90-year-old lady who ripped Suns’ owner takes aim at Phoenix lawmaker
Dec 17, 2018, 3:59 PM | Updated: 8:19 pm
PHOENIX – The 90-year-old Phoenix woman who gained global fame for her takedown of Suns owner Robert Sarver is pretty upset at City Councilman Sal DiCiccio, too.
“He’s my councilman, only he doesn’t represent me at all,” Greta Rogers told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos on Monday.
Rogers became an unlikely internet celebrity after she tore into Sarver during a City Council meeting Wednesday, famously saying “he’s so tight he squeaks when he walks.”
The Ahwatukee resident was no less feisty when expressing her contempt for DiCiccio on Monday.
“The guy is lazy, he’s manipulative and he lies,” Rogers said.
Rogers then lit into the councilman for regularly participating in meetings, including last week’s, over the phone rather than in person.
“And it isn’t because he has babies at home; he doesn’t. And it isn’t because he has a gainfully employed job; he doesn’t,” she said.
“He’s lazy, and he doesn’t respect truth.”
Rogers has been a familiar face for years as an active participant at City Hall, but now the whole world knows her after she pointedly voiced her opposition to a proposal to renovate Talking Stick Resort Arena.
A vote on the plan, which would cost the city $150 million and the Suns $80 million, was tabled until Jan. 23 so public information sessions could be held.
Rogers’ comments spread like wildfire across the internet, made it onto ESPN and were covered by news organizations in the UK and Australia.
Phoenix resident Greta Rogers didn't hold back on Suns owner Robert Sarver during a city council meeting 😯 pic.twitter.com/LZQwUMFNfd
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 14, 2018
“This is Chicago politics at its worst, and it has a very foul odor,” she said of the deal.
She didn’t just criticize the renovation plan; she took shots at the Suns’ dismal performance.
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“Mr. Sarver has done nothing to improve this team in the 14 years he’s owned it,” Rogers said during the meeting.
Then she creatively described Sarver’s aversion to spending and implied the City Council shouldn’t even be dealing with him.
“He’s so tight he squeaks when he walks. And you have been negotiating with this kind of person? Shame on each and all of you,” she said emphatically.
On Monday, Rogers said she’d say the same things to Sarver’s face if she had the chance.
“I don’t care how big or small somebody’s ego is, when they’re trying to screw the city, I won’t stand for it,” she said.
