ASU is being advised by AZCentral.com to check out these 5 recruits...

Kicker Thomas Weber has, once again, been named a Playboy All-American, despite his mediocre 2008 campaign.

Jeff Pendergraph will be playing on the Blazers' summer league team this July in Las Vegas.

Finally, I answered a very long Q&A from Welcome To Loud City, the Oklahoma City Thunder blog here at SBNation. You can read the entire interview about James Harden following the jump.

James Harden is a strong team player, giving his supporting role players plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents. His passing abilities are extremely understated, and I believe that his vision on the court will translate very well into the NBA, where his teammates will all be more athletic than he is.

He's a relatively quiet person, and I have never seen him out at social functions, parties, or formals. While I have seen other ASU athletes partaking in the school's revered party scene, Harden has remained focused on basketball.

Unselfishness. Court vision. Tenacious on defense when the moment calls for it. He scores in bunches, utilizing his left hand to great effect. Fact of the matter is, Harden's handedness allows him to go places that most players would rather not go.

Defenses struggled with his craftiness during his freshman season, but by the midway point of his sophomore campaign, players were wise to his tendencies, and caught onto the angles they needed to take against James.

Harden's an up and coming talent, and I believe his best work is still forthcoming. That said, the common comparison is Brandon Roy, but I'm not necessarily buying it. I like to compare him in some ways to Gilbert Arenas.

Harden's handle is not of Arenas' caliber, but with practice and a sincere desire to succeed, Harden could achieve a Scottie Pippen-like status, where his talents perfectly complement the superstar that is Kevin Durant.

ASU Coach Herb Sendek knew he wanted James Harden from the second he stepped onto the Tempe campus. The Sun Devils were mediocre at absolute best, having but one serviceable player in Jeff Pendergraph.

In order to lure a top prospect from California into the desert, Sendek had to be very resourceful. He began by bringing in Harden's head coach, Scott Pera, as an assistant coach for the Devils. Next, he gave the unheralded Derek Glasser a scholarship to play point guard. Glasser, at the time, was planning on becoming a walkon at USC, but Sendek knew what he had to do.

Harden was then faced with a very attractive situation: his former head coach, and his former point guard were waiting for him at Arizona State. In my mind, there wasn't much discussion about the matter, and Harden went where he would be very, very comfortable. It was Sendek's commitment to Harden that brought Harden's commitment to ASU.

The guy can envision the offense he is guarding against, and makes the proper adjustments. Can he shut down Dwayne Wade? Absolutely not, not yet. I have seen him make great defensive plays against very adequate Pac-10 competition, from steals to help defense that stopped easy baskets from being converted.

I doubt he will be a great defender, but he's a hard worker, and I wouldn't put it past him to be a valuable asset on both ends of the floor.

This is tricky, because the defenses gave him the three pointer more and more as the season went on. He can hit the three, but unfortunately for you (and the next question) his 35.6% from long distance may not transfer particularly well to the next level as a rookie.

With hard work, he can become this threat. He's not Michael Redd, but he's well rounded. I can't say for certain that he has any type of shot that impresses scouts or pundits any more than another, but he goes strong to the basket and has been working on his midrange game.

From three, in time I believe he will attain a 35% average, with a possibility for 37-38%. His shot just isn't there yet.

As I mentioned earlier, I have never seen him as a particularly outgoing person. He is reserved and enjoys to let his game speak for himself. There has never been a negative story about Harden on ASU campus, and he studies the game. Herb Sendek did a good job with him, and I believe he will be prepared for camp.

Temple and Syracuse knew their mission: shut down James Harden. That was the memo sent out across this great nation, the briefest scouting report known to man. ASU is notoriously thin at all positions, with Harden the sole exception. Pendergraph cannot lead a team to win a NCAA Tournament game, but he's a solid big man.

Against Temple, if it weren't for Glasser, ASU would have dipped out in the first round. Harden has had trouble developing a move that is unstoppable, and the defenses of the NCAA have learned that over the course of advanced scouting during the season.

On the other hand, we have no idea if Harden was going through any type of personal troubles during the NCAA Tournament. I certainly hope this is not the case, but we can never rule out that, considering he is still just a young man.

Passing. Even with the talent he played with in Tempe, Harden dished the rock. With great young players such as Jeff Green, Harden will find himself distributing the ball and finding his own game amongst the core of talent you currently have.

There's a lot of players that could have deserved that title, but Harden's game is so sound, and his body is NBA-ready. He shed 15 pounds after the season ended in preparation for NBA tryouts, and he has potential tattooed across his forehead.

He's not a guarantee to become a superstar, because he plays a deliberate style of basketball that is not flashy, and can at times be uninspiring. But he makes his teammates better, and with great young players around him, he will live up to the billing of a "Top 5" talent.

Harden scored 20 points a game, shooting 50% from the field while leading his team nearly singlehandedly to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He brings out the best in his teammates, and can see plays as they develop, which may lead to highlight reel dunks for Mr. Durant.

ASU fans are excited to see him get drafted ahead of Ricky Rubio. We knew what we had all along, and we're very sad to see him go. But to play with Durant and Green? That will be something exciting to watch, and I will check up on him frequently to assess his progress.

Against UCLA in Los Angeles back in January, Harden knocked down a pair of free throws as regulation drew to a close to bring the game to overtime.

Harden and ASU played an incredible brand of defense during this game, holding UCLA scoreless for 13 minutes, a span that stretched from regulation partly through the 5 minute overtime period.

In the end, Harden led the team to the huge upset victory, 61-58. He dropped 24 points, and this win put ASU on the map as a legitimate squad in the Pac-10.

Best of luck in 2009-2010 with James. He is a true talent, and will serve you well.

