn't have much time to train but it was enough. He boxed a smart fight and stayed to his game plan.

Ruiz is now 33-1 and is the first ever Mexican-American heavyweight champ.  You can also argue that he pulled off the biggest upset in boxing history.

But as the announcer said he is "one bad vato loco."

ARCADIA FIRES COACH AFTER SUCCESSFUL FIRST SEASON

The Arcadia Titans football team was getting ready to start practice yesterday at 3:30 p.m.  Then at 3:00 p.m. they received an email saying practice was cancelled.  The team was confused and some had already showed up for practice.

The team would later find out why practice was cancelled.  Their second year head coach Kerry Taylor had been fired.

Taylor was told by administration that he was not "a good fit" at Arcadia.  The team was shocked.

The Taylor led Titans went 6-4 in Kerry Taylor's only season as head football coach.  This is a six win improvement from 2017 when the team went 0-10. The team was definitely on the rise.

Earlier in the week the Arcadia football program was given a warning for recruiting and making practices mandatory.  Kerry denied the allegations.

The school conducted it's own investigation and although it's unclear what they found, they decided to part ways with Taylor.

THE PHOENIX SUNS: HAVE THEY TURNED THE CORNER?

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and as we near closer to the NBA Finals, fans in Phoenix are just watching in hopes that one day soon their Phoenix Suns will be back in the playoffs.  The Phoenix Suns have not seen a playoff game since 2010.

The Suns hold the second longest streak in the NBS for seasons without a playoff appearance at 9.  They trail only the Sacramento Kings, who have 13 seasons since they last went to the playoffs.

The Suns have already made some off season moves such as firing their head coach and hiring Philadelphia assistance Monty Williams, that have the Phoenix fans asking, has the franchise finally turned the corner?

The proof may not come as fast as fans want it to, but yes,  the Phoenix Suns have turned the corner.  They have finally hired a coach with proven experience,  they have star power currently on the roster, and owner Robert Sarver seems to be sticking more to his role as an owner and less of a General Manager/Coach.

The Suns have the sixth pick in this years draft and are a point guard away from being a contender for a playoff berth.  Only time will tell if the Phoenix have truly turned the corner to the successful franchise they once were.

WHAT IF WEDNESDAY: 5/22/2019

This weeks "What if Wednesday" takes us to the basketball court.

What if players were never allowed to come straight from high school to the NBA?  How would this affect today's game?  How would it affect the players?

The first thing that comes to mind is what would have become of players such as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Moses Malone?  You would think, wow what ever college they would have went to would have been so good.  But stop and think, and not just about the players I mentioned, but about all the players that skipped college.  Would they have even been accepted into college?

For some of them the answer is no.  So if they were never able to skip college we may have never seen some of today's greats on the court.  This would have also made an impact on college basketball.  How much of an impact is uncertain because if they only had to go to school for one year like now college basketball would still be what it is today, just at a faster rate.

I like that an athlete isn't able to skip college anymore, and not just because going to college gives you a better career path.  I like it because it gives a kid an opportunity to mature and be more affective when he finally gets to the NBA.

I personally would like to see the NBA and NCAA make players stay in college for 2 full seasons before entering the NBA Draft.

MEET NEW CARL HAYDEN FOOTBALL COACH STEVEN ARENAS

It's August 24, 2018 and the Carl Hayden Falcons find themselves trailing late in the game at Trevor Browne.  It's just the second game of the season and the Falcons are in awe as they just watch a two touchdown lead disappear.

There is less then two minutes in the game and Falcons have the ball 4th and goal.  Senior QB Emanuel Solorio drops back and finds his receiver through a tight window in the end-zone for the touchdown and the 48-47 victory.

That moment was one of many great ones for new Carl Hayden Football Coach Steven Arenas.  The then assistant coach says "that couldn't have happened to a more deserving young man" in an email interview.    The touchdown pass was the first for Solorio.

Arenas, 29, takes over a program that has shown improvement the last few years under Coach Gross.  Arenas has been a part of the Carl Hayden Football community for the past 3 seasons as a running back and defensive line coach.  Arenas also spent 6 years at his alma mater Westview and coached varsity offensive line in his final season before deciding to move to Carl Hayden.

