Suspended Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner and SJW Robert Sarver announced Wednesday he plans to sell the teams despite all the great things he’s done. Claiming he’s united the community for 20 years, Sarver’s written statements come across like an arrogant man in denial of the division he’s sown.
Initially hoping to maintain ownership of the two pro basketball teams while serving a one-year suspension imposed by the NBA, Sarver instead sinks into the sunset boasting about being a do-gooder. Many of the narcissist’s employees disputed that and said he demeaned minorities and women.
The Suns-Mercury primary owner said:
“But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that (maintaining majority ownership) is no longer possible — that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past. For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.”
Sarver’s next statement also leaned into an apology, but then quickly veered back to boastful posture that cannot repair his badly tarnished legacy. He also tried to use his faith as a crutch:
“Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together — and strengthened the Phoenix area — through the unifying power of professional men’s and women’s basketball. As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness. I expected that the commissioner’s one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love.”
Additionally, Sarver said he didn’t want to be a distraction to the two Phoenix teams, and he wants what’s best for all concerned. Phoenix vice chairman Jahm Najafi said a resignation is what’s best for everyone. There should be zero tolerance for the lewd, misogynistic and racist statements that characterized Sarver’s misbehavior, Najafi added.
Suns guard Chris Paul and Lakers forward LeBron James agreed that Sarver’s $10 million fine and 12-month suspension were too light to fit the wrongdoing.
An exhaustive investigation of Sarver revealed he had demeaned a pregnant employee, sexually harassed female employees, cursed and bullied other subordinates. It was just his way of uniting the community and spreading goodwill as a man of faith.
During the NBA’s lengthy investigation, Sarver also tried to avoid punishment by invoking his alleged woke status. He cited his “longstanding commitment to social and racial justice” and his “commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Sarver had also bragged about a league-high 55 percent minority office staff. Which really just gave him more minorities to abuse.
