Do not think that Larry Fitzgerald will fix the Phoenix Suns: Robert Sarver is still in charge
By Adam Maynes
Even still…
Three years prior to the announcement of Fitzgerald’s purchase, Aaron Rodgers purchased a 1% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.
Rogers spoke on the purchase a year ago, and noted that he (like Fitz) has a great love for basketball and wanted to continue to entrench himself into the state that he loves. He specifically noted that he recognized that the NBA is booming and thus any small taste that he could have in a franchise was a sound, business investment.
Does that mean that Rogers had any real voice in the process of the team’s day-to-day operations?
No way.
Does that mean that anyone is going to call him and ask for his opinion on a trade, contract offer, or free agent move?
Nope.
And this will be the same for Larry (at least, for the most part – apparently Sarver does have him around for certain aspects of running the franchise).
Neither of the two football players though are Magic Johnson who’s business acumen is head-and-shoulders above most, and who’s investments and endorsements since his own retirement from the NBA is almost literally second to none.
When Fitzgerald retires, does that mean he’ll be in on contract negotiations, trade deals, or press conferences?
Such a thing might be the dream for many Suns fans if it meant that Robert Sarver was out of the way, but how many minority owners actually do that? When was the last time you saw a press conference for any professional sports franchise and a minority owner was talking about all the work that he put into a major trade or free agent acquisition?