The Valley’s exciting professional sophomores
Jul 12, 2016, 5:05 AM | Updated: Jul 13, 2016, 8:29 am
Shane Doan.
Larry Fitzgerald.
Paul Goldschmidt.
I think all of us know how blessed we are to live in a sports town with men of character as our franchise leaders. Despite the Cardinals’ run of success, the performance of the D-backs, Suns and Coyotes is depressing. Even though there’s little hope among the fan bases, there is one trend forming
This is the season of the second-year player in Arizona. Find a city in America with all four major sports that competes with Phoenix on players prepared to explode or who already are exploded in their second season.
Phoenix’s Fantastic Four:
JAKE LAMB (25 years old)
He did make his debut in 2014, but 2016 is his second “full” season. He leads the NL in slugging percentage and MLB in triples. The list of players at the All-Star break with Lamb’s great all-around numbers (20-plus HRs, 60-plus RBI, 19-plus doubles, 7-plus triples) are Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg, Duke Snider, Dave Winfield and potential Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. His arm needs to be more consistent defensively and he could improve against left-handed pitching. However, Lamb is trending to be the one bright spot from a dismal 2016 for the Diamondbacks.
MAX DOMI (21 years old)
Only two rookies had more points. No rookie had more speed. Domi provided instant energy and his forecheck was a consistent turnover generator. To announce his presence, he was the first Coyote in franchise history to record a multi-point game in his debut. Already from NHL-stock, he has the humble-appreciation of being a gifted athlete that is shared by 99 percent of all hockey players. He’s embraced being a role model for so many young diabetic athletes. The Coyotes have a future star in the league on their hands.
DEVIN BOOKER (19 years old)
Is this kid real? Just like Domi, his father played professionally. Unlike Domi, he can’t legally drink. Booker has the perfect combination of patience and explosion. He sees the floor to take what the defense gives him but understands the role of a scorer is to put the ball in the basket. Booker completely accepts his role as “face of the franchise” without self-glorification. Just listen to the stat that combines youth and production: two teenagers have had back-to-back 30 point games in NBA history — Devin Booker and 3-time World Champion LeBron James.
DAVID JOHNSON (24 years old)
Small college running back. From Clinton, Iowa. Six-foot-1 and 224 pounds. Runs a 4.5 40-yard dash.
Those were the particulars coming out of Northern Iowa on Johnson. He finished his rookie year with 581 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, but there’s a catch: he didn’t start a game until December. Those stats leave out another 1,055 combined yards and five touchdowns receiving and returning kicks. As Johnson improves his pass protection skills, he will be more than the featured back in the Cardinals’ offense. Over time, he will be a focal point for the entire NFL. Don’t take my word for it. His own position coach, Stump Mitchell, told Johnson in his exit interview (via “All or Nothing”) that if David stays healthy he will be in the Hall of Fame. No one says that to a young man finishing their rookie year! Johnson has already proven he has the talent and work ethic. With an electric passing attack and improved run-blocking offensive line, Johnson will be a household name, and not just in Arizona.
Clearly, there’s a wide range of emotions when you look at the recent history of each of our four professional teams. With the departures of Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade as “franchise lifers” from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat, respectively, it’s impossible to believe any of Phoenix’s Fantastic Four will replace Doan, Fitz and Goldy. The business world almost always gets in the way.
The key is for all four to stay hungry and humble while we hold the organizations responsible to build the pieces around them to bring Arizona another championship. Fifteen years has been way too long.