Arenas goal as new coach is to continue to build an infectious football culture on campus and in the community.  He wants the neighborhood children to be excited about playing football at Carl Hayden.  He also wants the alumni to be proud of the football program.  Carl Hayden is a community high school and he plans on community involvement and community service to be a big part of his program.

There is more to Arenas than just football.  Family is a big part of his life.  He and his wife have been married for nearly five years and they have 2 children.   He is very close to his parents, Jose and Cindy Arenas and his brother Matthew teaches at Carl Hayden and will coach offensive line this fall.

Football has impacted Arenas' life and he plans to be a part of it for a very longtime, but he wants more.  He is very passionate about literacy and and urban education.  He will always consider himself a coach and an educator and one day he hopes to earn his doctorate degree and become a university professor.

Arenas is a hard worker and has his sights set on making Carl Hayden a great football program.  He is the right man to make the Falcons soar!

CAN SUNS WIN NBA DRAFT LOTTERY?

Tonight is the NBA Draft Lottery and for the Phoenix Suns and new head coach Monty Williams this is a big deal.  The Suns, along with the Knicks and Cavs have the best chance of getting the first overall pick in this year’s draft.

What’s at stake?  Zion Williamson.  The power forward from Duke will start right away and be a major factor for any team that gets him.  Some would say the Suns need a point guard more than anything, but you don’t pass on a guy like Zion.  He has potential to be as a big a star as Lebron James.  But like with any rookie coming in to the league, only time will tell.

The Suns desperately need star power, someone that will put fans in the seats and attract potential free agents all at the same time.  Zion can do all of that, even if he turns out to just be an average player.

Imagine a front court that features Zion and last year’s first overall pick Andre Ayton.  Pair them with guard Devin Booker and you have a solid young team that will be able to contend for several years.

"What If Wednesday" 5/8/2019

Welcome to the first edition of "What if Wednesday". In this segment I ask the question, what if, and I answer it with a scenario of what could have happened.  So let's get started.

What if Kyler Murray isn't good enough?

Murray was the first overall selection in this year's draft by the Arizona Cardinals.  It was a big deal because the Cardinals drafted what many thought was their franchise QB just a year ago.

The Cardinals have a new rookie coach in Kliff Kingsbury, who is bringing a new offense that Murray fits perfect in.  But what if Murray just isn't any good?

Rosen, last year's Cardinal QB, struggled and there was many reason made for him, bad coaching, terrible line play and him just not being ready.

So what's different for Kyler Murray?  He will have a coach that has never coached in the NFL, the line has not been upgraded much and what is gonna happen when the 5'10 QB is being chased by the likes of Aaron Donald or another 300-pounder.

Will Murray turn into the sensation that he was in college?  Only time will tell.

SHOULD CARDINALS TAKE KYLER MURRAY? YES PLEASE!

We are just days away from the 2019 NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals have the first overall pick and the big question is what are they going to do with it?

The three main questions are, should they trade the pick? Should they draft Nick Bosa? Or should they take Kyler Murray? Well I have the answer to the last question. Should they take Kyler Murray?
The answer... yes please!

Here is why you take Kyler Murray with the first pick in the draft.

Murray already fits the Cardinals system. This past off season the Cardinals hired a new coach, Kliff Kingsbury, and will have a new-look offense this season. Murray fits very well with what the Cardinals want to do offensively and Kingsbury loves.  Kingsbury has been recruiting Murray for nearly six years now. And Thursday he may finally get the QB of his dreams.

.Another reason you take Murray is the Cardinals poor performance last season.  The fan base in Arizona always expects their Cardinals to have a good season.  After last season's poor performance they are wanting something to be done to prove that Arizona is a contender.  The Cardinals got rid of their coach after one season and getting rid of their quarterback after one season won't make a big difference especially if Kingsbury demanded to pick Murray before he was even hired.

The last reason the Arizona Cardinals should draft Murray is Steve Keim's job is on the line.  The General Manager is on the hot seat more this season than any other because the Cardinals have not produced on the field lately.  He needs a good draft to help save his job.  A pic like Murray may just be what Keim needs.