Oh I’m sorry, were those sentences hard to read? I just wanted to write with the same effort the D-Backs have been playing with this season. As you can imagine it didn’t turn out too well. The last article I wrote was about two weeks ago and it was entitled “What’s Left to Say?“. I wasn’t sure how else to write about this 2009 D-Backs season. I, like a lot of D-Backs writers on the internet , have been struggling to come up with anything new to say in a season that has been the same story over and over again. I haven’t even managed to watch many games lately, partly because of my vacation and partly because they have become hard to watch. After a long day of work do you want to come home and watch the D-Backs or a rerun of Seinfeld? The latter would surely be more entertaining. When fans are debating whether they should watch the Bachelorette or the D-Backs game, what does that say about the 2009 season?

Is this 2009 season worse than 2004? That 2004 team consisted of over the hill veterans and young players that never should have played in the majors. The dearth of minor league talent led to a team that was woefully unprepared to play competitive baseball. The 2009 team seems to have talent, three probable all-stars, yet they are losing games at a clip similar to the 2004 team. What is the difference? Effort. The effort on this 2009 team is awful. It is a complete embarrassment to the fans of this team. It is hard to swallow when players like Felipe Lopez, Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton play with a complete lack of focus on the defensive end then refuse to talk to the media or, in Upton’s case, mock the fans. Justin Upton rightly apologized for his fake toss of a baseball into the stands but it shouldn’t excuse what he did. The fans have had to put up with a ridiculous amount of crap this year, there is no excuse for him to mock the fans. Upton should just be happy they are there. Perhaps we should cut him some slack because he is 21, but it was still an awful move on his part. As for other players refusing to talk to the media after their bad games, they need to suck it up and talk to the media. It is not like the Arizona media is a tough media, like New York. It is not like they are looking for any story to jump on and report negatively. If players are so unfocused they are blowing routine defensive plays and then ducking the media it displays a complete lack of class and courage on their part.

No one on this team is being held accountable. AJ Hinch isn’t the sole problem but he sure isn’t the solution. His credibility in the clubhouse has to be called into question, again. He has held multiple team meetings that have had no lasting effect. Players are still making stupid plays, the bullpen is still blowing leads and the hitters are still coming up empty. The frustration level is at an all time high. I, like most fans, would like to know why the D-Backs are playing as bad as they are but no one will talk to the media.

Somewhere along the road this became a team of losers. There is no clubhouse leadership. Tony Clark doesn’t play enough or effectively to demand a leadership role anymore. Eric Byrnes is still leading by example, that example being piss poor defense and a low batting average. There is no veteran player on this team to whip anyone in gear. Even the manager is a rookie! It is clear the D-Backs sorely miss the leadership and bat of Orlando Hudson. His replacement, Felipe Lopez, may have a good batting average but he can’t get traded from this team fast enough. This 2009 D-Backs team sorely needs players like Orlando Hudson and coaches like Bob Melvin to instill some leadership. They would have even benefited greatly from signing Luis Gonzalez this off-season for his clubhouse effect, and his bat would probably be light years better than most of the players on this team.

I don’t know if this 2009 team will lose 110 games like that 2004 team. At least that 2004 team had the excuse of being over-matched. This 2009 team has players that have succeeded before, they just completely lack the effort or wherewithal to keep competing. The D-Backs hit rock bottom in 2004 and are right back there in 2009, only this time they gave their in-over-his-head interim manager a three year deal. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, right now it’s all dark.

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The reports out of New York (via Newsday) are that Jason Kidd is close to a decision that would keep him in Dallas for three more years (and $24m). He seems to be weighing a lesser offer from the Knicks that would also keep him closer to his ex-wife and three kids who live in the area.

The Knicks obviously need a point guard and just as obviously Steve Nash would love to play again for D'Antoni. Nash said again recently that if he can't come to terms with the Suns that he would consider a trade to the Knicks.

  ...the Victoria, B.C. native, who is heading into the final year of a contract that will pay him $13.1 million U.S. in 2009-10, acknowledged that if the sides can’t reach a consensus, "than a trade would always be a possibility." And if that’s the case, the point guard said he would like to play in New York, where his family spends its summers.

"I would preface it by saying that I love Phoenix and that’s what I’m focusing on right now," Nash said. "But I live in New York City, and I love it there, and [Knicks head coach] Mike D’Antoni was one of my favorite coaches. If it didn’t work out in Phoenix, obviously that would be a place I’d consider."

If Kidd does decide to stay in Dallas how might that influence Steve's willingness to deal with the Suns? He was obviously and openly frustrated last season at the hiring of Terry Porter and he reportedly told Steve Kerr that he wanted Shaquille O'Neal traded away.

I've never heard either of them (or anyone else) say anything about it, but one has to wonder how much Nash really wants to play for Steve Kerr and be part of a Suns rebuild. The Suns and Kerr for their part clearly want Nash to stay another three years but I doubt they are going to be willing to pay him the $13m+ per year he's asking for. Especially when Kidd is reportedly looking at $8m per year.

Kidd's decision could spell the end of the Nash era in Phoenix by freeing up a job with the Knicks. 

Regardless of what Jason does or what Steve wants, the Suns could pick up Nash's option this year and keep him against his will. But if within a few weeks a deal isn't made for an extension then the better option is to trade him now. 

Nash showed us last season that he's not going to play his best ball when he's unhappy and keeping him in Phoenix if he wants out would clearly be an uncomfortable situation.His trade value right now is also much higher then it will be next summer. Just like with Amare, if the Suns don't meet his demands for an extension then there is a huge risk in letting him walk for nothing.

Between Amare and Nash, right now Nash might even be of higher trade value to the right team. Of course, Amare is the more "valuable" player given his age and ability but Nash is a proven winner who's going to take a much smaller and shorter deal then Stoudemire.

If Nash wants to go to Knicks then the Suns should make that deal happen. They don't have a lot of great pieces to send back in return but certainly a resigned David Lee is an option along with Danilo Gallinari and a first round pick for next season (since the Suns don't have any of those). The problem there is no point guard coming back and a log jam at power forward. Maybe a three team deal that nets the Suns a point guard like Raymond Felton or perhaps the Knicks sign Bibby or Miller and them trade them for Nash.

