There was very little static with either.

The dearly departed McCoy was more than a golden-toned Valley treasure. He was an icon from another era. He was a local legend who stayed local, the longest tenured team broadcaster in NBA history (51 years). 

Vin Scully served 67 years with the Dodgers, but he had a strong national presence, broadcasting national baseball games along with football and golf. Harry Caray was a Chicago legend, but that relationship was a bit complicated, as he served both the White Sox and rival Cubs along with a 25-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

McCoy wasn’t quite as smooth as Scully, who could go entire broadcasts without fumbling a single word. He wasn’t the fun uncle swilling beer with customers in the bleachers, as Caray famously did.    

But he was graceful and grandfatherly and kind. (Unless you were an NBA referee). 

Best of all, he was ours.

McCoy died Saturday at age 91, and those who care about Phoenix Suns basketball went through their own cycles of grief. I took solace that McCoy had been frequently honored in recent years.  He knew what he meant to all of us.   

Behind the scenes and off the record, McCoy could be sharp-tongued and hilarious. Behind the microphone, he was class and polish personified. He became a trusted, comforting voice in the community. No one questioned his sincerity or his love of the Suns.  

He was also an accomplished pianist, and occasionally played for shut-ins and senior citizens in nursing homes. He was the steadying soundtrack for generations of fans in Arizona, but he was far more than just a voice. 

I also became angry that the Suns never won a championship in his 51 years on the job, especially when he grew so fond of Devin Booker. I resented the little pings of disrespect he felt late in his career, like broadcasting from the rafters or dealing with certain pompous head coaches. And then I came to a full stop. 

There was no void in McCoy’s life. There was nothing missing. He loved what he did. He was loved for what he did. How could a person be richer? Who would dare ask for anything more? 

Broadcasters like McCoy rarely exist in today’s sporting culture that is steeped in brand awareness and protecting the franchise. Most teams don’t like broadcasters who become larger than life, thereby gaining the autonomy to speak honestly at all costs, telling whatever hard truths are necessary. And the dilution/fragmentation of media has made it nearly impossible for local guys to become champions of the people, a mouthpiece for the masses. 

Not McCoy. He became bigger than sunsets and salsa in Arizona. He could’ve run for public office. And unlike many aging broadcasters, he never lost his fastball, broadcasting a fast-paced sport with great fluency until the very end. 

We’ll miss him because we loved him. Because we were the lucky ones.  

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

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There are long, hard days in football. Cruelty is part of the game.

On Sunday, the Cardinals absorbed the harshest of lessons.

They lost to the team they hope to become. They were outclassed and out-smashed by the Lions in a stadium full of blue infidels. They were grounded and pounded in a 20-13 loss that proved how far they have come and how far they still must travel.

This is no cause for alarm. When the schedule was released, even the diehards budgeted a loss to Detroit in Week 3. In terms of culture and personnel, the Lions are a few miles down the road, well ahead of the Cardinals.

But this game hurt. It was frighteningly physical. Pads thumped and helmets crashed. Many paid a heavy price. And in the end, Detroit was clearly better at big-dog football, dominating in rushing yards (188-77), rushing plays (43-18), and time of possession (36:49 to 23:11).

It felt like getting into a fight with a bigger brother. The Cardinals weren’t afraid. They never backed down. But they just weren’t good enough.

There were moments of severe frustration. A controversial call in the second quarter nullified a pick six from Mack Wilson Sr., triggering a 14-point swing on the scoreboard. Non-reviewable calls randomly and frequently burn every team in the NFL. Few have seemed so penal.

But football is steeped in adversity. The Cardinals had plenty of opportunities to find the dominant form they flashed against the Rams. They failed.

Kyler Murray threw a bad interception, forcing a deep pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. into the teeth of double coverage. He was late delivering the football on a few occasions. He seemed to struggle with when to take the layup and when to go big play hunting.

Understandable. Many fans have been screaming for Murray to take more chances with his gifted rookie. Harrison was coming off a breathtaking first-quarter performance against the Rams. It was natural to take more shots with the prized rookie. And it would be hypocritical to now blame Murray for attempting to force-feed a generational talent.

But the two are still misfiring, especially on back-shoulder throws. The struggle to find points and traction in the second half led to a fourth quarter with zero rushing attempts. The leather-lunged Lions fans in attendance made it difficult for the home team to communicate. And this loss proves the Cardinals offense needs to find a better Plan B when their snowplow is sputtering, when James Conner cannot carry the load.

Football is always violent and vicious. Sometimes it feels patently unfair. And sometimes a fan base will turn their outrage to the officiating because the clearest truth is the hardest to swallow.

The Cardinals are improving, compelling and entertaining. But they are not talented enough to hang with the real heavyweights of the NFL, including the team from Detroit that just beat them at their own game.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

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This was no ordinary football game. This was a day to make history. A glorious day of new beginnings and second impressions.

The Cardinals turned the tables and a few pages on Sunday, smoking the Rams 41-10 at State Farm Stadium. For context, they had not beaten the Rams in Glendale since 2014, when their opponent still played football in St. Louis.

Rejoice. This is no longer the story of a hammer and a nail.

“When you play hard, when you play for each other, good things happen,” Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said.

Marvin Harrison Jr. shook off his shaky debut in Buffalo with a transcendent first quarter. Arizona’s prized rookie emerged with four catches, 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first 15 minutes. His first career touchdown was a toe-tapping masterpiece in the back of the end zone. His second was a deep throw off a perfectly designed play, allowing Harrison to traverse the field and finish with an ambitious leap into the end zone.

The force-feeding of Harrison Jr. had profound effects. Giddy fans couldn’t help but wonder if they were watching a milestone in progress, the breakout game from their next Hall of Fame wide receiver.

Finally, Murray. His Houdini act in the first quarter was breathtaking stuff, worth the price of admission. His scrambling fireball of a touchdown pass to Elijah Higgins harkened back to his MVP candidacy in 2021. His overall performance was a powerful rebuttal to those who think Murray is not the answer in Arizona.

