Brad Cesmat
Since the Coyotes arrived in 1996, I’ve felt that the fans have been given a false sense of hope. Am I wrong? No.
The paying public has been dragged from obstructed view seats at America West Arena on day one 24 years ago to the expected finale Wednesday night at the tiny Mullet Arena in Tempe. No owner has been able to push through on a suitable building. No owner has been able to put the financial where-with-all into the product on the ice in Phoenix and down on the farm. How many team presidents, jersey changes, and legal disputes has this franchise been through? All the while, the fans have been asked to support them. The Coyotes have been Team Turmoil. Losing a franchise is never good unless you’re the other three pro sports franchises fighting for local sponsorship dollars and eyeballs. I believe the NHL can make it here, but you have to have an ownership group that has no ties to what has happened in the previous 24 years unless they add some well-known Phoenix blood to the mix. Fans will be skeptical that this current group can get an expansion franchise across the finish line..
Diana Taurasi says what every star should say about Caitlin Clark entering the WNBA. “Reality is coming” isn’t a threat; it’s a fact. Caitlin left Iowa for the next challenge, and Taurasi’s advanced warning would only help the League. It’s hard to believe that the 
WNBA players still fly commercial and get paid much less than the men. Clark’s base salary in 2024 is $76,535, $78,066 in 2025, and $85,873 for the 2026 season. In the meantime, Victory Wewbemyama makes just over 12 million in year one of his NBA rookie deals in San Antonio. It’s simply not right…
The NBA product after April 15th is excellent…
Beating Minnesota three times during the regular season doesn’t mean a damn thing for the Suns. Regular season NBA vs playoff ball is night and day, no matter what is said pubically..
Is Kyler Murray in Arizona a year from now? We discussed this question around this time last April. Next week, the NFL Draft should provide offensive help for multiple positions, but it’s all going to come down to progress in the wins and loss column. 
Was Eduardo Rodriguez a lousy signing by the Diamondbacks? A guaranteed $80 million contract with a creaky shoulder HAS to be cause for concern…
How many former local high school football stars will show up in Tucson and Tempe in the next couple of weeks now that the transfer portal is open again? Once upon a time, not too long ago, losing a top local high school senior was greeted with disdain. Now, you almost want the kid to leave and get it out of his system. Finish second, and you’ll have a good shot at getting them on the way back home as long as the NIL account has some dough waiting to be spent…
Mark and Marcus Carter resigning from Desert Edge with five weeks to go in the school year has to be a blow to the students on campus. When a high school football program succeeds, it sets the tone for the entire school year and morale for most of campus. I hope they land back on their feet at a school that needs help to reach a much higher standing. The Carters have proven that they know how to build programs.