The Suns without Nash would certainly take a huge step back next season but lets face it, if Nash doesn't want to stay three more years that's going to happen anyway. Might as well get as much value as you can right now and between Nash and the Knicks you have two very motivated participants in any negotiation.

Heck, I would take David Lee and Gallinari and then sign Allen Iverson for a year.

The 10 Moments Project has resumed.

If you’re just joining us, we here at PFN are recapping the 40 biggest and/or most exciting moments in ASU sports since the turn of the decade. We’re counting down by 5 each week until we reach the top 10 (hence the title of this countdown) and then recap each of those top 10 moments with an article of their own.

The last time around, we spent a lot of time focusing on some of the most pivotal moments for ASU men’s basketball over the past decade or so.

30-26 is no different as we open with three more men’s hoops entries.

#30) Harden Gets America’s Top Honor  - March 30, 2009

2008-09 was a dream season for James Harden.

Not only did he lead the usually outside-looking-in Arizona State program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003, he averaged over 20 points per game, over five boards a night and nearly an astounding two steals per game over the course of the season. All of that garnered Harden the 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year award, making him the first Devil to win it since Ike Diogu in 2005.

Despite pulling off an unfortunate disappearing act in the Sun Devils’ games with Temple and Syracuse in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the tourney, more often than not throughout the course of the year, it was The Beard who paced ASU to victory.

At the end of March, he received an honor that no one before him in ASU basketball history had been bestowed.

On March 30, Harden was rewarded for his efforts over 08-09 as an AP 1st-team All-American. He joined the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Blake Griffin, DeJuan Blair and Stephen Curry as one of the five best players in America.

Only two other Sun Devils had even been 2nd or 3rd team AP All-Americans: Diogu was a 2nd teamer in 2004-05 and Lionel Hollins was named to the 3rd team in 1974-75.

Harden then, of course, was drafted 3rd overall by Oklahoma City in the 2009 NBA Draft, becoming the highest Sun Devil drafted in decades.

29) The Baltic Bomber Strikes Again - February 22, 2009

About a year before to the date, I was on this here blog saying that I didn’t think Rihards Kuksiks would make it as a Pac-10 basketball player. I just didn’t think he had the court intelligence or intensity to keep up in what was then one of America’s top basketball leagues.

Boy, was I wrong. Once Tempe’s Favorite Latvian(tm) found his groove as a quick wing defender and dynamite three-point shooter, he fit in with Arizona State just fine.

The Arizona Wildcats made their annual trek to Wells Fargo Arena in late March already having lost three straight games to ASU. It was a see-saw affair in front of the first pro-ASU crowd at one of these games in years. The Devils ran out to an early lead but the scrappy Wildcats, trying at that time desperately to stay on the NCAA Tournament bubble, kept scratching and clawing to stay in the game.

But then the Sun Devils started to pull away again, extending their lead to 14 with just over 12 minutes left in the ball game. Just like that, though, Jordan Hill and the Cats found themselves back in close game, hitting clutch jumper after clutch jumper.

With 2:30 left, Hill hit a turnaround jumper down low to give the UofA a 66-65 lead and once again grab the momentum down the stretch.

Cue Kuksiks. The sophomore, who ended up hitting five treys in the game, found himself wide open on the right wing after Jeff Pendergraph outmuscled Hill for a rebound off a Chase Budinger miss. Derek Glasser pushed the pace and found the Latvian, who coolly knocked down his final three of the night, giving the Sun Devils a 68-66 lead and sending the Maroon and Gold faithful into a frenzy.

Pendergraph hit two clutch free throws to put the game away just over a minute later, sending Arizona State to a 70-68 win and an unprecedented 4th straight victory over the Wildcats.

28) The Defensive Clampdown - January 17, 2009

It goes without saying that Arizona State and UCLA field two very different basketball programs.

In January of this past year, the Bruins were coming off their 3rd consecutive trip to the Final Four while ASU was still trying to prove to the nation that they were a force to be reckoned with this year. A Saturday afternoon CBS national TV window would prove just the trick if the Sun Devils wanted to do just that.

Mind you, Arizona State hadn’t defeated a top 10 team on the road in 11 seasons and, coming off their poorest effort of the season two nights earlier at USC, this one didn’t look promising.

Then tip off came.

The Sun Devils roared out of the gate to start the game at Pauley Pavilion, controlling the tempo and the scoreboard for the better part of the first half. James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph were combining to tear up the UCLA defensive unit. The Bruins, however, were able to get themselves into it in the latter stages of the first 20 minutes and, after leading by as many as nine at one point, Arizona State had to have been thrilled to be going into halftime with a two point advantage.

Then, Nikola Dragovic and the rest of the Bruins woke up. UCLA hit three after three after three to start the second stanza. With 8:05 left, Michael Roll knocked down an 18-foot jumper to give the homestanding Bruins their largest lead of the afternoon at 54-43.

And those, friends, were the last points UCLA would score in regulation and last field goal they’d hit until the clock read 0:55 left in overtime.

What occured with the Devils down 11 will go down as one of the most impressive and improbable defensive stands in ASU basketball history. Thanks to the combination of the Bruins going totally cold from outside over the last 8 minutes (0-for-7 from the field), clutch shooting from Harden and Pendergraph (they combined for the Devils last 11 points of regulation) and two pressure-packed free throws from The Beard with 21 seconds left, the Sun Devils shut out the Bruins 11-0 down the stretch to force overtime.

UCLA finally got on the board early in OT with two Darren Collison free throws, but the damage was done. ASU dominated the overtime period from start to finish and Harden ended up putting home the game-winning layup with 35 seconds left. The Devils remarkably won the basketball game 61-58 and announced to the nation that Arizona State was not to be toyed with through the rest of the Pac-10 season.

27) An Inside-The-Park Round Tripper - May 31, 2009

The most recent entry in The 10 Moments Project happened just about a month ago.

