His team, hoping to become just the fourth team in NHL history to rally from an 0-3 deficit and win a postseason series, lost to the Kings 4-3 in overtime.

The most magical season in franchise history came to a sudden end, and that itself would be tough to swallow.

That the goal came just seconds after he watched teammate Michal Rozsival get helped off the ice after a questionable hit by Kings captain Dustin Brown -- one that was not whistled for a penalty -- made things even worse.

"It's hard because you don't want to take anything away from L.A. because they played unbelievable and you give them all the credit, but I mean, uncle, are you freaking kidding me, uncle" he said. "I can't understand how you miss that."

Doan mentioned a delay of game penalty the referees ignored in overtime, as well as a penalty assessed to Martin Hanzal that negated a 5-on-3 advantage Phoenix was set to have in the third period.

But what had him most upset was the hit on Rozsival.

Following Thursday's 2-1 loss I texted a friend, who happens to be a Kings fan, and told him I'd be shocked if we get a Game 5.

His response:

"So would the Coyotes."

I did not think the Coyotes had it in them to beat the Kings, as it appeared they had given Los Angeles their best shot and still lost.

Out-hustled, out-played and out-classed: Phoenix had nothing going for them except for pride.

And, it turns out, that was enough to steal Game 4.

"We'd been through a lot of battles together," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said after the win. "We might as well continue battling for a while. That was what the mindset was going in.

"We put too much work in to let this slip away. It's time to see if we can work back a little bit."

Chances are the Coyotes still won't win this series; only thrice in NHL history has a team rallied from a 0-3 deficit to win. But standing up for themselves not with playing dirty but, rather, playing well, was nice to see.

After all, this is supposed to be hockey the hard way, and without a doubt it has been. However, as long as they're still around, why not make it a little difficult on their opponents, too?

"Tonight we had nothing to lose," goalie Mike Smith said after the game. Smith stopped all 36 shots he faced in what was his third shutout of this postseason. "We had to make sure we played our best game. That would give us a chance to win."

It did, and they did.

The Coyotes came out needing a win Sunday, wanting to show that they did indeed belong in the Western Conference Final. No one should doubt that, but when you fail to win a game in a series people will naturally question your credentials.

Which is why stepping up like they did, preventing the celebration that was rehearsed Thursday night was a pleasant sight. While the Kings may very well win the series (and probably will, unfortunately), they'll have to work hard for at least another 60 minutes to do so.

Make ‘em sweat a little, you know?

"Nobody wants to be in the position we're in, but everybody wants to prove they can kind of answer that call," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said Sunday. Doan, of course, scored the only two goals of the game, providing the offensive lift the team had desperately needed.

"We got an unbelievable group of guys in our room," he continued. "It sounds cliché-ish, every team that reaches this point says the same thing about their guys, but I really think our guys are special. We got just a good group and I like it."

The Coyotes, as a group, have shown as much resolve as any team in the NHL. Whether it's ownership issues, fan support (or lack thereof), mid-season struggles, they've always found a way to come out on top.

Perhaps Smith said it best, though, when asked if the team played "desperate" Sunday.

"I think we played desperate since January," he said, eliciting laughter. "But that goes without saying; we were down 3-0 going into this game.

"If there's any point in the season when you're desperate, I think knowing you can go home if you lose this game, I think that's where desperation sets in."

In fact, the Coyotes are going home, but not to begin their offseason. There will be at least 60 more minutes of hockey in the desert, and as surprising as it may be, that's 60 more than most would have expected.

And when it comes to this team, as cliché-ish as it may sound, perhaps expecting the unexpected is really the way to go.

And with that quote from Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, you can officially put the 2011-12 season to bed for the Desert Dogs.

Their magical postseason run, one that seemed like it could be destined for the Stanley Cup Final just a week ago, will come to an end at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings and, unfortunately, a lack of toughness when the Coyotes needed it most.

Because, while the officials in this series have been bad -- really, really bad -- they are not the reason the Coyotes will be watching the next series on T.V.

The Kings are simply a better team. Somehow. In every way imaginable. And Tippett, who is easily one of the best coaches in the NHL, knows it.

Spending time discussing how players benefit from "embellishment" -- a tactic known as flopping in other circles -- is noble in that, honestly, he's right. But still, that's not what you want to hear.

A coach who thinks his team can beat an opponent does not spend multiple press conferences talking about officiating. A coach who thinks his team can beat an opponent discusses exactly how it can happen, saying that a small change here or there can be the difference.

That is not the case in this series, and it stinks.

But it's reality.

"But, you know, this last series, we just haven't been able to get enough guys to the level that we need to get to," Tippett added. "We talked about that after the first couple games. The level is being raised here. We just haven't been able to get to the next level."

They have not been able to get to the next level because, quite frankly, they can't. The Kings are the Coyotes' first two postseason opponents combined: Chicago's offense with Nashville's goaltending.

Everything Coyotes fans may have feared coming into this series has come to fruition, and the last thing the team needed was shaky officiating. But they're getting it, and are not handling it particularly well.

"Obviously that hurts any team when you're getting calls like that, momentum taken out of the game," defenseman Keith Yandle said. "We were doing a good job of rolling four lines. On those penalties, you got to run only four guys. That's something that took us out of the game a little bit.

"But you can't blame it on that."

No, you can't, and it's unfortunate the officials are even a topic of discussion. However, that's what happens with fans, because we look for a reason to explain our team's demise that does not involve admitting they're just not as good.

But when the thought process seeps into the dressing room and is one of the first things out of a coach's mouth?

That's a sign it's time to turn out the lights, because there's nothing left to accomplish.

I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!

It's only "nearly" because, honestly, this wasn't much of a hockey game, though there were plenty of fights -- or, at the very least, non-hockey moments.

Facing what had been deemed a "must-win" game by fans, pundits and the players themselves, the Coyotes came out in Tuesday's game playing much better than they did in Sunday's loss, looking like a team that was not going to go away quietly.

Then Dwight King scored at the 13:15 mark in the first period, giving the Kings all the offense they would need, but not all they'd get. More came when Jeff Carter scored twice in the second and once in the third, completing the hat trick and giving the Kings a 2-0 lead as the series moves to Los Angeles.

Sadly, that wasn't even the worst thing to come out of the 4-0 loss.

The game featured 21 penalties -- 13 of which were on the Coyotes -- including game misconducts handed out to Coyotes captain Shane Doan and assistant captain Martin Hanzal for boarding, a well as Antoine Vermette for roughing. Doan hit Trevor Lewis, Hanzal got Dustin Brown, and Vermette and Dustin Penner went at it.

