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Just when things were looking bad, it takes almost no time for them to look worse:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... uns-100616

Well, a second source indicated it wasn't as simple as a money grab by Kerr. He wanted more money for the coaching staff, video crew, front-office secretaries -- all the people who helped produce this unexpected trip to the conference finals that yielded more than $10 million in extra revenue from eight home playoff games. Except when Kerr went to bat with Sarver, "The guy just bludgeoned Steve," the second source said.

See, this makes me sad because guys like Steve Koek, Jeramie McPeek, and all their media/interview guys have been a big reason it's easy to really love the Suns.

Good on Kerr for sticking up for them. It sucks that he paid the price and exposed Sarver as a penny-pinching miserly fool.

Welcome to Clipperville in Arizona.

That article includes a fantastic and wonderfully even-handed summary of Kerr's stay.

Very good article about very bad circumstances. Thanks for sharing it.

Lesson #2918365423: Never trust an ESPN anonymous source.

GD2 wrote:Just when things were looking bad, it takes almost no time for them to look worse:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... uns-100616

all the people who helped produce this unexpected trip to the conference finals that yielded more than $10 million in extra revenue from eight home playoff games.

Wonder why Adande omitted the Suns anual loses and skiped over the fact Suns are still paying Porter $2.5 million a year?

Sounds like he enjoys making Sarver out as a cheapskate.

Mr. Sun wrote:Lesson #2918365423: Never trust an ESPN anonymous source.

My guess is that ESPN anonymous source is a local journalist who would never be allowed to publish that in an AZCentral article but was looking for a way to get that information out so he used the national media. Even Paola Boivin, who has always been more of a cheerleader than a journalist, wrote an article that took a firm stance against how Sarver has handled things. Cheaping out on Kerr and then trying to feed the fans a story that Kerr left because of family might be the straw that break's the camel's back with Sarver's way of handling business. If we keep hearing about Sarver not wanting to reward office secretaries for their hard work and about how J-Rich had to buy his teammates' breakfast, it's gonna be next to impossible for him to sell tickets.

Mr. Sun wrote:

GD2 wrote:Just when things were looking bad, it takes almost no time for them to look worse:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... uns-100616

all the people who helped produce this unexpected trip to the conference finals that yielded more than $10 million in extra revenue from eight home playoff games.

Wonder why Adande omitted the Suns anual loses and skiped over the fact Suns are still paying Porter $2.5 million a year?

Sounds like he enjoys making Sarver out as a cheapskate.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/32/bas ... ncome.html

Instead of blindly believing all the stuff journalists who are Sarver's back pocket say about the team "losing money", try digging up facts. They made 20,000,000 in net revenue for 2009, I don't believe it for a second the team is losing money.

GD2 wrote:http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/32/basketball-values-09_NBA-Team-Valuations_Income.html

Instead of blindly believing all the stuff journalists who are Sarver's back pocket say about the team "losing money", try digging up facts. They made 20,000,000 in net revenue for 2009, I don't believe it for a second the team is losing money.

All those figures are "best guesses" since teams aren't required to release audited financials. They tremendously under report debt obligations.

If you don't think the franchise is profiting you are a damn fool.

Sellout crowds, international appeal (Do you know how big Nash and Stat are in China?), crapload of nationally televised games, deep playoff run. What more do they need to profit that you are so certain they are lacking????

Come on man, there is a limit to the rationality of devil's advocacy that you have clearly breached.

WTFsunsFTW wrote:If you don't think the franchise is profiting you are a damn fool.

Sellout crowds, international appeal (Do you know how big Nash and Stat are in China?), crapload of nationally televised games, deep playoff run. What more do they need to profit that you are so certain they are lacking????

Come on man, there is a limit to the rationality of devil's advocacy that you have clearly breached.

The Front Office was long due a payraise. Especially after the success they had this year. They deserve about 50% of the credit for hiring and finding budget players and doing the best the could with the remaining draft picks we had which weren't sold. Jerry Colangelo please come back.

WTFsunsFTW wrote:If you don't think the franchise is profiting you are a damn fool.

Sellout crowds, international appeal (Do you know how big Nash and Stat are in China?), crapload of nationally televised games, deep playoff run. What more do they need to profit that you are so certain they are lacking????

Come on man, there is a limit to the rationality of devil's advocacy that you have clearly breached.

Exactly. On top of China, there's tons of appeal for the Suns in Slovenia and Canada for obvious reasons. Sarver seems to think no one other than him should reap the financial rewards of the team's success this year, when there were tons of people who put time and effort into contributing to its success and deserved to see the benefit of it.

Mr. Sun wrote:All those figures are "best guesses" since teams aren't required to release audited financials. They tremendously under report debt obligations.

Wow.... we certainly know which side of this argument you are on. I'm honestly in awe of how quick you've been to dismiss ALL the reports.

Mr. Sun wrote:Wonder why Adande omitted the Suns anual loses and skiped over the fact Suns are still paying Porter $2.5 million a year?

Sounds like he enjoys making Sarver out as a cheapskate.

