Adam Beechen’s playoff beard died Tuesday night at 9:34 pm in San Antonio after a brief, painful and familiar illness. It was thirteen days old.
Although tempting to list the causes of death as poisonous home cooking, a Haq’d Shaq, and injuries sustained by being repeatedly flopped upon, the official culprits are gaping, bleeding wounds in the defensive middle, severe inflammation of the fumble fingers, and a serious case of psych-out Spurs-itis.
After falling gravely ill late last week, Beechen’s beard made a brief recovery over the weekend but, said one of the physicians treating the case, “it was too much of an uphill climb.”
The physician called himself “puzzled and heartbroken” by the case. “It’s especially frustrating because we’ve seen so many similar cases over the last few years in Phoenix. We know the cure for Spurs-itis exists outside the Phoenix area – we’ve seen it work in other cities – but for some reason, we can’t manage a cure here.” It was hoped that the February addition of a giant antibody to the system might strengthen the playoff beard prior to the postseason, but those hopes proved unfounded.
The beard was disposed of in a private ceremony over a sink in Los Angeles late Thursday night.
Adam Beechen requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations in the form of vehement rooting support be delivered to the New Orleans Hornets.
Comments
maccro - Brela, Croatia
Hillarious :) It made my day at least a little bit brighter after another sad playoff exit :(
jeff - prescott
I think we should make a trade of 1 or 2 minor bench players to secure either a higher pick in this year's draft or to aquire a second late first round pick. Maybe toronto,indiana,or chicago who could use point guard depth and playoff experience. I believe if we do this we can get rid of some salary problems and get a player like Jerryd Bayless and donte greene.
New found Hornets fan! - Anywhere but San Antoine
Go Hornets and beat the Spurs!!
Trish - Mesa Arizona
They can not use their Dirty Hack Shaq tactics
in the next round,
GO HORNETS!!!
Gonzo - San Antonio
Funny. I always check-out the sites of teams the Spurs defeat in post-season play. I enjoy seeing if they lost graciously or if they're crying about a bad call that happened in the first quarter of game 1. Sucks to be a Suns fan.
Of course I just found out that these comments have to be approved to be posted. So this will probably NOT be seen.
Paul -
Funny! I appreciate the humor on this somewhat sad day.
By and by, I guess I'm one of the only Suns fans around that's a D'Antoni fan. He's a good coach. I'm disappointed with how the season ended, but just simply pinning it on the coach seems wrong to me.
Pat - Chino Valley
Now that the Suns are out -- the Hornets will be the next team I support especially since I am originally from New Orleans. However, if the Suns would have beat the Spurs, my loyalties would have remained in the Suns.
I can finally change clothes...have been wearing my Suns colors and now I guess I will have to burn them and get more for next year.
Go Suns....will always be a fan.
Phil - Mla. QC.
My Suns lost! But we have to accept it. There's next season.
Spur Fan - San Antonio, TX
Hope to see you all again next season !!!
I feel sad for all the Suns fans it seems like everytime the suns play against the SPURS their season is OVERRRRRR..
See ya next year !!!!
Manuel Guillen - Carlsbad, New Mexico
hey this is manuel guillen i really think yah had a great series other than losing game 1 next year will be the year oh and draft roy hibbert trust me he is like shaq but younger and faster and better ft shooter
amee - taylor arizona
I LOVE the suns and am sad to see them go. I am glad that the suns played their hearts out but just couldn't seem to get over the hump. I am not suprised that the SPURS are still the DIRTY CHAMPS. If you have to win by flopping and being dirty then they will win every year...GO HORNETS!!!
Saulito Delcid - New York
I can't believe ya loss to the Spurs.
Well there next year
GO SUNS
Mike - Arizona City, AZ
Suns should try to pick up Beno Udrih (PG) that played for the Kings this year...he was awesome while Bibby was injured, and he's a free agent. They should also look into JR Smith (SG) from Denver, Ron Artest (PF) from Sacramento, Sasha Vujacic (SG) from Lakers, Eduardo Najera (PF) from Denver, Andris Biedrins (C) from the Warriors, Juan Carlos Navarro (SG) from Memphis, James Jones (SF) with Portland, and Ricky Davis (SF/SG) from the Heat. They are all free agents. I think that we should try to trade Bell...I don't think he is a defensive presence anymore. They could let Grant Hill go, too if they get one of the better guys on the list above. All of the guys above are pretty solid, and some of them hardly make any money. Can you imagine this lineup:
PG - Nash (Beno Udrih - Backup)
SG - Ricky Davis or JR Smith(Barbosa / Strawberry / Giricek)
SF - Diaw (Giricek / Jr Jones)
PF - STAT (Biedrins)
C - Shaq (Biedrins / Skinner)
I know...another Suns fan dreaming again!! Go Hornets!!!!!!!!!
winner - MN
it's a bad loss, i really thought the suns had them this year but it wasn't meant to be. Diaw's play in the last two games was amazing. if he continues to play like this he will be an all star next year.