The 2009 Arizona State Sun Devils weren’t expected to come two wins away from playing for a national title, let alone even make the trip to the College World Series. Lo and behold, though, Pat Murphy and his band of coaches did it again, finding incredible pitching and just the right combination of players to let the Devils roar through another regular season and to a 3rd straight Pac-10 title.

ASU once again hosted a 4-team regional to open the 2009 NCAA Tournament, welcoming Oral Roberts, Cal Poly-SLO and Kent State to Packard Stadium. The Sun Devils roared through the first two games of the regional behind the stellar pitching of Mike Leake and Josh Spence, dispatching KSU 17-1 and ORU 4-1 to advance to a Sunday regional championship game.

They’d once again face the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts, the 14-time defending Summit League champions, in that regional title game. One win would send ASU to a 3rd straight Super Regional appearance, but the Eagles would not go quietly, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top 0f the 1st. The Devils would be held to a surprisingly paltry one hit over the first five innings while Seth Blair settled down and dominated Oral Roberts after that rocky opening frame.

In the 6th, the Devils potent offense went to work. After Johnny Ruettiger scored on a bases loaded walk to make it 3-2, Kole Calhoun scored on a wild pitch to tie it up only three pitches later. Zach MacPhee then banged a 2-run single into center field to give the Sun Devils a two-run lead.

The Devils wouldn’t need any more than that, but with a 6-3 lead and Riccio Torrez on 1st base, Jared McDonald stepped into the batters box and sealed the Golden Eagles fate.

After battling ORU pitcher James Burleson through a tough at-bat, McDonald smacked one down the right field line that P.J. Sequiera misplayed off the fence. James rumbled around 2nd, then 3rd, and finally came sliding home to finish off a dramatic and regional clinching two-run inside the park home run.

The Devils won 8-3 and advanced to take on Clemson in the 2009 Super Regional.

26) Defense Plays Offense - November 28, 2008

It’s no secret that the Arizona State offense didn’t click at all during the 2008 season. By late November, the Devils were fighting for their bowl lives and, the day after Thanksgiving, hosted the fellow 4-6 UCLA Bruins in what would be a bowl-elimination game. The loser would be assured to be shut out of going to the 2008 postseason.

After a largely unremarkable 1st quarter in which neither Rudy Carpenter or Kevin Craft could move the ball at all, the Bruins held a 3-0 lead off a Kai Forbath field goal.

Then, the Sun Devils defensive explosion began. Just two and a half minutes into the 2nd quarter, Craft got belted on a blitz and fumbled; the loose pigskin was picked up and returned for a 17-yard touchdown by the little used Paul ‘Unga. Six minutes later, ASU extended their lead to 8 when Travis Goethel, who up to this game was having a tremendous season in his first year as a full-time starting LB, picked off Craft and returned it 38 yards to the house.

The teams traded field goals in another drudgery of a 3rd quarter and the Sun Devils entered the final quarter clinging to a 17-9 lead. After ASU went 3 and out to start the 4th, UCLA mounted an impressive 14-play drive which took them all the way down to the Devils’ 6 and within striking distance of a score that could potentially pull the Bruins back into a tie game.

No one gave Troy Nolan that memo. With 9:50 left, the senior safety stepped in front of a Craft pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a backbreaking touchdown, the 3rd ASU defensive TD of the game.

Two plays later, after the Sun Devils kicked the the ball away with a stunning 24-9 lead, Mike Nixon cut across and read a dying quail from Craft perfectly, picking him off for the 2nd time in three plays from scrimmage and taking that one back 45 yards to the end zone, putting the game away.

The Sun Devils 4th defensive score of the game, 3 by pick six and 1 on a fumble recovery, tied the NCAA record for most touchdowns scored by a team defense in one game.

The stirring defensive performance led ASU to a 34-9 win on Senior Day, but it wasn’t enough to vault them into a bowl game, as the Devils would lose their season finale at Arizona to drop to 5-7. However, the night when defense became offensive at Sun Devil Stadium remains one of the most dramatic highlights of that ‘08 season.

Here are some random notes to get you through the day. I will post my preview of the Sparks game tomorrow morning before I head to Miami (Arizona) for the 4th.

WNBA Notes

• Looks like Candace Parker will play on Sunday. More about this in the preview piece tomorrow but it’s not necessarily surprising, considering it’s going to be on ESPN2. Gaines also said today that he was preparing for both Candace and Lisa anyway for the game.
• Silver Stars player Sophia Young participated in a Twitter discussion with fans you can find here.
• Alex Chambers of 13 Teams, 1 Journey blogs about his latest travels to Atlanta and more.
• WNBA Rookie Rankings (DeWanna is 1st!)
• Q posted a great video at Rethinking Basketball of the New York Liberty doing a version of Thriller, RIP Michael.
• The Fever are playing very, very well
• All-Star voting still taking place - vote, vote, vote!

Mercury Notes

• DeWanna Bonner has updated her latest rookie blog. Read it all here!
• Great interview with Kip Helt by PhoenixMercury.com.
• Mercury President, Jay Parry, blogs about joining former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano in D.C. at the Mercury/Mystics game
• Diana nominated for another ESPY!
• You won’t find much coverage of D’s situation here as I consider that a personal issue and you can find that information in numerous other outlets. All too often, it paints the player in a bad light and I simply won’t do that here. All I will say regarding Diana and what happened early Thursday morning is to please reserve judgment. Everyone makes mistakes and she is a genuinely good person, cares deeply about others and the community, is both responsible and honest, and I’ve come to know her as one of the nicest people in the business.  In addition, no one knows the entire story and the whole thing could be blown out of proportion. Thus, keep supporting Diana and the Mercury, especially with their tough game Sunday against the (suddenly healthy) Los Angeles Sparks!

View full size photo uploaded July 3, 2009

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi reacted for the first time publicly to news of her DUI arrest early Thursday morning.

