GENERAL: Why is Phoenix a mediocre sports town?

The Phoenix Suns lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs. This is merely the latest in a series of early playoff exits for all of Phoenix's major sports teams.

The Suns seldom go past the 1st round. The Phoenix Coyotes have always lost in the first round of the NHL playoffs. In their only playoff appearance, the Diamondbacks lost to the New York Mets in the first round. See a trend? I have not even mentioned the Arizona Cardinals, who are arguably the worst franchise in the NFL and have gone to the playoffs only once since moving to Phoenix.

Phoenix is a large city with more than a million residents but it has no sports titles except the Rattlers’ Arena Football titles and Arizona State University has won national championships in baseball, softball, and a few minor sports. Heck, Tucson, a city about one third the size of Phoenix and located over 100 miles away across the state, is probably a more prestigious sports city due to the success of the University of Arizona men's basketball team.

So why is Phoenix a mediocre sports city and how come so many residents do not seem to care?

Is it that some Phoenix residents who migrated from other states still root-root-root for their home teams?

Is it that the Cardinals, Coyotes, and Diamondbacks are still relatively new to Phoenix?

Is it that since the Phoenix residents have not tasted a national championship that they do not know what they are missing and therefore do not demand or expect a champion?

Some people say Phoenix is a large city that still acts like a small town, and small towns are often mediocre ‘sports towns.’

Whatever the reasons for its mediocrity, it is about time for Phoenix to act like a large city and its sports teams should perform accordingly. I dare the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Coyotes, and Suns to make it past the first round of the playoffs.