People can understand a team getting beat, it happens. But coming unraveled and taking some cheap shots in the process?

That's unacceptable.

Both players will await word on whether there will be any repercussions from the NHL, and with Brendan Shanahan in charge, odds are good at least one of them will miss Thursday's Game 3, while the rest of the team will try to figure out what went wrong.

"We played hard; it's the playoffs," Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle said after the game. "Guys are playing hard. You have to expect hard games. I thought we played hard and we were battling hard. We just found our way into the penalty box too much."

They found there way to the box by getting frustrated.

Frustrated they were getting beat, again. Frustrated they could not solve Jonathan Quick, again. Frustrated with the officiating. Frustrated that no matter what they were doing, it seems like it's just not good enough.

The Kings are a better team, and now they're in the Coyotes' heads, even if the players say otherwise.

"There were some hits out there that weren't good, but it's one of those things where guys are playing hard," Brown, who was on the receiving end of Hanzal's hit, said. "We capitalized on opportunities we had."

They had plenty of those opportunities, courtesy of the Coyotes and their lack of discipline. In all, the Coyotes played 15:37 of the game short-handed, some of which was even 5-3.

"Any time you spend half the period or more in the penalty box, eventually a team with the skill level they have is going to score," Coyotes goalie Mike Smith said.

Were some of the penalties -- including the one on Doan -- a little shaky? Perhaps, at least Coyotes coach Dave Tippett thinks so. But going back to something Tippett said after Game 1, when the team was dinged by the refs for retaliating to what the Kings were doing, it's up to the players to keep their composure and play through what they may deem to be poor officiating.

The Coyotes didn't do that Tuesday, and it may very well prevent them from moving forward in the postseason. Should their magical run end here, they'll undoubtedly take a long look in the mirror, and chances are good they won't like what they see.

"I don't know whether we're just happy to be here in the conference finals or what it is, but we definitely need to look around at each other," Smith said. "There's a lot of players that aren't going to get many more chances to do this.

"Guys need to look around and know that you might not get another shot like this. It's such an honor to play in the playoffs, especially in the conference finals that when you get here you want to make sure that you give everything you have and that you don't leave anything on the table at the end of the day."

It's been a poor showing from the Coyotes; of that there is no doubt. They're better than this -- in more ways than one -- and still have a chance, slim as it may be, to turn things around.

Should they fail to do so, though, this game will be the one looked at as when it all slipped away. The Coyotes spent much of the night getting shots in on the Kings, whereas the Kings spent their evening getting shots past Mike Smith.

And those are the ones that matter.

Coyotes, welcome to your Monday following a Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final.

"We had some games like this, but not to the point where we got out-competed the way we did," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said following the game.

Think the coach is upset with his team?

Fortunately for the Coyotes - unlike the Mighty Ducks before them - quitting is not really an option, unless you think they gave up in Sunday's 4-2 loss. And hey, it'd be tough to argue that assertion.

After all, the Coyotes were, as Tippett said, beat in every facet of the game. They were outshot 48-27, they went 0-for-5 on the power play, turned the puck over far too often and failed to do much of anything positive, save a Derek Morris shot from center ice and an outstanding play that led to Mikkel Boedker's second- period goal. In all, little happened that would lead one to believe the Coyotes will be able to knock off the hottest team in hockey.

Unless, of course, they play better which was, surprisingly, the general theme in the dressing room following the game.

"It's frustrating when you get beat, it's disappointing when you get beat," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "It's no good, especially when we don't play as well as we can."

Doan gave credit to the Kings for controlling the game, and rightfully so. The tempo was set early - L.A. scored just 3:53 into the game - and Jonathan Quick was impressive at saving shots that did not come from the red line.

The Coyotes did have chances, and they head into Tuesday's Game 2 feeling like it's up to them to play their game, not adjust to the Kings'. Find a team that doesn't have that kind of mentality after a loss and you'll have one that does not believe it can win.

That's not the Coyotes, at least not yet.

"I'm pretty sure that you don't get anything from winning one," Doan said. "We've got to find a way to win the next one."

Indeed, because while Game 2 is not technically a "must- win," it would be tough to imagine the Coyotes coming back from an 0-2 hole in this one.

"It's a long, long battle," center Antoine Vermette said. "It's not going to come easy, there's plenty of hockey still left; you have to adjust quickly and learn from your mistakes."

Tippett said he's curious to see how his team responds from being down in a series for the first time this postseason.

"I'm interested to see how we come back and play better," he said. "Because we have to play better if we're going to have a chance to win."

The process will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday as the Coyotes take the ice at Jobing.com Arena for practice.

Good luck, gentlemen.

I've been to six so far in the postseason. I plan on going to more.

My name is Adam Green, and I'm a bandwagon fan.

It's not that I used to dislike the Coyotes, far from it. I would usually attend a few games a year -- either as media or a fan -- and would occasionally watch games when I found them on T.V. But I wasn't "all about" the team or its successes and failures, at least, not like I have been with our other teams. The Coyotes were, in essence, an oatmeal raisin cookie to the other Valley teams' chocolate chip: I wouldn't refuse if offered, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one, either.

Now, Coyotes' faithful -- and I know you exist -- may hate me. You may say I can't appreciate the magical run the team is on, that because I did not suffer through the Gretzky years like yourself I am not really allowed to bask in the joy of what is happening now.

And you know what? In a way, you're right. But that doesn't matter, because I'm here now. And I'm not alone.

4 last nite's Coyotes/Preds, Pho received 4.64 rtg, highest local rating evr in mkt 4 NHL gm on NBCSN, which was No1 cable channel in mkt

— NBCSportsPR (@NBCSportsPR) May 8, 2012

That tweet is further proof that the Coyotes have taken the city by storm. Jobing.com Arena has consistently sold out, people are wearing Coyotes gear around town, talking about the team and gathering to watch the games. The Coyotes are no longer a second-class citizen in Phoenix. They are the team.

While the die-hards may not necessarily appreciate us joining their cause, they must understand that every fan base starts somewhere. It comes easier for some teams than others, but sooner or later, it does come. Of those who have jumped on the bandwagon the last few weeks, many will still be around when the puck drops on next season. I'll be one of them, and it's easy to see why.

