Los Suns

By Michael J.W. Stickings

The Phoenix Suns, the NBA's team in the Police State of Arizona, has done the right thing in coming out firmly against the abhorrent immigration bill.

Managing Partner Robert Sarver, with the full support of the players (and with the approval of the league), has decided that the team will wear "Los Suns" jerseys for Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs tonight. It's also Cinco de Mayo today, but the decision is a direct response to the legislation.

The Spurs apparently want to wear "Los Spurs" jerseys but may not be able to get them on time. (The Suns wore "Los Suns" jerseys earlier this year.)

Sarver:

I looked around our plane and looked at our players and the diversity in our organization. I thought we need to go on record that we honor our diversity in our team, in the NBA and we need to show support for that...

I don't think it's the right way to handle the immigration problem, No. 1. No. 2, as I read through the bill, it felt to me a little bit like it was mean-spirited and I personally just don't agree with it. In addition, one of the main priorities right now for our state is to get jobs for people. The enactment of this bill just puts us farther behind the eight-ball in attracting companies to do business here and I think it will have a negative economic effect and a negative effect on our ability to create jobs for people who are looking for work.

Hopefully, it's all going to get worked out and the federal government will step in and there'll be a national solution. I realize that immigration is a problem and we have issues that need to be dealt with. I just don't think this bill accomplishes that.

The great (and Canadian) Steve Nash:

It's a clear-cut issue for me. I don't agree with this bill. I don't agree with the spirit of the bill or the message it sends, not only to people in our community but how it represents our community across the country and the world.

I think the bill opens up the opportunity for racial profiling, racism. I think it puts the police in an incredibly difficult position that isn't fair to them. It's an infringement on our civil liberties to allow the possibility for inequality to arise in our community.

General Manager Steve Kerr:

It's hard to imagine in this country that we have to produce papers," Kerr said. "It rings up images of Nazi Germany. We understand that the intentions of the law are not for that to happen but you have to be very, very careful. We feel like it was well-intended but maybe not well-executed. As a result, this state is taking a huge economic hit.

I think he's being too nice. The legislation is not "well-intended" -- and the consequences obviously aren't just economic. It is a proposed law crafted by conservative white Arizonans and aimed directly at non-white (and mainly Hispanic) Arizonans. The intention is pretty clear.

Good for the Suns for taking a firm stand and sending a clear message on a significant political issue, a rarity in professional sports these days.