Los Suns vs San Antonio Spurs on 05/05/10

On the rarest of occasions, the stars line up and we get to write about politics and basketball in the same post.

The Phoenix Suns have taken a bold and extraordinary step for a NBA team and will change their name (at least on their jerseys) to the "LOS SUNS" for Game 2 of the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. This is in response to the "soon to not be implemented" immigration law SB1070 that was recently signed by pandering AZ Republican Gov. Jan Brewer.

From the WP:

'Los Suns' jerseys will return for Game 2

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

The Phoenix Suns plan to wear "Los Suns" on their jerseys in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday, owner Robert Sarver said, "to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation."

The decision to wear the jerseys on the Cinco de Mayo holiday stems from a law passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer that has drawn widespread criticism from Latino organizations and civil rights groups that say it could lead to racial profiling of Hispanics. President Obama has called the law "misguided."

Sarver, who was born and raised in Tucson, said frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the illegal immigration issue led to the passage of what he called "a flawed state law."

Sarver came up with the "Los Suns" jersey idea but left it up to the players for the final decision, Suns guard Steve Nash said, and all of them were for it.

San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said his team was interested in taking part but couldn't get new "Los Spurs" road jerseys in time for the game. . . .