1976–77 Phoenix Suns season

1976–77 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record34–48 (.415)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

The 1976–77 Phoenix Suns season was the ninth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With injuries limiting the team to only six games with a full roster, the Suns plummeted to the bottom of the Pacific division standings, missing the playoffs after appearing in the Finals just one season prior.[1] The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Offseason

[edit]

NBA draft

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Ron Lee Guard  United States Oregon
2 30 Al Fleming Forward  United States Arizona
2 33 Raymond "Butch" Feher Guard  United States Vanderbilt
3 45 Ira Terrell Forward  United States Southern Methodist
4 62 Paul Miller Forward  United States Oregon
5 79 Ralph Walker Guard  United States Saint Mary's (CA)
6 97 Carl Brown Guard  United States Eastern Kentucky
7 115 Brad Warble Forward  United States Eastern Illinois
8 133 Tom DeBerry Guard  United States Northern Arizona
9 150 John Irving Center  United States Hofstra
10 166 Gary Jackson Forward  United States Arizona State

Roster

[edit]
Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
F/C 33 Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma
C 21 Awtrey, Dennis Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948-02-22 Santa Clara
G/F 14 Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
G 7 Feher, Butch 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954-05-19 Vanderbilt
F 24 Heard, Garfield Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1948-05-03 Oklahoma
G 30 Lee, Ron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1952-11-02 Oregon
F 18 Perry, Curtis Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-09-13 Missouri State
C 54 Schlueter, Dale 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1945-11-12 Colorado State
G 40 Sobers, Ricky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1953-01-15 UNLV
F 32 Terrell, Ira 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1954-06-19 SMU
G/F 5 Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
G/F 4 Van Arsdale, Tom 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
G 44 Westphal, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1950-11-30 USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

[edit]

Standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646 37–4 16–25 11–5
x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 4 35–6 14–27 10–6
x-Golden State Warriors 46 36 .561 7 29–12 17–24 8–8
Seattle SuperSonics 40 42 .488 13 27–14 13–28 6–10
Phoenix Suns 34 48 .415 19 26–15 8–33 5–11
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646
2 y-Denver Nuggets 50 32 .610 3
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 4
4 x-Golden State Warriors 46 36 .561 7
5 x-Detroit Pistons 44 38 .537 9
6 x-Chicago Bulls 44 38 .537 9
7 Kansas City Kings 40 42 .488 13
8 Seattle SuperSonics 40 42 .488 13
9 Indiana Pacers 36 46 .439 17
10 Phoenix Suns 34 48 .415 19
11 Milwaukee Bucks 30 52 .366 23

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1976–77 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta 0–4 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 4–0 1–2 1–3
Boston 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4
Buffalo 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–4
Chicago 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–2
Cleveland 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Denver 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3
Golden State 4–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
Houston 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1
Indiana 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Kansas City 2–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–2 1–3 3–1 1–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3
New Orleans 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–2
N.Y. Nets 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Philadelphia 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1
Phoenix 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3
Portland 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–2
San Antonio 0–4 0–4 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2
Seattle 2–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1
Washington 3–1 4–0 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–3

