In the summer of 1996, I was in Medicine Hat, Alberta– those 12-seat planes can really dance on a Chinook wind – to see the Pioneer Rookie’s Lethbridge Black Diamonds play the first game in Arizona Diamondbacks history, with the sun still shining at 10 p.m.

 Five years later, I was standing in the dugout runway at Bank One Ballpark when Luis Gonzalez lifted that lazy pop single that found just enough grass to give Arizona its first world champion.

 I watched from behind home plate at Yankee Stadium as President Bush tossed a perfect strike to pat an uncertain and hurting nation on the back. From my press seat in the frosty right field stands, I witnessed a week of miracles in New York as Byung-Hyun Kim folded into a tiny ball on the same mound.

 I was standing at the back of the Rose Bowl end zone in Pasadena when Jake Plummer scrambled the Sun Devils so close to a national championship you could taste it in the thick California air. While myself and the rest of the Trib reporters were huddling over story angles, my, colleague, the late Bob Moran – who was still watching the game – said “Hey, you might want to hold on, fellas … Ohio State isn’t done.”

 In almost the same spot, a decade earlier, I watched Bruce Hill catch the back end of a Jeff Van Raaphorst pass and seal ASU’s comeback win over Michigan, and their only Rose Bowl title.

 I was in Birmingham Alabama for the Sweet 16 round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament, when ASU joined Georgetown, Kentucky and North Carolina. The coaches were Dean Smith, Rick Pitino, John Thompson – and frantic Bill Frieder, who asked myself and a fellow beat writer to stand up during his press conference and said “if you guys have any other questions about our season, these two have seen it all.”

 I had, including Frieder as he conducted a one-on-one interview buck naked in Seattle.

 I covered two Rose Bowls, one Sun Bowl, six Insight Bowls, every Fiesta Bowl since 1984 and all five national championship games (the Notre Dame-West Viginia game was incredible). In 2003, the day after Ohio State beat Miami in overtime, I was on a plane to Columbus to cover a Coyotes game — the only one not wearing scarlet and gray, and quite likely the only one sober.)

 I was on the sidelines in Sun Devil Stadium that Monday night in 1988 when Dallas’ Herschel Walker went over the chain link fence and nearly found the old pedestrian moat during the first Phoenix Cardinals home game.

  Two months later, I was just outside the end zone when Roy Green caught a Neil Lomax touchdown pass with two seconds left, completing a rally from a 23-0 deficit against the 49ers that still stands as the greatest Cardinal game played here.

 I was in the same stadium and almost the same spot eight years later when Larry Brown took back his second interception for a second touchdown to seal Super Bowl XXX for the Cowboys.

 I have been to Texas Stadium a dozen times, but will never forget the stunned faces I saw in early 1999 when the Cardinals ended that same Dallas dynasty and with their first playoff win in Arizona. That earned me a week in Minnesota (I now know what a minus-50 win chill feels like at 2 a.m.) before Arizona fell to Randall Cunningham, Randy Moss and the Vikings, two steps shy of a Super Bowl of their own.

 Just down the road in St. Paul, I sat next to Brian Boucher in the Coyotes locker room in 2004 after he recorded his fifth straight shutout to break the modern-day NHL record. ‘This, I didn’t see coming, Brownie,” he said after the media horde had finally run out of questions.

 I was the Coyotes beat writer from the beginning until 2004, traveling with the team on every road trip. I missed two buses, but no planes, and made lifelong friends.

 I was a ballboy for the Suns in 1979, and a young reporter in 1990 when the Suns finally got over on Magic Johnson and the Lakers, covering the cinching game at the Forum when traveling for the Progress was unheard of. Cotton Fitzsimmons, stripped to the waist and smiling ear to ear in the locker room, grabbed Dan Majerle around the waist and said “He’s all man, fellas. He’s awwwl man.”

 I heard, by my count, 250 impromptu Charles Barkley press conferences at his locker.

 I was sitting across from Paul Westphal when, down 0-2 to the Lakers in the first round of the 1993 playoffs, said, “The next game is over there Tuesday. We’re going to win that. Then the next one is Thursday. We’ll win there, too. Then we’re going to come home next Sunday and win that one, and everyone will say what a great series it was.”

