Paola Boivin

azcentral sports

The likelihood of the Coyotes ending up in Tempe is increasing each day and the organization is hopeful a deal with Arizona State could happen by the end of the season.

This is as optimistic as I’ve seen the parties involved in some time.

Coyotes president, CEO and co-owner Anthony LeBlanc has mentioned his “tight alliance” with ASU in the past and it’s true. Both sides have said privately how positive the process has been. Because it’s a deal that wouldn’t require a referendum, the process of a building a shared facility for the Coyotes and ASU – which moved up to the NCAA level this season – could get under way quickly once an agreement is reached.

The Coyotes also have had discussions with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Phoenix about a possible shared facility with the Suns, but talks with ASU have progressed the fastest.

This is great news for the Valley. The attendance struggles at Gila River Arena have less to do with how the community feels about professional hockey and more about the location.

A Southeast Valley site would boost attendance.

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One potential site that has been mentioned is near Karsten Golf Course.

Planning and construction could take close to three years.

Phoenix is the sixth-largest city in the United States and the 12th-largest television market in the country. It can support an NHL team.

It just needs a facility in the right location.

Jarrod Parker’s return

It was interesting to hear Oakland manager Bob Melvin say last week that it’s not out of the question that right-hander Jarrod Parker could return by the All-Star break.

You remember Parker, the high school phenom the Diamondbacks drafted in 2007 and traded to the A’s in 2011. When he’s been on the mound, he’s been terrific, but his career has been defined more by three elbow injuries, two that required Tommy John surgery.

“I feel good, I think once I got over the initial sore feet and sore legs like everybody else,” Parker said in the clubhouse of Hohokam Stadium. “I think everybody’s arms are starting to get in shape and mine is, (too). I’ve been working back to do that. So I think all the work is kind of coming full circle.”

MORE: Cactus League 2016 coverage

Suns’ effort

As much as fans should embrace the Suns losing – think Ben Simmons – and as much as journalists have suggested losing will only help this team in the long run, it is not the same as saying the team should tank the season. I’ve never believed in that.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the team’s effort lately. In Friday’s victory over Orlando, Alex Len, 22, had 31 points and 15 rebounds. The night before against Miami, Devin Booker, 19, had 34 points, and earned praise from veterans such as Dwyane Wade.

As bad as things with the Suns are right now, they seem to be using these games for the right reasons.

A Brock and a hard place

The quarterback story line in Denver is growing increasingly interesting, with the Broncos yet to re-sign Brock Osweiler. If it doesn’t happen by Wednesday, the former ASU quarterback becomes a free agent and some short-handed team could make a run at him.

Peyton Manning is expected to retire Monday, so the door is open for Osweiler.

Numbers game

College basketball is showing some positive statistical trends despite new rules and officiating directives.

Through Thursday’s games, teams are scoring 73.1 points per game, up from 67.6. Field-goal percentage has improved (43.5 to 44.1 percent), as has 3-point shooting (34.5 to 34.7 percent) and free-throw shooting (69.2 to 69.8 percent). The number of fouls called are up, too, from 18.2 to 19.3.

This and that

Former Suns guard Steve Nash is engaged to former Pepperdine volleyball player Lilla Frederick.

It appears future basketball games between Grand Canyon and Arizona State are off the table for now after the Higher Learning Commission rejected a move to allow Grand Canyon to revert to a non-profit organization. The university’s for-profit status has been an issue of contention between the schools.

Stat of the day

9

The number of 3-pointers Arizona's Gabe York made against Stanford, tying Salim Stoudamire for the school record.

Odd tweet of the week

“Never seen anything like SCurry? Remind you of Chris Jackson/ Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who had a short but brilliant run in NBA?” – Knicks President Phil Jackson with a weird comparison that sounds as if he’s suggesting Golden State’s Stephen Curry is a flash in the pan.

Quote of the day

“I’m still training for the NFL.” – Michael Sam, the former NFL defensive end who became the first publicly gay player to be drafted by the league, at the Human Rights Campaign’s recent gala in Phoenix.

Follow Paola Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin. Listen to her streaming live on “The Brad Cesmat Show” on sports360az.com every Monday at 10:30 a.m.