“He was lights out today,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He’s a premium player for a reason. You take him against anybody. That’s how I feel.”

No argument there. The Cardinals had a 199-13 yardage advantage in the first quarter. Their 28-point lead early in the third quarter was their largest lead since Week 6 of the 2020 season. All of their stars were aligned, and all of their stars were contributors.

The Rams had issues. They were clearly compromised by injury. Their diminished offensive line was no match for the Cardinals, especially Dennis Gardeck (three sacks). But there will be no asterisks or caveats attached to this outcome, one of the most dominant displays at home in recent memory.

Cardinals sideline reporter Paul Calvisi coined a great phrase to describe the 2024 season, calling “September the new August.” Translation: For teams that put players in bubble wrap during the preseason, Week 1 is like a dress rehearsal and not to be trusted.

Their encore was much more promising, with so many victories inside a 60-minute game.

The Cardinals needed to prove they could beat the Rams. Gannon needed his first victory against an NFC West opponent. The team needed to reverse recent history and start winning a majority of their home games, reclaiming a home-field advantage at State Farm Stadium.

And before Murray regains his status as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he must ascend in his own division, where he was 5-17 entering Sunday’s game. He responded with a perfect quarterback rating (158.3) along with 11.8 yards per rushing attempt.

With Rams great Aaron Donald enjoying his retirement, Murray suddenly looks like the best quarterback in the NFC West.

Missions accomplished. All of them.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

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But these past two games against the Rangers have done a world of good in the Valley. 

After a 14-4 victory on Wednesday, the Diamondbacks have reaffirmed their status as World Series contenders, even if their playoff hopes are still in jeopardy.

They were dominant on command against a lesser team, as necessary, after dropping three of their four previous series. They scored 10 or more runs for the 19th time this season. 

The Diamondbacks are also getting healthy at the right time, welcoming back Christian Walker and Ketel Marte. Both sluggers clearly found their rhythm and their power against the Rangers, and when Gabriel Moreno returns, the Diamondbacks will no longer be easy prey for base stealers and left-handed starting pitchers. 

With a full roster, they will also display the sparkling depth assembled by General Manager Mike Hazen. To wit: 

A great team always presents heavy questions to its fan base. Such as, who is your favorite player?  

In Arizona, that answer might range from Marte to Corbin Carroll, from Walker to Moreno, from Eugenio Suarez to Joc Pederson to Geraldo Perdomo.

Just like the Avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy, a diverse cast of heroes makes for an irresistible team, one that will capture your attention immediately. Even the debate over the most underrated player in Arizona would rage on local barstools. Randal Grichuk? Kevin Newman? Ryan Thompson? Adrian Del Castillo? 

“Something special is happening here from an offensive standpoint,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters after the game. 

But the most comforting development is the return of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly as dueling aces. After a prolonged struggle with control and mediocrity, Gallen has stacked excellent starts. Kelly has looked extremely sharp in his past two outings, even though Wednesday’s start was cut short with another apparent bout of cramping, succumbing once again to the hotbox of Chase Field. 

The cramping issues that continue to plague Kelly, along with Jordan Montgomery’s epic struggles pitching inside Chase Field, are larger issues that demand attention. But if Kelly is OK, the Diamondbacks have all they need to win the World Series. Because once the playoffs begin, every series is a two-game series. And if you have two elite aces in your dugout, you have the fast lane to a championship. 

We witnessed as much in 2001, when the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in seven games, mostly on the gravitas of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Lay a couple of aces on the table, and you likely have the winning hand. No matter how high the stakes. 

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

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It’s just one game. But in 60 minutes of compelling yet losing football, the Cardinals saw all of their ghosts. They witnessed the sum of their fears.

During a 34-28 loss to the Bills on Sunday, the Cardinals learned:

Their defense might be underfunded and short on playmakers for the second consecutive season. They allowed 31 points in the final 33 minutes. They could not pressure the quarterback without blitzing. They allowed four touchdowns in the span of five possessions.

The Cardinals appear to have very good linebackers and excellent safeties. But General Manager Monti Ossenfort went bargain hunting for cornerbacks and pass rushers, even though the team still has a reported $26.1 million of salary cap space available. If he’s on a strict budget, shame on the owner. But if Ossenfort left his team incapable of holding 14-point leads, he must wear the failure.

The Cardinals learned their franchise quarterback can be an unstoppable force, especially at the helm of a ball-control offense. But on Sunday, there was no late-game heroics from Kyler Murray. There was no connection to Marvin Harrison Jr., who was targeted only three times.

It was a curious debut for the prized rookie, deemed so valuable that he played one token series in the preseason. A wide-open Harrison Jr. dropped his first real attempt at catching a football. Then he disappeared from the game plan. And when he broke free from coverage on the final drive, waving to Murray on his way to the end zone, a scrambling quarterback never saw him. Never looked in his direction.

Lack of cohesion or rhythm didn’t seem to be an issue in the first half. After putting most of their players in bubble wrap during the preseason, the Cardinals were crisp and dominant in the first 27 minutes. They scored on the first three possessions of a game for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile, the home team struggled with key mistakes, false start penalties and clock management issues. The notorious Bills Mafia grew restless and angry. The difference between the discipline and readiness of the two teams couldn’t have been more profound, and the game was shaping up to be another stunning triumph for Jonathan Gannon’s crew.

But when the stakes were raised and the Cardinals’ defense sagged, the offense couldn’t meet the challenge. An injury to Jonah Williams exposed the team’s lack of depth on the offensive line, and Murray felt a dramatic increase in pressure. Drew Petzing’s play calling ranged from curious to inexplicable for most of the second half.

Finally, the Cardinals learned there are no moral victories left in the well. In 2023, Valley sports fans would’ve slow-clapped this performance – a narrow loss and a slugfest on the road against a quality team and a great quarterback.

Today, this is just another bad loss. Today, there is more anger than pride. And while the journey is just getting started, it’s very clear the honeymoon is over. As it should be.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

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Kyler Murray is 27. His time is now. Or maybe never. 