Combine an inspiring playoff run of their own with a down year (and uncertain future) from the Suns and the Coyotes have an outstanding chance to grab hold of the market. Add in the news of a likely sale of the team (that will keep them in the Valley) and no longer are people asking "will the Coyotes even be here next year," but rather, "Can this team actually win the Stanley Cup?!"

And, in a way, the whole saga, leading to "Hockey the Hard Way" has galvanized the fans, so much that the bitter ramblings from up north are not only laughed at, but rebuked. You want to take the Coyotes? Not on our watch.

These last few weeks have certainly taught me about the intensity of playoff hockey, as every good possession and every shot could be the difference between winning and losing. In trying to explain it to a friend, I compared it to having every pitch in a baseball game come with the bases loaded and a full count, ie: you never know if the next thing you see will be the difference in the game.

But winning, undoubtedly, is the key. There is no such thing as a bandwagon for a bad team, so the longer this playoff run goes on, the more Coyotes-crazy you'll see the Valley become. We like winners, and we have one in Glendale. And as long as the Coyotes aren't going anywhere, we won't, either.

After all, we've been waiting in line for Space Mountain for an hour, we're pot committed, we're invested: We're Coyotes fans now.

Whether it was Joe Johnson bolting in 2005, Tim Thomas in 2006, Amare Stoudemire in 2010 or likely Steve Nash in 2012, the team has seen countless contributors skip town in search of more money or a better situation once their contracts with the team expired.

Unfortunately it appears they are willing to risk the same thing happening with head coach Alvin Gentry.

"First and foremost there is not even a scintilla of a moment, of an instant where anyone is questioning about whether he is going to be our coach next year - obviously he is going to be our coach," President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said at a gathering of local media this week.

Babby admitted, when talking about his team, that it lacked "top talent." A 33-33 record would indicated as much, though no one has really questioned Gentry's job security for this next season because of what happened in the last one.

But with his contract set to expire following this next season the idea of giving a contract extension to Gentry, who Babby said the team is pleased with, would make sense.

"My view is if a person has a three-year contract you assess it at the end of three years," Babby continued. "That's how I'm going to be judged, I've talked to Alvin about it, he's perfectly fine with that."

Babby's words sound reasonable enough, as the idea of judging Gentry's performance upon the completion of his contract would prevent the team from possibly extending him only to fire him when the team starts to struggle.

Except, you know, for the fact that Gentry has already proven himself to be a very good coach, and there's always the possibility he decides to leave on his own accord, finding a better situation for himself.

That is the chance the Suns are taking by allowing Gentry's contract to expire, because while he's only been the team's boss for three full seasons, the coach has shown deftness for getting the most out of what he has, and save one season, that hasn't been much.

Guiding the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2010 may have been Gentry's most noteworthy coaching job, but coaxing a respectable record out of his most recent squad may be his greatest accomplishment to date.

My colleague Vince Marotta who feels like Gentry deserved recognition for what he did this season, and I agree. However, I do not agree with Babby, who apparently feels like there is little reason to show appreciation for the coach in the form of a new contract.

In short, Gentry will have options if Phoenix decides to go in a different direction. But maybe that's the idea.

It may be a little conspiracy theory-y, or possibly just making something up out of thin air: but is the franchise waiting to see how Gentry does this upcoming season their way of saying "if the team stinks then you're out?"

Just days after being as upset as you'll ever see a coach whose team just won a playoff game, Tippett joked around, seemingly pleased with what had transpired on the ice not long before his post-game press conference.

Saying his team just played its best 60 minutes of hockey this postseason, culminating in a 5-3 victory and 2-0 series lead over the Nashville Predators, Tippett offered nothing but praise.

"Right through our lineup we really had a concerted push through the lineup," he said. "I didn't think there were any weak links in the lineup."

The Coyotes got goals from Antoine Vermette, Martin Hanzal, Radim Vrbata, Taylor Pyatt and Shane Doan, as well as 33 saves from a less-than- sharp Mike Smith.

OK, we'll give Smith a break. After all, for the first time this postseason the Coyotes gave him one.

In coming out of the gates strong Sunday the Coyotes managed to quiet many who felt they would struggle against a Predators team that finished Game 1 playing exceptionally well. With the rust from their long layoff gone, few would have been surprised to see the visitors get off to a fast start and play well.

The Coyotes, obviously, had other plans.

They outshot Nashville 12-9 in the first period - 39-33 for the game - coming out with an aggressive mindset not seen this postseason. They took it to the Predators early and often, carrying a lead for all but 18:02 of the game.

"We stayed chasing the puck," captain Shane Doan said. "Last game, in the first two periods we didn't play close to the way we wanted to and in the third we let them back in."

That didn't happen Sunday, and really, it never even came close.

"We've gave the opponent enough comebacks," Smith said. "It was nice to close one out and get some big goals by key players at timely times in the game where they just scored or they had momentum and we went down and got an answer and kind of took the wind out of their sails."

The Coyotes responded to every Predators goal with one of their own in minutes, preventing the type of momentum shift that has been apparent in every game the Coyotes have squandered away late.

And now, because of it, they head to Nashville - where they already won twice this season - in firm control of the series.

"In the playoffs anything can happen, but we've got to feel good where we sit right now," Smith said. "But saying that, it's going to be a long series so we're setting ourselves up for it."

Which is why maybe, for as pleased as Tippett seemed Sunday, he wasn't exactly ready to say his team found the blueprint for getting by Nashville.

"I don't know, we've done it two ways now," he said. "We've done it with Smitty and the other way.

"I wouldn't be buying the blueprints just yet."

Fair enough, but the Coyotes really do seem to have something here, especially if they can play as well as they did Sunday the rest of the series.

Tippett, who joked that the team is "just fine down here just kind of playing along" when asked if his team's performance will open eyes around the NHL, said the team is brimming with confidence.

"A lot of times you get in a series where maybe you're the underdog in the series and you get a win, but then everybody just thinks the other team should win the next game because they're supposed to win," he said. "Our guys don't understand that. Why can't we win again, I don't understand. And that was the mindset in the room [Sunday].

"We won Game 1, we can play better, why can't we win Game 2?"

That they did both Sunday made themselves winners, and their coach -- for the first time in a while -- happy with how they did it.

The Phoenix Coyotes took a 1-0 series lead over the Nashville Predators by winning 4-3. In overtime. After surrendering a third-period lead.

It's hockey, the Coyotes' way.

"We do everything the hard way," game-winning goal scorer Ray Whitney joked after the game. "There's certainly nothing easy about what we're doing right now."

No, but somehow it's effective, and it has the Coyotes, in the Western Conference semifinals for the first time, one game closer to the next round.