 They did. And it was. And those Suns didn’t stop winning until Michael Jordan and John Paxson drove a stake through their heart in Game 6 of the Finals. And I was there.

 I became the Suns beat writer in 2005, just in time to see Steve Nash win two MVPs — and to watch as Robert Horry nearly sent him nto my press seat with a hip that brought Amare Stoudemire off the bench and the best chance at a championship to a screeching halt.

I saw Michael Carbajal win a world championship, and saw him lose the rubber match of his epic trilogy with Humberto Gonzalez in a glorified bull ring in Mexico City. I was with Mesa’s Scott “The Pink Cat” Walker when he fought Julio Ceasar Chavez in Las Vegas 1996 – and stood next to a distraught Chavez a decade later when his brilliant, 106-win career came to a sad end in Phoenix against Grover Wiley – a used car salesman from Omaha, Neb.

  I covered the first Cardinals game, the first Coyotes game, the first Diamondbacks game, the first Rattlers game and the first Arizona Sandsharks, Phoenix Smash game and the last Phoenix Firebird game. 

 I was in South Williamsport, Pa. in 2003 when Cory Bernard tied a Little League World Series record by smashing three home runs to lead Chandler National to the semifinals. I was in Knoxville in 1994 when Jim Brock – in the final days of his life – rallied the Sun Devils to beat Todd Helton and Tennessee for one final trip to Omaha. During one incredible weekend in 1999, I was in South Bend Saturday when the Sun Devils made their only trip to Notre Dame, and in Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon for a Coyotes-Rangers matinee.

 I covered three of the Arizona Rattlers four Arena Bowls – and both championships, including one over Iowa and a quarterback named Kurt Warner. Sorry Hunkie: It was great, but not quite Game 7 against the Bronx Bombers.

 I was there for Suns outdoor basketball and indoor soccer (remember the Inferno?), NASCAR, rodeo, marathons, gold medal swimmers, wrestlers, boxers, archers and sprinters. And at age 45, I never thought I’d be writing to say goodbye to the people who made it all possible.

 Because, you see, everywhere I went, everything I did, was for you – the readers of the Scottsdale Progress/East Valley Tribune. For two decades, I tried my best to be your eyes and ears, I asked tough questions because it was what you wanted to know. I wiped away tears one day and rolled my eyes then next – and hoped each emotion was accurately portrayed.

 As a columnist, I gave my opinion. As a writer, I tried to deliver the moment. As a representative of you, I tried to do it with the accuracy and professionalism you deserved.

 It was an honor. It was a privilege that has only truly revealed itself to me over the last three months, when I knew this last day was coming. I have been laid off, along with more than 140 of my colleagues who have also done their best, over and above call, to put what you wanted and needed to know at your fingertips.

 I have spent more than 1,000 days in airports and on strange highways (to the inventor of MapQuest and GPS, where were you 20 years ago!) and more than 1,000 nights in hotels.

 But I never felt like I was alone. You were all with me, and I did the best I could to make you feel that way too. You were waiting for the next story. You were calling, writing and e-mailing you compliments, criticisms, suggestions and encouragement.

 And that is what I will miss most of all.

He certainly wasn’t happy to lose in his adopted home of Portland or see the 11-game winning streak against the Blazers come to an end Thursday night. But somewhere deep inside, Phoenix coach Terry Porter had to smirking a little bit.

 The Suns can surely score points – they topped the 110-point mark for the fifth straight game and put up 60 or more for the fourth time in that same span.

 But sooner or later, just as Porter has preached since day one of training camp, Phoenix is going to have to stop somebody.

 The Suns shot 57 percent from the field, 86 percent from the line and nailed 12 of their 18 3-pointers – and still lost because they couldn’t stop Brandon Roy and the Blazers in a 124-119 loss.

 The return of the old Suns offense was a welcome sight, but giving up 124 points – 26 of them coming off 16 Phoenix turnovers – won’t sit well with Porter and shows that rumors that the Suns have “turned the corner” are premature at best.

 Jason Richardson is an electric scorer and the trade with Charlotte has been universally hailed as Phoenix steal. But while Raja Bell “held” Roy to 26 and 20 points respectively in a pair of Suns wins over Portland in Phoenix this year, Richardson, Matt Barnes, Steve Nash and anyone else asked to try to stop Roy came up empty during his 52-point masterpiece.

