Disasters in the Desert

By Aaron Keel

Desert , noun

1 a : arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially : such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually

B : an area of water apparently devoid of life
2 archaic : a wild uninhabited and uncultivated tract
3 : a desolate or forbidding area <lost in a desert of doubt>

This is the definition of Arizona . This is also the definition of the sports landscape in Arizona . This is what fans in the Valley of the Sun have to deal with when backing the home teams, an area devoid of life and a desolate and forbidding area. In 72 combined seasons in Arizona the four major sports teams (Phoenix Suns 37 seasons, Arizona Diamondbacks 9, Phoenix Coyotes 9, & Arizona Cardinals 17) have a grand total of (Drum roll Please!) One championship. By comparison since the year 2000 3 teams (New Jersey Devils 2, L.A. Lakers 3, and New England Patriots 3) have won 2 or more titles.

The one champion Arizona does have, the Arizona Diamondbacks, have done squadoosh since their epic World Series win over the Yankees in 2001. In their five seasons since that? A 386-424 record and attendance numbers that have shrunk as low as K-Fed's album sales. Everyone's fan favorite Luis Gonzalez was notified by management that they would not be bringing him back next season leaving the team without a face. Now management must rely on new uniforms and a group of young talent led by newly announced NL Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb to put fans in the seats and lead the team back to the promised land.

This is exactly where the Phoenix Suns have been so close to getting the past two seasons. The most teasing team in Arizona , the Suns, has reached the conference finals two years running but have bowed out to the Spurs and Mavericks. This is nothing new for fans of the team who have seen the Suns reach the NBA Finals twice but were stopped by the great Boston Celtics in 1976 and Jordan 's Bulls in 1993.

But with two time defending MVP Steve Nash running the team and the return of Amare Stoudamire many "experts" (not me) picked the Suns to finally break through and capture their first title. Through Sunday however Phoenix is 3-6 and looking nothing like a championship quality team. So once again fans are left wondering if they will finally have something to cheer or if this is just another tease.

The Arizona Cardinals aren't used to hearing a lot of cheers and for good reason. Since coming from St. Louis in 1988 the team formerly known as the Phoenix Cardinals has managed a meager 100-188 record with only 2 winning seasons and one playoff appearance. The lone bright spot is a 20-7 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys in 1998, the team's only playoff win since coming to the desert. The home crowds offered little in the way of sympathy as most home games saw more fans for the opposing team then the home team Cards.

But this year was supposed to be different. With a brand new stadium and the arrival of Edgerrin James the fans had high expectations for the team. Thankfully the Cardinals can be counted to do what they do best, lose. This season has been no exception as the team sits at 1-10, leaving their fans feeling stupid for thinking this year would be any different as they catapult themselves off the bandwagon.

Unfortunately for the Phoenix Coyotes there is no bandwagon for fans to jump on or off. Since coming to the desert from Winnipeg 10 years ago, where they were the Jets, the Coyotes have been pretty much forgotten. Only 12 points this season and being overshadowed by the other teams in the state are big parts of the problem. Combined with the fact that they're an ice hockey team in the freaking desert and you have a recipe for obscurity.

So what can the fans in Arizona do? Join a Arizona Fans Anonymous group? Start a sadomasochists club? Unfortunately there is not much they can do except hope and pray that the tide of long suffering comes to an end soon. Until then I'll just be thankful that I'm not cheering for teams in Arizona .

 

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