"As part of the Phoenix community and the Mercury it's just something that's embarrassing and unfortunate for my family and for our organization. We'll have some other stuff to say later, but personally it's just a bad situation and I'm gonna have to do some things to make it straight. "

She was reluctant to say more given the on-going legal case.

The team had no comment on the situation only saying that Diana notified them immediately and that they are of course aware of the situation.

At this point, there is no indication that Taurasi will be suspended but that possibility remains should the organization or the league decide to go that route after receiving more information.

Just like when Jason Richardson was arrested (twice) last season, I have consistently never made a big moral issue out of these cases and I am not going to do so now. Of course, driving under the influence is not acceptable for anyone and yet people get busted all the time. I am not going to raise a big fuss when it is someone who is a public figure due to their role in sports. I don't hold sports figures to any different standard of public behavior then I hold anyone else and chances are if you get a DUI I won't be asking you about it and publishing your answer.

In other Mercury news, Coach Gaines said that center Nicole Ohlde is continuing to progress and is now available to play for five minute stretches. He is happy with her performance so far and looks for her to impact the game with her size. Looking forward to Sunday's match in LA against the Sparks, Gaines is anticipating that both Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker will play despite the Sparks saying that they won't.

The Mercury (7-4) are currently tied for first place in the West while the Sparks (3-5) are in 5th. The game is at 6:30 PST and will be broadcast on NBA TV.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/03/09 1:30 PM MST ]

Looks like Parker is going to make her season debut against the Mercury Sunday.

If General Manager Don Maloney finds a way to trade Jovo’s inflated contract, then the Yotes will be free of his $6.5 million due over each of the next two seasons.

During the first few days of the NHL free agency period, elite players such as Marian Hossa and the Sedin twins have signed deals at annual salaries below that of Jovanovski, further reinforcing that his he overpaid as per the current market.

Have no fear that this is a purge of all talent from the Coyotes, as according to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement every team must meet the salary floor of $40.8 million. So while the team may dump the mercurial offensive blueliner, they will likely get players back and presumably free up some cap space to add another.

I’ve always been a guy that thinks steroids and other performance enhancing drugs used in football haven’t fully come to the surface yet. I don’t have any hard evidence but I think the drug testing in the NFL is a little bit lax. I’m not saying it’s like what baseball was in the late 90’s but I think there are more football players than we realize using performance enhancing drugs. I’ve heard different rumors and stories about how players figure out ways around being caught, so it makes me suspicious of a lot of guys in the NFL.

With that being said… Former Arizona Cardinal Calvin Pace who was recently hit with a four game suspension for violating the leagues drug policy said he didn’t know the substance he used was illegal. As fans we’re only left speculating whether the player is telling the truth or not. I think we as fans are often being ignorant when we believe a player didn’t know the supplement he was taking was illegal. The teams trainers extensively go over what substances are banned and what are good to take. So it would take a real brain lapse or great amount of irresponsibility to not know what you were taking.

But in some cases I wonder if these players are telling the truth? I recently put up a blog post and video on former Arizona Cardinal Obafemi Ayanbadejo who was released by the team in 2006 when the Cardinals became aware of a possible suspension due to a failed drug test. As explained in this interview with Obafemi’s attorney, Ayanbadejo didn’t know there was any illegal substances in the supplement he was taking because the company did not properly label its product. Because of this the company was sued by Ayanbadejo and his attorney. The former Cardinal fullback took the victory on the case because the company realized it did indeed mislabel its product.

Maybe some of these players are telling the truth. Maybe Manny Ramirez really didn’t know it was wrong to take womens fertility drugs (I doubt it). I’d explain why I don’t buy his excuse but I don’t have time because I have to get back to work, but I digress. I’m not saying what happened to Ayanbadejo is what happened with Calvin Pace but you never know. But I do know that most of these players have a good idea of what they’re putting in their bodies. So they have to be held accountable for when they break the rules.

Melvin Unemployed No More

Former Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Bob Melvin is expected to accept a position with the San Diego Padres. Melvin would be reunited with Padres CEO  Jeff Moorad and team president Tom Garfinkel, who were both with the Diamondbacks organization until last season. Melvin’s title is still undetermined by he will is expected to be a roving consultant for the minor league system.

Hands Off Haren

The Los Angeles Times reported that the pitching-starved Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim expressed interest in righthander Dan Haren but were rebuffed by the Diamondbacks.

Tracy to Beantown?

The Boston Globe is reporting the Arizona Diamondbacks have scouted the last two Red Sox series indicating a trade may soon be in the works between the two franchises. The newspaper speculated the Red Sox may be interested in Chad Tracy as infield insurance, especially since both 3B Mike Lowell and 1B Kevin Youkilis have missed time this season with injuries.

E Everyone

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals are proving that while defense wins games, poor defense loses games. The teams that own the two worst records in baseball are also embroiled in a battle to see which club has the worst defense in Major League Baseball. The two teams have alternated the top two slots for most errors among all 30 teams. Until recently the Diamondbacks held that dubious distinction but now the Nationals hold a one gaffe edge 72-71. The two clubs make the Seattle Mariners look like a bunch of Gold Glovers as they are a distant third with 60 errors.

Melvin Unemployed No More

Former Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Bob Melvin is expected to accept a position with the San Diego Padres. Melvin would be reunited with Padres CEO  Jeff Moorad and team president Tom Garfinkel, who were both with the Diamondbacks organization until last season. Melvin’s title is still undetermined by he will is expected to be a roving consultant for the minor league system.

Hands Off Haren

The Los Angeles Times reported that the pitching-starved Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim expressed interest in righthander Dan Haren but were rebuffed by the Diamondbacks.

Tracy to Beantown?

The Boston Globe is reporting the Arizona Diamondbacks have scouted the last two Red Sox series indicating a trade may soon be in the works between the two franchises. The newspaper speculated the Red Sox may be interested in Chad Tracy as infield insurance, especially since both 3B Mike Lowell and 1B Kevin Youkilis have missed time this season with injuries.