Of course, you wouldn't know it from the post-game scene, as there seemed to be more relief than excitement in the Coyotes' locker room. But that's kind of what happens after you win a game that, quite frankly, you probably didn't deserve to win.

The Coyotes were outshot by the Predators 42-24 on the night - including 16-1 in the third period - and once again struggled to keep the puck out of their own zone.

However, Mike Smith was his usual stellar self Friday night, and he got just enough offense from Whitney, Radim Vrbata, Rusty Klesla and Mikkel Boedker to come away with the big win.

"It's important to start off a series with a big win," Smith said. "More importantly, to win at home, so obviously it's a big, big win for our team and we need to keep pushing forward and keep improving every game."

The Coyotes will have to improve if they are to win this series, because the Predators are not going to go away quietly. They didn't Friday, and they won't in the future.

"We're fortunate to get the first one under our belt, but if we expect to have a chance to win this series we're going to have to be far better than that," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said.

After all, they cannot expect Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne to struggle like he did in the series opener. With most expecting goals to be scarce, Friday seemed like a bit of an offensive explosion.

"With these two goalies, that is probably higher than anyone would expect, but who knows, those might be the only goals we see the rest of the series," Whitney said. "Kind of an unusual game in that aspect."

It wasn't pretty, easy or, really, deserved. But the Coyotes will take it.

"Obviously we would like not to get out-played, but that's the way it's gone [Friday] and hopefully we can clean that up a little bit," Mikkel Boedker said. "But we got out on top so it's nothing to be mad about.

"There's areas we can clean up and be better in, but we won."

One, they avoided repeating the mistakes of 2003, when the team passed on an opportunity to select one of many players who would help the team in favor of trading down in the first round. Instead of picking sixth, where they could have selected a guy like Terrell Suggs, they moved down to 17th and 18th, nabbing Bryant Johnson and Calvin Pace.

That move still haunts the team to this day, and they did not let history repeat itself Thursday night.

However, as great as the addition of Floyd will be for the team, the second thing the move does will have even larger ramifications for the Arizona Cardinals.

In a way, head coach Ken Whisenhunt spelled it out when explaining the pick.

"It gives us another target, which we think will help take pressure off the quarterback," he said of Floyd.

By taking more pressure off the quarterback the Cardinals are actually putting more on him.

You're up, Kevin Kolb.

The Cardinals now boast an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions on offense, with enough playmakers to help even the most average of QBs look good.

Larry Fitzgerald. Beanie Wells. Ryan Williams. Michael Floyd. Todd Heap. Rob Housler. Early Doucet. Andre Roberts.

Every one of these players has shown big-play ability. Every one of these players stands to play key roles for the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. Neither one of these players is an offensive lineman, sure, but the team will most definitely address that spot later in the draft.

By drafting a playmaker like Floyd with their first- rounder, the Cardinals showed they hope to replicate the success they had through the air in 2008 and 2009. And, if not that, at least get back to being one of the league's better passing attacks.

Yes, you can take Kurt Warner out of the offense, but you apparently cannot take the offense out of the Arizona Cardinals.

"When you really look at it, you've got a player that can change field position pretty quickly," Whisenhunt said. "And when you couple that with the guys that we already have - Larry, Andre and Early - we feel like it gives us a very good receiving core."

Indeed, but that's where Kolb comes in, fresh out of the excuses that were granted him in his first season with the team.

He'll have an entire offseason to learn the playbook, a revamped (if not improved) offensive line, and one of the league's better running back tandems.

And, with the selection of Michael Floyd, Kevin Kolb will have a group of pass catchers who can make big plays down the field.

All he has to do is get them the ball.

Three years or so ago the Phoenix Suns had a decision to make:

Trade Amare Stoudemire before he likely left as a free agent, or make one last run with him, future be damned.

They decided to make one final run, and were rewarded with a trip to the Western Conference Finals before he decided to bolt for the bright lights (and extra money) New York had to offer.

Similarly, the last two seasons the team has had a similar decision to make with regards to Steve Nash and, like with Stoudemire, they've elected to keep him around in hopes of making a final run or two before he possibly left as a free agent.

They were rewarded with a pair of trips to the NBA's draft lottery.

Recently, plenty of teams have had similar decisions to make with regards to their own stars.

Last season alone we saw the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz part with Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams, respectively, deciding that whatever they could possibly win with them was not worth receiving nothing in return for them over the summer.

The Nuggets shipped ‘Melo out for Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, one first-round pick, two second-round picks and $3 million cash.

They made the playoffs the season of the trade. They made the playoffs the season following the trade.

The Jazz, on the other hand, received Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, two first-round picks and cash considerations for Williams.

They bottomed out the year of the trade, and just clinched a playoff spot (over the Suns, mind you) the year after.

Now, this isn't to say the Suns would have received a similar package for Stoudemire or Nash. Neither player carried anything close to the value an Anthony or Williams had, so it's tough to say what exactly the team could have received in return.

But they would have received something, and that's the point.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost LeBron James for nothing, and look at them now. Same with the Toronto Raptors and Chris Bosh. Losing stars for nothing is not a way to build a winner. Letting them go on their terms - not yours - is the way to ensure your team crumbles in their absence.

"At some point, you have to start rebuilding," TNT NBA analyst and Suns Ring of Honor member Charles Barkley said Tuesday night. "I love Steve Nash but at some point you have to start rebuilding for the future.

"He can still play but they don't need him in Phoenix."

By the way, Barkley said the Suns re-signing Nash would be "stupid."

Unfortunately for the Suns, the "stupid" part of what they've done has already come to pass. The team held onto Nash and whatever was left of a great run, squeezing some excellent basketball out of an aging player on a bad team.

And now, as the saying goes, the chickens will come home to roost.

Nash will explore free agency, just as he's said he will, and may very well leave for another team - one that has a chance to win in the coming years.

And in return, the Suns will have a roster void of impact players, instead filled with role players who can be good some nights, but struggle with consistency.

Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat are nice players, but neither are the type you build around.

Channing Frye and Robin Lopez have had their moments, but cannot be relied on night in and night out.

The team's prized rookie, Markieff Morris, looked overwhelmed every time he was inserted into the starting lineup, and Grant Hill may follow Nash out of town.

After that, it's just a collection of players who either won't come back or have had little impact on the team to begin with.

In other words, if Nash leaves, the Suns will be bad. Very bad. Think Cavaliers, Raptors kind of bad.

