Voting Station

Robert Sarver

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (October 31, 1961- )
    Born in Tucson, Arizona
    Founded the National Bank of Tucson (later National Bank of Arizona)
    Co-founder of Southwest Value Partners
    Principal owner of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and RCD Mallorca

Why he might be annoying:

    He was considered hard to work with by former employees.
    He was described as being an interventionist owner by NBA personnel.
    He had a rotating carousel of head coaches and general managers during his ownership of the Suns.
    He used the N-word numerous times over his tenure as an owner.
    He engaged in inappropriate sexual talk with female employees, despite the fact he was married.
    He told a pregnant employee she would be incapable of doing her job when she returned from maternity leave.
    He physically assaulted his male employees, if they didn't agree with his views.
    He sent lewd e-mails to his staff members, some involving pornographic content.
    He allegedly told his head coach, Earl Watson, he would fire him if he didn't fire his agency, and made good on his threat when Watson refused to concede to his demands.
    He said he did not believe in diversity, and claimed the NBA's policies to enforce it were a joke.
    He was fined $10 million and suspended by the NBA for one year after the allegations of racism, misogyny, and sexual harassment against him were proven to be true (September 13, 2022).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona.
    He founded the National Bank of Arizona, prior to selling it to Zions Bancorporation.
    He co-founded Southwest Value Partners with real estate tycoon Millard Seldin.
    He donated money to the University of Arizona's heart research center, which was renamed the Sarver Heart Center in honor of his late father Jack, who succumbed to a heart attack.
    He was an avid sports fan, from which stemmed his desire to purchase a team.
    He was inspired to purchase the Suns, after talking to Lute Olson.
    He was a lifelong Suns fan, and his desire to purchase the team stemmed to keep the franchise in Phoenix for the long term.
    His first significant move after purchasing the Suns was signing Steve Nash.
    He saw the Suns make their NBA Finals appearance in 28 years under his ownership (2021).
    He watched the Mercury win three WNBA championships under his ownership.
    He spent his own money to renovate the Footprint Center into one of the top arenas in the NBA.

Credit: Ricky


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 56 Votes: 55.36% Annoying