I was born and raised in AZ, graduated from from ASU last year and am now living in Seattle.( You know, that other city that David Stern has so mercilessly screwed over) I have a deep, uninhibited love for the Suns, a love affair that started when I was about 6-years-old. The first dissapointment of my young life was watching Hornacek, Majerle, KJ and Chambers lose to the Drexler/Porter-led Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. I have to make a conscious effort to keep from dry heaving when I glimpse Terry Porter on the bench. All of those suppressed, 6-year-old memories come rushing to the surface.

Then, there were a few years of deep therapy, Xanax and angry muttering to myself after the John Paxson 3-pointer that pierced my heart at the tender age of 10. I was actually coached by Danny Ainge during my club basketball years and I'm not sure I ever forgave him for that defensive debacle. Every time he tried to teach me something or correct a mistake I had made, a little voice in my head would always say, " Why should I listen to you Danny? I'm not the one who couldn't find my man in transition! I'm not the the one who denied us a chance to win an NBA title in Game 7 on our homecourt with momentum and the last raucous Suns crowd to exist! It's your fault! I hate you! My therapist told me not to tell you that but it feels good!" Alrighty. Well, I just blacked out for a second. Back with you.

And now, I have a distaste for David Stern that rivals my dislike for Michael Bolton, movies made by John Woo and Phil Jackson's smug face. His God-complex seems to grow by the year and I will never believe he made a just decision after game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals two years ago.

So, I write this now from 1500 miles away, a free man of sorts. I can watch and write about the Suns in a city that doesn't have a team. A city where there are no expectations. I have decided to embody this city's verve. I have no expectations for the Suns this year. There, I said it. And you know what? It feels good.

I leave you with one last thought.

If Amare played as hard as Kobe Bryant he would be the best player in the league.

CL