E Everyone

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals are proving that while defense wins games, poor defense loses games. The teams that own the two worst records in baseball are also embroiled in a battle to see which club has the worst defense in Major League Baseball. The two teams have alternated the top two slots for most errors among all 30 teams. Until recently the Diamondbacks held that dubious distinction but now the Nationals hold a one gaffe edge 72-71. The two clubs make the Seattle Mariners look like a bunch of Gold Glovers as they are a distant third with 60 errors.

Net Gains

The Phoenix Coyotes are still being linked as a team that has interest in free agent goaltender Martin Biron. The Yotes signed goalie Jason LaBarbera earlier this week and figures to battle starter Ilya Bryzgalov in training camp. The Coyotes were unhappy with Bryzgalov’s inconsistent play during the team’s second half collapse last season. The netminder still has two years left on a deal but only at $1.5 million per year, which could make him an attractive trade acquisition for goaltending starved teams such as the New York Islanders or Tampa Bay Lightning.

Evan Bloodoff Scouting Report

Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Evan Bloodoff has a great hockey name but can he play the game? Kelowna Rockets broadcaster Regan Bartel gave his scouting report on the left wing.

“It wouldn’t be fair to suggest that Evan Bloodoff was off the radar of NHL scouts heading into the draft, yet his modest offensive totals in his third season in the Western Hockey League had you wondering whether teams would be interested enough to use a pick to acquired the playing rights to the Castlegar, B.C. resident. Does he have pro potential? The Phoenix Coyotes think so after picking him in the 6th round. Despite playing at times on the teams fourth line, his ability to close quickly on opposition defenseman and his knack of breaking away from an opponent with lightning speed caught the eye of Coyotes assistant gm Brad Treliving, who made no less than three stops at Prospera Place this past season.”

NHL All Star Game in 2011

One of the items lost when NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly visited the Valley this week was his mentioning that the league is open to bringing the NHL All Star Game to Glendale, likely in 2011. Jobing.com Arena was set to host the event in 2006 but that was the season lost to lockout and there was no All Star Game played.

A Puncher’s Chance

The Phoenix Coyotes reportedly had a strong interest in acquiring free agent enforcer Colton Orr. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed the 27-year old to a four-year $4 million contract this week. Toronto clearly overpaid for Orr, so it is not a slight on the Yotes that they didn’t get him. Orr had 18 fights last season and his 193 penalty minutes ranked third in the NHL.

The next episode is on Monday, July 6, 2009, at 10 PM ET/PT

The giant freshwater stingray is a megapredator, a true-life Loch Ness monster that can kill with a swipe of its tail! Amazingly, the elusive leviathan was discovered only 20 years ago and already it’s on the vulnerable list. Fish biologist, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer Zeb Hogan is on a mission to find these remarkable creatures as part of the Megafishes Project, a five-year study supported by the National Geographic Society. He’ll head to Thailand, one of the last places on Earth where the freshwater stingray thrives, to see some with his own eyes, and reel them in for a closer look. Hogan will dive into the murky water to learn more about their mysterious behavior—where they roam, how many there are and which areas need protection.

Be there for the milestone moment when Hogan hooks the biggest stingray he’s ever seen. Measuring more than 11 feet long, it takes 12 men to lift the monster ashore. Based on the dimensions, Hogan believes it could possibly be a world record–breaking fish.

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Link o'2am driving too fast in multiple lanes gets you pulled over and your blood drawn

Phoenix Mercury's Taurasi gets DUI citation

Is this the event that finally vaults Diana into the pantheon on great Arizona sports figures: Charles Barkley, Jason Richardson, Cliff Robinson, et al?

Suns (not much to see here...move along)

• Nash remains confident of contract settlement - The Globe and Mail
  NBA superstar Steve Nash remains confident that he will sign a contract extension with the Phoenix Suns this summer. But if an agreement isn’t reached, Nash said he would like to play for the New York Knicks.
• Griffin eager for chance with Suns
  The Suns waived a physical requirement for Wallace to complete the Shaquille O'Neal trade but plan to have one done on him in Phoenix or Cleveland next week in case he plays this season. - Interesting bit of Wallace news tacked on to this "Meet Taylor Griffin" article
• Suns, 2 words on Amaré: Be careful
  Paula Boivin warns of trading Amare....cites lots of trades gone bad. The question with Amare remains, do you make him your highest paid player for the next 5 or 6 yrs? It is not an obvious answer
• An open letter to Cavalier fans | Phoenix Suns Community Blog - Fanster.com - Do you bleed deep purple?
  I don't necessarily agree with this but it's a fun read

NBA Free Agency, etc

Note that both Gortat and Ariza seem to have been had for the MLE. Those seem to be reasonable contracts to me unlike Ben Gordon's overblown deal (5yrs / $60m) or the rumored $5yr/$60m that Toronto might throw at Hedo...Remember when Gordon was looking foolish for turning down $50m from the Bulls and then he hit a few shots in helping his team lose in the first round and now he's getting $60m? Good to know that sanity hasn't completely taken over the NBA...and of course there's the Grizzlies taking on 2yrs and $33m of Zach Randolph to be the "veteran presense" on that otherwise young and interesting team.

• HoopsHype - NBA Rumors
  Artest to the Lakers for 3yrs / $18m. Ariza to the Rockets for the MLE. Gordon and Charlie V to the Pistons. Gortat to Dallas. Marion could stay in Toronto. Hedo looking at Portland and Toronto. Iverson to the Grizz or Heat. Kleiza waiting. Bibby could stay in the ATL. Kidd to the Knicks(?)....it's been a typically busy first few days of the free agency period.
• Suicide lines: Celtics offer 'Sheed deal; Iverson to the Heat? - Ball Don't... - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
  More free agency links and such
• Hardwood Paroxysm " Blog Archive " Just Add Fire
  I was going to write an entire piece on why Artest was a bad fit in LA and why Ariza is the better player for Houston..Rob Mahoney did it for me
• Report: Ricky Rubio will stay in Spain for two more years - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
  Does this make the T-wolves dumb for drafting him or dumb for not trading him to the Knicks or wicked smart for drafting him and not trading him to the Knicks. The kid is only 18. A couple more years in Spain isn't going to hurt and at some point he's going to want to come play here and the Wolves will have traded Miller and Foye to own his rights (plus they got a few bigs in return from the Wiz).