The Cardinals quarterback is the key to our football dreams in 2024. He has five years of NFL experience, from the penthouse to the porta potties. He has successfully recovered from a major injury with remarkable tenacity. He is surrounded by lethal weapons and a coaching staff he both trusts and respects. He has grown up before our eyes, gaining much-needed perspective, maturity, and self-awareness. 

Yet true legends don’t take long to declare their greatness, and this is why Murray is at the crossroads. He has already flirted with real MVP candidacy, already led a NFL team to the playoffs. But there is a new generation of quarterbacks who have passed him by on the NFL depth chart (C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert). There are quarterbacks looking to reaffirm their greatness (Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers). There are young guns looking to dazzle as rookies on the big stage (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix).  

This is the season when Murray’s wheels must go up for good, when his career must reach peak altitude. A season when his base salary rises to $37,000,000 and his salary cap number takes up 18.2 percent of the pie. By contrast, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes accounts or 14.7 of Kansas City’s payroll. 

The money shouldn’t matter. But his performance in 2024 will profoundly impact the way the Cardinals view their starting quarterback because he’s no longer affordable. 

Murray has many lingering critics in Arizona and beyond. The road hasn’t been easy. He was asked to lead a professional team at a time when his diminutive stature had become a national obsession. He was asked to front a team that already had its alpha leader in Larry Fitzgerald, the most popular athlete in Arizona history.  

Fresh off a Heisman Trophy and a career full of hero ball, Murray had no chance.  

He does now.  

Financially speaking, the Cardinals are clearly hedging their bets. They have a ton of unspent salary cap space that shouldn’t exist if a team really cares about winning and also employs a real franchise quarterback. Which means they are practically daring Murray to make them look stupid. 

Or maybe the Cardinals are smart. Because great quarterbacks transform mediocre rosters. They carry their teams to the postseason. And it’s time for Murray to make his intentions known. 

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But there are 40,000 freshmen enrolled at Arizona State University, a revolution waiting for a cause. There is a football team that just pounded Wyoming 48-7 in the season opener, a performance that instantly changed forecasts, betting lines and the mood of giddy alumni. And there is a homegrown head coach with a strong voice, irrepressible energy, and a wisdom that belies his age. A head coach with a rare combination:

Kenny Dillingham has it. Kenny Dillingham gets it. And after 27 years of mostly mediocre football in the Valley, you wonder if he’s the one to make it right. If this is the guy that will emerge as Tempe’s version of Lute Olson, strong enough to build a collegiate powerhouse in the desert and crazy enough to never leave for greener pastures.

Forgive me if you are coughing up bile or rolling your eyes. But I have seen it all. I have seen the great flirtation, when Bruce Snyder trekked through Idaho snow to recruit Jake Plummer, ruining a $300 pair of shoes; when Pat Tillman rode his bike to the stadium and meditated from the top of a light tower; when the Sun Devils came within 100 seconds of a national championship.

I have seen the subsequent failures and false starts, from Dirk Koetter to Dennis Erickson, from Todd Graham to Herm Edwards. None of them had what Dillingham brings to the table.

For starters, Dillingham has real tenacity and real appetite. He fired his hand-picked offensive coordinator halfway through the 2023 season and took over play-calling duties.

He shuffled his assistants again this season, upgrading the staff at defensive line (Diron Reynolds), offensive coordinator (former UNLV head coach Marcus Arroyo) while importing a celebrity wide receivers coach (former Steelers great Hines Ward).

He is not stumbling with the culture and its catchphrases. He is not overindulging or co-opting the memory of Tillman. He has authenticity and sincerity because he knows what it means to be a Sun Devil.

Dillingham is not playing scared. He is pushing the envelope, challenging the fan base, publicly pining for a return to the glory days when college football was a point of pride in the Valley. When Saturdays were meant to be spent at Sun Devil Stadium.

Maybe it’s folly to believe a saturated professional sports town can return to its collegiate roots. But this is also a great time to bang the drums and make some noise. The Valley has lost its NHL franchise and is no longer considered a big-league market. We could use a fourth major sports team right about now, and a resurgent bunch of Sun Devils would feel nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

Hopefully, ASU’s debut performance on Saturday was a revelation and not a mirage. The dominance was breathtaking, and certainly not the slog everyone was expecting. The student section was teeming with people, with reports of actual gridlock on the concourse. It spoke to a promise we’ve heard many times before, about the awakening of a sleeping giant in Tempe.

Maybe this team will be different. Twenty-seven years later but right on time. And if we’re really lucky, maybe we’ll all thank Ray Anderson for his parting gift to ASU, for the head coach he hired after Herm Edwards.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. 

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The Arizona Cardinals seem to be on a different timeline. Despite buzzy local optimism and a majority of fans who expect 8-9 victories in 2024, the Cardinals are sending clear signals that they need more time. To wit: 

They remain flush with salary cap space, among league leaders with over $31.3 million of spending money. Yet they have very few impact players on their roster and seem completely disinterested in acquiring pricey pieces for their chessboard.

They just traded Cam Thomas to the Chiefs for a seventh-round draft pick, a marginal player surpassed on the depth chart by Victor Dimukeje and Jesse Luketa. Yet the Cardinals have lost two of their most promising pass rushers to injury and have very little depth at the position. And if they tell you that Thomas simply does not meet their standards, they are also inferring they are smarter than the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions. 

Maybe patience is the smart play for now. Maybe this team needs another heavy influx of productive draft picks to compensate for the fruitless and barren years from general manager Steve Keim. They are fourth on the waiver claim order and will be until early October, guaranteeing a steady array of new faces in Tempe. 

But Monti Ossenfort is taking a serious risk here. If Kyler Murray is destined to become an NFL superstar, it’s going to happen right here and right now. He’s healthy. He’s matured. He has real scar tissue and a firm grasp on a new system. He has flammable weapons and a robust running game to keep him upright and rolling hot.

