I’m sure you’ve heard a million times already, but this year marks the 40th anniversary of PBS’ Sesame Street. All week, I’ve run across sports blog posts about the greatest athlete appearances on “the Street”.

While watching the likes of Bo Jackson, Dr. J and Kobe hanging out with the Muppets, I began to wonder what Sesame Street characters had a Phoenix sports equivalent (no Phoenix athlete appeared on Sesame Street from what I can tell, although I would have loved to see what lessons Barkley had for the kids).

Here’s what hours of aimless thought during the blowout that was Thursday’s Suns-Lakers game produced.

Grover = Steve Nash

Grover is fuzzy and lovable monster. He’s been described as confident but shy. He also has a super hero alter ego.

You know Nash is fuzzy if you’ve seen this picture and he’s loved by fans of Santa Clara, the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. He’s a monster to opposing defenses and his manor is certainly filled with confidence but a hint of shyness. When the games on the line he becomes a shot making super hero that carries his team.

Oscar the Grouch = Anquan Boldin

Oscar the Grouch is the resident naysayer on Sesame Street. No matter how good things are going he finds something to complain about.

Anquan Boldin has followed a similar path the past two seasons. Despite winning for the first time in his career he’s found ways to complain (see last years NFC Championship game and last Sundays win over the Chicago Bears).

Snuffleupagus = Amare Stoudemire

Snuffleupagus was invisible for years on the show with Big Bird being the only character who could see him. Big Bird would tell people about him and no one would believe he was real.

Amare Stoudemire has suffered from a similar fate. He’s been invisible for many key moments in his career and when fans try to talk about how great he is, many people don’t believe them.

Big Bird = Robin Lopez

Big Bird is a 8′ 2″ bird with crazy feathers on his head. He is by far one of the tallest on the Street. He has many talents such as singing and writing and unusual hobbies. He is frequently be misunderstood by those around him.

Lopez is 7′ with crazy hair on his head. He’s one of the tallest in the Association. He has many talents such as drawing and writing and has unusual hobbies like reading comic books and loving all things Disney. He is frequently misunderstood by those around him, including the media.

(Verdict is still out on who is the better rebounder between the two)

Count von Count = Josh Byrnes

The Count is Sesame Streets resident number nut. He lives in an giant old castle with a bunch of bats. Known for saying “One AH AH AH AH AH. Two AH AH AH AH AH. Three AH AH AH AH AH”.

Josh Byrnes is the Diamondbacks resident number nut. He works in a giant older, in stadium architecture terms, baseball stadium with a bunch of bats. Known for saying “One organizational advocate AH AH AH AH AH. Two organizational advocates AH AH AH AH AH. Three organizational advocates AH AH AH AH AH”.

Guy Smiley = Tom Leander

Guy is Sesame Streets resident television host. He’s known for always smiling on camera.

Tom Leander is the Suns resident television host. He’s known for always smiling on camera.

Jim Henson = Jerry Colangelo

Jim Henson was one of the main visionaries behind Sesame Street’s puppets and all that is the neighborhood the show is set in.

Jerry Colangelo was one of the main visionaries behind Phoenix sports and all that is the city that surrounds his former teams.

And Now For Something Completely Different

Another Reason To Dislike Chicago

Even when I want a team from Chicago to win they can’t.

The Bears had every opportunity in the world last night to beat the San Francisco 49ers and increase the Cardinals’ NFC West lead. Instead, Jay Cutler decided to do his best Matt Leinart impersonation, or Kurt Warner from two weeks ago, throwing interceptions to any open defensive player willing.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I had to be subjected to numerous cutaways of Michael Jordan during the Heat-Cavs game last night on TNT. On top of that, I had to spend most of today hearing or reading about retiring Michael Jordan’s number throughout the NBA because of comments made by Lebron James.

If the Suns hadn’t beaten the Lakers, it would have been a horrible night.

Tweet of the Day

Take that MJ!

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Tags: Amare Stoudemire, Anquan Boldin, Big Bird, Chicago Bears, Count von Count, Grover, Guy Smiley, Jason Richardson, Jay Cutler, Jerry Colangelo, Jim Henson, Josh Byrnes, Kurt Warner, Los Angeles Lakers, Matt Leinart, Michael Jordan, Oscar the Grouch, Phoenix Suns, Robin Lopez, Sesame Street, Snuffleupagus, Steve Nash, Tom Leander, Twitter