I have a confession: I’m in love with the Phoenix Suns

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After writing for nearly half a decade and covering the entire gamut of topics a young woman in her 20s can discuss, never once did I envision myself writing about basketball – or any sport in particular, for that matter. Shoes and shampoo: no problem. Slam dunks and 3-point plays: huh?

As I sit here in front of my laptop, I’m reflecting on the fact that it’s been a little over two months since my first-ever live Phoenix Suns game. While the invite to a game certainly intrigued me, I ended up getting a whole lot more than I ever expected. It would seem that sitting at fourth row center court is almost a foolproof recipe for becoming an instant fan. I didn’t know the players, I didn’t know the moves but I knew the excitement I felt as the Suns showed me just who rules the Purple Palace in a 124-104 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

Since that day, I’ve been riding a slippery slope on a one-way trip to Planet Orange. Living in Vancouver, my NBA exposure is definitely limited. I recently beefed up my cable package to make sure I can catch all of the games. A perfect, purple jersey with the number 13 now hangs in my closet and comes out on more occasions than just game days. I’ve quickly gone from poised to pumping my fists in the air while cheering and shouting at the screen.

That said, I won’t sit here and pretend that I’m writing any of this because I know more about the game or the team than any of you do – I don’t. What I do know is the passion I feel for a group of players who love the game they play. It’s no secret that their turnover rate is disheartening and the only thing consistent about the Suns’ defense is inconsistency, but you won’t find anything heavier than constructive criticism coming from me. Call me a cheerleader of the verbal variety, if you will. While I understand the majority of Suns fans will argue that we’re “in it to win it”, for this girl it’s definitely about the entertainment value more than anything.

As my love affair with the Suns has deepened at a break-neck pace, I’ve made a point of ensuring that I’m in the know. I’ve been schooling myself in terminology and rules, checking stats on all of our boys and I make sure to pay very close attention during the games. While there’s certainly no greater feeling at the end of 48 minutes of nail biting than a solid win, most of my excitement comes from the moments when the Suns remind us why we’re fans. You know the moments I’m talking about…

…Robin Lopez has quickly proven to be very valuable at center court and in the paint, and in the brief seconds that he lays low under the hoop, we know a fast dunk is on deck.

…The tag team connection that Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash make without saying a word before a lightning fast pass is nothing short of astounding.

…Watching Jason Richardson get seemingly cornered-in before nailing a sharp three will always elicit deafening cheers.

Though those moments don’t equate to a win each and every time, they do make for some very entertaining basketball. When a team hustles the hardwood 82 times in a single season, it’s unrealistic to assume that they’ll win every game. You know that and I know that. Disappointment can come easy, but it surprises me how quickly many sports fans can be to point out failures. I believe that there’s always more than one way to win and sometimes the Suns need to attack at a few angles before finding their sweet spots.

That is exactly the sentiment you can expect from me. At the end of a loss, I refuse to pick at what fell apart and led to our demise. What the Suns need from us is huge encouragement on the nights they dominate the court. As you teach me about the Suns and I share my thoughts each week with all of you, let’s focus on all the things the Suns do amazingly and the insane plays that make us lose our heads. That is, after all, why we’re fans, isn’t it? It’s time to show this team why they’re going to keep feeling the love from all of us that have taken up residency on Planet Orange and why we all pledge allegiance to the purple.

You can follow Keira-Anne on Twitter @keiraanne and you can read her thoughts on life north of the border at her personal blog, Keira-Anne.com.

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Tags: Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, Keira-Anne, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash

February 1st, 2010 9:24 AM PST