No more runway is needed for Murray to make a quantum leap in the coming weeks. And if the 2024 Cardinals turn into a juggernaut on offense, Ossenfort might bear the blame for leaving the defense underfunded for a second consecutive year. He will have wasted another year of our sporting lives on a timeline that works for him but not us. 

Look around. The Diamondbacks are the hottest team in baseball, featuring a brilliant general manager with real access to spending money. The Suns are run by the most financially reckless owner in sports, a man gloriously spending through the nose to win a championship. We deserve more than an NFL franchise content with serving us leftovers, a team hoping to strike gold with other team’s rejects. 

Remember the promise owner Michael Bidwill implicitly made over 20 years ago: Help build us a new stadium and we’ll be financially competitive with every other team in the league. And yet the Cardinals seem to be lagging behind once again.

I will bottle my skepticism for the moment. For better or worse, Ossenfort is sticking to his plan, his vision and his budget. He has delivered promising results entering his second season on the job. And after the desperate swings and shoddy exit of his predecessor, he has earned some blind faith.

But if Murray turns into a firework show in 2024, he better hope that defense can stop somebody and get off the field when necessary. 

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The Diamondbacks are doing their part. After sweeping the Red Sox in Fenway Park, they have achieved an altitude rarely seen from our major professional sports franchises. They are being described as the most dangerous team in Major League Baseball, maybe even the best. 

Break out the foam fingers. For that rare moment, we are No. 1.

We don’t get this kind of chest-thumping satisfaction often in Arizona. We don’t often rank among the best in class. This hasn’t happened since Chris Paul’s Suns made a run to the NBA Finals and encored with the best regular season record in the sport. 

The Diamondbacks are suddenly 19 games over .500. Built on pitching and defense, they have transformed into an offensive juggernaut. They are the only team in Major League Baseball to score 700 or more runs. With 31 games left in the regular season, the Diamondbacks have a real chance to steal a division title from the Dodgers. 

Imagine how that might feel. 

It’s far too early to crown heroes. But the 2024 Diamondbacks are a tribute to that rare combination of patience and aggressiveness. They are a nod to a franchise that kept a great general manager/manager combination employed during the dark times, when knee-jerkers in the audience were demanding heads on a spike. And they are a nod to team that learned from its previous premature misfires, picking the right time to go all in on a baseball team from a financial standpoint. 

The Diamondbacks have survived lengthy injuries to marquee pitchers. Their offense is currently without MVP candidate Ketel Marte, slugger Christian Walker and catcher Gabriel Moreno. They are reaping the benefits of hard-earned, well-spent depth. And they are buoyed by all of the band-aids and quick fixes, whether it’s Josh Bell, Adrian Del Castillo or Luis Guillorme

It says something about the culture in Arizona – upbeat, passionate, relational – that so many newcomers can step into a high-stakes environment and feel so comfortable. That’s a tribute to the vibe in Arizona, and why Torey Lovullo should be a frontrunner for manager of the year. 

The 2024 Diamondbacks are checking all the boxes. They are dominant. They are defiant. They are entertaining. They just hit the Red Sox with a three-punch knockout: blowout on Friday, pitching masterpiece on Saturday, epic comeback on Sunday. They are a team full of weapons and fan favorites, a team kicking off the stretch run with a showdown series against each the Mets and Dodgers. 

The Diamondbacks are everything we deserve, everything we crave. And we’re about to see how hot this bonfire burns. 

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Steph Curry and Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish legend with minimal gear who casually fired his air pistol with an idle hand tucked in his pocket. He looked like a character you might encounter in “Grand Theft Auto” or a Quentin Tarantino movie.   

The 2024 Summer Games were a smashing success because they felt like a celebration. They felt like Paris. They featured plenty of smiles and sexploitation, from the swimming pool to the sandpits at beach volleyball. They resuscitated an event that felt joyless, suffocated and pointless during the pandemic.

There were moments of real Olympic controversy. Canadian coaches were sent home for employing spy drones. An underqualified breakdancer from Australia scored a perfect zero. The women’s boxing competition became the latest battle ground for gender identity issues. And somehow, LeBron James was named MVP of the men’s basketball tournament even though Steph Curry lit up the globe in a gold-medal performance. 

With jaws dropped, we all witnessed Curry’s greatest gift as a pro basketball player: Whenever he puts on a fireworks display, the entire sport benefits. The entire world is inspired. 

The Olympics were a smashing success for Arizona sports fans. ASU legend Leon Marchand became a national hero in France while Phoenix gymnast Jade Carey made headlines. Diana Taurasi won her sixth gold medal while Brittney Griner wept from the podium during the national anthem, with a meaning that was lost on no one. Kevin Durant made Olympic history, affirming both his historical greatness and current relevance. And just like a boss, Devin Booker left a Paris nightclub at 6 a.m., pedaling away on a bicycle with a gold medal around his neck. 

The Paris Olympics compelled us to watch. Fun fact: The Eiffel Tower debuted at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889. It was such a hit that it caused great stress and anxiety on the city of Chicago, which hosted the ensuing World’s Fair in 1893. In something of a Hail Mary, they came up with the Ferris wheel. 

At the 2024 Summer Games, the Eiffel Tower felt like more than a civic attraction. It felt like a lighthouse in a turbulent world, so gorgeous and grand in the background of every Olympic shot.  You could barely imagine Paris without the magnificent structure, one that ordinary tourists often find overrated.  

The Paris Olympics were also a reminder that we should all strive for greater sportsmanship. Studies suggest humans have been around in some form for nearly 300,000 years. We have achieved many great things and gold-medal performances along the way, except for the bliss of peaceful and cheerful co-existence. 

Au revoir, Paris. And merci for keeping the Olympic dream alive. 

Reach Bickley at @arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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Let’s count the victories:  

Kevin Durant is back on the mountaintop, a celebrated champion once again. While his legacy can be polarizing and complicated, Durant is also the unquestioned king of the rings, the most decorated men’s basketball player in U.S. Olympic history.

A fourth gold medal surely nourishes Durant, affirming both his historical greatness and his current relevance. He should be in a really good mood when training camp begins.

