Dan Majerle
In 1988, when the Suns announced
they were drafting Dan Majerle,
the crowd welcomed the news with
a thunder of boos.
Then-coach Cotton Fitzsimmons
spoke up, scolding the angry audience:
“I think you people will be
sorry you ever booed this young
man.”
Through his legendary 14-year
pro-basketball career, eight of
which were spent with the Suns,
Majerle has long since silenced the
critics.
And although he retired as a
player more than five years ago,
his work as a popular sports commentator
and as owner of the hip
sports bar Majerle’s, Thunder Dan
remains one of the most popular
faces in the Suns organization.
This month the Open Door
Policy crew paid a visit to Mr.
Majerle’s office, located where
else? In the sports bar’s basement
downtown, which also just so happens
to be Phoenix’s oldest existing
commercial building.
As a hands-on owner regularly
seen bartending or bussing tables
on a busy night, Majerle admits to
rarely spending time in the office.
Still, he says he uses it as a sanctuary
to escape the busy restaurant
atmosphere or to watch the game
in peace. In other words, semiretired
at age 42, he’s still living
just about every man’s dream.
Text By Shanna Hogan
Photography By Craig Price
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