Lest you believe Phoenix PG Steve Nash is the only member of Arizona’s lone NBA entry capable of making a sartorial political statement, Robert Sarver became the first owner of a major U.S. sports franchise to make a public stand against Arizona’s SB 1070 bill. From the Arizona Republic’s Paul Coro :
In announcing that the Suns would wear their “Los Suns” jerseys in recognition of playing Game 2 against San Antonio on Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday, Sarver (above) also addressed the immigration bill that has been a divisive national topic since Gov. Jan Brewer enacted it into law April 23.
“The frustration with the federal government’s failure to deal with the issue of illegal immigration resulted in passage of a flawed state law,” Sarver said in a statement released by the Suns on Tuesday morning. “However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question, and Arizona’s already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them.”
After the Suns won their first-round series in Portland on Thursday, Sarver made the decision that he wanted the Suns to wear the orange “Los Suns” jerseys, which Phoenix wore in two March home wins for the NBA’s Noche Latina marketing. In a team meeting at Sarver’s house Saturday, the players were unanimously in favor of wearing them on Cinco de Mayo, Sarver said by phone.
“I looked around our plane and looked at our players and the diversity in our organization,” Sarver said. “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. As for the political part of that, that’s my statement.”
Is the US CODE UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
US CODE TITLE 8 > CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER II > Part VIII > § 1325
§ 1325. Improper entry by alien
TITLE 8 > CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER II > Part VIII > § 1324a
§ 1324a. Unlawful employment of aliens
ENFORCE THE LAW
We should treat immigrants like Mexico does:
At present, Article 67 of Mexico’s Population Law says, “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal … are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any issues.”
That would simplify things.
Enforce our laws. We seem to be selecting which laws we will follow and which ones we don’t like can be ignored. LA has illegal aliens protesting in the streets. Others say our immigration system is broken. It works fine, follow the rules.
Between legal immigration and visas the US gets 2-3 million new people every year. We don’t have the resources to pay for new legal immigrants.
I attended the first ever Suns game at the Madhouse on McDowell and became an avid fan. In the past, I’ve attended at least a dozen games each year and watch every other one on TV.
That all ended today when I heard of Sarver’s intent to make a political statement. Go Spurs.
Tony Mandile
Glendale, AZ
Sarver and other people need to stop whining. This law is not flawed! This the kind of law that should have been on the books years ago, if not decades ago. This law was taken straight from the federal law, which if you look at the federal government fails to enforce like so many other laws on the books. America needs this law, as does Arizona. How many people that oppose this law hire illegal workers? My guess is most of them do, that is the only reason they oppose this law. I don’t think the law goes far enough. We should have a law making being in America ILLEGALLY a felony, period. No amnisty for anybody. If you give the 20 million illegal alaiens a free pass, as to be fair and not discriminate(which is against the law) open the prisons and let out all the other criminals! Let’s step up the laws on illegal aliens, not onloy make it a felony, but if caught here, you will be deported and EVERYTHING YOU OWN, short of your clothes and family pictures, becomes the property of America for sell to an LEGAL American citizen(not related to you) to pay the expenses of deporting you and your family. Allowing illegals to stay deminishes the process that LEGAL immigrants went through to get here. It also deminishes the Amercian way of life.
“We don’t have the resources to pay for new legal immigrants.”
I guess your family came over on the fucking Mayflower. Our Immigration system “works fine”? http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Immigration-Backlog-Overwhelms-US-Courts.html
Given that you can’t spell amnesty or diminish properly, Kent, I demand to see your papers.
“How many people that oppose this law hire illegal workers?”
How many people in favor of this law have long been beneficiaries of illegal workers?
HOW EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING – That the Suns have allowed themselves to become involved in a political issue – ANY political issue. The Suns support illegal immigration! Just pour over the border folks – the Suns will take care of you! What’s next – wearing rainbow patches in support of gay marriage – ribbons for pro-abortion rights?? This is just another Hollywood-style event of millionaire liberals venting of their arrogant views when and where us common folk don’t give a hoot about hearing them. Hey Suns, I don’t really care if San Antonion beats your ass this time.
“How many people in favor of this law have long been beneficiaries of illegal workers?”
And there’s the rub. Rob Waromski Waromski White Sox Rob had it nailed when this came up the first time: If this was really about illegal immigrants as opposed to about legalizing racism, the law would require businesses to submit proof of citizenship for their employees, not require individuals to prove their citizenship.
it’s the height of paranoia to equate a supporting nod to the people of Phoenix with support of illegal immigration. Just as it’s crazily prejudicial to presume there aren’t plenty of common folk — many of ’em quite eager to become tax-paying members of our society — who are grateful for Sarver’s gesture.
here’s a short list of other sporting figures who’ve managed to get themselves involved in political issues ; Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali. If you’ve got a problem with the collision of real life with your chosen form of entertainment….maybe you’ll pick another playoff series, Chuck. Greg Popovich not only supports Phoenix’s “Los Suns’ move, but he’s likened SB 1070 to the Patriot Act.
