Phoenix

SPORTS & RECREATION

Phoenix Arizona has teams on all of the major league sports divisions and classes. The Arizona Diamond Backs are the celebrated Major League Baseball team. In 2001, they won both the World Series and the National League Pennant, bringing glory to their home state and excitement to their home city. Although the team has been impressive over the years, none have made it the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

The Phoenix Suns have been the basketball team for Phoenix since 1968. Although they have not won a NBA championship they have 2 players in the basketball hall of fame: Connie Hawkins and Jerry Colangelo. The Suns stadium in Phoenix is regularly packed full of families, college students and basketball fans from all walks of life.

The Arizona Cardinals are the Phoenix professional football team, and possibly oldest football team in the country. The long-standing team was founded in 1898 and has had 2 championships, one in 1925 and another in 1947. Dan Dierdorf, Charley Trippi, and Larry Wilson are three of the team members that have made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Phoenix Mercury is a very unique team, as it is the among the first women's basketball team to enter into the Women's National Basketball Association, which was started in 1997. Although they have not one a championship yet, Nancy Lieberman and Cheryl Miller, the coach, have been admitted to the Basketball Hall of Fame for their roles in the WNBA.

The Phoenix Coyotes is the national ice hockey team for Phoenix, ironic for the hot weather in Phoenix. They became the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1972-73 series and were previously known as the Winnipeg Jets. One of the three owners of the Phoenix Coyotes is Wayne Gretzky, a former ice hockey superstar.