Sports News from The Arizona Republic » Dan Bickley, columnist

Dad’s passing still painful for ASU’s Carl Bradford

Dan Bickley, columnist — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:50:39 +0000

Death does not discriminate. It does not empathize. It can put darkness in your heart and a shovel in your hands, requiring you to bury the one you love most.
Father’s Day will not be easy for Carl Bradford.

NHL peppers Glendale with power play over Phoenix Coyotes

Dan Bickley, columnist — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:39:11 +0000

Divorces don’t happen overnight. Most times, you can hear them coming.
Loose comments? A chilly change in tone? If you’re a Coyotes fan, you were jolted by both before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Arizona Cardinals safety Yeremiah Bell chased his dream

Dan Bickley, columnist — Sun, 26 May 2013 06:11:41 +0000

Football is not hard labor. Yeremiah Bell knows the difference.
For two years out of high school, he worked at a Kentucky steel mill. He handled 100-pound sheets that would be forged into guardrails and tunnel liner. He started on the overnight shift, earning $8 an hour.

PGA sewer: Golf’s race relations still strained

Dan Bickley, columnist — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:18:08 +0000

Sergio Garcia has done the unthinkable. He’s made Tiger Woods a sympathetic figure.
While the Spaniard cringes, his rival must be doubling over with laughter.

Owner Jerry Colangelo’s drive, ingenuity keyed Phoenix Suns’ sustained success

Dan Bickley, columnist — Sun, 19 May 2013 05:07:25 +0000

The Suns are a Valley rarity. They have unbreakable roots and a deep well of loyalty. Many consider them part of the family.
But it’s not by accident. It’s not because Arizonans love basketball more than anything else, or because the Suns are our first major professional sports franchise.

Brittney Griner’s arrival has Diana Taurasi buying hype, for once

Dan Bickley, columnist — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:13:47 +0000

Diana Taurasi can be salty and cynical. She’s allergic to hype. Her candor is uncompromised.
These traits make her original, lovable, a Valley favorite and occasional marketing headache for the WNBA.

Didi Gregorius, Paul Goldschmidt bringing excitement to Arizona Diamondbacks

Dan Bickley, columnist — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:58:01 +0000

Ken Kendrick is right more often than he’s wrong. But he makes some silly mistakes.
He should not dictate what people wear in his stadium, even if enemy gear behind home plate makes Chase Field look like a picnic ground for infidels.

New GM Ryan McDonough can help restore Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver’s tarnished image

Dan Bickley, columnist — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:03:11 +0000

Bad owners are like unruly dogs. They are capable of raiding the pantry and scampering away without shame.
But some can be trained. Some change their ways. Some save their legacy before it’s too late.

Former Phoenix Suns star Kevin Johnson gives the Valley one last assist

Dan Bickley, columnist — Sun, 05 May 2013 01:42:06 +0000

The 1992-93 Suns failed to win a championship. But two decades later, their legacy keeps growing.
Few teams have impacted the NBA more after disbanding.

Phoenix Coyotes would be prudent to keep coach as resourceful as Dave Tippett

Dan Bickley, columnist — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:24:17 +0000

With all due respect to the team captain, Dave Tippett is the Coyotes’ most valuable asset.
He is professional and prepared, analytical and innovative. From temperament to strategy, he ranks among the elite head coaches in the NHL.