For the second time in three years the Phoenix Mercury rise to the top of the WBNA. With the championship series tied, the Phoenix Mercury returned home for the final game against the Indiana Fever and won 94-86 to finish with the trophy. It was a sell out crowd of 17,313 and Diana Taurasi, the league and finals MVP, didn’t disappoint scoring a game high 26 points during Friday night’s game.

Congratulations to the the ladies of the Mercury and to the city of Phoenix for another championship win. To celebrate, the Mercury will be holding a championship rally at 6pm Monday at the U.S. Airways Center Pavilion.

Photo by our friend videoal.

This was sooo long ago. I need to be reminded. This is the one in one and seven. As in one win over the Niners and seven losses. So, I was asked yesterday, “do you still believe?” I do. I believe everyone was right.

Go Suns!

I saw enough good things from the Cardinals this past Sunday that I am once again a believer. The pieces are there. The mistakes can be overcome. Matt did not suck in his debut and did enough to put them in a position to win. I do not have to squint too hard to see the winning team that lies just beneath the surface. Pass the Kool-aid good things are coming…

So it’s now the University of Phoenix Stadium? Makes it sound like UoP has a football team which is kind of funny considering they’re a lot online – but wait! How about a fantasy football team? They’re all online and legends in somebody’s mind. And how fitting – fantasy football in the new stadium – quality football in Arizona is really mostly just fantasy.

It’s tough being a Sun Devil fan when, during a game, you’re stuck in class, away from TV, radio, cell phone sports ticker, etc. You’re forced to rely on ASU’s exploding aerial bombs for the score. A single explosion indicates a field goal and two explosions, 30-60 seconds apart means a touchdown and successful point after. I guess the lone explosion could be a touchdown and missed extra point – yes, this can get confusing. Anyway, these bombs are loud and easily heard from anywhere on campus, inside or out. I spent several years’ worth of Saturdays in the art warehouse (fiber studio) and followed the game score by explosions.

Of course, it is a one-sided scorekeeping system – not even the tiniest firecracker is lit when the other team scores. It is possible, however, to hear a noise swell from the stadium and if the opponent’s fans are abundant and particularly vocal, there’s another dimension to the audio score system. A noise swell without aerial bombs can either indicate a score by the opponents or a near-miss by the Devils. Despite the loopholes, inaccuracies and vagueness of this scoring system, it puts you in the game, even if you’re outside the stadium. And then, what a surprise when you find out the real score . . . 14-14 at halftime?

It’s move-in day at ASU – classes start next week so they like to get the little devils onto campus early for orientation. The pictures above are of Forest Mall which is an allegedly pedestrian area (although between the service vehicles and crazy cartists . . .). What you see are mommy and daddy doing the dropoff deed. I love the line-up of minivans and SUVs – come moveout time, these same vehicles aren’t anywhere near large enough to haul away the quantities of stuff. Does it grow? Have sex and multiply? Where does it all come from? Anyway, move in day means chaos is just around the corner. The peace and calm of campus is about to be replaced with 61,000 pushing, shoving, walking, biking, skateboarding, gaping lost individuals. It’s a wave that begins with today’s trickle and ends like an epic tsunami. Academic year 2006-2007, here we come.

Well, that did not suck. Every year I begin the season hopeful and that glimmer can last one more week. Good win for the Cardinals. Matt needs to get into camp. Could this be the year of nine wins? How about no more than nine losses?

I grew up in a baseball town. In college, Presh and I never missed a game. There is nothing better than sitting in a ballpark watching a pitcher’s duel, except maybe FOOTBALL!!! Go Devils! I love ASU sports, even basketball. We have the best fans and the best teams and certainly the best mascot. Okay, The Gorilla is pretty cool and who does not love Baxter. But, Sparky rules. He has the energy, the moves, and a really cool name. Cooler than say, Wilbur…

Number 22 – ASU and Sparky

Counting down the top 30 things I love about Phoenix, and no the Cards even with Edge and Hollywood did not make the list.