 This game may go a long way toward proving Porter’s point that defense can’t be a four-letter word in Phoenix, and the Suns have four months to commit to at least bearing down in the key points of the game.

 Saturday’s game against Denver should be a similar shootout. The Nuggets rank fourth in the league in scoring and the points flow when these two teams show up. And if the Suns don’t draw the line somewhere defensively, they could give up 120 points again.

 A few notes on Roy’s 52-point night:

 *It’s is the most scored against the Suns since Gilbert Arenas of Washington scored 54 almost exactly two years ago (Dec. 22, 2006) in Phoenix during a 144-139 overtime win.

 *It is the fourth-most points scored against the Suns in franchise history behind Wilt Chamberlain (66), Arenas (54) and Michael Jordan (53).

   –The 52 points in the second-most scored in an NBA game this season (San Antonio’s Tony Parker had 55 against Minnesota) and the most scored in regulation.

   –Roy is the third player (joining Miami’s Dwyane Wade on Nov. 28 and New Jersey’s Devin Harris on Nov. 30) to score at least 40 points against the Suns in the last 21 days. Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki nearly joined the club but settled for 39 points on Dec. 5.

Grant Hill wants to go back to the Magic? You could have fooled him.

“No, I don’t want to go back to Orlando!” Hill said before the question could be asked when he emerged from the Suns locker room following Wednesday’s practice. “Let’s get that out of the way first.”

The speculation started after the Orlando Sentinel, citing “impeccable sources,” said Hill was uncomfortable with his future in Phoenix and would like to return to Orlando. The suggested trade: Hill for another Duke graduate, J.J. Redick – who is languishing on the Magic bench.

“Great. Instead of getting booed once a year, I’d get booed all year,” Hill said, referring to the reaction he received in his return to Orlando last year. “Let me put it this way: If I get trade, I quit. I retire. I’m done. Hopefully, that’s the end to that.”

Redick took more shots during his celebrated instructional DVD than he has in the NBA. Meanwhile, Hill is back in the starting lineup and playing long minutes for the Suns.

Suns GM Steve Kerr waved off the report of talks between the two teams, saying he said to Orlando GM Otis Thorpe when the Magic came to Phoenix last Friday but anything involving Hill never came up.

“I have no idea where that came from,” Kerr said. “Grant is one of the most important members of our team and he isn’t going anywhere.”

The Suns must add a player – a backup point guard – by Dec. 24. Kerr said the Suns will wait until the last minute to sign the player, hoping there might be a contract buyout around the league that makes an interesting player available. That might not happen before February, when team payrolls are calculated for the luxury tax.

That player is not deposed Knicks guard Stephon Marbury. Despite internet rumors, Kerr said the Suns would not be interested in bringing Marbury back to Arizona even if he was available at a minimum salary.

Kerr was in Denver last night to watch a NBADL game between Colorado and Rio Grande Valley – and the point guard battle between two former NBA players – ex-Sun Smush Parker and Eddie Gill – with Gill believed to be the player of most interest to Phoenix. NBA teams can’t extend 10-day contracts until Jan. 9, but the Suns can sign an NBADL player to a non-guaranteed contract and release him is a better option arises.

 Yes, Jason Richardson makes his first start as a Sun tonight. Yes, Terry Porter is an interested bystander for the Mike D’Antoni three-ringed circus. And yes. Mike D’Antoni is still answering the “so, what happened anyway?” questions. Here’s some more from Monday’s morning shootaround (which had about 30 media folks surrounding the former Suns coach just in case you haven’t overdosed already:

 D’Antoni how there are only three players (Leandro Barbosa, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire) left from the 2006-07 Suns: “Teams change and obviously they are trying to find themselves and they will, they have a good team. I’m sure tonight will be real tough for us.

 On the Knicks 11-12 start: “We’re trying to get into the playoffs. That’s our objective for this year and we’re coming together. We haven’t had everyone ready for a game yet and Q (Quentin Richardson) is good tonight so we should be ready to go.”

