Sports News from The Arizona Republic » Bob Young, columnist

A Colangelo-less NBA may become sad reality

Bob Young, columnist — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:41:13 +0000

While many of us have been reminiscing about the 1992-93 Suns NBA Finals season lately, another story has quietly unfolded almost 2,000 miles away in Toronto.
Reportedly, Tim Leiweke, the incoming CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which includes among its holdings the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, will replace the team’s President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo, possibly with Colangelo’s former assistant Masai Ujuri of the Denver Nuggets.

In a single magic Phoenix Suns season, an entire city comes of age

Bob Young, columnist — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:59:22 +0000

At the time, it seemed audacious even to Paul Westphal, the first-year head coach who had guided the Phoenix Suns to the best record in the NBA during the 1992-93 regular season.
But in the first round of the 1993 NBA playoffs, the Suns lost the first two games of the best-of-five series against the Los Angeles Lakers, at home no less. No team in NBA history ever had escaped from such a fix.

Pain game: It’s All-Star attrition in NBA playoffs

Bob Young, columnist — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:12:27 +0000

Injuries have so profoundly impacted the NBA playoffs this year that one can put together a pretty good All-Star Game made up only of players who are missing the playoffs because of various ailments, or have at least missed some games or had their minutes dramatically limited because of them.
And we’re not even counting a lot of players who have sucked it up to play at least close to their normal minutes despite injuries, such as Miami’s Dwyane Wade or Golden State’s Stephen Curry. Nor are we counting star players whose teams did not even make it to the postseason, such as Kevin Love of the Timberwolves.

Here’s hoping Lon Babby gives new Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough room to work

Bob Young, columnist — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:49:29 +0000

We probably would have felt better about Ryan McDonough’s introduction as the Suns’ general manager Thursday if Lon Babby, the club’s president of basketball operations who hired him, had not rolled out his “Five Ps” and had just said, “You know what? I’m going to get out of the way here and let the new guy do his thing.”
OK, so we can’t be too hard on Babby for working in his “Preparation. Perseverence. Poise. Pride. Performance.” schtick, although we wish he’d add a sixth P next season — Points.

New Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough should hire Jeff Hornacek as coach

Bob Young, columnist — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:54:26 +0000

Hey Ryan McDonough, congratulations on your new gig as Suns general manager.
Here’s what I suggest for your first move.

Arizona looking to give McKale Center a facelift

Bob Young, columnist — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:20:15 +0000

Arizona Athletic Director Greg Byrne and members of the Wildcats coaching staff, including basketball coach Sean Miller and football coach Rich Rodriguez, were at Chase Field Thursday evening meeting with fans, alumni and media as part of an annual Road Tour.
Byrne has made connecting with fans and alums around the state a priority, which especially makes sense in the Valley with more than 50,000 alums.

Stephen Curry almost went to Phoenix Suns in 2009 draft

Bob Young, columnist — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:55:01 +0000

Suns fans have never experienced a more painful season than they did in 2012-13. Oh, the record in their first season was worse, but that’s expected for an expansion team and tickets could be had for, what, a couple of bucks?
That’s why it pains us greatly to bring this up. You’ve suffered enough.

Arizona Cardinals draft pick Tyrann Mathieu packs a ton of talent, baggage into 175 pounds

Bob Young, columnist — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:30:20 +0000

We’re hoping the Cardinals are right about Tyrann Mathieu, and not just because the “Honey Badger” has the best nickname in sports.
Arizona’s controversial third-round draft choice, despite being (maybe) 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, was the most dynamic defensive player in college football when he last played at Louisiana State in 2011. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist with a knack for making the biggest plays at the biggest moments as a cornerback and return specialist.

Time will tell if Arizona Cardinals’ Steve Keim, Bruce Arians on target, but they shoot straight

Bob Young, columnist — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:22:27 +0000

In the buildup to the NFL draft, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and General Manager Steve Keim kept insisting it was no foregone conclusion that the Cardinals had to draft an offensive tackle with the seventh overall pick Thursday.
The plan was to focus on the best player available on their board and not be blinded by “needs,” real or perceived.

Charles Barkley as general manager of the Phoenix Suns?

Bob Young, columnist — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:38:57 +0000

Suns President Lon Babby all but dismissed the possibility of hiring Charles Barkley as the team’s next general manager on Tuesday, but Barkley told Brad Cesmat on his “Big Guy on Sports” radio show on XTRA Sports 910-AM that he’s interested in the job.
Charles Barkley discusses interest in being Suns GM