Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939) is a respected Arizona sports mogul. Owner, or part owner, of most of Arizona's professional sports teams, Colangelo arrived in Phoenix in 1968, after a stint as an assistant coach of the Chicago Bulls. November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Official languages English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano (D) Senators John McCain (R) Jon Kyl (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 6th 295,254 km² 0. ... Phoenix was incorporated as a city on February 5, 1881. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The Chicago Bulls are a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois. ...

Colangelo had been granted an expansion team by the NBA when he went to Phoenix. There, he made it clear from the start that his desire was to win a world championship. The National Basketball Association, more popularly known as the NBA, is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. ...

Colangelo lost a flip of the coin in 1969 to draft Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But the Suns remained competitive most of the 1970s, and they almost made Colangelo's dream come true when they reached the Finals in 1976, losing to the Boston Celtics in six games. Colangelo had two stints as head coach during that decade, compiling a record of 59 wins and 60 losses as coach. 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Kareem Abdul Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947 in New York City, New York) is a successful former high school, collegiate, and professional NBA basketball player. ... The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. ...

During a good portion of the 1980s, Colangelo's Suns faced trouble, as some of them were involved in an infamous drug scandal, and the Suns flirted with mediocrity. But when Colangelo made a trade for Kevin Johnson in 1987 that picture began to change. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4, 1966 in Sacramento, CA) is a former American NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Suns started making the playoffs, something they would do for 13 straight years, and in 1989, Colangelo was an essential part of the group that planned to build America West Arena, providing financial backing. In 1992, Colangelo traded Jeff Hornacek to the Philadelphia 76ers for Charles Barkley. The trade proved to be productive for the Suns, and they reached the NBA Finals for the second time in 1993, this time losing to the Bulls in six games. Barkley's relationship with Colangelo, however, grew sour over the years, and in 1996, he was traded to the Houston Rockets. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... America West Arena is a sports and entertainment facility located in Phoenix, Arizona. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Jeffrey John Hornacek (pronounced HOR-NA-SECK); (born May 3, 1963 in Elmhurst, Illinois) is a former NBA basketball player who played at the shooting guard position from 1986-2000. ... The Philadelphia 76ers are a National Basketball Association team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also known as the Sixers for short. ... Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963 in Leeds, Alabama) is a former American basketball power forward. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Houston Rockets are a National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. ...

Before that, in 1995, Colangelo had been granted a Major League Baseball expansion team: The Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks' began to play in 1998, one year after another Colangelo team, the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, also started. The Mercury reached the WNBA finals, losing to the Houston Comets. Another Colangelo team, Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers, gave Colangelo his first championship in 1994, and once again in 1997. The Rattlers have been playing since 1992. Colangelo was also instrumental in bringing the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix in 1997. The Coyotes now play in the suburb of Glendale as the Phoenix Coyotes. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MLB logo Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1998-present) West Division (1998-present) Major league titles World Series titles (1) 2001 NL Pennants (1) 2001 West Division titles (3) 2002 â€¢ 2001 â€¢ 1999 Wild card berths (0) None Major league nicknames Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-present) Major league home ballparks Chase Field (1998-present... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The WNBA logo, “Logo Woman”, was selected out of 50 different designs. ... The Phoenix Mercury are a Womens National Basketball Association team in Phoenix, Arizona that began in 1997 as one of the leagues original eight teams. ... The Houston Comets are a Womens National Basketball Association team. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The modernized NHL shield logo, debuting in 2005. ... The Winnipeg Jets were an ice hockey franchise that existed in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. ... Glendale is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona. ... The Phoenix Coyotes are a National Hockey League team based in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. ...

With the help of such notables as Mark Grace, Tony Womack, Luis Gonzalez, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, the Diamondbacks were finally able to give Colangelo what he wanted most: A major league world championship. They beat the New York Yankees in seven games in 2001 to win the World Series. Mark Grace (born June 28, 1964 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was a professional Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. ... Anthony Darrell Womack (born September 25, 1969) is a center fielder for the New York Yankees. ... Luis Emilio González (born September 3, 1967), better known as Luis E. González (affectionately called Gonzo by many of his fans), is a baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks and plays left field. ... Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966 in Anchorage, Alaska) is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks following the 2003 season. ... Johnson tossing out a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park Randall David Randy Johnson (born September 10, 1963 in Walnut Creek, California), also known as The Big Unit, is a left-handed starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901-present) East Division (1969-present) Major league titles World Series titles (26) 2000 â€¢ 1999 â€¢ 1998 â€¢ 1996 1978 â€¢ 1977 â€¢ 1962 â€¢ 1961 1958 â€¢ 1956 â€¢ 1953 â€¢ 1952 1951 â€¢ 1950 â€¢ 1949 â€¢ 1947 1943 â€¢ 1941 â€¢ 1939 â€¢ 1938 1937 â€¢ 1936 â€¢ 1932 â€¢ 1928 1927 â€¢ 1923 AL Pennants (39) 2003 â€¢ 2001 â€¢ 2000... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The 2001 World Series (the November Series) was arguably one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory. ...

Colangelo, who is good friends with boxing promoter Bob Arum, has also tried to bring boxing to Arizona, and was one of the persons behind the building of the Dodge Theater there. The Dodge Theater is currently an important boxing and performing arts venue in the American Southwest. Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano at Madison Square Garden, 1951 Julio Cesar Chavez and Ivan Robinson at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, 2005 Amir Khan of Britain and Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa of Cuba at the Athens Olympics, 2004 Boxing, also called pugilism or prizefighting, is a sport where two... Bob Arum (born December 8, 1931 in New York, New York), is a Harvard_educated lawyer of Jewish descent who helped the White House during President John F. Kennedys time there. ...

He has received several community awards, and recently, he turned over the Suns' presidency to his son Bryan. His relationship with Barkley has improved with years, and Colangelo has declared himself a newborn Christian, reason that he credits for his change of heart about Barkley. As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Colangelo has also been known for his no-nonsense ownership style. Players like the Suns' Dennis Johnson and Jason Kidd and the Diamondbacks' Bobby Chounard have been traded or released from his teams after their personal problems came to the public light. Dennis Johnson (born September 18, 1954 in San Pedro, California) is a former pro basketball player and coach. ... Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973 in Oakland, California) is the starting point guard for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA. He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2002 and 2003) and is considered one of the best players in the game today, being a...

Colangelo has been named the NBA's Executive of the Year four times. The NBA Executive of the Year Award is the award given by the National Basketball Association to the leagues best front office executive. ...

On April 4, 2004, Colangelo was elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Later that month, Colangelo sold the Phoenix Suns to an investment group headed by Robert Sarver for $401 million dollars. April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ...

Late in the 2004 baseball season, Colangelo sold his controlling interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks team to a group of investors lead by Jeff Moorad [1].

In December of that year, Colangelo was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. ...

In the Summer of 2005, Colangelo was named the sole director of USA Basketball. USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the national governing body of basketball in United States (USA). ...

External links

• Basketball Hall of Fame profile