Sun [Tzu] is setting in Phoenix

Rewind the clock to May 14th, 2007. The Phoenix Suns were taking on their silver and black clad nemesis from San Antonio in game four of the Western Conference semi-finals. The Suns were on the verge of tying the series at two games a piece and taking momentum back in a series that had already seen them and Spurs trade blows. With 18 seconds to play the series and the course of the Phoenix Suns literally and figuratively took a blow. That’s when the Spurs’ Robert Horry sent Steve Nash flying into the scorers table. Horry’s nickname “Big Shot Bob” held true as his hip shot on Steve Nash had ripple effects felt to this day in Phoenix. The cheap shot and the mayhem that ensued cost the Suns Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for game five, the series and much more.

That incident marked the last time that the Suns would be on a basketball court as a legitimate title contender and Amare Stoudemire would be viewed as a fan favorite. That play, at the end of an already decided game, set in motion the chain of events that brought us to today.

Stoudemire, much like his team, has fallen from grace. Once thought of as a future superstar in Phoenix, he is now looked at as more leach than leader. Things have deteriorated so much that trade rumors have resurfaced involving STAT and the fans aren’t even phased.

The question is why has the man who likes to refer to himself as Sun Tzu fallen so far, so fast? The answers can be found in a book, the Art of War, written by the man which the nickname was derived from.

The Art of War refers to a leader as someone who “stands for the virtues of wisdom,
sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness”. Over the last two years, Stoudemire hasn’t exemplified any of these.

Would a man of wisdom cost his team a chance to win a championship by doing something as easily avoidable as leaving his bench during an altercation? Would a man who acted sincerely tell his fans one day that “don’t worry about the trade rumors. It’s Phoenix Suns Nation for now. Let’s stay focus”, and next go on radio stations in three separate cities to say he’d love to play there. Does a benevolent man play an instrumental part in getting two coaches fired by throwing them under the bus to the media? Would a man of courage not battle on the defensive end and under the hoop for rebounds night in and night out? Can a man that prides himself on strictness justify telling his team and the media that he doesn’t want to be a leader but does want to be “the man”?

None of this speaks directly to Amare the man, but it speaks volumes to Amare the athlete. Maybe Amare isn’t a leader, or maybe he is following at least one part of Sun Tzu’s work. He certainly seems to be waging war on at least the sensibility of local fans.

Subscribe to your favorite Phoenix team or sport or Follow us on Twitter.