It Ends Tonight

It’s with great sadness that I write this post.  Denial can be an ugly thing, and I think I’ve been in it for quite some time now.

Normally, I’d be more angry or disappointed after a loss.  And while we will add another point to the lawnmower counter…tonight I’m just saddened.

There are three things now 100% officially, undeniably, and unfortunately clear:

1. We have no identity, or lost any we thought we had.
2. Something (trade, firing) is inevitable.
3. Unless something happens to the contrary, the Steve Nash era in Phoenix will come to an unfortunate and crushing end sooner (this year) or later (2010).

What saddens me the most is seeing how fast this all happened.  I really thought that even if it did end like this, it wouldn’t be this fast.  Was this wishful thinking?  Was this being overly optimistic?  Was I ignoring the obvious?  Who knows.  Doesn’t really matter.

What I do know, is this is the end.

Typically when I write, especially when I’m trying to be serious, I avoid doing so when I’m angry.  This is not one of those times.  Tonight, it’s an unfortunate realization of something I’ve long feared.

Steve Nash has undeniably been the heart and soul of Phoenix for the past 5 years.  What we’re seeing now is our leader hurting.  Our leader has reached the point where there is nothing more he can do.  A team that has received so much from him, has now reached their breaking point.

Is it the right thing to do to trade Nash and let him thrive elsewhere?  Do we owe him that?  If so, what happens to the Suns?  We lose our motor, our heart, and our hero.

There are no excuses for the people responsible for it getting to this point.  Amare Stoudemire has been inexcusably absent this entire year - all the while, asking to be the man.  Did Lebron ever ask to be the man?  Wade?  KG?  No - they got there through their actions and let their play on the court speak for themselves.  Hey  Amare - not scoring as much?  How about making an effort in other areas.  Oh wait, you must’ve been triple teamed at all points during the game as you eloquently said after the Boston game.

Would Nash ever say that?  Absolutely never.  He’d take ownership, like he did this year when he stated he didn’t deserve to be an All-Star, and play his ass off the next game.  No excuses, and that’s what makes a leader.  Saying you were triple teamed and “they” took you out of your game, does not a leader make.

Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on Terry Porter (love, hate, patience) he’s not getting the most out of his players.  We are so incredibly lucky we have players on our team like Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, and Leandro Barbosa who don’t have to be motivated by external forces to contribute or play as hard as they can, each and every night.  I can live with losses if we give our best and leave it all out on the floor every night.  Those guys do.  Just think if didn’t have players like that!  We’d have already lost 30-35 games.

Suns fans, do you realize that?  How fortunate are we to have players with character and integrity?  Otherwise, this would be TEN times worse than it is now.

Maybe evil won.  Maybe the good guys lost this time.

Do I still love them?  You bet.  Will I stop watching or cheering?  No way in hell.  I’m committed to this team and will forever be committed.

Despite this morose post, there is still hope.  BUT, good gracious something has to happen soon.  What has to happen?  Well, for one thing, a swift kick in the ass to the players/coaches on our team who care more about individual accomplishments and blaming others than devotion/sacrifice towards winning.

Will Kerr make a move?  Will Sarver allow a move to be made?  They damn well better. Otherwise, what was once a unifying force in the desert is gone.  And what a shame for it to end this way.

Most people have seen The Matrix Trilogy.  Few understand it.  The video you’ll see below is not far off from where the Suns are at now.  Mankind and all hope has been virtually lost and fate rests in the hands of those most powerful.  Neo (the ultimate good) is fighting Agent Smith (the ultimate bad).  Both have visions of how things will end, and interpretations of those visions lead them to the same spot.  Neo knows that the battle is ultimately “moot” as good/evil will “cancel” each other out.  However, Neo still fights and ends up destroying Agent Smith along with himself.  Thus, allowing civilization to continue and the war to end with the machines.

Will the organization give up or have the courage to keep fighting?  Will Sarver throw in the towel?  Will there be life left on Planet Orange or will it be abandoned?  Is this how it’s supposed to happen?  Were we wrong to hope for something more?  Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

I don’t know. But, I for one, sure hope this isn’t how it ends.

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