Brian Laesch .com

Hi, my name is Brian Laesch. A few years ago, while living and working in miserable conditions in “Hollywood” (Hollywood and Burbank, respectively), I was inspired by the Phoenix Suns beating both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2006 NBA Playoffs. I was inspired because, to be completely honest, I hated my life in LA, and the Suns were my #2 team after receiving my undergraduate degree from Arizona State. (I’m still a diehard Chicago Bulls fan. Always will be, and still hope to live in Chicago, someday.) So, somehow, that gave me a little bit of vindication. And, for whatever reason–maybe because I was an aspiring actor taking improv classes, and the fact that I love basketball–that inspiration transpired into a little something I like to call, “The Steve Nash Video Blog.” The production value was horrible. The improv was hit or miss. It was OK. I liked it because I literally came up with it on the fly, in one or two takes. But, apparently, you don’t get signed at CAA after one YouTube video. Go figure.

Anyway, what started with me playing the role of an overly-cocky Steve Nash, knocking off both LA teams in the playoffs, turned into everybody thinking I hated Steve Nash. My friends thought it was funny. I had a little bit of random support on the Internet. But, people didn’t get where I was coming from or why I was making it. Heck, maybe I didn’t even know. My life was very interesting at that point, but I was also struggling to find my way.

Based on the somewhat positive reaction from friends, and YouTube, I felt obliged to continue to make these videos…even though I was pretty much over it. So, over a period of two years, I made a few more. Some were OK. Some sucked. Some could have used more than one take. Anyway, that’s what happened.

But now, I find myself back in Phoenix, in graduate school, and wanting to make up for any ills I caused Steve Nash and/or the Phoenix Suns. (I still think my video blog inspired those Vitaminwater commercials…

…but that’s another story.) Plus, I’m a huge basketball fan–especially good basketball. So, after watching a Phoenix Suns infomercial one Saturday morning, I made a call, got a tour of the U.S. Airways Center, and was sold. I bought half-season tickets. And I must say, between the free Suns scrimmage I watched courtside, and the games so far, I’m extremely happy that I did. The Phoenix Suns’ brand of entertaining, TEAM basketball is back. Steve Nash looks like he did 2-3 years ago, Grant Hill is playing like he’s 28, and the bench is promising for the first time since D’Antoni left. I’m still a diehard Chicago Bulls fan, and always will be, but I’m excited about Phoenix Suns basketball.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t really believe that by purchasing these season tickets, years after creating the “Steve Nash Video Blog,” I’ve magically reversed the fate of the team… But as I mentioned, I’m a Chicago sports fan. It’s fun to make these kinds of connections.

Brian Laesch promises not to buy an extra seat to a playoff game for his Steve Nash costume, be denied entrance by security, and place a Billy Goat-style curse on the team.