The Arizona Cardinals and two-time MVP Kurt Warner have not budged in their negotiations since the team upped their offer above the $10M threshold last week. Warner shunned the offer and became a free agent Friday.
At least two teams are believed to be interested in Warner, one is the San Francisco 49ers. Warner is schedule to visit the ‘Niners on Monday.
Warner has indicated that his preference is still to stay in Arizona, but his agent, Mark Bartelstein said Warner has no choice but to explore other offers.
“It’s all part of free agency, everybody is going to put their best foot forward, recruit him and make him feel wanted, who would not answer the phone if someone calls?”
It seemed clear from the beginning that the Cardinals wanted the market set the price for Warner’s services, rather than bidding against themselves… and the Arizona Cardinals are about to get just what they asked for…
Shaquille O’Neal complained after Thursday night’s embarrassing loss to the Lakers about not getting enough shot attempts. When asked if he wanted to carry the team, Shaq replied, “I don’t think I can do that on 7 shots. I’ve been telling them I need more the whole season if they want me to produce. But our problem isn’t offense.”
The Diesel made the most of his chance Friday night vs. the Toronto Raptors, scoring 45 points on 20 – 25 shooting from the field.
Suns fan Rhett Brown won $77,777 by making a half-court shot on Friday night at US Airways Center. The fact that he made the shot wasn’t as surprising as how he made the shot – “granny style.”
The Lucky 7’s shootout is sponsored by Casino Arizona.
The Diamondbacks’ youngsters’ bats made up for Doug Davis’s poor outing, outslugging the Cleveland Indians 15-9, as Arizona improved to 2-0 in spring play. Dan Haren started the game and pitched two inning for the Snakes, giving up just one hit, a second inning home run to Matt LaPorta.
Davis did not fair near as well, giving up five earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. However, the D-Backs bullpen managed to stop the bleeding, giving up just two runs the rest of the way.
Arizona got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI from Mark Reynolds. Arizona scored two runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eight innings, with a 6 run seventh inning placed nicely inbetween.
The D-Backs AAA first baseman, Josh Whitesell started the inning off with a solo shot off Tomo Ohka, his first HR of the spring. Ohka gave up six runs in his inning of work.
Mark Reynolds stole two bases for the Snakes, and non-roster invitees, Ryan Roberts, Josh Wilson and Luke Carlin drove in two runs each.
Arizona will take on the Chicago White Sox at 1pm tomorrow afternoon in Tucson.
KTAR Sports is reporting that the Suns’ Steve Nash will sit out tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Nash left Tuesday night’s game vs. the Bobcats with an ankle injury. Nash returned briefly, hitting a three pointer, but was pulled just seconds later.
Phoenix is already without All-Star power forward Amare Stoudemire who is out for the season with an eye injury. The Lakers are without center Andrew Bynum who tore a ligament on January 31.
Nash remains questionable for Friday night’s game vs. the Raptors in Toronto.
The Phoenix Suns must sign one more player to fill out their roster according to league requirements. The signing is likely to come before March 1, the deadline to sign players eligible to participate in post season play.
The Suns appeared interested in both Mikki Moore and Joe Smith, however Moore signed with Boston earlier this week.
Smith would bring a veteran presence and help fill the void created by Amare Stoudemire’s season-ending eye injury. Smith is averaging 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 36 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder this season.
If the Thunder waive Smith by Sunday’s deadline, the Suns will face competition from at least one other team for Smith’s services. The Rocky Mountain News reported Monday that the Denver Nuggets are also interested in the 6-10 225lb veteran.
There was no moping over the loss of Terry Porter Tuesday night at the US Airways Center. In fact, Alvin Gentry and the Phoenix Suns had somewhat of a coming out party; a celebration of the return to the “breakneck” paced run-n-gun offense which was so successful for Phoenix over the last four seasons.
The Suns scored 81 points thanks to 25 fast break points, 7 Steve Nash dimes, 6-7 shooting from Leandro Barbosa, and 8-8 combined shooting from Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O’Neal. And that was just the first half.
Phoenix wasted no time in getting back to their fun-n-gun style, electrifying the crowd with breakaways, three point shots, and thunderous dunks that left fans asking, ‘Terry who’?
Phoenix scored a team season high for point in a quarter with 41 in the first, and followed up the performance with a 40 point encore in the second.
Louis Amundson, the first man off the Phoenix bench, added even more spark than usual when he drew a first quarter foul on the Clippers’ Zach Randolph. Amundson hit the floor as he battled Randolph for a rebound. While on the floor Randolph proceeded to taunt Amundson. As Amundson popped up and got in his face, Randolph landed a left hook right below the Amundson’s right eye.
Randolph was ejected from the game and will undoubtedly be suspended for tomorrow night’s game in LA vs. the Suns, and then some.
Phoenix took a 81-49 lead into halftime and never looked back, following up their 41 and 40 point quarters with a modest 37 points third quarter.
The Suns had 5 players in double figures, Grant Hill (20), Amare Stoudemire (23), Shaquille O’Neal (15), Leandro Barbosa (24), Louis Amundson (13), and Goran Dragic (12).
STAT and the Diesel combined for 38 points on 15-18 shooting while playing just 20 minutes each.
Amare said after the game, “It felt totally different. We felt relaxed, we felt poised and we just ran and played free.”
Eric Gordon led the way for the Clippers, scoring 24 points on 8-16 shooting.
The Clippers’ Zach Randolph knocked Phoenix’s Louis Amundson to the floor during the battle for a rebound late in the first quarter of the Suns 140-100 win over the LA. While Amundson was on the floor, Randloph stood over him, appearing to taunt him. Amundson jumped up and into the face of Randolph, at which point Randolph swung, and landed a left-handed punch just below Amundson’s right eye.
The Diamondbacks and outfielder Conor Jackson reached an agreement on a one year deal worth an estimated $3M Tuesday night, effectively avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.
Jackson, the team’s projected starting left fielder, hit .300 last season with 12 HRs and 75 RBIs.
Jackson commented after striking a deal, “Being my first time it was a little stressful, it’s just good to avoid a hearing.”
The Diamondbacks have not gone to arbitration with a player since GM, Josh Byrnes took over after the 2005 season.