Teams that do not prepare to move on without their stars struggle mightily when having to do just that. The Suns surrendered the option to part with Steve Nash on their own terms, instead leaving it up to the player.

The Suns' finale Wednesday at home may very well be the two-time MVP's final game in a purple and orange uniform. Remember to enjoy it and appreciate what you are watching, fans, because keeping Nash the last two seasons may cost the team its future.

With the NFL Draft just a few days away, both Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt have openly talked about the strategy of drafting based on ability, not need.

"What we don't want to do is draft a lineman just to draft a lineman because that's what you think you have to do," Coach Whiz has said.

"We will focus on our needs throughout the process but we don't deviate from that approach,"Graves said about taking the best available player, regardless of need. "I think with that you have a better chance of coming away feeling satisfied and, more importantly, being successful with the pick."

Their words sound well-and-good, but the real test will come Thursday when the team makes its pick (presumably 13th overall). If history is any indication, need will absolutely be a factor.

Let's take a look at the team's draft history under Whiz:

2007: Levi Brown, 5th overall.
2008: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 16th overall
2009: Beanie Wells, 31st overall
2010: Dan Williams, 26th overall
2011: Patrick Peterson, 5th overall

Of those five, only DRC, Wells and Peterson could be considered "BPA" selections, and even that's a stretch since corners are always in demand and the team was planning on cutting Edgerrin James when they picked Wells.

If there is anything to learn from Whisenhunt's tenure - and maybe those of every NFL coach, to be honest - it's that need is always a factor, no matter what people say.

So, where does that leave the Cardinals?

Based purely on "need," the Cardinals would likely be interested in one of David DeCastro, Jonathan Martin, Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn. All linemen, all would plug a hole.

Based purely on value, a player like Michael Floyd, Melvin Ingram or Courtney Upshaw would be a fantastic choice at 13.

At least one of those players will likely be there when the Cardinals are on the clock. At least one of those players will likely be the guy.

If the Cardinals go with a lineman, will you feel like they did so out of need? Would you even believe them if they said Reiff or Glenn was the top player on their board?

Probably not, but "reaching" for a player at 13 is a lot more understandable than doing so in the top-5, so the Cardinals taking a lineman not named Matt Kalil would not be the end of the world.

Things were easy to figure out last season, with only four teams picking before Arizona. Most figured Peterson to be on the board for them, and given his talent plus the need the team was planning on creating by trading DRC to Philadelphia, the choice was about as obvious as it was successful.

There will be no such luck this time around.

Picking later in the draft is the price a team pays for success, and because of it the Cardinals will have to wait a while - and probably sweat a bit, too - as names are called and players taken off their draft board.

Then the Cardinals will make their selection, and no matter who it is, will say they selected the top-ranked player on their draft board and talk about how excited they are to add a player of so-and-so's caliber to the roster.

They'll probably be lying, at least a little bit.

While it is great to say a team is taking the best player available, it's far from that simple. The Cardinals will be factoring in their team needs every time they make a pick, meaning they may draft a player that is less exciting than he is needed.

Do a story about the 8th annual Pat's Run.

It made sense. I'll be running in the event for the first time Saturday, and it's become enough of a staple here in the Valley that we should have something on it for ArizonaSports.com.

Then I started putting the story together, and learned there is much more to the story than I originally thought.

Sure, the run itself is important. Hunter Riley, Director of Programs for the Pat Tillman Foundation, said they sold out and are expecting 28,000 people for the 4.2 mile run, and another 4,000 kids doing the .42 mile trek. Add in the 10,000 or so who will be there just to watch, and you have a packed house in Tempe Saturday morning.

And that doesn't even count the record 25 "shadow runs" that will take place all over the country.

"People around the United States definitely step up and become part of this," Riley said.

It's a far cry from the event's relatively humble beginnings in 2005.

"Year one, less than 5,000 people," Riley said of how many participated. "It was really about just a group of people honoring and remembering Pat Tillman."

Tillman, you remember, was an Arizona State Sun Devil, Arizona Cardinal and U.S. Army Ranger who was killed in Afghanistan in a friendly fire incident on April 22, 2004. His death shocked the country but also opened America's eyes to a man whose legacy all involved hope to honor.

"We're here to honor those who have served and sacrificed for this nation," Riley said. "Because of that it's beyond Pat right now."

It's beyond the run, too.

In Groundhog Day, Phil (played by Bill Murray) could not escape a particular day until he learned some things that would change his life for the better.

While the Coyotes would much rather take after Phil, who ultimately learned from his mistakes and improved his life, they unfortunately more closely resembled Neo Saturday night in Glendale, as the change in Game 3 -- and their first-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks -- was not a good one.

"Obviously disappointed and frustrated, but it's 1-1 now," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said after the team's 4-3 OT loss. "Never want to give a game away like we did, but at the same time it's one game."

If only it was "one game." In fact, it was the second time in two games where the Coyotes saw the Blackhawks tie things up in the final seconds, this time courtesy of a Patrick Sharp goal at the 19:54 mark in the third period.

The Coyotes were six seconds away from heading to the Windy City with a 2-0 series lead, and instead head to Chicago with the wind having been taken out of their sails.

"Obviously it's disappointing, no doubt about that," center Antoine Vermette said. "When you win you're feeling pretty good and then I think a key in the playoffs is managing your emotion.

Vermette scored a pair of goals on the night, and nearly pulled off the hat trick early in overtime, only to be stuffed by Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. What could have been…

Added Vermette, "I mean, it's disappointing but we got to look ahead and go there and regroup and have some good games over there."

They're going to have to.

The good news is that as bad as things seem now, this series isn't over - it's just been reset. While the Blackhawks accomplished what they set out to do by earning the split, but now it's on them to hold serve at the United Center in Chicago, where the Coyotes won a pair of games during the regular season (one in a shootout).

So while things may seem bleak now, all is not lost. In fact, as Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said, this series has played out in a fashion that was not unexpected.

"It's exactly the way I thought it was going to be, tight and very contested," he said.

Doan agreed, saying they all thought it would be a long series, and it's going to be exactly that.

Not much changed for the Coyotes from Game 1 to Game 2, with the only difference being who came out on top. The good news for them is like Phil, they will have a chance to learn and move on.

Game 3 is Tuesday.

In their Stanley Cup Playoffs opener Thursday night in Glendale against the Blackhawks, it may as well have been "Making hockey harder for ourselves."