Devin Booker earned rave reviews for his maturity, his defense and his selflessness. He made big plays and big shots and willingly embraced the grunt work. For some observers, it was a revelation.

Before the 2024 Olympics, Booker was a player mostly hated and trolled by 29 opposing fan bases.

Many NBA types also believed Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards would steal Booker’s spot in the starting lineup. Many were convinced that Celtics star Jayson Tatum was a superior talent and on a different level than Booker. And yet Booker never lost his grip in the starting lineup while Tatum spent most of the tournament on the bench, much to the chagrin of his handlers and his fans in Boston.

Credit Booker, who changed much of the national narrative surrounding his game, converting many of the haters and most of the ill-informed.

The collective performance from Durant and Booker has raised the optimism, the stakes and the intrigue surrounding the 2024-25 Suns, a team that added a real point guard over the summer and will feature 40 percent of the Olympic lineup that closed out basketball games in Paris.

Before the start of the 2024 Olympics, Durant and Booker were the central figures of a joyless NBA franchise that was swept out of the first round of the playoffs. There were reports that Durant’s mood had become a problem in Phoenix, that he effectively shut out a coaching staff he did not respect. They were a top-heavy team and a waste of money and a cautionary tale to the rest of the league, evidence that super teams are no longer the fast lane to a championship.

Much has changed, from the scapegoating of Frank Vogel to the hiring of Mike Budenholzer, from the addition of Tyus Jones to the glow and glory that now envelops Booker and Durant.

The Olympics can be a dicey proposition. Many NBA owners cringe when sending their most valuable assets to a tournament that can be far more risk than reward, a tournament built on patriotism and not profit. We are proof to the contrary, and the 2024 Summer Games were a stroke of good fortune for Suns owner Mat Ishbia.

No one got hurt. His two best players bolstered their reputations and strengthened their personal bond with pillar-like performances in Paris. And when it was over, faith had been restored on Planet Orange, where hope is worth its weight in gold.

Reach Bickley at @arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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They would troll the Phillies and their rabid fans when they came to Chase Field in the middle of August. They would give away replica championship rings to 20,000 lucky fans, celebrating last year’s achievement over four months into a new season. Clearly, they chose to flex on one of the worst moments in Philadelphia history. 

Brave. Bravo. And now the moment has arrived. 

Fortunately, the Diamondbacks are exactly where team executives hoped they would be when striking that cheeky deal with Jostens, the famous ring maker. They are a red-hot team now threatening the Dodgers for a division title. More importantly, they are again overtaking watercoolers in the Valley, a surging team that now ranks among the best in Major League Baseball.    

Getting here is another story. 

On May 31, the Diamondbacks were 25-32, seven games under .500. During an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7, former manager Bob Brenly sent shockwaves through the clubhouse by lamenting how the team was no longer fun to watch, far from the team that once made opponents “crap down their legs.” 

Alibis came easy. The Diamondbacks were decimated by injuries, a cruel twist for a team that spent aggressively during the offseason. Even now, four expected frontline pitchers – Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez – have started only 40 of 115 games. 

The Diamondbacks have survived because of pedigree and experience. They competed at the highest of altitudes during the 2023 postseason, succeeding on the biggest stages in baseball.  Their unforgettable romp through the playoffs steeled them for all the adversity ahead. 

They have survived because Torey Lovullo is a great manager. The Diamondbacks spent four months refusing to be a really good team. But they never became a really bad team because Lovullo has kept the floor high, managing through a patchwork rotation, the struggles of Geno Suarez, and even more bullpen games. He’s had to platoon the reigning NL Rookie of the Year on the sly just to massage his confidence. He’s had to bench closer Paul Sewald. He’s had to inform Christian Walker he wasn’t an All-Star. He’s handled all of that stress and heavy lifting without the signs of stress and baggy eyes that once dogged him early in his career. He has become a master at his profession. We are lucky to have him. 

They have survived because the Diamondbacks spent a lot on reinforcements. Joc Pederson was a great addition. Randal Grichuk and Kevin Newman are underrated pieces on the chessboard.  The bullpen has been fortified on the fly and is currently playoff-ready, while Josh Bell has instantly filled the void left by the injury to Walker.   

Along the way, the Diamondbacks have found their slug, belting 57 home runs in the month of July. If their pitching rotation comes together in the next six weeks, they will again compete for a championship. Majority owner Ken Kendrick and general manager Mike Hazen have done everything possible to act like a big-time franchise, to keep a precious flame alive. And now the flame is roaring. 

It’s a stamp of legitimacy when a team gets 10 games over .500. The Diamondbacks are now 63-52 and once again the toast of Arizona. It’s time to take them seriously. 

World Seriously. 

Reach Bickley at @arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. 

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It stands for absolution. 

No matter what happens in the next two months and beyond, the Diamondbacks general manager is absolved from all blame and failure. He has done his share. He has delivered a championship roster, and the rest is out of his control.

Hazen gave the 2024 Diamondbacks a pair of elite free agent pitchers in the offseason, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. To date, neither was a good investment. 

He brought in Joc Pederson, who has been a great fit off the bench. He imported Eugenio Suarez, a slugger who is finally paying dividends. He rebuilt the bullpen on the fly, giving manager Torey Lovullo the tools to anoint a new closer, which must happen immediately. And Hazen pivoted in the nervous hours after Christian Walker’s oblique strain, signing a power-hitting first baseman (Josh Bell) to fill the void. 

The National League will be a postseason gauntlet. The Dodgers are loaded. The Phillies are on a mission, a team looking for their own atonement. The Padres are a real problem. But the impending returns of Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly will give the Diamondbacks everything they need to capture a second consecutive pennant. 

Hazen understands this is a pivotal season in the arc of our baseball franchise. The Diamondbacks must validate last year’s magical run to the World Series. They must stack postseason appearances, proving that they are building something that is special and enduring. They cannot be another one-hit wonder in a market that has seen far too many. 

