Valley Sports Wire

Arizona Sports from a fan who actually lives it. Cardinals•Diamondbacks•Suns• Bringing Hockey Back To The Valley 🌵

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@Psychoblue9 @Espo That’s kind of my point. ESPN reported one version of it, but that doesn’t automatically make every detail 100% fact. We never heard a full explanation from everyone involved, so I’m hesitant to treat the “locker room cancer” angle as settled truth.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@Psychoblue9 @Espo I get that, but I still don’t think we ever got a real breakdown of what happened. They sent CP3 home, said they were parting ways and would figure out the next step, and most of the rest was speculation. “It wasn’t a good fit” never really explained much.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Gabriel Moreno quietly putting together one of the best seasons by a catcher in baseball.

2nd among all MLB catchers in WAR at 4.4.

One of the most important pieces of the Diamondbacks’ future. 🐍

[Thomas Nestico @TJStats]

WAR Leaders - Catcher

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@Espo Lob City was their golden era. Which honestly makes handing CP3’s No. 3 right back out even harder to understand.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Why would he opt out?

Corbin Burnes has pitched just 67⅓ innings over two seasons with Arizona, and he still has 4 years/$140M left on his deal.

After Tommy John surgery, there’s virtually no chance he’d get anything comparable on the open market.

Staying in AZ.

[Logan🌵 @phxlogan]

Doesn't sound like Corbin Burnes is going anywhere

(via @JeffPassan)

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@SleeperSuns Terrence Ross?

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@TheAZSportsGuy Absolutely. Thomas Galvin and Andrea Doan deserve a ton of credit for the hard work and dedication they’ve put into keeping Arizona in the NHL conversation. Getting back to this point this quickly didn’t happen by accident.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@Espo 😂 Fair enough. In that case it’s the perfect piece of Cardinals memorabilia. All the Buddy Ryan swagger with none of the winning. Or that might just be my southwest bias.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Buddy Ryan’s Cardinals tenure gets remembered bigger than the results actually were.

He went just 12–20 in two seasons:
1994: 8–8
1995: 4–12

No playoff appearances. Memorable personality, not a successful run.

Awesome piece though!

[Espo  @Espo]

This might be the single greatest piece of Arizona sports memorabilia I’ve ever acquired.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@TheAZSportsGuy Exactly. Even if it doesn’t happen this round, the fact that Arizona is already back in serious NHL conversations this quickly says a lot about the market. Get the ownership and arena situation right, and hockey will thrive in the desert.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Charles Barkley in Phoenix:
4 seasons | 23.4 PPG | 11.5 RPG | 4.4 APG
4× All-Star | 4× All-NBA | NBA MVP | Finals

Chris Paul in Phoenix:
3 seasons | 15.1 PPG | 9.5 APG | 4.4 RPG
2× All-Star | 2× All-NBA | Finals

Barkley is the closest comparison to CP3 time wise.

[swaveyquis @swaveyxquis]

I wouldn’t hate it cuz he part of one of the best Suns teams and one of the greatest stretches of Suns basketball history! Probably just wasn’t in Phoenix long enough tho

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Two separate groups talking with the NHL about bringing hockey back to Phoenix.

The second may be more of a long-term play, but having multiple ownership groups interested is another encouraging sign.

Hockey belongs in the desert.

[Craig Morgan @CraigSMorgan]

Greg confirms with Bill Daly the existence of a second Phoenix group that I reported a while back.
My understanding is that second group is more of a long-term plan and as such, I would even characterize those talks as preliminary and noncommittal.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

https://t.co/HyNgnwRaf8

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Devin Booker officially added “author” to the résumé.

His new book, In My Shoes: Hardwood to Concrete, tells the story behind the creation of the Nike Book 1 — from his childhood obsession with sneakers to sketches, PEs and the design process behind his first signature shoe.

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

@ErikRuby Congrats, Erik

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Love CP3 and what he did for the Suns, but no. He was only here for three seasons. The Finals run was incredible, but they didn’t finish it. Just not enough time or accomplishments in Phoenix to retire No. 3, in my opinion.

[ThePhoenixSuns.Com (Not The NBA Team) @ThePhoenixSuns2]

Would you like to see the Phoenix Suns retire Chris Paul's jersey?

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Interesting note from ESPN’s @JFowlerESPN:

Jacoby Brissett could become a trade candidate midseason if he plays well but the Cardinals struggle to win.

I think Arizona needs to get an extended look at Beck this season. Ideally, I’d like to see him start at least 10 games.

[Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN]

Week 1 buzz file:

-Comebacks
-Sleepers
-Breakouts
-QB outlooks to watch
-Dallas’ plan for Pickens
-Baker
-Aging 49ers ‘swing for fences’
-Puka plans for Yr 4
-TE market

With @DanGrazianoESPN

https://t.co/40PfbZUquN

[Valley Sports Wire @VSWireAZ]

Something to chew on.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league is in contact with TWO prospective ownership groups in Phoenix interested in bringing NHL hockey back to Arizona.

Hockey belongs in the desert. 🏒🌵