Josh Ashbaugh - Orlando Florida
D'Antoni is without a question an incredible coach and Steve Nash is without question one of the best point guards of all time. That much should be written in stone. San Antonio made some big plays, but more than anything had favorable breaks at crucial moments. (Included Tim Duncan being rewarded for tripping over his own feet and hitting Shaq with a big foul. Those are the kind of breaks that can alter outcomes. It clearly goes back to game 1 with Phoenix in control of the game and even San Antonio fans realized Phoenix was just as good if not better than the aging Spurs. The momentum shifted when Tim Duncan hit his one and only three point basket of the season. He misses that shot and Phoenix could have potentially steam rolled through the first round. I'm proud of the entire Phoenix Suns team and coaching staff. Those of us that have followed the Suns closely know they were very capable of beating the Spurs or any other team in the playoffs. End of story!!!
Long time Shaq fan - Orlando, Fl.
I think Hack-a-shaq should be considered illegal. At the very least, it was dirty playing by the Spurs. Hopefully next year will by Shaq, Nash, and Stoudemire's year!!!!!!!!!
gomio - france, paris
tony parker will be not so easy with the next round
nash is unbliveable in offense but in defense it's not great..
so..
...go cp3 the real 07-08 MVP!!
beat the "borring" pop's team
of course go suns!!!!!
the next season is the good!
Amare is the next MVP
Adam Beechen -
Hey Gonzo - Thanks for writing. Any pot shots I'd take at the Spurs here would be good-natured. They outplayed the Suns and deserved to win. Congrats to your team, and best of luck to them in the next round!
Dor - Phoenix
We'll have our time, Spur fan... It's not time for any jubilation yet... Honestly, as far as quality playing is concerned, I see either Lakers or Hornets winning this championship and not the Spurs (again?) this year... So let's continue to watch and see... But thanks for reading all our blogs...
Pablo Cardona - Barcelona, Spain
HaHa. Adam you always come up with this funny stories.. Great attitude.
Yep, a bit dissapointing thisearly exit. It all goes down to Game 1 of the series. Hopefully next season the Suns can step up and give everyone a run for their money in the playoffs!
Josh Ashbaugh - Orlando Florida
After carefully reviewing game 5 from start to finish and reviewing questionable calls SEVERAL TIMES it is amazing to me that we can't introduce a mandatory replay system into the NBA for disputable calls. With all that is on the line in these games (coaching jobs, contracts, and more importantly PRIDE included)accuracy should be an absolute must. The number of times the Spurs caught a huge break is astonishing. I plan to post a youtube video of my findings. I have already recieved feedback from unbiased spectators in absolute agreement.
EX-Player - San Antonio
For many years during the David Robinson era, Spurs fans had their hearts broken. We were considered soft and mentally weak. We hung in there and our patience was rewarded when Duncan came on board. Nobody feels for you Suns fans like some of us long long time spurs fans. We understand the heartbreak and disappointment. Now you know how we felt when we were routed by the Lakers for three straight years . Nash is a fantastic player. He could go 0 for 15 and could still beat you. When your day comes and it will, hope you savor it the way we are now.
Adam Beechen -
Thanks, EX, for your emotional support. The Spurs definitely waited a long time for their first taste of championship champagne, going all the way back to their ABA days. For the Suns, though, it's a particular and unique kind of heartbreak. The Suns are the oldest active NBA franchise that has not won a championship. Ever. Our great teams of the early 1980s ran into the birth of Showtime. Our great teams of the late 1980s ran into the end of Showtime and then some really great Portland teams. After our championship shot in 1993, the Rockets had our number. Now, it's the Spurs. The David Robinson era was a little more than a decade. For the Suns, we're talking four decades. The Suns aren't the Cubs, obviously, or the Red Sox, who are enduring and have endured incredible droughts, but for those of us who've really been with the team a long time, seen the Suns build and rebuild, and get close and fall short and try again and again...I'll be honest, it takes a lot out of you. When our day comes, as you say, you can bet we'll savor it. Even if Spurs fans go ten years without another championship, never, ever take for granted the banners you already have. Thanks for writing.
Dor - Phoenix
It seems my statement earlier is coming to its realization; the Hornets will beat the Sours and it will be Lakers vs Hornets in the end here in the western playoff... So sorry Spurs fans... You had your time, let's give others a chance to wear those championship rings... Go Hornets/ or Lakers...
MsSeana - AZ
Yeah, I'm rooting for the Hornets.
Kick the Spurs where it counts, and get them off the radar.
And yeah, I know the Suns haven't won one yet. They need one.
But I also know that even when they do there will be naysayers that say, "Big deal. About time. Win 17 and then maybe we'll respect you."
I lived in LA for half my life, and I was an avid Laker fan. I bathed happily in purple and gold for the Showtime era.
But I chose Phoenix, crucible that it is, and I chose the Suns. And the Diamondbacks. And I back them now, no matter what, and I'm not making another choice again. Period.
Suns, whether you thrill me or chill me, I'm a fan. Make me proud, both on and off the court.
Go Suns. 'Nuff said.
Nookie -
The suns are a losing franchise it seems. Too many mistakes and too many missed chances. The formula to a championship team is to keep core members as long as possible. The Suns didn't do that when it traded Johnson and Marion for lesser players. I still believe the Suns can do it next season but the reality is this team needs to change and buckle down to work.
Jeff Bouley - Saco, Maine
My deepest sympathies to you in this time of loss, Adam...both the Suns' loss and the death of your fledgling cheek whiskers. I want you to know that as soon as I can, I will be establishing a scholarship under the name of your late beard to be given to one Suns fan each year.
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