For the better part of four months, the 2024 Diamondbacks have struggled to be special. They’ve been much better at survival, where strong leadership and clubhouse character have kept them resilient in the face of adversity.   

There have been a number of statement games that have skewed the statistics and hinted at the team’s offensive potential, including eight games in which the Diamondbacks have scored 12 or more runs. But every time they’ve had the chance to build real momentum, they have crawled back into a shell. 

Not anymore. The Diamondbacks notched a rare sweep of the Nationals on Wednesday, completing a series that featured the most dramatic win of the season (Corbin Carroll’s walk-off home run on Monday) and the most lopsided shutout victory in team history (a 17-0 win on Tuesday).   

It was a series played in front of shockingly paltry crowds. But it was a series that went a long way in rekindling the buzz around our baseball team, and what they might be capable of in the near future. 

Alas, Hazen’s self-torment represented the worst part of last year’s magical romp to the World Series. He is the architect of Diamondbacks baseball. He built the team that captivated the Valley in October 2023, but not before tragically losing his wife along the way. It was awful and unjust to hear him blame himself for leaving the team one player short, for exposing the Valley to that awful bullpen game in the World Series. 

Now, Hazen is free to enjoy the ride. If only that were possible. 

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We received a Hall of Fame induction for Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzalez; a Hall of Fame performance from Kevin Durant at the Paris Olympics; and a new starting point guard for the Suns.

The latter is a really big deal.

The addition of Tyus Jones gives the Suns a legitimate floor general. He’s been widely acclaimed as the best backup point guard in the NBA. Along with Monte Morris, the Suns have added a pair of point guards who specialize in taking care of the basketball.

That was a huge problem for the Suns in 2023-24.

Jones also represents a huge coup for Mat Ishbia, the hyperaggressive owner of a second-apron franchise trapped in salary cap purgatory.

Jones agreed to play for one year at a minimum salary ($3.3 million), far below his market value. He’s betting on a breakthrough season in Phoenix that propels him to NBA riches next summer. He’s surely been guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation, and either way, clearly placing his trust in Ishbia.

This is truly a Jerry Colangelo moment for the Suns owner. During his stewardship of Valley sports, Colangelo built impeccable credentials with professional athletes. He was a player-friendly owner who built first-class environments on handshake deals, on mutual trust.

At times, Ishbia’s relentless optimism has felt like gaslighting, especially after last year’s debacle. But he has delivered yet again. And for a team that watched three players decline player options, including Eric Gordon, the addition of Jones provides a renewed rush of optimism and belief. It confirms that the Suns are back in the game, admitting and solving their point guard problem in one stunning surprise, when everyone thought they were done for the offseason.

Durant’s performance didn’t hurt, either. The Suns star shook off concerns about injury risk, dropping a performance that reminded everyone of his pedigree. Durant was making his first appearance for Team USA following a calf injury and quickly absorbed a cheap shot that was intended to test his voracity.

He also came off the bench to make his first eight shots, five of them three-pointers. In the context of the Olympics, his shooting performance literally caused the world’s jaw to drop.

After the game, a triumphant Durant danced around a thorny question, how he seemed to be displaying a sense of joy basketball fans haven’t seen in a while.

Either way, it was a great turn of events for basketball fans in Arizona. Here’s hoping Durant’s dominance and happiness lasts for many months to come.

Reach Bickley at @arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. 

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During his first press conference from training camp, the Cardinals head coach went deep on the subject. Gannon said he and members of his staff recently concluded a deep dive on the subject of momentum, studying everything from wars that occurred in the 1800s to how a golfer like Xander Schauffele can suddenly post a string of birdies to win a major tournament.

The conclusion:

“Does momentum exist? Perhaps,” Gannon said.

This much is certain. The Cardinals seem to have momentum entering the 2024 season. It’s hard to believe and even harder to accomplish.

They lost 13 of 17 games in 2023. The new regime is still winless against division opponents in the NFC West. There is a noticeable dearth of high-end talent at nearly every position. Most national media see the numbers and the names and aren’t all that impressed. Understandable.

But the Cardinals have momentum because of all the other stuff. They have a real connectivity. There is a shared identity that seems to speak to everyone in the room, a heady mix of violence and professionalism, of sincerity and barbarity. They’ve earned the Valley’s respect for their relentless effort, for their willingness to fight to the bitter end.

They are inspiring and relatable. We all want to believe in something that strongly.

Gannon’s hyperfocus and clarity are big reasons for the tailwind. His words are rarely misinterpreted. He told his team before last season that he was looking for killers. And in the first quarter of the regular season, Kyzir White almost beheaded the opposing quarterback.

The players clearly trust the coaches and the path they’ve charted. Everyone is raving about the maturity and awareness of Kyler Murray, a quarterback who has everything he needs to finally achieve greatness. And the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. gives the Cardinals rare pedigree at wide receiver, the kind the team hasn’t seen since Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

If the Cardinals find a way to make some stops, they might be dangerous. Remember, Year 2 is when Ken Whisenhunt became a star in Arizona, steering the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. Same with Bruce Arians, whose swagger helped fuel the Cardinals to a playoff berth in his second year on the job. And there’s no doubt that Gannon grew considerably in his first year at the helm.

During a 13-loss rookie season, he was careful to never lose control of his emotions or his team. On the sideline, he stood stoic behind the sunglasses, firm in his strength and conviction. I’m guessing it was far more difficult than he made it look.

This year, Gannon has real experience. So do his impossibly young assistants. It feels like momentum is a tarmac and our football team is ready for takeoff.

If you believe in momentum.

“Perhaps,” Gannon said.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.  

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It’s a harsh reality for basketball fans in every NBA city.

Kevin Durant is just the latest example. His injury status has become a hot topic entering the Paris Olympics. He’s been day-to-day for two weeks while recovering from a calf strain. He didn’t play in any of Team USA’s exhibition games and is uncertain for Sunday’s Olympic opener against Serbia.

As if Suns fans weren’t tormented enough, Durant’s status is causing mild panic attacks in the middle of summer.