GC? You want ot see my papers? Lets see yours? I was born here in Arizona. I have NO problem showing my papers GC. So I miss spelled two words, it must mean I am illegal right? That must either show how bad our schools, because we lower the standards so the illegals could pass or could mean I am tired and have a friggin migraine..
Kent,
Perhaps you misunderstood my point. Actually, I’m pretty fucking certain you misunderstood my point. If persons can be detained, searched, etc. based on reasonable suspicion they’re aliens, your inability to master the English language could also be considered, depending on perspective, justification for such questioning by police.
That you can’t write your way out of a paper bag, sir, is no real indication of whether or not you’re a citizen. But in the current climate — a climate you foolishly endorse — you might be under suspicion, too.
I’m gonna take a wild guess that with a last name of Brzezniak, your family weren’t amongst the original Arizona settlers. Strange to see the opportunities afforded to your
kclan are the sort of thing that oughta be denied to “illegals”. Give us your tired, your poor, etc, just so long as they manage to look like Kent Brzezniak.i am offended by mr sarvers political views and by the way he used the suns franchise as a political stepping stone sports and politicks do not go together what so ever
Still can’t get past the Rumpled One’s “We should treat immigrants like Mexico does …”.
Jajajajajajajajajajaja! Yeah, we can’t have a healthcare system like anyone else other country on Earth, but what we really need is Mexican law.
Why is it the minute right-wingers panic in this country the first thing they do is shred the Constitution and wave a flag at the same time? I don’t even like my Mexican food made the way they make it in Mexico.
Ben
Mr. Sarver,
Can I crash the gate and get into the game free? Can I get coupons for free food and drink while I’m there? Could you also provide me with free lodging and transportation while in the PHX metroplex? Maybe the team doc could look at this bad ankle while I’m there, too. I promise to only break one or 2 state and federal laws… Thank you sir. You are quite the compassionate humanitarian…
Just sayin’,
Al
just think what a fascinating place America would be, Al, if we never allowed anyone to immigrate here.
fucking amazing that when a republican like Sarver makes the thoroughly human gesture of acknowledging his diverse customer base (some of whom run the risk of being searched or detained merely because they don’t look like, well Robert Sarver), some mental midget suggests it opens the floodgates for a ton of freeloaders.
Al – do you honestly think you’ve never been to a Suns game or other sporting event in AZ and not benefited from illegal immigrants working jobs for low wages? All those guys in the parking lots, vendors, ground crews, janitors — you think they’re all working for Fed minimum wage and benefits? Too bad Arizonans have never spent ONE DAY of their lives in that State w/out illegals working cheap for you. Fire them, demand employers stop hiring them, and I guarantee you they won’t want to live with you. I know I don’t. Without that illegal economy, you will whine loud and long about how much it suddenly costs to live there.
GC — for the fucked up typing in my last comment, I’ll present my citizenship papers at the next CSTB meeting.
Somewhere, there is a village missing its “useful” idiots. Let’s see, I am going to take the word of a bunch of illiterate thugs, gangsters, morons, and rapists over our sacred constitution…not!!! I guess they should have used lots of pictures and very small words to communicate 1070; the comic-book style format may have lent members of the Suns a slight chance of actually understanding the bill. Afterwords, they could go out, get 1070 tattoos, and have a few more illegitimate children along the way. Note to Sarver: I know you are used to supporting the subversive environment of the NBA, but please resist the temptation to transfer your illustrious philosophy to the constituents of our state. I can’t wait until you and your franchise get run out of our state. Enjoy!
Is this GC person a moron or what? “Perhaps you misunderstood my point.” Nope, he got it. You immediately attacked him based on something superflous in his text in order to elevate your sorry ass, in your own mind. What’s worse, you will probably misunderstand my point.
this “GC person” is the same one who provides you with a vehicle to express your point of view in a public form — even if it means setting yourself up as an apologist for a mental midget. Also, the word you’re looking for is “superfluous”, as opposed to “superflous” which might be something you’d use to get the chewing tobacco out of your teeth.
GC, The diversity of this country is great and needed. The point is for these people to do it legally.
I hope I didn’t spell anything wrong, thus giving you something to use to deflect what the real topic is here, ILLEGAL immigration.
“I hope I didn’t spell anything wrong, thus giving you something to use to deflect what the real topic is here, ILLEGAL immigration.”
great, then spend some time and energy pushing to improve the tremendous bureaucratic mess that is the current immigration process rather than supporting bullshit legislation that panders to racists and fear-mongers. I’m sorry you’re too simple minded to see the obvious analogy here —“those people”, as you so delicately put it, are as wholly deserving of opportunities in this country as your family. To harass them based on something as nebulous as their appearance is just as wrong-headed as rounding up all the nitwits who can’t spell properly on internet message boards.