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New Suns acquisition Kevin Durant: ‘I know what a championship would mean to this city’

PHOENIX – The deal was done but fans had yet to hear Kevin Durant speak. That changed Thursday when the newest Phoenix Suns player met the media in front of a cheering crowd.

Durant acknowledges the crowd after he was introduced and said, “I know what a championship would mean to this city.” (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon makes it clear: The environment is about to change

TEMPE – After a long and grueling process that saw candidates come and go, the Arizona Cardinals have finally hired their new head coach, Jonathan Gannon. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator has to quickly collect himself and get back to work on trying to reach the Super Bowl with the Cardinals.

Owner Michael Bidwill, left, looks on as new Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon answers a question from the media during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center Thursday. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Hope springs anew: Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers report to spring training

SCOTTSDALE – Pitchers and catchers for the Arizona Diamondbacks reported to spring training for the 2023 season this week. The players are excited to be back in the clubhouse and eager to improve on last year’s 74-88 mark.

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply fires a pitch to catcher Carson Kelly on the first day of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale. (Photo by Brevin Monroe/Cronkite News)

Despite recent struggles, ASU baseball looks to end Men’s College World Series drought

PHOENIX – ASU has one of the more storied programs in all of college baseball, yet the Sun Devils have failed to reach the Men’s College World Series since 2010. Will that trend end this season? The Sun Devils enter Friday’s opener with optimism.

Arizona State baseball coach Willie Bloomquist sounds optimistic about the upcoming season, saying, “I’m sleeping better this time than I was last year at this time.” (Photo by Nikash Nath/Cronkite News)

Former ASU baseball coach Tracy Smith returns to Valley in MLB Desert Invitational

PHOENIX – Former ASU baseball coach Tracy Smith returns to the Valley when his Michigan Wolverines compete in the MLB Desert Invitational baseball tournament.

Tracy Smith, right, coached seven seasons at Arizona State before he was let go. Now the head coach at Michigan, he said, “I appreciated my time,” in Tempe. (File photo by Jordan Kaye/Cronkite News)

A dynasty is born: Kansas City Chiefs enter rare air with Super Bowl 57 win

GLENDALE – The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57 to become the NFL’s newest dynasty. Historical parallels between the Patriots’ dynasty of old and the Chiefs of today are more apparent after Sunday's comeback win over Philadelphia at State Farm Stadium.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes fought his way through a high ankle sprain to capture his second Super Bowl MVP award in Sunday's 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

On heels of pandemic, Valley hospitality industry eyes potential windfall from Super Bowl 57

PHOENIX – The potential of a competitive game and nice weather have brought fans from around the country to the Valley. That excites hotels and restaurants who could use the economic boost.

Phoenix-area hotels and restaurants are excited about the prospect of an increased revenue stream with the presence of Super Bowl 57, scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. (Photo courtesy of The Phoenician)

Clouds may steal the sunshine on Super Bowl Sunday

PHOENIX – Signs of the Super Bowl coat the streets of the Phoenix metro area. But despite Phoenix’s sunny reputation, there's a chance travelers will have to deal with rain for the big game.

The State Farm Stadium roof in Glendale will likely be open for Super Bowl LVII, pending weather conditions. (Photo by Dylan Nichols/Cronkite News)

Heavy limbs come from the NAU coaching tree, including Andy Reid, who leads Chiefs in Super Bowl 57

PHOENIX – Larry Kentera is a former head football coach at NAU. During his time in Flagstaff, he had four future NFL head coaches on his staff including Andy Reid, who will be coaching the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

When Larry Kentera coached at Northern Arizona from 1985-89, his staff produced four future NFL coaches. (Photo courtesy of Larry Kentera)

Season of change: ASU alum Darren Woodson’s defining year in Tempe

PHOENIX — Held to ASU’s modified enforcement of Proposition 48, Darren Woodson couldn’t play or practice with the program as an academically ineligible walk-on during the 1987-88 season — before he became a three-year starter, before he won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and before he was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was a transformational year, to say the least.

Darren Woodson (fifth row, second from left) starred on the Maryvale Panthers varsity football team before walking on at Arizona State University. (Photo by Robert Crompton/Cronkite News) Caption 3: Darren Woodson's Maryvale yearbook photo in 1985. (Photo by Robert Crompton/Cronkite News)

Legislature votes to lift cap on school spending for second year in a row

PHOENIX – The Arizona Senate and House have overridden the aggregate expenditure limit for the second year in a row, which will allow school districts to spend their Legislature-appropriated funds. Gov. Katie Hobbs said the action was “long overdue” and called the limit from 1980 an “​​archaic cap on school funding.”

The Arizona House and Senate both voted this week to override the aggregate expenditure limit, a constitutional amendment that limits public school spending based on a formula from 1980. (File photo by Alex Gould/Cronkite News)

A path back to the Super Bowl: Eagles remade in Nick Sirianni’s image

PHOENIX — At Super Bowl Opening Night, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and some of his players reflected on the cultural underpinning of their path to the Super Bowl in Sirianni’s second season with the organization.

Swoop, the Eagles' mascot, made quite the landing Monday during Opening Night at Footprint Center. (Photo by Reece Andrews/Cronkite News)