GENERAL NEWS

Arizona sports’ year in 2018 as told by social media

Dec 28, 2018, 9:47 AM

Arizona State forward Zylan Cheatham (45) celebrates with the fans after Arizona State defeated Kan...

Arizona State forward Zylan Cheatham (45) celebrates with the fans after Arizona State defeated Kansas 80-76 during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The year 2018 had no shortage of big sports stories in Arizona.

The Arizona Cardinals traded up to take a quarterback in the draft. Then their season began and they benched (and eventually cut) Sam Bradford, fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and struggled under Steve Wilks.

The Phoenix Suns got the first overall pick, fired their general manager and had an up-and-down (mostly down) regular season thus far.

The Arizona Diamondbacks were well on their way to the playoffs before collapsing in September and eventually trading Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Arizona Coyotes traded players who were once thought to be big pieces of the team’s future, sending away Max Domi, Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome.

Arizona State football and men’s basketball each had signature moments; Phoenix Rising and the Phoenix Mercury got to the playoffs and many other things made it a crazy year. Here are those stories (and others) told through the lens of social media.

Jan. 12: Khalil Tate didn’t come to Arizona to run the triple option

Jan. 22: Cardinals hire Steve Wilks as head coach

April 2: Josh Rosen pokes fun at former UCLA head coach Jim Mora

April 22: Cardinals trade up to draft Josh Rosen

May 2: Suns hire Igor Kokoskov

June 15: Coyotes trade Max Domi for Alex Galchenyuk

June 21: Phoenix Suns draft Deandre Ayton first overall

June 22: Arizona Coyotes draft Barrett Hayton in first round

July 7: Devin Booker signs contract extension

July 28: Carson Palmer is enjoying retirement

Sept. 4: Phoenix Mercury advance to WNBA Quarterfinals, fall to Seattle Storm

Sept. 8: ASU football upsets No. 15 Michigan State

Sept. 13: Oliver Ekman-Larsson is named Coyotes captain

Sept. 25: Arizona’s AAF team named Arizona Hotshots

Oct. 8: Suns fire GM Ryan McDonough

Oct. 19: Arizona Cardinals fire Mike McCoy, promote Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator

Nov. 8: Phoenix Rising reach USL Cup Final

Nov. 21: Didier Drogba calls it a career

View this post on Instagram

1989 or where it all started!! When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture can’t make me more proud of what I’ve achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey as shaped me as a man. If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder and smarter to turn them into reality. #alwaysbelieve I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have met and made this journey one of a kind!!! Also a huuuuge thank you and love to my family ♥️, my Personal Team for supporting me all my career during all the ups and downs no matter what. Looking forward to the next Chapter and hoping God will Bless me as much as he did for my football career 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 DD11 1989 Là où tout à commencé !! Quand je pense aux 20 dernières années de ma carrière professionnelle, regarder cette photo de ma première licence, ne peut que me rendre plus fier de ce que j’ai accompli en tant que joueur mais plus important encore, comment cette aventure à fait de moi l’homme que je suis aujourd’hui. Si quelqu’un vous dit un jour que vos rêves sont trop grands, acquiescez et travaillez plus dur plus intelligemment pour les rendre réalité!!!! J’aimerai remercier tous les joueurs, coachs, équipes, et supporters, que j’ai rencontré et ont fait de cette carrière un moment très spécial. Un grand merci du fond du cœur à toute ma famille, mon « équipe personnelle » de m’avoir soutenu durant toute ma carrière, dans les bons comme dans les mauvais moments. Hâte de démarrer le prochain chapitre en espérant que Dieu me bénisse une fois de plus comme il l’a fait pendant toute ma carrière 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 DD11 #Dunkerque #Abbeville #Tourcoing #Vannes #LevalloisPerret #Lemans #Guingamp #Marseille #Chelsea #Shanghai #istanbul #Montreal #phoenix @usldunkerqueofficiel @levalloisfootball @lemansfc.officiel @eaguingamp @olympiquedemarseille @chelseafc @shanghaishenhua @galatasaray @impactmontreal @phxrisingfc

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Nov. 25: Coyotes trade Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome for Nick Schmaltz

Nov. 26: N’Keal Harry declares for NFL Draft

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Thanks for everything🙏🏾 #SunDevilForLife

A post shared by N'Keal Harry (@nkealharry) on

Dec. 5: Diamondbacks trade Paul Goldschmidt

Dec. 13: Suns owner Robert Sarver gives a message on social media

Dec. 15: Manny Wilkins plays his last game as a Sun Devil

Dec. 17: Devin Booker finally fires back at Enes Kanter

Dec. 22: ASU basketball upsets No. 1 Kansas

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