Game log

[edit]
1976–77 game log
Total: 34–48 (home: 26–15; road: 8–33)
October: 1–4 (home: 0–0; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
1 October 22 @ New Orleans L 98–111 Alvan Adams (29) Louisiana Superdome
12,234
0–1 L 1
2 October 23 @ Houston L 126–129 Alvan Adams (29) The Summit
6,385
0–2 L 2
3 October 27 @ San Antonio L 106–115 Alvan Adams (24) HemisFair Arena
8,919
0–3 L 3
4 October 29 @ Chicago W 95–82 Gar Heard (23) Chicago Stadium
9,318
1–3 W 1
5 October 30 @ Denver L 107–113 Gar Heard (28) McNichols Sports Arena
17,608
1–4 L 1
November: 5–5 (home: 5–2; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
6 November 5 @ Seattle L 84–88 Ricky Sobers (18) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,902
1–5 L 2
7 November 11 Indiana W 108–98 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,152
2–5 W 1
8 November 13 Cleveland L 90–103 Ricky Sobers (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,671
2–6 L 1
9 November 17 Milwaukee W 103–95 Dick Van Arsdale (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,017
3–6 W 1
10 November 18 @ Golden State L 111–131 Ricky Sobers (19) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9,965
3–7 L 1
11 November 19 N.Y. Nets L 88–90 Paul Westphal (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,506
3–8 L 2
12 November 21 Chicago W 101–96 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,589
4–8 W 1
13 November 25 Washington W 104–98 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,614
5–8 W 2
14 November 27 Seattle W 119–107 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,553
6–8 W 3
15 November 30 @ Indiana L 97–103 Paul Westphal (27) Market Square Arena
8,581
6–9 L 1
December: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
16 December 1 @ N.Y. Nets W 106–96 Paul Westphal (23) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,103
7–9 W 1
17 December 3 Portland L 99–113 Ricky Sobers (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,339
7–10 L 1
18 December 5 San Antonio W 103–98 (OT) Paul Westphal (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,235
8–10 W 1
19 December 8 Houston W 116–95 Paul Westphal (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,117
9–10 W 2
20 December 10 @ Boston W 107–103 Ricky Sobers (25) Boston Garden
12,878
10–10 W 3
21 December 11 @ N.Y. Knicks L 96–112 Alvan Adams (17) Madison Square Garden
15,263
10–11 L 1
22 December 12 @ Atlanta W 106–91 Paul Westphal (28) Omni Coliseum
2,507
11–11 W 1
23 December 14 @ Buffalo L 99–108 Ricky Sobers (23) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
7,132
11–12 L 1
24 December 15 @ Philadelphia L 87–87 Alvan Adams (27) The Spectrum
11,363
11–13 L 2
25 December 17 @ Los Angeles L 105–118 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (25)
The Forum
9,816
11–14 L 3
26 December 18 Kansas City L 90–89 Ricky Sobers (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,482
11–15 L 4
27 December 23 Buffalo W 107–92 Ricky Sobers (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,834
12–15 W 1
28 December 25 Los Angeles W 113–96 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
13–15 W 2
29 December 28 @ Denver L 102–110 Paul Westphal (27) McNichols Sports Arena
17,595
13–16 L 1
30 December 29 Boston W 97–87 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
14–16 W 1
January: 8–9 (home: 7–1; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
31 January 2 @ Kansas City L 88–89 Paul Westphal (20) Omaha Civic Auditorium
4,226
14–17 L 1
32 January 4 @ Milwaukee L 111–139 Curtis Perry,
Ira Terrell (20)
MECCA Arena
8,871
14–18 L 2
33 January 5 @ Detroit L 115–118 Alvan Adams (24) Cobo Arena
6,249
14–19 L 3
34 January 7 @ Washington L 89–99 Paul Westphal (15) Capital Centre
6,072
14–20 L 4
35 January 8 @ N.Y. Knicks L 95–102 Paul Westphal (31) Madison Square Garden
18,589
14–21 L 5
36 January 10 @ Atlanta W 93–92 Paul Westphal (20) Omni Coliseum
2,408
15–21 W 1
37 January 11 @ Chicago L 90–93 Paul Westphal (31) Chicago Stadium
6,446
15–22 L 1
38 January 13 Detroit W 131–101 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
16–22 W 1
39 January 15 Cleveland W 94–79 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
17–22 W 2
40 January 19 N.Y. Knicks W 97–90 Paul Westphal (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,035
18–22 W 3
41 January 20 @ Golden State L 103–107 Paul Westphal (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
10,886
18–23 L 1
42 January 21 Indiana W 125–96 Alvan Adams (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,957
19–23 W 1
43 January 23 Seattle W 98–88 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
20–23 W 2
44 January 25 San Antonio L 108–116 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,814
20–24 L 1
45 January 27 Philadelphia W 111–94 Ron Lee (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
21–24 W 1
46 January 29 New Orleans W 118–102 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274
22–24 W 2
47 January 30 @ Portland L 91–97 Paul Westphal (24) Memorial Coliseum
12,311
22–25 L 1
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
48 February 2 Milwaukee W 130–113 Paul Westphal (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,364
23–25 W 1
49 February 4 Golden State L 106–109 Alvan Adams (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,849
23–26 L 1
50 February 6 Denver W 115–104 Paul Westphal (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,826
24–26 W 1
51 February 8 Atlanta W 117–104 Alvan Adams (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,495
25–26 W 2
52 February 10 Washington L 103–109 Paul Westphal (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,352
25–27 L 1
53 February 15 @ Kansas City L 96–102 Paul Westphal (30) Kemper Arena
7,313
25–28 L 2
54 February 16 @ Indiana L 93–111 Ira Terrell (15) Market Square Arena
9,553
25–29 L 3
55 February 18 @ Philadelphia W 102–96 Paul Westphal (22) The Spectrum
16,660
26–29 W 1
56 February 19 @ Cleveland L 88–92 Paul Westphal (23) Coliseum at Richfield
17,882
26–30 L 1
57 February 20 @ Detroit L 107–109 Ricky Sobers (25) Cobo Arena
7,233
26–31 L 2
58 February 22 @ Buffalo L 114–115 Alvan Adams (47) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
6,143
26–32 L 3
59 February 24 Houston L 106–109 Paul Westphal (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,835
26–33 L 4
60 February 26 Boston L 104–108 Paul Westphal (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,353
26–34 L 5
March: 4–12 (home: 2–5; road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
61 March 2 Chicago L 104–108 (OT) Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,823
26–35 L 6
62 March 4 Golden State L 87–101 Alvan Adams (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,750
26–36 L 7
63 March 6 @ Washington L 110–118 Ricky Sobers (32) Capital Centre
14,189
26–37 L 8
64 March 8 @ San Antonio L 115–122 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (24)
HemisFair Arena
10,011
26–38 L 9
65 March 9 @ Houston L 100–105 Alvan Adams (26) The Summit
6,421
26–39 L 10
66 March 11 @ N.Y. Nets L 73–82 Paul Westphal (16) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,730
26–40 L 11
67 March 13 @ Boston L 107–124 Alvan Adams (29) Boston Garden
14,859
26–41 L 12
68 March 16 N.Y. Knicks W 124–91 Paul Westphal (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,177
27–41 W 1
69 March 18 New Orleans L 100–104 Paul Westphal (35) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,285
27–42 L 1
70 March 20 Portland W 126–106 Alvan Adams (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,174
28–42 W 1
71 March 24 Buffalo L 102–107 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,410
28–43 L 1
72 March 25 @ Los Angeles L 93–118 Ira Terrell (22) The Forum
13,507
28–44 L 2
73 March 26 Los Angeles L 102–109 Alvan Adams (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,150
28–45 L 3
74 March 27 @ Seattle W 121–100 Ron Lee (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096
29–45 W 1
75 March 29 @ Milwaukee W 122–110 Paul Westphal (34) MECCA Arena
8,945
30–45 W 2
76 March 30 @ New Orleans L 100–112 Alvan Adams (19) Louisiana Superdome
6,237
30–46 L 1
April: 4–2 (home: 4–1; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
77 April 1 Detroit W 133–116 Paul Westphal (40) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,506
31–46 W 1
78 April 3 Denver L 109–124 Ron Lee (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,501
31–47 L 1
79 April 5 Atlanta W 108–102 Ricky Sobers (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,668
32–47 W 1
80 April 7 Kansas City W 121–110 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,462
33–47 W 2
81 April 8 @ Portland L 111–122 Alvan Adams (26) Memorial Coliseum
12,536
33–48 L 1
82 April 10 N.Y. Nets W 128–104 Ron Lee (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,476
34–48 W 1
1976–77 schedule

