If you're still searching for the Suns' identity, you haven't been looking very hard.

These big, bald guys say they cannot figure out the Suns' identity.  It's an interesting post, but it glosses over the point.  Honestly, I didn't get the point until I read it and it smacked me in my already-broken nose.

A run-and-gun that occassionally slows down to accomodate the Big Diesel?  A bunch of nervous nellies squandering away their identity in a futile attempt to make one, last run at a ring before Nash's back give out?  An un-focused group that occassionally gives us hope by playing with some energy on defense?  A handful of partiers seen way too much over at dirtyscottsdale.com but who occassionally put up big numbers?  A hard-harded (yet brilliant) coach that refuses to change?

Recall that every great idea started with the minority support of only one.  Genius and madness is difficult to differentiate.  A lot does have to come into place in order to have sustained success -- much less get to, and win, the Finals.

I am not in a position where I can take chances and remain stubborn like Antoni and the Suns.  I cannot.  I do not make millions of dollars a year to play a game.  I also do not have the stomach for the entrepreneurial ups and downs of fellas like Trump.  I'm not made up that way.  I always find myself saying, "If I ever made a killing like that, I'd never squander it away," but the genetic make-up of someone who could make a killing like that could squander it away.

It takes a certain genetic makeup (and/or outlook on life) to succeed in that business, and its the same genetic makeup (and/or outlook on life) that leads to reckless decisions.  I make a good income, support a family, take annual vacations and make enough money to have three HDTVs in my house so that I can watch the Suns in bed, in the living room or in my pool room depending on what my fickle little heart desires.  I did it the nice, save, conservative, hard-working sort of way and I'm fat, dumb and happy walking wilfully into a Brave New World.

That's why I cannot understand Antoni's stubbornnes.  That is why I cannot understand a lot of things.

I understand this, though ... that is why I love watching the Suns.  I am living vicariously through my Suns.  You, gentle reader, are doing so as well.  That is why I keep playing in my Washed-Up World Cup league even though I tear hamstrings, pull muscles, tear ankle ligaments, break fingers and break noses.  I have good health insurance and it keeps me from taking chances in my "real" life that would have horrible consequences for my family.  It's also why I check out dirtyscottsdale.com every once in a while -- just to vicariously laugh and re-affirm to myself why I need to stay out of bars.

They are making the kinds of decisions I cannot -- will not -- make.  They are exhibiting the character I sometimes wish I have -- or could afford to have.  You rarely get to make decisions like this in "real" life.  Taking chances like this.  The Suns went "all-in" with the Shaq move, but I assure you that if I made such a move and it backfired I wouldn't have my house, much less three HDTVs.

The Suns are the swashbuckling heroes we all wish we could be.