 On whether the fans will be happy to see him tonight: “Well, some of them. I have a lot of tickets out there so they will be happy. I think so for the most part. So many good things happened here it’s going to be a good night regardless.

 About walking into the visitor’s locker room. It doesn’t feel as good as walking into the other one (the Suns locker room) because it means doom for most of the people who walk into the visitors room here. But they guys we have on the Knicks are super guys.

Porter on being in a “unique” position: “I’ve been the other guy in the building before. Most coaches, if you hang around long enough, have been in this position. The circumstances as far as the success they’ve had winning games. Rick (Carlisle) and Larry (Brown) got back to Detroit and those guys went to Finals and won championships. It’s just something you have to deal with sometimes.

 On what it’s like to go back to where you once coached: “You always want to win when you go back. I was two years in Detroit and two years in Milwaukee so I was never somewhere for four years like Mike. You just think about the good times. But it is surreal walking back into the building and going to the opposite end the other dressing room. I’m sure he’s looking forward to winning tonight.”

 On the smaller lineups without Shaq against Orlando: “It was by necessity in that game, but we have the ability to go small even more now with Jason (Richardson). Matt (Barnes) has played the four many times, (Amare Stoudemire) has played the five for many years, so it’s not like we’re uncomfortable doing it. We have that luxury with Matt coming off the bench, he might be the guy replacing Shaq instead of Matt.”

Just in case you felt you missed anything Friday, here’s the full transcipt of the pregame press conference introducing Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley to the Suns:

Questions are in bold type:

(Steve Kerr): “  know you know what the news is already, but I just want to take a moment to first of all thank Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary, particularly Raja and Boris for their service the past few years.  They’ve been a huge part of this organization and our success and we wish all three of those guys well.  Today, however, is about introducing a couple of new players that we’re very excited about - Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley who have been playing for Charlotte.  We’re thrilled to have both of them.  We’ve had our eye on Jason for quite some time and we’ve liked Jared since the draft a couple of years ago.  When this opportunity came about to make this acquisition it was an easy choice for us.  We think both of these guys are going to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the equation, and we’re fired up to have both of them here.  I think both of them are going to have a great future here.  I’m going to bring both of them up here in a second.  Jason, why don’t you come up first and say a few words, and Jared you can follow and we’ll open it up to a few questions.  Let’s keep this short because these guys have a game tonight.  Thank you.”

(Jason Richardson):

“First of all I’d like to thank Steve and the organization for bringing us in.  We’re just excited to be here.  Right now, I can’t stop smiling for being here.  Like I said, I’m very excited to start the season tonight and get out there and be ready to play and win some games.”

(Jared Dudley):

“How’s everybody doing tonight?  Like Jason said, I’m just very excited to be here.  It’s a winning organization.  When I was a kid I dreamed of playing with guys like Shaq (O’Neal), Amar’e (Stoudemire) and Steve (Nash) and now for it to come true feels like I’m being drafted all over again.  I just want to come out here and give energy and enthusiasm as much as I can.”

(SK)

“Let’s open it up to some questions and we’ll fire off a few of them and then get these guys out on the court.”

Jason, did this catch you off guard, and what was your initial reaction to coming to a franchise like this?

(JR)

“It did catch me off guard.  My initial reaction was excited.  I was thrilled at the opportunity to come here and play with Steve, Shaq and Amar’e and those guys.  I was ready to get on the plane and get here when I heard the news.”

Is this different from the first time you were traded?

(JR)

“Yeah it’s a lot different.  I felt like I was going from trying to build up a team and win to starting all over again.  But, I have nothing bad to say about anybody in the Bobcats’ organization.  I had a great time there.  I did everything possible in my power to try and win games.  I had a great time there.

What did coach Porter tell you about the system and how many minutes do you plan on playing tonight?

(JR)

“It was a crash course.  He just gave us the basics of the offense they run here.  I don’t know how many minutes I’ll play tonight, but whatever it is, I just hope to contribute and try and win tonight.”

Jared, how would you explain your game to people who haven’t seen you play a lot?

(JD)

“I’m someone who plays with a lot of energy.  I’m a smart basketball player, I know my limitations.  I think of myself as a glue guy.  Anywhere I’m at I just try to blend in and do the little things that you don’t see on the stat sheet.”