The Coyotes fell behind just 4:04 into the game when Chicago's Jonathan Toews slipped a shot past Mike Smith, conjuring up memories of last year's first-round sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Coyotes survived the rest of the first period and went into the intermission down just 1-0, and then something unexpectedly expected happened:

They fought back.

The Coyotes showed their trademark resilience in the second period, storming back with goals from Taylor Pyatt and Antoine Vermette, allowing the Desert Dogs to take a 2-1 lead into the third.

"We finally got some rhythm in our game a little bit," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said of what changed in the second period.

The Coyotes played pretty well into the third, too, and for 19 minutes and 45 seconds, it seemed like the lead would hold up.

That is, until Chicago's Brent Seabrook punched a shot by Smith and the Coyotes square in the gut, tying the game and sending it to overtime.

No worries, though, because these are the Coyotes. It wouldn't be them if it wasn't at least a little difficult.

"We've had it happen probably three or four times to us this year, so we can deal with it," captain Shane Doan said of the late goal. "It's one of those things that it's just the way it is.

"That's just how playoff hockey is played."

Fortunately for the Coyotes -- and most of the more than 17,000 fans in attendance -- the team fought back once again, with Martin Hanzal scoring at the 9:29 in overtime for the win.

Final score: Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT).

It wasn't easy but it was a win, and at this point in the season that's the only thing anyone cares about.

And, after managing to notch the win Thursday, you can't help but feel good about this team's chances. After all, they couldn't even lose when they seemingly tried.

To wit: The Coyotes were outshot 45-34 and allowed four power plays -- two in the third period -- and still found a way to win.

Whether or not this year's team is anymore talented than the last two that flamed out in the playoffs is up for debate, but what is not -- especially after what transpired in Game 1 -- is the fact that this team is as mentally tough as they come.

After all, it would seem like it would be tough to bounce back after letting a lead slip away in the game's final seconds and having to go to overtime to win.

"We were viewing it as more of an opportunity," Doan said. "That's what was talked about in the room. I mean, you get to the playoffs and it's unbelievable, but to play overtime in the playoffs is…when you're a kid you talk about scoring the overtime winner, that's the way it is.

"Not the way you want to go into it, but once you're in it you've got to find the silver lining."

And victories, of course.

As it stands, the Coyotes need three more to go where they've never gone before: the second round.

But that's a long ways away, as this promises to be a painstakingly difficult series, for the players, fans and everyone else invested in what happens on the ice.

It's not easy, but that's playoff hockey. It's also chippy but again, that's the playoffs.

"I think everyone's just ornery out there," goalie Mike Smith said. "It's a fun atmosphere to be a part of, it's fun to play in games like this."

There's at least three more left, though chances are things won't be settled that quickly. Or easily.

After all, this is hockey the hard way.

"We've got to treat every game as a playoff game," Suns coach Alvin Gentry told Arizona Sports 620's Burns and Gambo. "It has to be almost like a playoff game for us."

The Suns have gone 5-1 since, fighting their way into the conversation for one of the Western Conference's final 8 spots.

As it stands, even the most ardent pro-lottery guy (cough… myself…cough…) can appreciate the evolution this team has gone through and the fight they have displayed. The team that slumped to a 12-19 mark in mid-February is gone, replaced by a squad that competes every night out.

Are they perfect? No. This is still a team that lacks a go-to scorer and struggles to put points on the scoreboard late in games. They rely heavily on the three ball and have needed great games from guys like Shannon Brown and Michael Redd to come out with wins against some of the league's lesser teams.

But, unlike earlier in the season, they are getting those wins on a consistent basis, which is why there is renewed optimism on Planet Orange.

No longer is Shannon Brown the worst player to recently don a Suns uniform; Pat Burke, Paul Shirley and Sean Marks can go back to fighting for that honor. The guy has been a perfect fit in the team's starting lineup, providing a spark the team lacked -- and needed.

It's not just that the D-backs swept the San Francisco Giants, a team many think will challenge Arizona for the NL West crown.

And it's not just that the Diamondbacks swept the San Francisco Giants while facing the likes of Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain - the last of whom pitched against Josh Collmenter.

No, the fact that the Diamondbacks swept the Giants in a way that reminds you of how this team won so often last season shows that the resiliency - which was this team's best and most important trait - has not gone anywhere.

"That one will make you smile, it really does," manager Kirk Gibson said after Sunday's 7-6 win, one in which his team committed 5 errors while falling behind 6-0. "Guys battled. It was an interesting game, and they got the job done, competed very well today."

While interesting isn't the word I would use to describe what transpired Sunday (sloppy would be more accurate), the one thing it should not have been - even if it was, just a little - is surprising.

OK, it was admittedly surprising to me, as I turned to my grandfather in the third inning Sunday and said something to the effect of "well, this one's over."

My bad.

You'd think I would have learned not to doubt the D-backs after last season, because if Gibson's squad has proven anything over the last year or so, it's that they won't give up on any game, and because of it, neither should the fans.

But as you likely already know, old habits die hard.

As fans, we must get used to the fact that this is a good team with a chance to be special. That comes with some pressure, because "just being competitive" is no longer good enough. Sure, last year was fun and all, but we want more this season. We expect more this season.

And, I believe we'll get more this season, even if, like Sunday, it's not always pretty.

"I think it brings back good memories for us, similar to last year," Gibson said after the win. "I've said several times that I love playing ugly games and winning them.

"Today's game was really beautiful."

While three games is hardly enough of a sample size to determine what this D-backs team will accomplish this season (remember, they finished last April with a 11-15 mark), we can all feel comfortable with the knowledge that everything that made this team special last season remains.

Unfortunately for them (and their presumed angle), the only place the Coyotes moved was farther up the Western Conference Standings, as Phoenix beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 and all but solidified its hold on a playoff spot.

You can thank Mike Smith.

The Coyotes' goalie notched his 8th shutout of the season while making an NHL regular season record 54 saves in a shutout, all while winning his 36th game of the year.

Smith has not allowed a goal in 219 minutes and 59 seconds, putting together his best stretch of the season when the team needed him most.

"As an athlete I think we want to contribute and help the team win in times like this in the season," Smith said after the game. "I wouldn't think it's any different for anyone else other than just me.

"It's an important time of year to play well, and I'm just fortunate that I'm doing it at this time in the season. It's exciting and fun to be a part of games like this."

A free agent at the end of this season, the Suns have, publicly, expressed hope a desire to keep the former league MVP on Planet Orange after this season.

