A week after Robert Sarver’s ban, he announced that he is selling the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.

This decision came after PayPal threatened to drop their partnership if Sarver was still the owner after the ban.

According to a Yahoo article, potential buyers include “ex-Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, former Disney CEO Bob Iger, ex-Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and Washington Wizards minority owner Laurene Jobs.”

It is expected that the Suns will look for the highest bidder. Forbes estimated in 2021 that the Suns were worth $1.8 billion. Having people like Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is over $146 billion, in the running means that the price could get much higher.

No matter the final sale price, it will be guaranteed to be bigger than the $400 million that Sarver paid for the team originally in 2004.

This has significance in the sports world as it shows how seriously organizations are dealing with these sorts of issues. Sarver went from comfortably owning an NBA team to beginning the selling process in a matter of weeks.

On Tuesday, September 13th, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was suspended for one year and fined $10 million after an investigation found he was in violation of workplace standards.

During the investigations, It was found that Sarver used the N-word on multiple occasions. The Suns owner also had “instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees,” including “sex-related comments” the NBA stated.

The investigations included interviews with more than 320 current and former employees.

Sarver was fully cooperative with the investigation. “While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA’s report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees,” Saver said in a statement by the Phoenix Suns.

ESPN also reported Sarver saying “I accept the consequences of the NBA’s decision. This moment is an opportunity for me to demonstrate a capacity to learn and grow as we continue to build a working culture where every employee feels comfortable and valued.”

In a Twitter post, Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul said, “Like many others, I reviewed the report. I was and am horrified and disappointed by what I read,” Paul’s statement reads. “This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “The statements and conduct described in the findings of the independent investigation are troubling and disappointing. We believe the outcome is the right one, taking into account all the facts, circumstances and context brought to light by the comprehensive investigation of this 18-year period and our commitment to upholding proper standards in NBA workplaces.”

On top of Sarver’s punishment, the Suns and Mercury must fulfill requirements to have improvements in the workplace.

There have been two other owners in the NBA to have had similar cases since 2014.

This is news because it shows a shift in how we handle these situations. In the old sports world, we wouldn’t see these types of punishment handed out for this behavior.

It is also new because the Phoenix Suns will be operating without their owner for one year. It will be interesting to see how the sudden change of authority impacts the franchise.

During the Apple Event on September 7th, Apple discussed their new products being released. One of the more interesting products talked about was the new iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 will come out in 4 different versions. The base model iPhone 14 will start at $799. Apple will also be releasing a Plus ($899), Pro ($999), and Pro Max ($1,099) version of the iPhone. The base and Plus models will be available in Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red. The Pro and Pro Max models will be available in Space Black, Sliver, Gold, and Deep Purple. The iPhones will be released running the new IOS 16.

The iPhone rumors were confirmed when Apple unveiled that they were moving away from the notch in favor of a new ‘pill shape’ for the Pro and Pro Max versions. Apple is using this new design to release something called the “Dynamic Island.” This animation can give you useful information such as arrival time for Lyft, navigation for Apple maps, and sports scores. The Dynamic Island can also split into two and show you info for two different activities.

All of the iPhones will be available for pre-order on September 9th. Some can be expected to have them shipped by the 16th while others may have to wait longer due to the demand.

Will you be picking up the new iPhone? Let me know in the comments!

31-year-old NBA guard John Wall recently spoke about his mental health while struggling with injuries, family issues, and COVID-19.

According to Bleacher Report, back in 2019, John Wall tore his Achilles when he slipped and fell in his home. This injury caused him to miss the entire NBA season. On top of this, his mother struggled with cancer, causing her to pass away in December of 2019. A year later his grandmother died as well. John Wall was dealing with all of this while a pandemic was forming around him. In an ESPN article, Wall describes how he had to sit with his mother for multiple days while she was taking her final breaths. Wall goes as far as saying “At one point in time, I thought about committing suicide.”

This story comes at a time when many athletes are speaking up about mental health and its importance. Many other famous athletes such as Serena Williams, Kevin Love, and Michele Phelps have opened up about their struggles with anxiety and depression and how they overcame them. Some athletes such as tennis star Naomi Osaka have even withdrew from events to focus on their mental health.

This trend has split sides recently. Many people believe that these athletes get paid way too much money to sit out of events, and believe that the athletes should focus on their sport rather than being an advocate for things like mental health. Others believe that athletes speaking up about their own struggles makes it easier for people to begin opening up about their mental health struggles and be less hesitant to get the help that they need.

Personally, I think that this is a step in the right direction. Professional athletes are human just like me and you. It is important that they take care of their mental health just as much as their physical health. Being under a constant spotlight can be mentally draining and can often become too much to handle.

Let me know your thoughts on this situation in the comments.