Jason, did you talk to coach about starting tonight?

(JR)

“That’s his decision.  I’m going to let coach answer that one.”

(Terry Porter, on whether Richardson will start tonight)

“No, I’m going to go with Matt (Barnes) and Grant (Hill).”

How do you like this situation compared to what you had in Golden State two years ago?  Is it the same or a similar concept?  How do you view your situation?

(JR)

“It’s kind of the same concept, but it’s different in a sense because we can slow it up and run a half-court offense.  I think we have the best of both worlds where we can be a running team but at the same time when need be we can slow it down and play half-court ball.”

Have you always wondered how much more you could do if you were on a team like this?

(JR)

“Every day of my career.  To be surrounded by these guys and guys that have established themselves, have been MVP’s and have been All-Stars has made me wonder what that will bring to my game.  Now we’re going to see, and hopefully it brings my game to another level and I can make this team better.”

I’ve heard the term gunner used to refer to you.  How would you respond to that?

(JR)

“ I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a gunner.  I know when to pick and choose to score.  On the teams I’ve been on, that’s what I’ve had to do.  I’ve had to put up a lot of shots for us to win.  Coming here into this situation, I don’t think that’s true and I’m not necessarily looking to go out there and be the offensive threat.  I don’t necessarily have to do that with this team.  I know that I can bring some offense to this team, but I don’t necessarily feel like I have to go out there and get numbers every night.”

Being a couple years removed from being the dunk competition champion, do you feel like you’ve got a little something left in those legs?

(JR)

“You know what, I have a lot left in my legs, but not for the dunk contest.  Once you start getting up there in age, you start seeing the young guys.  They’ve got tricks you couldn’t do in two lifetimes.”

Did you two watch the Lakers game the other night to see how you two would fit in?

(JR)

Yeah, we did.  We actually watched the whole game together and we talked about it.  We saw some things that are going to enhance our game and help this team out.  We saw some things that we can do to help this team win games.”

What is the mentality for you Jason when you go from a Charlotte team that’s rebuilding and not playing well to a team with championship aspirations?  You were seen as a veteran leader on that team, but what’s your mentality coming to this team and playing with this group of guys?

(JR)

“Try to win games.  Right now, it’s all about winning.  I think with Charlotte, you have to try to establish yourself, and I was the third-oldest guy on the team there.  There were a lot of young guys on that team.  It’s just all about winning.  It’s not about anything else.  It’s not about individual goals, it’s all about winning.  I’m glad that I have the opportunity now to only think about winning.”

What parts of your game might this bring out?

(JR)

“I think everything.  I worked on a lot of things this summer in the offseason from ball-handling to mid-range shooting.  I think coming to this team is going to open up my game a lot more, not just because of the system but because of the players we have.  You’ve got two guys down there that could be monsters on any night and then you’ve got one of the best point guards ever to play the game that you have to play honest on.  I think it’s going to open up the game for everyone.”

Are you looking forward to not having the defensive attention on you all the time?

(JR)

“Yeah, I think that’s going to be good for me.  Like I said, I can pick and choose now when I need to go out there and score.  Defenders can’t just cheat off of their man now.  If they do, Amar’e is going to have 30 dunks every night.  I’m just excited for it.”

What was it like walking into the locker room tonight, and what was the reaction from your teammates?

(JR)

“I felt like a kid in a candy store.  I’m just ready to put it on and touch it.  I’m just ready to be on the court and start a new chapter of my career.”

Have you talked to Matt (Barnes) about being here in the offense?

(JR)

“We haven’t gotten much time to talk about it.  I’ve been trying to get all of my stuff here and traveling, but we talked a little bit and he welcomed me to the team.  He told me that if I needed anything not to hesitate to call him.  Matt’s a great guy and I’ve known him for some years now.  We just haven’t really had the opportunity to talk about the team yet.”

Jared, what are the Suns getting in Jason that you know as a teammate but other people might not?

(JR)

“He’s a better person than he is a player.  He had surgery a few years back, but you couldn’t tell by the way he is – jumping out of the building.  He might not say that he’d be able to do that dunk contest, but if he really wanted to he could.  This situation is going to free him up so much more.  His defense is much improved and he’ll do anything in his power to help this team.”