Other

• WNBA.com: 2009 WNBA All-Star Balloting
  The Mercury are killing it in the all-star balloting. Go vote for the home town girls
  
• SUNS: Suns and Mercury Both Shine on Wednesday Night
  "I’m scouting a little bit," Griffin laughed. "I really want to find a way to get (Mercury rookie) DeWanna Bonner onto our Suns roster. She’s been impressive."
• Avery Johnson frontrunner for Pistons job
  No comment

• Positional QB Rankings - Essentially, the Cards are 1½ players deep at QB, led of course by the veteran Warner — coming off leading the Cards to their first Super Bowl appearance. Hall of Fame or not, even in his late 30s he delivers huge passing numbers (4,583 yards, 30 TDs in 2008). The big question: If Kurt got hurt last year, could Matt Leinart have led 'Zona to the Super Bowl? Likely not, though at least Leinart's working hard this offseason.
• Defensive tackle rankings - Darnell Dockett analysis: He is quick and relentless and was a big reason whey the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl. His contract issue is clouding things heading into this season.
• Top 50 Players - One name on this year's list is sure to ignite the you-know-what storm. It's Andre Johnson, the Houston Texans receiver, who is fourth on my list. Some might say he's not even the best receiver in the league -- with Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald getting the nod -- but I beg to differ.
• Dockett wants top-5 money - No real surprise here but via Twitter: "I want to thank Rod Woodson and @jamiedukes. For picking me in the NFL TOP 5 D-tackels "I wish I can get paid like the top 5"
• NFL's top defensive tackles - Though he fails to play to his potential consistently, few defensive tackles are capable of taking over a game like Dockett, which makes his inclusion on this list mandatory.
• Keyshawn Johnson on Anquan Boldin - "I keep seeing where Anquan Boldin wants to be traded from Arizona, or he wants to be paid like Larry Fitzgerald,'' Johnson said. "Anquan, you're a glorified T.J. Houshmandzadeh, so cut it out. They're the same player. You want $11 million? Why don't you take the $8 million they're offering and be happy? You're not Larry Fitzgerald.''
• Rashad Johnson's Impact - The last two times the Cardinals have drafted a safety -- Antrel Rolle doesn’t count -- it came in the third round. Adrian Wilson turned out to be a pretty good pick. Rashad Johnson hopes people will one day say the same about him.

• The fastest Card - Who ya got? Breaston or DRC? Oh wait, should Garvin be in the race as well?

• Where did all the MLB's go? - Most impact NFL middle-linebackers today are either relics, such as Zach Thomas and Tedy Bruschi, or hybrids playing the inside-linebacker spot in the ever-popular 3-4 defense, like Karlos Dansby and Bart Scott.
• Rookie revelations before training camp - The front runners for NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year are Arizona running back Chris Wells and Miami corner back Vontae Davis. Just an early guess on my part, but both players have the opportunity to shine early. The bruising Wells is the front runner to replace departed starting running back Edgerrin James in one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Wells missed most of Arizona's off season program because of a league rule prohibiting participation from non-graduates if their college is in session, but the Ohio State product shouldn't have a problem catching up.
• SI.com - The Fortunate 50 - #45 Antonio Smith - The former Cardinal was lured away from the defending NFC champs with a five-year deal that pays $15.5 million up front. That up front money means that only 44 other American athletes earned more money than the Strongest Right Arm in the NFL.

• NFL overtime silent auction system? - No one seems to be satisfied with the NFL’s current “Win the coin toss, get the football” overtime system. I’ve been against changing it, though, mainly because I haven’t heard any ideas that I’ve liked better. Until today, anyway.

Does it make sense for Hill and Nash to be teammates again next season on what could be a rebuilding Suns team? (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

At first glance it’s not even a discussion we need to be having: your Phoenix Suns must re-sign Grant Hill.

Steve Kerr has made him Phoenix’s top target in free agency, proving that by making sure he was the first GM Hill met with by traveling to his Orlando home when free agency started on Wednesday.

But should Grant Hill be Phoenix’s top priority for next season?

Obviously if this team plans on competing for championships, he’s a must re-sign. Hill was their best perimeter defender last season, he excelled in the transition game and he brought the kind of all-around game that thrives under Alvin Gentry.

That’s not to mention Gentry and Hill share a special rapport dating back to the days Gentry coached Hill in Detroit (that relationship is one of the reasons Hill came here in the first place), and as a person he just might be the best guy in basketball. Call him the Luis Gonzalez of the NBA.

His teammates love him, his coaches love him, and the fans certainly love him, and he probably still has something left in the tank after putting up 12 and five last year after sitting out all those seasons with his various injuries.

But the question is, what direction are the Suns going in?

If they are dealing Amare and blowing this thing up, what use do they have for a 37-year-old Grant Hill?

At that point, Hill would only be taking away time and touches from future rotation guys like Earl Clark and Jared Dudley.

More importantly, why would Hill want to play in a situation like that? As mentioned before, he lost some of his prime years to injury, and he still has that monkey of never winning a playoff series firmly entrenched on his back.

He’s made his $100 million and then some; now it’s winning time for Grant Hill.

Even if Hill would prefer Phoenix, I can’t imagine him giving his John Hancock without knowing what the hell is going on with your Phoenix Suns. And frankly he deserves that. Hill should only come back if the Suns are committing to winning in 2009-10, not building for the future.

