Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – December 3, 2025
Episode Theme:
A lively debate about the legacy of Chris Paul, recently released by the Clippers, with a focus on whether the Phoenix Suns should induct him into their Ring of Honor. The crew weighs in on the value of short-term stars, comparisons to other Arizona sports icons, and the essence of belonging to a team’s history.
Main Discussion Topic
Is Chris Paul worthy of the Suns’ Ring of Honor after his release from the Clippers?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Chris Paul's Time in Phoenix and Legacy
- Chris Paul, now 40/41, has been released by the Clippers (01:21–01:37).
- The Suns’ dilemma: "Will the Suns put him in the ring [of honor] and should he be there?" (01:38–02:03).
- Paul spent around three to four seasons with the Suns, including a trip to the NBA Finals and a 64-win season. His tenure faded with playoff disappointments (02:06–02:25).
Memorable Quote:
"That’s a tough one. ... They keep glomming onto stuff that’s not really theirs."
— Sports Commentator 1 (02:03–02:29)
The Arizona “Rentals” Problem and Comparisons
- Critique of Arizona teams celebrating short-term stars: "They keep glomming onto stuff that's not really theirs. ... Chris was kind of a rental, and it worked out." (02:29–02:47)
- Comparison to Charles Barkley, who is beloved in Phoenix and considered more integral to the city, despite a relatively short stint (02:47–03:31).
Memorable Quote:
"Charles became like the face of the city. ... We loved that team. Charles Barkley was more of a personality."
— Sports Commentator 1 (03:12–03:33)
Who Truly Belongs in the Ring of Honor?
- The bar for inclusion: must be truly synonymous with the franchise (04:12–04:15).
- "I don’t think so. ... The biggest reason I don’t think it should happen—he comes out here, he gets his, you know, honor, and he goes back to LA where he lives. Charles is here." – Sports Commentator 1 (04:16–04:32)
- Steve Nash considered an exception, as he was drafted by the Suns and maintains a strong association, though even his reputation is hilariously debated (04:33–04:56, 07:06–07:57).
- KD, like Chris Paul, seen as too much of a “transient” star to count (05:15–05:35).
Notable Exchange:
"Do you put him in the ring of Honor up there? Some of them, you know, like, I don't even think Amari Stoudemire should be up there."
— Sports Commentator 1 (02:47–02:50)
Nostalgia, Championships, and “Jersey Sale” Honors
- Winning a championship is what cements a player's place (
if you didn't bring a championship, you better have been extra great) (07:06–08:21). - Sean Marion’s inclusion is critiqued as unnecessary, and the Ring of Honor is dismissed as becoming more about jersey sales than true legacy (07:06–08:21, 08:24–08:35).
Memorable Quote:
"I just wish it was more cemented and... Nope, not good enough. It's got to be incredibly great or the, the Ring of honor is just becoming like, 'Oh, you were here for a couple years, just sold some shirts, we liked it.' And then they move on."
— Sports Commentator 1 (07:57–08:21)
Arizona Sports Culture: Borrowed Stars & Short Histories
- Mark Grace, Randy Johnson, Kurt Schilling, and others discussed as examples of players with greater histories elsewhere but honored in Arizona due to a championship or short-term hype (08:21–09:13).
- Cardinals accused of the same: "The Cardinals try to act like they’re better than they were by putting anybody with a name … in their ring of honor." (09:27–10:03)
- Moment of wry resignation about “celebrations” that only a handful of fans care about, e.g., Sean Marion’s ceremony (10:03–10:32).
Memorable Moment:
"After the game they had a big ceremony ... 20 people stayed in the crowd and clapped. I'm like, this is ... They gotta do this before the game. This was terrible."
— Sports Commentator 1 (10:03–10:32)
Key Timestamps
- 01:21–02:03 – Chris Paul’s release and triggering question on Ring of Honor
- 02:29–02:47 – Critique on Arizona’s tendency to honor “rentals”
- 03:12–03:33 – Contrast between Barkley’s impact vs. Chris Paul’s
- 04:16–04:32 – Argument for local ties (Barkley vs. Paul)
- 05:15–05:35 – KD’s legacy as a “rental”
- 07:06–08:21 – Discussion about championship wins and membership standards
- 10:03–10:32 – Anecdote about Sean Marion’s lackluster Ring of Honor ceremony
Notable Quotes
- “We fell apart.” — Sports Commentator 1 on Suns playoff collapses (02:25)
- “I think I’m wondering how much the city has to actually glom onto the person ... KD never fit in here as a member of the community.” — Sports Commentator 1 (05:17)
- "When I think of Steve Nash, I don’t think of the Suns, I think of babies that aren’t his. And that’s just rude." — Sports Commentator 1, in jest (07:06–07:57)
- “The Ring of Honor’s just becoming like, ‘Oh, you were here for a couple years, just sold some shirts, we liked it,’ and then they move on.” — Sports Commentator 1 (08:15)
- "[The Cardinals] try to act like they're better than they were by putting anybody with a name that's recognizable in their ring of honor." (09:27)
Conclusion
The hosts share a humorous but candid consensus that Chris Paul, at most, was a transformative “rental” for the Suns—not a foundational icon like Barkley or Nash. They argue that Arizona's sports culture tends to “over-honor” short-term stars due to a hunger for legitimacy, and that “Ring of Honor” status should be reserved for those whose contributions are deeply woven into the fabric of the franchise and the community. The episode ends with a laugh about the sometimes-empty honors ceremonies that cement this very point.
For anyone who missed it:
This episode provides a fun, honest take on what it actually means to belong to a team and a city—with plenty of local color, a few burns, and a clear call for higher standards in sports legacies.