Reaction to the trade:

 When you are told you’re about to play with guys of this caliber, I’m definitely excited to be here. Shaquille O’Neal is going to the Hall of Fame. Amare Stoudemire is one of the best power forwards in the league. Steve Nash has two MVPs. And then you look at the rest of the roster … I can’t tell you how excited I am to bring whatever I can to this organization. I’m pretty sure what they want from me. Bring energy, scoring and excitement.”

  “Coming in here and going around town, seeing that people are excited for me to be here.”

Will you start tonight?

 I’ll leave (starting) up to the coaches. Whatever they want me to do. If they want me to pass out towels, that’s what I’ll do.

What’s  low-down on Jared Dudley?

 “He’s an energy guy. He’ll be at the right place at the right time. You’ll wonder how he gets rebounds at 6-5 or 6-6 or whatever and he does. He plays hard on both ends. He’s also a funny guy who cracks a lot of jokes.”

On being asked to defend as a replacement for Raja Bell:

 “It’s a challenge I’m willing to take. I’m accepting all challenges for this team. I love it when a coach challenges me to do something and if that’s the plan for that night, I’ll be up for it. I know I’m filling big shoes because Raja was one of the best defending guards in the league. I’ll try to bring some of what he brought to this team.

Do you think you’ll be a better defender if it’s asked of you?

 “My last two stops (Golden State and Charlotte) that was strictly about scoring. But if you look at this roster it’s pretty obvious they already have a lot of scoring. I’ll be adding to that of course because it’s part of my game but I’m well aware that defense is also important.

 “If I take only five shots and that helps us win, so be it. For the first eight years of my career, I haven’t been in a situation like this, with guys like this. It’s not about individual stats, it’s about trying to win championships.

What do you think playing with Steve Nash will do for your game?

 “Make the game easier. The way he passes the ball and sees the floor is incredible. He’ll give me open looks and get it to me where I like it. He does that for everyone.

 Just finished talking to Jason Richardson, who said both he and Jared Dudley will be in uniform and ready to play tonight against Orlando. Richardson will wear his familar No. 23 while Dudley will take over Boris Diaw’s No. 3 jersey.

 Stay tuned. We’ll have Richardson’s comments coming up in a few minutes.

 With his return to Phoenix with the Knicks fast-approaching on Monday, Mike D’Antoni got the first shots in on the Suns in an interview with Peter Vescey of the New York Post. Vescey pumps up the quotes with his own lead-ins, but there is some meaty stuff there nonetheless. Have at it:http://www.nypost.com/seven/12122008/sports/knicks/knicks_coach_rips_old_phoenix_bosses_143879.htm?&page=3

And in an interview with Gambo and Ash on KTAR (620 AM) this afternoon, Suns owner Robert Sarver reacted in detail:

 His reaction to D’Antoni’s comments in the Post:

 “I was very close to Mike and it kind of hurt, but as I’m learning it’s just part of this business. I don’t know if he’s just frustrated because he’s on a team that’s not winning and it’s an adjustment or what. In life, at times we all think the grass is greener on the other side. The comments about (GM) Steve (Kerr) are really inaccurate and untrue. Steve really let Mike do whatever he wanted.”

Sarver on when things started to change in the summer of 2007 when Kerr became GM:

 “When Steve first came on board, he felt we needed a defense-minded assistant coach to replace (the departing) Mark Iavaroni. Steve called around the league (and) Tom Thibodeau was the name that Steve decided on. He came into Phoenix, we were going to hire Tom … and Mike decided he’d rather have his brother (Dan D’Antoni) at the front of the bench than Tom Thibodeau. Instead, he hired a relatively inexperience coach to sit at the end of the bench (Jay Humphries).

 “Thibodeau went to Boston, they became the best defensive team in the league and they won the championship. In some ways, I think if Steve was more forceful with Mike it would have worked out better or us.

 “No moves were made without Mike’s approval. The (Shaquille O’Neal) trade was made at the insistence of Mike and myself. Steve was on the fence for a long time about it … I had complete trust in Mike. He’s a super-smart basketball guy and we never did anything without his approval.”

Was D’Antoni too lenient with his players?