Still playing at a high level, Nash is the quintessential Phoenix Sun, the face of the franchise and the team's best player. Even though they should begin the rebuilding process around young players, it makes sense on some levels for the organization to want Nash back for a few more years.

But what about the player, does he want to come back?

According to Nash himself, only if the Suns make some serious improvements this summer, because he'd rather not spend his final days in the NBA playing for a lottery team, which is what the Suns are right now. "I definitely do want to win," Nash told FoxSports Radio's Dan Patrick. "I'm not going to come back to the Suns if there isn't an improvement. If they're not ambitious and they're not looking to upgrade the roster seriously -- and I think they are.

"They'll have a lot of flexibility in free agency. I think I've been standing pat so they could do some things this summer. I think they'll become a definite possibility for me, but I do want to win and I do want to consider all my options."

A player not wanting to play for a winner would be news, so Nash's words should not really come as a shock to anyone.

Except for the fact that the timing of his statement is a bit curious.

The Suns, after all, can no longer make improvements to this year's team. And, if the New York Post's Peter Vescey is to be believed, this fact infuriates Nash. Regardless, the roster you see is the one that will continue to fight for a playoff spot, though they will be doing so short Grant Hill, who had surgery Friday to repair a torn meniscus.

But again, Nash's comments are not about this year - not really. No doubt the last two seasons have been a drain on him, because there is no doubt being on the losing end of the scoreboard more often than is not a lot of fun. However, there was little Nash could do about it before - short of asking for a trade, which he was not going to do - so he had to tough it out, continuing to battle every night in the hopes that things would somehow improve.

After all, the Knicks are now on the hook for the rest of Stoudemire's $99.7 million contract, and after averaging just 17.6 points and 8 rebounds per game before the injury this year, it would seem he's going to be more "dead weight" than "All-Star" by the time his contract is done.

Congratulations, Robert Sarver and Co., you did something right.

Or maybe not.

Stoudemire getting hurt this season does not mean he could not have helped the Suns last season. STAT averaged 25.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his first year in the Big Apple, numbers that would have been difficult not to achieve if he was still playing with Steve Nash in the Valley of the Sun.

Levi Brown gets a bad rap.

Taken by the Cardinals with the fifth pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the offensive lineman has at best adequate, and at worst…well…Levi Brown.

Sure, he has not missed a game since his rookie season, starting all 16 (plus playoffs) every year since 2008. And yes, at 28, he's in the midst of his prime, a player who should not see a significant drop off in play anytime soon.

Still, there are plenty of fans who feel the team bringing Brown back was a mistake on par with drafting him in the first place.

After all, why continue on with a player who, with every false start or blown pass protection, reminds us that the team passed on some guy named Adrian Peterson?

Well, because it was the right thing to do.

While Brown is not an elite left tackle like Joe Thomas, Jake Long or Joe Staley, he is a player who has started for two playoff teams - one of which reached the Super Bowl.

Of course, he did so as a right tackle, which is where the team is rumored to be moving him back to this year. Can the team find a better left tackle either through the draft or what's left in free agency? One would hope so, but at least the team is not left looking to fill both tackle spots.

That is how a team backs itself into a corner. That is how a team drafts Levi Brown in the first place.

The 2012 draft set to be one of the more loaded classes in recent history. The Thunder are leading the West, and they are showing no signs of falling apart. And, should a team miraculously get past the Durantula, chances are the Bulls or Heat will be waiting for them.

So an NBA Championship is out the window.

And, when the Suns' loss to the Lakers on February 17 dropped their record to 12-19, it seemed like I (and many others) would get their wish.

Eleven wins in 14 games later, and the Suns find themselves on the playoff bubble, playing as well as anyone but the aforementioned Bulls since the All-Star break.

While I won't ask anyone to get excited about the team's ascension to playoff contention (mediocrity is nothing to cheer for), the fact that the team is even at this point is a testament to a coaching staff that gets the most out of its players and a group of players who just won't quit.

After all, this is the same team Steve Nash has repeatedly said was short on talent.

Sure, the Suns have five players averaging double figures in scoring, with Marcin Gortat's 16 points per night leading the team, but that's good enough for just 37th- best in the league. Gortat is also the team's leading rebounder, but his 10 per game place him ninth in the NBA - hardly great.

In fact, only Nash, who is averaging a league-best 11.3 assists per game, would be confused with an elite player. The team's only All-Star, the 38-year-old who wasn't traded is putting together yet another excellent season.

But, even Nash can't carry the Suns to the playoffs - not on his own - which is what makes the team's recent spurt all the more remarkable.

Of course, in typical Nash fashion, the point guard attributed the good basketball to chemistry.

"I think people are understanding and feeling more comfortable with their roles, I think we're more cohesive, chemistry has improved," he said. "It's definitely another reason why we're playing better."

Other reasons include Channing Frye remembering how to shoot, Grant Hill stepping his game up and Jared Dudley, who's avereging 17.2 points per game since the All-Star break, emerging as a consistent scoring threat.

The bench has played well - or, at least, well enough - to allow coach Alvin Gentry to rest his starters without fear. Hell, Gentry was even able to rest both Nash and Hill last week in Los Angeles against the Clippers, and his team responded by pulling out one of the more gutsy wins you'll ever see.

Gentry shares Nash's view on where the improvement has come from.

"I think that the chemistry has just come together," Gentry said, agreeing with his point guard. "I don't know how that happens but I think our guys feel pretty good about themselves. Our bench is starting to play better. Because of that I think guys are starting to feel more comfortable in their roles."

This could be the reason, because there's no other way to explain the way Gentry is getting solid production from the likes of Sebastian Telfair, Michael Redd, Robin Lopez and Shannon Brown, while still finding minutes for rookie Markieff Morris.

That's not exactly a second unit dreams are made of.

But I digress.

That the players did not quit on the season or on their coach is a sign that, if the front office has done one thing right, it's assemble a group of men who will continue to fight.

President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby has, many times, told Arizona Sports 620 that the goal is to create a certain culture around the organization, which is why they wouldn't trade Nash or tank the season in the hopes of landing a better draft pick.

Though the team is not likely to return to elite status without acquiring a superstar or two - and that generally happens via the draft - it's tough to fault the players and coaches for doing everything they can to win basketball games, a process that gets more difficult as 13 of the team's final 21 games will be on the road, starting Tuesday in Miami against the Heat.

Should the Suns win enough games the rest of the way to sneak into the playoffs they will have done themselves a disservice, sacrificing a better future for the opportunity to lose in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

But they will also have done themselves proud, showing the type of character and heart you want in a team.