"Kerr did make the mistake of bringing in coach Terry Porter in an attempt to make the Suns more defensive-minded after D'Antoni was gone. That lasted only half a season before Porter was fired and Alvin Gentry took over as head coach. Gentry did well enough to be kept on full-time -- at one of the lowest annual salaries in the league ($1.7 million). One thing working against Kerr was the fact the Suns were still obligated to pay Porter $2.5 million per year for this season and next. Sarver wasn't happy about that (I can only imagine how it makes Gentry feel to make less than a guy doing nothing for the team)."

The losses are debatable - depends in what fashion he's writing down debt; there are lots of ways to show a loss if that's beneficial to you in other areas.

Sarver's pissed about the money he owes Porter yet the 10 million in playoff revenue is pocket change? Gotta love it.

HootieRules wrote:Sarver's pissed about the money he owes Porter yet the 10 million in playoff revenue is pocket change? Gotta love it.

He's mad because that's $2.5 million more that he can't play keep away with from the deserving FO.

Bankers should NOT run sports teams. Bankers care about having the most money they possibly can for themselves, regardless of who gets screwed. That line of thinking effed up the banks, and it will do the same for the Suns. $arver really needs to sell the team. It's gonna get to a point where there will be serious threats to his life if he keeps up at this pace.

Mr. Sun wrote:Wonder why Adande omitted the Suns anual loses and skiped over the fact Suns are still paying Porter $2.5 million a year?

Wow, there goes what tiny, tiny bit of credibility you used to have.


Even with our luxury tax, if Sarver can't turn a profit from our HUGE international stars (Steve, Amar'e), a trip to the WCF, and an awful lot of sellout crowds... well hell I don't know what to say other than why is he still holding onto it?

Risensun wrote:The Front Office was long due a payraise. Especially after the success they had this year. They deserve about 50% of the credit for hiring and finding budget players and doing the best the could with the remaining draft picks we had which weren't sold. Jerry Colangelo please come back.

What type of mentality is this ??? They 'deserve' a raise ??? Did the front office offer to take a pay cut for the prior non playoff revenue generating year ? I can see some bonuses spread around.... but this thought that if you have a good yr, then you deserve a raise ? I am going to guess that you have never been an employer because it is so typical of todays world.... look at me now, I want more. How about backing it up with another good season... just so we are sure, this all wasn't a fluke ? Too bad we didnt say that to Boris.

50% of the credit for signing Frye and ummm?... and ummm?.... ummm ?.... Nash and Gentry and the rest get 85% of my credit. Last I looked, they were the ones on the floor.


and bring back JC ??.... Christ... his flakey sell out efforts put this team's future in a hole... He found what he thought was a patsy in RSarver and sold out.... then he and his vastly overated son got a hold of Starver's check book and spent like little girls in a shoe shop. D'Ant followed with a few more unwise purchases/advice, and Kerr was left to clean up the mess. Starver was left with a sore arse and wondering what the heck did those guys do that he couldn't.

^ as what I was getting at in most of my recent posts.

There's nothing wrong with asking for a pay rise... but to actually get one is different.
I go up to my boss now and demand a 20% raise since I was able to take over another person's job on top of my job (well 50% of it anyways).... he'll just say... "You should be able to handle this easily and more really" And if I say that I'm doing a job for 1.5 people... he'd say "Not according to me, I can see you doing more, you've got a lot of potential"... and if I say that Im actually over loaded... he'd gladly give the work to someone else... and I'll risk my job to a person willing to suck it up...


Thats just the way it works.... as Frank said... will Kerr and the other guys give back some of their pay since the team didnt make the playoffs the previous year.. when they were "expected to"?

It sucks that Sarver and Co. are business minded first.... sports fans second.... but damn... the mentality and lack of "business" logic in some fans is worrying... but then again this is a sports forum and not a business conference...


I think the looming CBA discussions and the lack of confidence in getting a ring even with extra $$$ pumped into the team are 2 factors to why the ownership are acting stingy..... Im just hoping the Suns walk away with some future picks and young players to build a new core with.

Since when has an NBA team been run like a traditional business? If the NBA was run like that, Sarver would be the ideal owner. Unfortunately for him, the NBA has never operated like a traditional business and his "business minded" approach is the reason why Sarver has alienated everyone in the FO.

sunfire0112 wrote:Since when has an NBA team been run like a traditional business? If the NBA was run like that, Sarver would be the ideal owner. Unfortunately for him, the NBA has never operated like a traditional business and his "business minded" approach is the reason why Sarver has alienated everyone in the FO.

and that might have something to do with the looming troubles for the NBA. A few yrs ago, teams were on the brink of financial troubles. Many are still reeling from overpaying and over extending players. Smaller markets used different methods to survive. Many just tanked. Content with not competing for anything but draft picks. It is a viable method to rebuild.... though painful at times to the fan base.

I think Sarver's monetary behavior is more in line what is to come, rather than what was occurring NBA wise. Prepare yourself for a CBA lock out. The players are, especially the FA's. Its only logical many owners will do the same.