The ideal situation in my mind would be for Hill to sign a one-year deal in the $3 million range with the Suns for one final year with the club, although he’s gone on record as saying he’d like to play a few more than that.

If the Suns eventually commit to keeping Amare to start this season if they find no takers in the trade market (a very distinct possibility at this point), commit to keeping Nash and make one more move for a big, there’s no reason why Grant shouldn’t say “yes” to Kerr.

If they decide to go one more year as a quasi-contender and then really change things up during the much anticipated Summer of 2010, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t expect No. 33 back in purple and orange.

But even though Hill has already put down a deposit for his daughter’s private school in Phoenix (like he couldn’t afford eating that) and claimed to have a 91.3 percent chance of returning, don’t necessarily expect him back if the situation isn’t right, especially with teams like the Celtics, Nuggets and D’Antoni’s Knicks reportedly pursuing him.

What we have seen thus far in the offseason is that the elites (as in the Lakers, Spurs, Cavs, Magic and Celtics) are putting all their chips in the center to win it all by bringing in guys like Ron Artest, Richard Jefferson, Shaq, Vinsanity and potentially eventually Rasheed Wallace.

The rest of the league is largely dilly dallying around and waiting for 2010.

The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening by the day, and even the most optimistic Suns fan would be hard pressed to envision a situation in which the Suns can be propelled anywhere near that group by the time training camp breaks.

Yes, the Suns could be a good, fun, exciting playoff team if they bring back Hill and don’t dump Amare, but they still won’t be joining the upper crust.

For me at least, complicating matters is the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder own the Suns’ 2010 draft pick. If Kurt Thomas was never traded with the two firsts to an organization that traded him to a Spurs team that beat the Suns in the playoffs and then used him to acquire Jefferson, I’d be painting a completely different picture.

Then I would be advocating for the Suns to purge their roster of veterans, stockpile as much young talent as they can, tank this season, hopefully end up with a high pick in a stellar draft, and then use their cap space to add an impact free agent or two.

That way the Suns would basically have just one down year before being in position for another run like 2004-08, kind of like the purging of Starbury and Penny and a subsequently crappy year led to the Nash signing and the uncanny turnaround of 2004-05.

So the answer to “Should the Suns re-sign Hill” isn’t as simple as you would think it would be.

Unless he’s paid well below market value, there’s no way the Suns should offer him more than one year, especially considering his injury history (despite playing all 82 this year) and the fact that he will be a 38-year-old wing who relies on speed entering the 2010-11 season.

If the Suns are using 2009-10 to rebuild and get in position for a comeback during the Summer of 2010, the right thing to do for Hill and Phoenix’s evaluation process would be to let the vet sign somewhere he has a better shot at winning.

If the Suns really plan on winning this season (a big if at this point), then I’m all for bringing him back.

Kerr and Co. just have to make up their mind about where this team is headed next year before they go around throwing money at a 37-year-old wing, even if that 37-year-old wing is the one and only Grant Hill.

Arizona jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Gerardo Parra reached base then stole second. Parra moved to third base on a ground out and with two outs Chad Tracy delivered a hit to left field and scored Parra. Mark Reynolds would add another run in the sixth inning with his 22nd homer of the year. On the day Arizona would have only four hits off the Reds staff.

Leading by a 2-1 score in the eight inning Arizona brought in reliever Chad Qualls with 2 outs and 2 men on and Qualls delivered with a big out. In the 9th Qualls did not have as much luck and scored one run to tie it up. In the 10th inning the Reds would get to Clay Zavada and score the winning run.

The Diamondbacks now head to Colorado for a weekend series against the Rockies.

It’s not your fault, A.J. Some may think the Diamondbacks’ dive into oblivion has been hastened by your hiring but I’m not among them.

You see, I was at the ballpark during the forgettable Al Pedrique era. I’m sure you remember Al even if alot of Diamondbacks fans don’t. Pedrique took over during the 2004 crash after Bob Brenly was fired. Arizona was 29-50 at the time Al took over. And then they went a stellar 22-61 down the stretch.

It wasn’t a question of whether the Diamondbacks were going to lose. It only was a question of how. Maybe that’s the case during your brief reign as well, though the three-year contract you received gives you the slightest air of authority that Pedrique never had.

These are your players in as much as you were in charge of the team’s player development department. But it wasn’t you who decided who was going to appear in a major league uniform and when. It wasn’t you who signed Eric Byrnes to the overvalued contract, making him an albatross the team just can’t shed.

You didn’t let Orlando Hudson walk away.

You didn’t settle for Jon Garland and a 200-year-old Tom Gordon as your pitching improvements.

You weren’t behind Justin Upton’s incredibly slow start (which means you aren’t going to get credit for his recovery, either. Sorry about that.)

There’s no question the Diamondbacks are worse this year than anyone had anticipated. But this never was a team that was going to contend for the division title. Los Angeles had that wrapped up before the World Baseball Classic started, even before Hudson traded Sedona Red for Dodger Blue.

Have you ever played tabletop baseball, A.J.? Probably not … it seems to be the private reserve of statistics-obsessed sports nerds. And columnists. But here’s why I ask … as you play enough back seasons and attempt to “manage” a truly terrible team, you realize there’s not a damn thing you can do to make then any better.

No matter what you do, the 1962 Mets are awful. You could try to use this reliever instead of that, play this first baseman instead of that, and it’s not going to matter a bit. On the 2004 Diamondbacks, once you get past the starter you’ve got a world of trouble ahead — Stephen Randolph, Mike Koplove, Brandon Villafuerte, Andrew Good … it goes on and on.

During the heat of the season, lukewarm as the heat may be with this team, it’s often hard to realize that the team just isn’t very good.

A.J., this team just isn’t very good. Watching them throw the ball around Chase Field like the Bad News Bears this past weekend should have erased any doubt anyone had.

It’s not your fault, A.J. Not this year …

Just make sure that enough individuals show enough improvement that they are at least respectable next season.