Even if it's lacking the requisite talent to really compete.

With those words Friday, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt effectively put an end to the team's pursuit of Peyton Manning, ending months of speculation and a week's worth of effort to land the future Hall of Fame QB.

The Cards bowed out of the Manning sweepstakes largely because of a roster bonus due to Kevin Kolb, a contract stipulation that forced the Cardinals to make a decision - one way or another - by Friday afternoon: either pick up the option and keep Kolb, or cut him loose and hope for the best with Manning.

They made their choice, and it was to stick with the QB they acquired last summer.

This is a QB who completed 57.7 percent of his passes and threw for just nine touchdowns in his first season in the Valley. A QB who played in only nine games due to various injuries.

A QB who the Cardinals decided they couldn't lose on the hope they'd be able to convince Peyton Manning to come to Arizona.

So now Manning will be leading some other team, likely the Broncos, and the Cardinals will lick their wounds and head into the season with Kolb and John Skelton.

The prospect doesn't faze Whisenhunt, not in the least.

"We sit here today in the same spot we were heading into the offseason," he said. "That's with two experienced quarterbacks who have both demonstrated positive things in the past and who we feel good about."

The decision to stop going after Manning, though, was not about what the team has in Skelton. If Whisenhunt truly believed the Fordham product was capable of being the starter, the team would have saved some money and given Kolb the boot.

That they didn't is a sign that, while the team may like Skelton, they still believe in Kolb - at least to the point where they were too afraid to lose him just for a slim chance at landing Manning.

And now it's up to Kolb to justify that belief.

The 27-year-old will have a full offseason with the team, with a chance to learn the playbook and work on familiarizing himself with his receivers, as well as a upgraded revamped offensive line.

What he won't have is any more excuses.

If Kevin Kolb fails, it won't be due to a lack of effort. He's proven to be a tireless worker and solid leader though, as my colleague Vince Marotta points out, he may be a little miffed at the team's effort to replace him.

At any rate, Kolb, first and foremost, must stay healthy. Quarterbacks who miss half a season due to injury are of little use to a team, no matter how talented they are. And then, if on the field, he must outperform Skelton, who will have every chance to win the starting job outright this summer.

For Kolb's sake, he better win the job and open the season under center.

The Cardinals could not continue in the race for Peyton Manning because it would have cost them Kevin Kolb. They may not have come out on top, but they wouldn't have excused themselves from contention, either, had it not been for Kolb's bonus. Now it's up to Kolb to not only prove they made the right call, but also prove that he has a future as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

This is his team. It may be his last chance.

When I left for vacation on March 4th, the Valley was a place where decent sports teams played in front of modest crowds - at best.

The Coyotes' attendance struggles are well documented, the Suns are failing to draw numbers close to what they did just a few years ago, the Diamondbacks couldn't sell out Chase Field and University of Phoenix Stadium miraculously kept its sellout streak alive last season (though it's worth noting rarely was the stadium actually full).

I returned March 9th to a different Arizona.

Sure, the Coyotes and Suns are still struggling at the gates. And no, I don't expect Chase Field to be packed on a nightly basis this summer.

But the fans here care, and they've proven it with the way the Peyton Manning saga (is it a saga yet?) has gone down.

Take former local sportscaster Vic Lombardi, who embarrassed himself on Twitter over the weekend with a series of tweets, including this one:

No disrespect to the Cardinals, but I've worked in both cities. Phoenix is a JV football town compared to Denver. Not even close.

— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) March 11, 2012

Ouch?

No doubt Lombardi would love to see Manning in Broncos orange, because the team would be better and his job more interesting. But does he have to take shots at Phoenix, the place he once called home?

Needless to say, the Valley of the Sun did not take kindly to his message, as fans and media alike fired off numerous responses, all aimed at putting Lombardi in his place.

Did it work? Who knows, though Lombardi's Twitter issues continued when he later reported that Broncos sources told him they were 95 percent sure Manning was heading to the Mile High City, a story that was refuted by everyone.

And whether or not Lombardi ends up being right - Manning could, after all, choose Denver - the fact that Arizona stepped up to the plate with both passion and knowledge was impressive. Take these responses to other Lombardi tweets:

@VicLombardi It's not even Bill Bidwill. It's Michael Bidwill. His track record has shown that he's committed to winning since taking over.

— azc26 (@azc26) data-datetime="2012-03-11T17:10:27+00:00">March 11, 2012

@VicLombardi Denver is an outstanding sports town. Not refuting that. PHX is undoubtedly a "Cardinals town" now. A lot has changed.

— Vince Marotta (@Vincemarotta) March 11, 2012

And then, finally, this comment on the whole idea of Phoenix being a lousy sports town.

Guys, the Valley is a transient city. Just like the Bidwill's rep, new reputations take time to establish.

— Mike May (@SB_MikeMay) March 12, 2012

Denver may be a better sports city than Phoenix, but that doesn't mean the latter is worthy of being mocked, laughed at or ridiculed.

Besides, you don't see any billboards around here asking if we prefer Manning or John Skelton, which wouldn't be unlike the one in Denver asking if the city prefers the former Colt or Tim Tebow.

By the way, Tebow is leading the vote.

Phoenix will never be New York, Philadelphia or Chicago - we just don't have that kind of attitude. And the Valley will not soon be confused with Denver, Boston or Dallas. But give us time, we'll get there.

In fact, we're already well on our way.

So you're saying Steve Nash is not going to re-sign with the Suns when his contract expires? Why wouldn't a 38-year-old former league MVP want to spend his final seasons with a team that has zero chance of winning an NBA championship, which just so happens to be the only thing Nash has yet to accomplish in his Hall of Fame career?

With the NBA's trade deadline just a couple weeks away, the team has done all it can to put any talk of trading Steve Nash somewhere to bed. Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby has told anyone who will listen that the team will not move Nash unless he asks to be dealt, and since there's been on indication of that happening, no trade will be consummated.

Nash has talked about loyalty to his teammates and the Suns organization, and Babby has cited the same reason as for why the team won't actively pursue a deal, and that sounds all well and good.

But I'm going to submit another reason for why the team won't make a deal: fear.

The Phoenix Suns are afraid to trade Steve Nash.

It's no secret Nash is one of the most revered players in Suns history, and one who can still play at a high level. He's the voice and face of the Suns, and, as Babby has dubbed him, the sun, moon and stars of the franchise. As such you don't ship a player like that out without some serious thought behind the move.