Suns owner Robert Sarver has been suspended for one year and fined $10 million by the league for racist controversy, sexist remarks, and cases of sexual harassment.
“I read the sentencing report.”
“Like most people, I am shocked and disappointed.”
Such a penalty made many players dissatisfied, and even the star of the Suns, Chris Paul, criticized it and made it clear that he did not give face to his own boss.
Under many public opinions, Sarver decided to sell his shares in the Phoenix Suns today, intending to sell the team that has been in operation for 17 years.
“I had hoped that the one-year ban would give me time to focus and make amends.”
“But in the current situation, I painfully realize that this is no longer possible.”
“Whatever I do now, or what I can do in the future, is overshadowed by what I’ve said in the past.”
“For these reasons, I started looking for buyers for the Sun and Mercury.”
As soon as the news came out, many buyers flocked, including many big buyers, such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, former Disney CEO Bob Iger and so on.
“We thank Mr. Sarver for swiftly making decisions that were in the best interest of our sports community.”
Players union president CJ McCollum also issued a statement, and star LeBron James posted a celebration.
In fact, long before Sarver’s punishment came down, some Phoenix fans spontaneously raised funds to hang up the “SarverOut” electronic signage.
After all, what did Sarver do to make his own players and fans disagree?
“Once he was practicing, Sarver walked in happily.”
“I asked him what he was happy about and he said he knew I didn’t make the All-Star Game.”
“It made him happy because he didn’t have to pay me a million-dollar incentive bonus.”
“How can there be a boss who doesn’t want his players to enter the All-Star Game in order to save money?”
“After that, I knew I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
Since he took over the team, stingy has always been Sarver’s label. As long as he can save money, he cares about it. The star Goran Dragic revealed that when he played for the Suns, Sarver didn’t make him into the All-Star Game, so he didn’t need to pay him more than his contract salary. Things are complacent.
Maybe you think Sarver should be joking, how can the boss be so scornful? But perhaps as a boss, he has always looked at his employees from the perspective of “asset”.
“I really wanted to go up and slap him.”
“But I was fined $25,000 earlier for telling him to shut up.”
Matt Barnes, who played for the Suns, complained about Sarver on his podcast, saying Sarver had a lot of disrespectful remarks about them at the time and didn’t take the players’ scores seriously.
In 2010, the Suns reached the Western Conference Finals, which was the best result for the Suns in the past 20 years before entering the championship game last year, and for such an achievement, the leading striker, Amar’e Stoudemire, was indisputable. As a free agent, he himself once expressed to the media that he likes the atmosphere of the team. However, the team owner Sarver said something that chilled him when he renewed his contract.
“I’ll find someone to replace you in the free market right away tomorrow.”
Trying to undercut your price by belittling your accomplishments seems like an interview technique, but for Stoudemire, who already had a track record, such words made him feel disrespected, and the Suns came to replace him in free agency. Yes, it was Hakim Warrick, who was far short of him in strength and ability, which eventually made Stoudemire leave in disgust.
And this approach has been used almost exactly this summer to renew the contract of leading center Deandre Ayton. Even if he proves that he is an important pillar for the Suns to enter the championship game, Sarver is still reluctant to give Ayton the maximum salary extension he wants. , In the end, the two sides were deadlocked until the Pacers made an offer and the Suns followed up. According to the regulations, the Suns had the right to renew the contract of Ayton, and the farce subsided a little.
But in this farce, it is the trust of both parties that is hurt. The unpleasant negotiation process will also affect Ayton’s willingness to stay after the contract is completed. The only goal achieved is that Sarver pays less every year. a little money.
In addition, Sarver also likes to intervene in team affairs. He traded TJWarren, who had achieved a little result, in exchange for a bag of cash, which did not help the team’s combat power at all. Although it was the general manager who made the transaction, but It is not difficult to see the shadow of Sarver’s inspiration.
The deeds of various races are not enough, so Sarver has always been ranked among the most unpopular bosses in the NBA. Even after watching the Suns’ ball for a few years, there is often a sense of despair. Intervene, then the sun may never have a chance to go to the next level.