In a perfect world, Durant would pull the plug. Nothing should be more important than delivering the first NBA championship to Phoenix in 56 years. The Suns need him healthy and fresh for the grueling months ahead. Even in a best-case scenario, he does not need any more miles on the tires.

Same is true with Devin Booker. Both players received All-NBA recognition last season, but even more is required of them moving forward. Booker and Durant must be better leaders and better defenders. They must invest deeper in every facet of the program. They are mid-range marksmen and maestros who must take greater risks on the road ahead, expanding the offense by attempting far more 3-point shots despite the fear of off-nights and declining shooting percentages. They need to spearhead and bulwark an angry culture obsessed with winning a championship.

That’s a lot.

There is also a fundamental difference between the players. Durant will be 35 in September. He returned too soon from a calf injury during the 2019 NBA Finals and famously blew out his Achilles, missing the following NBA season in its entirety. He knows all about the risks he’s taking. And with his age and our stakes, the current risks no longer feel acceptable.

Durant is also a player that transcends the Suns and our collective fandom. His big picture is bigger than us. He was drafted by a franchise ripped out of Seattle, and he remains one of the last remaining SuperSonics in the NBA. He’s been part of three failed super teams, still booed when he shows up in Oklahoma City. His time in Golden State is largely misunderstood and generally considered a tragic flaw in his personal legacy. Truth is, he saved Stephen Curry’s legacy and all of their backsides in Golden State, elevating a Warriors team that had just choked away the NBA Finals.

Yet an Olympic gold medal represents a valuable asset in the portfolio. For greats like Jerry Colangelo and Charles Barkley, it can serve as a substitute for NBA championships that aren’t on the resume. For aging players like Durant, Curry and LeBron James, it can be framed for titles that no longer seem possible with their respective NBA teams.

Here’s hoping Durant doesn’t feel that way about his chances in Phoenix. And that he returns from the Olympics gilded and unscathed.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. 

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All-Star games are different in baseball. They don’t count. But they always matter.

It was true yesterday, when a generation of Americans grew up on sandlots and playgrounds, when trading cards were the currency of childhood. For most of us, the Little League All-Star game was our first real shot at glory.

It’s also true for the current generation, younger fans who gravitated to baseball during the pitch clock era and the Diamondbacks’ storybook romp to the World Series. Who wouldn’t feel happy for Ketel Marte, slotted as leadoff hitter by his grateful manager, fulfilling a mission he set after getting snubbed from last year’s All-Star Game? Who wouldn’t be proud to be represented by Torey Lovullo, who expanded his growing profile as one of the most likable leaders in any sport?

There was also a deep sense of gratitude for Christian Walker, the deserving All-Star who wasn’t in Arlington, Texas, because he was effectively snubbed by the system.

True story: A few days after Walker took a wrecking ball to Dodger Stadium, Lovullo was seen stalking and sulking about the visitor’s clubhouse in San Diego. A handful of people stopped to ask the same question:

What’s wrong, Skip?

One of the concerned players was Walker, and at that very moment, Lovullo confessed. He told his perpetually underrated first baseman that he was not a member of the National League All-Star team.

By the end of the conversation, do you know what he said to me?” Lovullo recalled on Monday. “This is what a true D-back, a true teammate says: He says, ‘You know what, Torey? At the end of the day, your respect, the respect of my coaches and the respect of my teammates is all that matters to me. As long as I have that, and you guys know what I am to this organization, I (couldn’t) care less if I make that team. That meant the world to me to hear …”

The Diamondbacks have a chance to reciprocate in the offseason. Walker will be 34 next season, risky territory for a power-hitting free agent. But Walker took over for a legend in Paul Goldschmidt and never flinched. He has delivered in every meaningful way, from power to leadership to defense. If you can’t reward him, then who?

Remember, this is a franchise that allowed Randy Johnson to win his 300th game in San Francisco; that allowed one of its most lovable players, Luis Gonzalez, to sign with the Dodgers; and that allowed Paul Goldschmidt to win a MVP in St. Louis. In their recent past, the Diamondbacks have generously rewarded marquee pitchers with no ties to Arizona. Many were disasters. It’s about time they stretch for one of their own.

Rewarding Walker becomes much easier with another profitable postseason romp, and Tuesday’s All-Star Game represents the last respite, the last summer fling, one final folly before baseball gets extremely serious. Will Marte parlay his All-Star berth into a legitimate MVP run? Will Corbin Carroll be more than just a platoon player in the final 65 games?  Will we ever see a pricey starting rotation in full? Will the injury-plagued Diamondbacks finally take flight in the second half, or will they crash like just another one-hit wonder?

Here’s hoping the 2024 All-Star Game isn’t as good as it gets for Marte, Lovullo and baseball fans in Arizona.

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She left with the biggest victory of her professional career. 

Clark flirted with a triple-double in the Fever’s 88-82 win over the Mercury, her first victory over a WNBA team with a winning record. But the moment was far bigger than that. 

This was America’s most popular women’s basketball player beating the greatest of all-time before a sellout crowd of 17,071. 

This was the day when the “Indiana” on Clark’s T-shirt stood for “In Diana’s house.” This was a new kind of reality check. 

If you came for the spectacle, you left feeling satisfied. A crush of fans arrived at Footprint Center wearing Iowa Hawkeyes gear. Fans swarmed her for pregame autographs. Her official introduction elicited a shrieking reaction that once followed The Beatles across America.

But the best snapshot came before the game when Clark finished a pregame interview, something she’s doing on all visiting cities just to soothe the overwhelming media demand. Waiting for her outside the interview room was Ann Meyers Drysdale, one of the original icons of women’s basketball. Meyers Drysdale rose to stardom before the WNBA existed, once signing a contract with the Indiana Pacers in 1979. She made history, even if she didn’t make the NBA. 

The two embraced and then walked arm-in-arm down the hallway, providing a powerful visual and a powerful reminder: Pioneering is hard work. It takes time, talent and really thick skin. It takes patience and poise. Clark seems to check every box. 

