Espo: Why do fans hate Robert Sarver?

Why do fans hate Phoenix Suns' owner Robert Sarver?

Most fans will answer with things like "he's cheap", "he doesn't want to win", "he ruined the franchise" or, my personal favorite, "he's bringing in too many U of A cronies to the organization". While those answers may sound good on the surface, they don't hold much truth. Well, except for the U of A one. It's true but no company ever went wrong adding a Wildcat to their full-time staff).

Since Sarver took control of the franchise in July of 2004, the Suns have posted a .658 winning percentage (348-181), played in three conference finals and have made the playoffs in five of the six seasons. It's tough to claim an owner doesn't want to win with results like that.

The argument that he's cheap is a tough sell when you realize every season prior to this one the Suns have paid the luxury tax. That, and their payroll has traditionally been in the top half of the NBA the last seven years.

Ruined the franchise? That claim is also a stretch. Refer to the winning percentage and conference finals above and then go ask a Clippers, Timberwolves, Bobcat or even a Knicks fan if they'd be happy to trade their last seven seasons for the Suns' seasons. Most of those teams' fans would trade those seven seasons, their team owner and their first born for what Phoenix has seen.

That isn't to say things are perfect for the Suns. Sarver has had his fair share of issues including trading draft picks, firing coaches, and changing front office personnel. But is it really enough to foster the disdain, hatred and contempt that fans seem to have for him?

The answer is no, but I have a theory as to why he's fallen so far out of favor with Suns' fans. I like to call it the Ted McGinley Conundrum.

See, Ted McGinley is the actor who replaced Ron Howard on the popular television show Happy Days. Despite having his own charm and skill set, McGinley never gained favor with fans of the show and it was canceled only a few seasons after his arrival. He never stood a chance because he was filling the shoes of an iconic character.

McGinley isn't the only example. There have been more than a few throughout television history. Take Bewitched for example. The lead character Darren, played by Dick York for the first five seasons of the show, was replaced by the oddly similar looking Dick Sargent in the show's sixth year. Despite Sargent's almost dead on Darren impersonation, the show only lasted a few more seasons as fans didn't completely buy the change.

Coy and Vance on The Dukes of Hazard helped ruin the successful series in it's fifth season. While the show was one of the top rated in America, the duo replaced main characters Bo and Luke Duke because of a contract dispute. The move proved disastrous. As Bo and Luke were off running fixing vehicles for Nascar drivers, Coy and Vance were busy ruining ratings because fans didn't like them. By the end of the fifth season, Bo and Luke were back and Coy and Vance were out. But even that didn't matter, as the fan base never returned and the show quietly disappeared two years later.

Charlie Sheen starred in Spin City. Unfortunately for him and for the series it was after Michael J. Fox's heart and passion brought to the main character to life. The show was canceled two seasons after Sheen's arrival. That 70's Show found a similar fate when they replaced the talented up and coming actor Topher Grace with Josh Myers, the less talented brother of Seth Myers with fuller air. Fans wanted Grace and turned on Myers. The show was canceled the same season.

The Suns are in the same situation as those shows. In 2004, the team pulled the ultimate recasting. They replaced legendary owner and Phoenix icon Jerry Colangelo with an unknown banker who spent most of his time in San Diego. Sarver was Ted McGinley and Colangelo was Ron Howard. Sarver never stood a chance with fans. Not that his decisions on Joe Johnson, Bryan Colangelo, or the contracts this offseason helped him much.

Short of winning a championship, Sarver would never have been and never will be respected in this town. His every move will always be judged against what Colangelo did. That's an impossible task for anyone. Especially one who handicaps himself by letting good basketball minds head to Toronto or TNT.

So why do fans hate Robert Sarver? The answer is simple, just ask Ted McGinley. His career is still trying to live up to the career of the great Ron Howard.

Espo can be reached with your questions and comments by e-mail here, via Facebook or you can follow him on Twitter @The_Real_Espo