Cotton Family Express

Discussion of the league and of our favorite team.
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BAMF
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Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

https://www.azfamily.com/sports/phoenix ... 33307.html

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - The Friday afternoon rush at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport included a trip down memory lane for four sisters from Missouri. They were in town to catch the first two games of the NBA Finals, which were extra special for the family. Their uncle is former head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons was a two-time NBA Coach of the Year and led the Suns to two trips to the Western Conference Finals. But for Joanie, Nancy, Lisa and Vonda, he'll always just be "Uncle Cotton." "He'd pick up the phone and he'd go, 'sister,' to my mom," recalls Joanie Lovell. "And she'd go, 'yes brother?' It's family and they were a very close family."

From fishing trips every summer in Missouri to weekends with their aunt and uncle, the sisters say their Aunt Joann surprised them with tickets to the games.

"Aunt Joann texted Joanie and said, 'Hey, I'm thinking about getting tickets to games 1 and 2. Do you think your sisters and you would want to come?" Vonda Sorrentino said. "And who's going to say no? I said, 'Of course!'"

Fitzsimmons family
The sisters grew up playing basketball and went to many NBA games because of their uncle.


They tell Arizona's Family that Fitzsimmons loved Arizona sports and at one point had season tickets to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They say the coach never met a stranger

"He would take tickets out with him on game days and just randomly give them to people," Sorrentino said. "You know he never turned anyone away. If he was out to dinner, he and Aunt Joann, and somebody came to him and asked for an autograph, he never turned them away. Never."

Suns Nuns: Pennsylvania convent cheers on Cam Johnson during NBA Finals

The sisters grew up playing basketball and went to many NBA games because of their uncle, but say the recent NBA Finals games were the best. "It was amazing—the atmosphere, the energy," said Lisa Law. "It was a once in a lifetime experience. It was just, it was unreal."

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BAMF
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.

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BAMF
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm
BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too for my first Suns game I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
Last edited by BAMF on Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

BAMF wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:56 am
Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm
BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
My elementary school used to sell cheap family packs through the office. That is how I got to go to games back then at the madhouse. It felt like we were on the floor with them how close everything was. I remember getting to interact with the players after the game sometimes when kids would come shoot free throws or get autographs.

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Superbone
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Superbone »

Indy wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:04 pm
BAMF wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:56 am
Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm
BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
My elementary school used to sell cheap family packs through the office. That is how I got to go to games back then at the madhouse. It felt like we were on the floor with them how close everything was. I remember getting to interact with the players after the game sometimes when kids would come shoot free throws or get autographs.
I remember stomping my feet with the crowd at the Madhouse on McDowell and the whole "ground" shaking.
"Be Legendary."

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SunsRIt
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by SunsRIt »

Superbone wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:03 pm
Indy wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:04 pm
BAMF wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:56 am
Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm
BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
My elementary school used to sell cheap family packs through the office. That is how I got to go to games back then at the madhouse. It felt like we were on the floor with them how close everything was. I remember getting to interact with the players after the game sometimes when kids would come shoot free throws or get autographs.
I remember stomping my feet with the crowd at the Madhouse on McDowell and the whole "ground" shaking.
That place really shook. I went to a game against the Hawks when I was in high school. At that time you could go pretty much anywhere in the arena. We went down after the game and watched the players leave. We looked up to watch Dominique Wilkins and a few others go by. We had to look down for Spud Webb he was so small. We also went out to player parking. I will never forgot the sound of Larry Nance’s first gen Camaro. Such a beautiful car.

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Superbone
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Superbone »

SunsRIt wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:30 pm
Superbone wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:03 pm
Indy wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:04 pm
BAMF wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:56 am
Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm


I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
My elementary school used to sell cheap family packs through the office. That is how I got to go to games back then at the madhouse. It felt like we were on the floor with them how close everything was. I remember getting to interact with the players after the game sometimes when kids would come shoot free throws or get autographs.
I remember stomping my feet with the crowd at the Madhouse on McDowell and the whole "ground" shaking.
That place really shook. I went to a game against the Hawks when I was in high school. At that time you could go pretty much anywhere in the arena. We went down after the game and watched the players leave. We looked up to watch Dominique Wilkins and a few others go by. We had to look down for Spud Webb he was so small. We also went out to player parking. I will never forgot the sound of Larry Nance’s first gen Camaro. Such a beautiful car.
That's awesome! Another thing you just reminded of when I was a kid was going down to the floor and seeing the players leaving. I can still vividly remember looking at the players and noticing that their legs and arms were twice as big as a normal human! :D
"Be Legendary."

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SunsRIt
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by SunsRIt »

Does anybody else have the commemorative posters that were in the Republic from the Suns ‘92-‘93 playoff run? I have 2 of the poster packs that include all the players and the gorilla.

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

SunsRIt wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:49 pm
Does anybody else have the commemorative posters that were in the Republic from the Suns ‘92-‘93 playoff run? I have 2 of the poster packs that include all the players and the gorilla.
I have that special section some where around here. I have moved it 10 times and over 5000 miles.

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Nodack
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Nodack »

I think I collected some soda bottles.

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

Nodack wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:04 am
I think I collected some soda bottles.
These are the ones I have in my office right now.
Image

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BAMF
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

Superbone wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:03 pm
Indy wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:04 pm
BAMF wrote:
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:56 am
Indy wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:25 pm
BAMF wrote:
Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:31 pm
I became a Suns fan with the re-addition of Cotton and KJ sealed the deal. I was not a fan of MacLeod and was more of a 76ers and Detroit Pistons fan when MacLeod was the Suns coach.
I went to my first game in the early 80s (pretty sure against Denver in the 82-83 season) but nobody in my household followed basketball and I was 6. But I had more agency a few years later and that 88-89 team hooked me for life.
I once went in the early 80's too I think I was in 5th grade and we were crammed up in the top corner at the Madhouse. It was some kind of group event with other kids as I remember horsing around the arena with my friends and security getting mad.
My elementary school used to sell cheap family packs through the office. That is how I got to go to games back then at the madhouse. It felt like we were on the floor with them how close everything was. I remember getting to interact with the players after the game sometimes when kids would come shoot free throws or get autographs.
I remember stomping my feet with the crowd at the Madhouse on McDowell and the whole "ground" shaking.
As a kid this was my favorite thing to do in the Madhouse. The rumble was so great. The intro with them playing the beginning of Time from Pink Floyd!

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BAMF
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

The intro music right here. Good stuff.
Last edited by BAMF on Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Cap
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Cap »

I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.

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BAMF
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by BAMF »

Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:27 am
I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.
Yea a friends buddy won a toyota corolla hachback with that shot

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:27 am
I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.
What is CRPR?

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Cap
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Cap »

Indy wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:35 am
Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:27 am
I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.
What is CRPR?
Charlie Rossi (sp?) Public Relations. CR was the car dealer that sponsored it.

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Indy
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Indy »

Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:46 am
Indy wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:35 am
Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:27 am
I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.
What is CRPR?
Charlie Rossi (sp?) Public Relations. CR was the car dealer that sponsored it.
Ah that is a name I never heard (or at least never remember hearing).

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Superbone
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Re: Cotton Family Express

Post by Superbone »

Cap wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:27 am
I remember fans being allowed to come on the court and shoot free throws after the game. And the CRPR halftime half-court shot for a car.
That's right! I've done that! (Shooting FTs at the Madhouse on McDowell. Not the half court shot.)
"Be Legendary."

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