I've taken a lot of trips down memory lane this week, as we prepared for the re-launch of Suns.com. I vividly recall reading a memo from the league office in 1995 describing plans for a new NBA portal that fans could access through their computers to get score and schedules for each team.
I probably shouldn’t admit this now, but I had no clue what they were talking about.
I remember the first time we ever posted video on the site in 1997. It was a 10-second, choppy clip of rookie Marko Milic hurdling a car during a dunk contest in Europe. That was some classic video!
I’ll never forget taking digital pictures of Jason Kidd and Penny Hardaway eating breakfast at the team hotel in Flagstaff during training camp 2000, and having the revelation that THIS was the kind of behind-the-scenes content that fans would eat up on Suns.com.
I remember all the live chats we scheduled during the weeks of camp, only to end up banging on players’ hotel room doors, trying to get them to wake up and answer the NBA moderator’s calls.
I’d like to forget our first-ever episode of Nothin’ But Net, which featured a very nervous Kayte Christensen as Cedric Ceballo’s co-host (she got much better as the weeks went on), and a very confused Bryan Colangelo, who had to be wondering why we kept interrupting his interview to put goofy props up in front of the camera lens. Thankfully, very few fans actually ever saw the debut, as an arena maintenance worker mercifully tripped over our extension cord, pulling the plug on the live webcast. True story.
I could go on and on, of course, but I thought I would share a few screen shots from Suns.com of years past instead. After all, a picture tells a thousand words, right? I hope you enjoy this 6,000-words worth of flashbacks, courtesy of the Wayback Machine, as much as I have, and enjoy the new-and-improved Suns.com even more!
Comments
Lori Ann - Sedona Superfan
I really like the new layout and format of the 2007-2008 Suns.com site. Great job guys n' gals !!! It's certainly VERY "fan-friendly" to navigate. In all honesty, I think it lacks one thing : COLOR. Looking up above at the 1999-2000, 2000-2002, 2003-04 Suns.com home pages, the colors are brilliant. While the 2007-2008 site, in the technical sense, is undoubtedly the most advanced and enhanced. It simply lacks color. Thanks for taking us back in time, and back to the future of Suns.com., Jeramie. I appreciate and know just how much you care about "We, The fans!" I am truly grateful to you for that ! SUNS IN '08 !!!
Elaine - Fla.
I had to check out the new fan-site. I have to agree with Lori Ann, the site is much more user-friendly, but lacks color and...."impact". It's got to have more of OUR colors!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially since we're gonna take it ALL this year!!!!!!!!!! GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Valerie - Phoenix
wow...i literally went "whoa!!!" when i opened this page (which is of course on my favorites list) and saw it for the first time...very very cool. i agree with all of the above...BRING ON THE ORANGE AND PURPLE!!! WOOOOO! GO SUNS!!!!!
Lori Ann - Sedona Superfan
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JERAMIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ......and many, many more healthy & happy ones to come !!!
Your favorite pain in the blog, Lori Ann :-D
Apricot - Goodyear, AZ
Jeramie, great job on the new site! Previously, the links on the Barkley years page didn't work but now they do! That is quite an improvement. I do like that the .com team focuses on the purple colors for the team.
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