Why we should remain the PHOENIX and not Arizona Coyotes
By Troy Baker
The Phoenix is a flaming bird who rises from the ashes. Need I continue?
All these discussion is moot if the team leaves Arizona. For argument sake we must assume City of Glendale comes to their senses. That will all come down to a vote Tuesday night.
Your Phoenix Coyotes came to the valley and were embraced by faithful fans. We are building a tradition in the Valley of the Sun. We have a few heated rivalries with the Red Wings, Blackhawks, and Kings.
Sometimes change just isn’t good. Like the Phoenix the Coyotes team, coaches, management, and fans have endured many nights of head scratching, sadness, uncertainty, and grief. We have been burnt time and time again. Just when you think we can crawl out we get pummeled back into the ground by Goldwater, Canada, NHL, Hulsizer, Jamison, and the city of Glendale. We would truly be crawling out of the rubble only to dust the soot off and attempt to fly again. We are a proud city that gets muddied up by so many transplants we are called every name in the book.
Bandwagoners, fair weather fans, etc. This happens when transplants come to the valley and grab some new gear and support a winner. It really draws the ire of valley natives that have held the Phoenix Suns and Arizona State Sun Devils close to the heart for 4 decades. No one can dispute how loved those two franchises are. May not be a bigger following then teams we consider family. When it comes to the Arizona Cardinals, they felt out of place from day one. They played at Sun Devil stadium, hot metal bleachers were so uncomfortable and most of us had an NFL team. As you see they got a new stadium and the owner finally committed to winning and Jake Plummer helped bridge the gap drawing in many Sun Devil fans.
Pat Tillman was and still is the heartbeat that gave this franchise a hero to root for even after he was gone.
My advice is to keep it PHOENIX Coyotes and have some special nights during the week against non Canadian and original 6 teams such as: Where throw back uniforms, have 3 stars of the game sign autographs for 30 mins after game, give away game worn merchandise to a few lucky fans Mon-Thurs. You want to grow the base and recapture some you shunned when you ditched the Kachina Coyote? Easy fix. Once a weekday per week you go retro. Just like when using Black jerseys on Saturday. Keep your traditions and learn from the D-Backs not to throw away tradition just because it reminded everyone of Colangelo that touched things and turned them to gold.
We ARE the PHOENIX. The Phoenix Coyotes. We will RISE! From bankruptcy, no owner, foreclosure, lockout, Goldtoiletwater Institute, Gretzky, Moyes, and from the City of Glendale.