Welcome to week two of The Madhouse revival friends.

I got some good feedback after week one. Thanks for that. As a reminder we can make this whatever we want, so if you have suggestions on things you want to chat about, please let me know.

Additionally, if there are things you DON’T want to talk about, please share. If you don’t care what video games I’m playing, just tell me. I’ll show the comment to my wife and I’ll ask “what’s this clown’s problem?”

Then we’ll move on.

Either way we’ve made it to week two, which is more than Earl Watson can say about the 2017-18 season. Here’s what I got:

SUNS STUFF

ESPN held a survey of 20 NBA people and asked them what the worst signing of the offseason has been. Those NBA people picked the Suns’ acquisition of Ricky Rubio. That’s a bold thing to post for a company working on paying Stephen A. Smith $10 million.

Deandre Ayton bought a house in Paradise Valley for a cool $2 million. That’s a lot of money, that’s how you know he’ll be in Phoenix for his entire career.

Suns head coach Monty Williams thinks future first ballot Hall of Famer Devin Booker compares well with Brandon Roy. Roy was 25 when his knees starting giving him problems. Book turns 23 in October. Enjoy the next two seasons and I hope I didn’t ruin your weekend.

Cheick Diallo has officially been signed. I suppose that’s fine.

Kelly Oubre Jr. got the paperwork done as well. Which is more than fine. That one works on a couple of levels.

I know all the historic losing takes a toll on us but at least one NBA exec says that the Suns’ deal with PayPal IS A GAME CHANGER.

The Ringer says that the Suns have the sixth-best young core in the NBA. For some reason that number feels low. They should make it higher.

During the renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena during the 2020 season, the Phoenix Mercury will be playing at “The Madhouse on McDowell.”

You have a chance to vote on the greatest head coach in Suns history. Paul Westphal is not mentioned by name so I don’t know how much you can trust the poll.

NBA STUFF

Remember Dragan Bender? He signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. And for all the obvious reasons we know he will perform spectacularly.

If you’re debating dropping 60 chicken sandwiches on NBA2K20, here’s some info you may want on the demo.

Luol Deng is having some trouble selling his house.

Zion Williamson is going the Jordan Brand route.

The biggest stars in the NBA are not interested in representing Team USA at the World Cup. Training camp opens August 5th in spectacular Las Vegas, Nevada.

Like an old man sending back soup at a deli, Steve Kerr is displeased with the manner in which Anthony Davis forced his way out of New Orleans and into Los Angeles.

One NBA writer feels that regardless of the parameters put in place, when it comes to tampering, teams will find a way.

Tim Duncan is coming back as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich because of course he is.

The Thunder have new threads that a moderate amount of people will see live early in the season followed by considerably fewer fans witnessing live after Chris Paul is traded before Christmas.

MY STUFF

What I’m reading: Then We Came to the End, Joshua Ferris

What I’m watching: Sox finally woke up after the All-Star Break. Not enough to think postseason, though. The Angels are very entertaining. Watched Fallen, a Denzel Washington thriller last week.

What I’m playing: I obtained a Mayflash 500 elite joystick modified with Sanwa buttons last week. It is a fantastic device. I’ve been busy revisiting any and every old shoot-em-up from the past. A lot of Neo Geo stuff. Things like Zed Blade and Aero Fighters 2 and Blazing Star. I also picked up a Playstation Classic for $20 and modded that.

What I’m listening to: I dipped back into the Ghostface and Erick Sermon catalogs last week for reasons unknown. I listen to the CU Podcast weekly.

What I’m thinking: You ever hear those people who say, “there’s no personality in baseball?” Firstly it’s flatly untrue. What they mean to say is “I don’t like the personalities in baseball.” Which is fine.

Many of the same people, at least in my observation are advocates for an electronic strike zone. There’s a significant cross section there. “Because if you can get it right, you should get it right. Which brings me to my point.

ROBOTS DON’T HAVE PERSONALITY.

You know who has personality? Joe West. Now you may not like his personality, and for that I do not blame you, but it’s personality all the same. I’ll take Joe West arguing with the pride of Reitz Memorial High School, Don Mattingly,, all day long over robots.

But here’s what I’ve been thinking about more. How much Phoenix Suns basketball will I watch in the upcoming season.

Full transparency, I did not subscribe to NBA.TV last year. Don’t tell my tax guy who used it as a write off.

“BUT KEITH, HOW CAN YOU WRITE ABOUT THE SUNS WITHOUT WATCHING THE GAMES???”

I’m a blogger, bro.

Allow me to go off on a tangent for a second. I’m a guy who lives in a different state and works in a different field. Consider that before you send the hate mail that reads, “you shouldn’t be allowed to put food on the table,” yes I’ve heard that one before, or “I’m emailing your editor.” Go ahead?

Or don’t. They just go into a fun folder in my email and when it’s full enough my wife and I read them and laugh over dinner. Though it’s pretty bold to send an email with your name, work address, and phone number, Mr. Associate Professor at Towson University.

You want to read people who know the game, bloggers like Dave King, Brendon Kleen and Evan Sidery are the way to go. I read about everything Gina Mizell writes at The Athletic. I have to imagine that if you’re on this site, and you’ve read this far you know who those people are. Anyway, back to my original point.

I watched less Phoenix Suns basketball last year than I ever have since Marv Albert and Mike Fratello were getting it done on NBC. The losing really got to me.

I’ve reached a point where I have to see some routinely competitive basketball before I can commit my dollars to the Suns. A budget, varied interests, and less time all the time, means I have to get smarter about how I commit my time and money.

And I think I represent the common fan. After 10 hours at the acid mines, coming home and taking care of dog and baby, doing the necessary chores, I just get absolutely no pleasure in watching the Suns get wrecked by 40. All I want to do is crack a Michelob Ultra, because my wife might leave me if I neglect my spectacular figure, and watch a good game.

Plenty of people can find enjoy in any game regardless of the score, and I don’t blame them. Find the thing you like and do it. But I can’t watch Phoenix Suns basketball if by Christmas that means watching more college basketball than pro basketball simply because we’re evaluating who will join the squad.

I’m still on the fence about whether or not subscribe in the upcoming season. It has nothing to do with being a playoff team. It has nothing to do with competing for an NBA Championship. It has everything to do with every single game and everything single day. Keep things close and interesting and they have a viewer.

There’s more I want to say but it’s getting late. Maybe I’ll jump into the comments and share more. I kind of don’t like the look of all words and no color to break it up. Moving forward maybe I’ll drop in tweets like I did in week one. We’ll see.

I never know how to wrap up anything I write. The end feels like the most difficult.

Bye.