Sammy Duane on Koa, Mt. Rushmore of Arizona hoops, Dillon Brooks mixture, more…

Dropped in on Koa Peat’s return to the Valley on Saturday.

I arrived to find him working on free throws (61% shooter). An hour later, legendary high school coach Sammy Duane Jr, who coached Koa to four straight Open titles at Perry, was in a text exchange with me, watching the game action unfold on a television with his 90-year-old father, Sammy Sr. The Duanes are on the Mount Rushmore of Arizona high school coaches, just as Peat is one of the faces on the monument of players who have come through our great state. “Kp-Fat Lever-Sean Elliott-Jalen Williams-Cody Williams, Bibby, Bayless, and I’m probably missing some”, Sammy responded to my question about where Peat ranks in terms of all-time great Arizona high school players.

Peat went about his business against Arizona State in a typical methodical fashion as the Wildcats toyed with Arizona State in an 87-74 victory. While his 21 points led the top-ranked team in the nation to a school-record 22nd straight win, there’s much about his game that didn’t show up in a stat box. “People don’t talk about his game in that he makes the right play/pass and affects winning in so many different ways”, Duane texted to me midway through the first half, “it’s all attributed to his basketball IQ and his passion to win”.

I would add Richard Jefferson, Alex Barcello, and Jahii Carson to Sammy’s Mount Rushmore list. I’m sure I’m leaving some out. There’s only such much room on the mountain…

Beauty of Sports – Actually having the three-dot thought on February 1st, “Is the Suns roster in need to add a big piece at next week’s trade deadline”? While the team has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, it is still just regular-season NBA basketball, which isn’t close to what April, May, and June look like. So, is there any reason for the Suns to pick up the phone and ask about Giannis wanting out of Milwaukee? Of course there is…

Dillon Brooks is a mixture of Dennis Rodman, Mario Elie, Danny Ainge, and Draymond Green. If he’s on your team, you LOVE him; if not, you think he’s the worst of the worst. Villains are what makes sport go around…

I’d take Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal. Same for Zac Gallen…

Brooks Koepka was the 2021 winner in Phoenix. With temps in the 80’s this week and Koepka on the course after his years on LIV, the attendance records could get smashed this week. 

With Seattle Seahawks ownership going public about its intent to sell the franchise, I have to wonder whether the NFL owner here in Phoenix would finally be open to parting with the family business. Many of us would like to think that making B-illions (not millions) would be enough to get someone who isn’t committed to having a winning product to just sell. I believe this owner thrives off the criticism. Too bad for most of us…