Memorable Moments of a Phoenix Decade

Published Dec. 3, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
I was thinking about the fact that we are approaching the end of a decade. It was at the very beginning of this decade (January 2000) that I began writing About.com Phoenix, and, like anyone who has lived here for a while, there have been many changes and some memorable events -- both positive and negative. Yes, of course there were memorable moments during the past ten years that affected the nation and the world, but these are the events that occurred to me when I thought about the ones that are specific to the Phoenix area. Do you agree with any of these? Is there something obvious that I have forgotten? Add your "comment" below.

1. Arizona Diamondbacks win the World Series. (2001)
2. Lori Piestewa was the U.S. first woman in Iraq war and the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military. (2003)
3. Pat Tillman, who left his pro football career with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the army, is killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. (2004)
4. Scottsdale Waterfront development.
5. The Baseline Killer (aka Baseline Rapist) gets national attention for murders and rapes committed over almost a year. (2005-2006)
6. Arizonans vote to ban smoking in all public places. (2006)
7. Rapid growth of outlying areas such Maricopa, Gilbert and Surprise during real estate boom.
8. Greater Phoenix home prices boom and subsequent bust.
9. Sandra Day O'Connor from Phoenix retires from the U.S. Supreme Court. (2006)
10. Development of Glendale, AZ as a sports and entertainment destination (University of Phoenix Stadium, Jobing.com Arena, Westgate City Center, new spring training stadium).
11. Jordin Sparks of Glendale, Arizona becomes youngest American Idol. (2007)
12. The introduction of light rail in Phoenix and Tempe. (2008)
13. Arizona Senator John McCain runs for President. (2008)
14. Arizona's Governor, Janet Napolitano, is the first woman to take the position of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. (2009)
15. Arizona Cardinals go to the Super Bowl. (2009)

    Memorable Moments of a Phoenix Decade originally appeared on About.com Phoenix on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 10:21:59.

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