As a protest against the Arizona immigration law, the Phoenix Suns have changed the name on their jerseys to Los Suns. The law, SB 1070, has produced strong reactions. The Suns owner, Robert Sarver revealed his intent to give the team bright orange jerseys with the team name changed to Los Suns for their May 5 playoff against the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe replicas would sell well enough to make some severe money now.
NBA sides with Los Suns
According to an article on AZcentral, the NBA as an organization stands behind the decision to change the jerseys to Los Suns in protest of the Arizona immigration law. There has been discussion of boycotts of Arizona sports, including calls for Commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 MLB All Star game out of Arizona. NBA Commissioner David Stern has no qualms with the jerseys.
San Antonio Spurs are behind Los Suns, too
The NBA Players Union applauded the Suns, and the San Antonio Spurs were all for it also. They weren’t in favor of losing to Los Suns, and they did so on Cinco De Mayo going down 110-102. (They also lost Game 1 111 – 102.) They’re 2 games behind Los Suns. There was talk of the San Antonio Spurs changing their jersey to Los Spurs, but it couldn’t be done in time. Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich condemned the bill and praised Los Suns for protesting what numerous feel to be an unforgivably vicious bill.
Los Suns players all for it
The Phoenix Suns had previously worn the same jerseys in March for NBA Noche Latina night, and Sarver decided to get them out of storage. The bill has been blasted by Steve Nash, Los Suns players, and Canadian citizen playing for Phoenix on a green card. Nash has condemned the bill for being an abuse of civil liberties. The Los Suns jersey had a mixed response from Arizonans, though the jerseys were unanimously approved by the Phoenix Suns players.
Citations
AZcentral
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/04/20100504phoenix-suns-los-suns-jerseys.html
