The Phoenix Suns need to fully convert on-the-fence fans…like me
Winning over on-the-fence Phoenix Suns fans: You need to be more inclusive
After focusing on Sarver and the front office for my first few ways to win over on-the-fence fans, I’m going to spend my last reason focusing on you.
That’s right, you.
At this point, you’ve read over 1,500 words on how and why the Phoenix Suns need to win over the on-the-fence fan. Not only that, you’ve read this far during a time when the Suns aren’t playing basketball and there are a ton of amazing sporting events going on. This means you are probably more dedicated to the Phoenix Suns than the people the fanbase needs to embrace and convert.
That’s why it is on you to open those arms of yours and welcome on-the-fence fans into a bigger Suns tent. At the very least, stop being a jerk to them. Seriously.
Stop chastising those who might not have the entire 1992-1993 Suns roster memorized and whose brain jumps a foggy memory from High School History class, not the 1976 NBA Finals when they hear, “The shot heard round the world.”
Twitter is perhaps where most of the vitriol is portrayed. Even the most popular Suns Twitter accounts are rife with snarky, negative, and snide comments, and while sarcasm, self-deprecation, and good-natured ribbing can be funny and healthy at times, there is a fine line between witty and mean.
The latter is not welcoming to on-the-fence fans and is unfortunately where Suns Twitter often gravitates.
To be clear, this sentiment not only applies to online trolls, but to blogs (sometimes including this one), newsletters, and media outlets. I will explain more in the conclusion, but many prominent voices in this community were less-than-welcoming when I first started, which was more disappointing than hurtful. Moreover, after publicly ridiculing Valley of the Suns, some outlets would then quietly hire our writers. Go figure.
I’m not saying we should all sit around a virtual fire, pretend to hold hands over Zoom, and sing Kumbaya while watching Devin Booker and Steve Nash highlights, but maybe if we just stop being pricks toward each other, it would be a good start.