 “The problem was the other players looked at it and felt it wasn’t good. I’m not going to name any names, but players on the team felt all the players should be held accountable. That was a concern among the players.

 When you look at the negative issues with our team and the organization (this season), these aren’t new this year. These are issues that started festering last year. And a couple of the issues our players in general felt strongly about were: We need to defend better, we need to be able to stop teams at the end of the game, and we need to hold everybody accountable.”

On how the end came about after the loss to San Antonio last May:

 “Mike decided to leave on his own. We didn’t want Mike to leave, we asked him to stay. I wanted Mike to stay. The only thing we asked was to add a defensive coach to the staff. When you have a boss, you kind of have to listen to him a little bit. If the GM can’t make any recommendations about anything, why would you even have one?”

 “I was shocked. I had no idea Mike wasn’t interested in staying. And then (Sports Illustrated writer) Jack McCallum spent three days with Mike and the coaching staff (during the playoffs) and I sit down in my seat before (Game 5 in San Antonio) and I pull up an article from  Sports Illustrated that talks about how Mike’s not coming back. That was the first I knew about it.”

 On D’Antoni’s feelings that since the Suns didn’t win a championship “We didn’t do nothing.”

 “Not true. I told him several times that wasn’t the case. I think some of that is coming from Mike. He is an extremely competitive guy. He wants to win more than anybody. And when we lost that overtime Game 1 to San Antonio and then got blown out in Game 2 and came out flat in Game 3, he was devastated.

 “Only one team can win. I’ve always said to Mike and I’ll say to our fans: If you’re a top four or a top eight team every year and you compete every year and you’re really good – that’s doing pretty good. Yeah, you want to win, but I think a lot of that frustration … our whole team and organization it was part of all that – the injuries, the suspensions. Somehow, we all feel as a community that we’re entitled to a championship and we’re not.”

Amare Stoudemire has a chance to start in the Feb. 15 All-Star Game in Phoenix after placing second to San Antonio’s Tim Duncan among Western Conference forwards in the first results voting results released Thursday.

 Stoudemire has 370.470 votes, trailing Ducan (442,203) but with a healthy lead over Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, who sits third (327,233). Stoudemire has been to three All-Star Games – all as a center – but has never been a starter.

 Shaquille O’Neal is second among centers in the West, but his 227,273 votes is well behind the 529,290 total of Houston’s Yao Ming, who annually benefits from world-wide voting via the internet.

 Steve Nash (142,410) ranks seventh among the guards in the West. Western Conference vote leader and Kobe Bryant (719,252) of the Lakers and Chris Paul of New Orleans (406,220) are the current leaders for a starting spot.

ADIEU, BORIS

 Boris Diaw’s arrival in Phoenix couldn’t have come at a better time. With Amare Stoudemire lost for the season to knee surgery, his versatility allowed the Suns to stay on stride and reach the Western Conference finals in 2006.

 But when Stoudemire returned, and when Terry Porter took over for Mike D’Antoni, Diaw’s role and responsibility dwindled as his five-year, $45 million deal weighed heavily on the Phoenix payroll. So Wednesday’s trade was a bit of a shock, it didn’t blindside him.

 “I was surprised. I knew something was going to be done, but I didn’t know what,” Diaw told KTAR (620 AM) from Sky Harbor just before he boarded a flight for Charlotte. “We haven’t been playing at our normal level so something had to happen.”

 Diaw said he will miss his friends and Phoenix but “but at the same time, it wasn’t a perfect situation for me. It wasn’t as much fun (this year) as it was before. There wasn’t as much responsibility on me to do as much. The team was winning, but I didn’t need to put up numbers every night.

 Going to Phoenix was the best thing that could have happen to me. I loved the years I played here and only had fun. I’m going to miss it for sure, but I’m looking forward to new things in Charlotte.”

BONUS SHOTS

 *Nash is now the only remaining starter from the Stoudemire-less 2006-07 Suns who were the last team to reach the Western Conference finals. Raja Bell, Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw and Kurt Thomas have all been traded away.

 *If Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley aren’t activated in time for tonight’s game, they will make their Suns debut, ironically, on Monday night against former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni in his return to Phoenix with the New York Knicks.