Arizona sports’ year in 2018 as told by social media
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
Nov. 25: Coyotes trade Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome for Nick Schmaltz
Nov. 26: N’Keal Harry declares for NFL Draft
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