Clark has single-handedly lifted a niche sport into the mainstream, even though her staggering popularity has been met with predictable jealousy and pettiness from her professional peers.

For that reason and more, Sunday’s game in Phoenix was circled on the calendar. It was the first matchup against Mercury star Diana Taurasi, the player who had predicted a “reality check” in Clark’s rookie season. She was right about that. 

Taurasi was also chided for her brusque attitude, for refusing to gush over the WNBA’s newest star. The criticism is absurd. Not only is an affront to the athletic arena, but it ignores the ruthless, cutthroat competitiveness that makes Taurasi the greatest of all-time. 

The game had all the smoke. Five technical fouls in the first 15 minutes. Three reviews for flagrant or hostile acts in the first half. Yet the game also featured a grudging level of respect between the two stars. 

Beforehand, Clark talked of how she idolized Taurasi as a young girl. And when the game began, Taurasi and Britney Griner both dapped up Clark with friendly hugs that seemed to break the ice, that seemed to make the sport a better place. 

Taurasi was even in good spirits after the loss, even though the Footprint Center crowd had given Clark an impromptu standing ovation when she walked off the court. 

The gestures seemed meaningful. They seemed like the WNBA might be done hazing and hating on their hotshot rookie, who has withstood every mental and physical challenge, handling her business with considerable grace.

Now, maybe the league and its most popular player can finally grow and soar together. 

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. 

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It was a day when Stephen A. Smith — the face of ESPN and a headline performer seeking $25 million per year — reported that the Suns were desperate to unload Kevin Durant. He didn’t shout. He didn’t scream. He actually REPORTED this bit of news, giving you his journalistic vow.

A few hours later, Suns owner Mat Ishbia stopped just short of calling Smith a liar, expressing the love that Phoenix has for KD.

The whiplash on Planet Orange was far more excitement than anyone expected from a low-wattage NBA Draft where there were few household names or players with established followings. As a result, many wondered if the Durant report was a hoax, a staged narrative constructed by ESPN to command your attention and save the television ratings. Engagement farming at its worst.

I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle.

I believe the Suns are wrestling with a very heavy question. They know Kevin Durant is a Hall of Fame talent who provided elite productivity and availability in 2023-24. They know he is a transcendent player with on-court value that is not easily replaced. I am always excited to watch him play basketball.

But is he a good influence on Devin Booker?

When a star like Durant comes to a market like Phoenix, the heaviest questions always begin as whispers. We heard that Durant was frustrated on Christmas Day. That he was so uninspired by the coaching staff that he effectively shut out Frank Vogel for a large swath of last season. No matter the level of hyperbole or what the details looked and sounded like, it couldn’t have been good for team chemistry.

We heard Booker tell reporters he was “chillin’” after a painful playoff loss, the kind of tepid reaction that made our knees buckle. It was a reaction we never expected from the Valley’s most popular assassin. And with the leadership vacuum in Phoenix, the Suns need Booker to seize the reins like never before.

Booker is a history buff with respect for greatness and tradition. Will he ever feel comfortable being the unquestioned team leader inside the current dynamic? Can he do that with Durant in his presence, a player who prides himself on balling and chilling?

Heavy questions, indeed.

Hence, the path forward is clear. The Suns will try to reset with a new head coach, new role players and a new culture. They will try to conjure up a better version of the Big Three, a partnership built on real trust. If there are no signs of elevation by January 2025, the Rockets will be waiting as potential trade partners.

Which means our very first super team in Arizona enters a make-or-break season with a very short leash. Here’s hoping Booker and Durant prove to be more than another good idea gone bad.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

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It will prove we were a great hockey city all along. 

Our next NHL franchise will be worth the wait. We have lost a talented, homegrown team to a smaller market in Salt Lake City. But we have been liberated from a bad owner, an edgy billionaire who peddled in wild ideas while ignoring his bills and generally paying by his own set of rules. Good riddance. 

Good owners use their fortunes to pursue a greater, more lasting brand of wealth, the kind that comes with greatness and glory and championship parades. Bad owners can’t see past the money. They tend to stick around for decades. They can poison a good sports town.

Alex Meruelo will be remembered as one of the worst. He connected with no one. He saw no value in political capital or public relations. He was evicted in Glendale and butchered a vote in Tempe. He either didn’t care or didn’t know that sports franchises are public trusts that must serve and reflect their communities, businesses that rely on collaboration and goodwill. 

Really. How dumb must an owner be to allow an underling to ostracize and insult Shane Doan, one of the greatest captains and brand ambassadors in the NHL?

Incredibly, we’ve had two of them in Arizona. Surely, you remember a previous owner who sent an underqualified general manager to fire Doan over breakfast.  

But only Meruelo could accomplish what no other forces of darkness ever could. He was the owner who drove Doan to another NHL franchise. 

The incompetence is staggering, and you wonder how ultra-rich people can be so stupid. Are they blinded by greed? Or is it greed that makes them wealthy in the first place? Is it the bootlickers and sycophants who insulate their lives, nodding their heads with every poor decision? 

The next owner of the Coyotes must be better. We must find our hockey version of Mat Ishbia, who has already hit for the trifecta in the Valley. He replaced the reviled Robert Sarver; he spends wildly on basketball players; and has publicly vowed his stewardship to every sports fan in the Valley. He’s shown the kind of awareness you don’t always get with billionaires. 

Our next NHL franchise will also face a tough decision. Will they still be the Coyotes? Or will they be blessed with a new name entirely? For most of their 28 years in the Valley, the Coyotes were a pit of dysfunction. Whenever they became a talking point in the Valley, it was for something scandalous or bizarre. As in, what have they done now? 

With all due respect for the kachina jersey, part of me wants to turn the brand into a smoking pile of ash. But maybe we do exactly the opposite. Maybe we embrace the ugliness of our history as a sign of our toughness and our resilience.  After all, our hockey team left us. We are not running away from anything.  

Either way, our next NHL franchise will be different from the top down. They will skate on a clean slate. We will accept nothing less. 

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