Awards and honors

[edit]

All-Star

[edit]
  • Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection. Westphal finished first in voting among Western Conference guards with 163,173 votes.

Season

[edit]

Player statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game
 PPG  Points per game

Season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Alvan Adams 72 67 31.6 .474 .754 9.1+ 4.5 1.3 1.2 18.0
Dennis Awtrey 72 26 24.4 .429 .722 4.9 2.5 .3 .4 5.7
Keith Erickson 50 3 19.0 .483 .740 2.9 2.1 .6 .1 6.4
Butch Feher 48 9 10.1 .531+ .768 1.5 0.8 .2 .1 5.2
Garfield Heard 46 35 29.6 .379 .725 9.6+ 1.9 1.2 1.2 9.7
Ron Lee 82 34 22.5 .441 .676 3.6 3.2 1.9 .4 10.2
Curtis Perry 44 42 31.6 .432 .789 9.0 1.8 1.1 .6 10.7
Dale Schlueter 39 0 8.6 .361 .581 2.1 1.0 .2 .2 1.8
Ricky Sobers 79 48 25.4 .496 .841 3.0 3.0 1.2 .2 13.6
Ira Terrell 78 36 22.4 .508 .631 5.0 1.3 .5 .6 8.5
Dick Van Arsdale 78 3 19.7 .456 .873 1.5 1.5 .4 .1 7.7
Tom Van Arsdale 77 28 18.5 .433 .703 2.4 0.9 .3 .0 5.8
Paul Westphal 81 79 32.1 .518+ .825 2.3 5.7 1.7 .3 21.3

+ – Minimum 50 games played.

Transactions

[edit]

Trades

[edit]
August 25, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
1977 second-round draft pick (United States Glenn Williams)
Cash considerations
To Phoenix Suns
United States Tom Van Arsdale
March 18, 1977 To Seattle SuperSonics
1979 second-round draft pick (United States Paul Mokeski)
Cash considerations
To Phoenix Suns
Rights to United States Bayard Forrest

Free agents

[edit]

Additions

[edit]
Date Player Contract Old Team
September 23, 1976 Marv Roberts Undisclosed Virginia Squires (ABA)
December 7, 1976 Dale Schlueter Undisclosed Buffalo Braves

Subtractions

[edit]
Date Player Reason Left New Team
August 26, 1976 John Wetzel Retired
September 15, 1976 Paul Miller Waived — (Retired)
September 21, 1976 Pat Riley Retired
October 3, 1976 Carl Brown Waived — (Retired)
October 4, 1976 Al Fleming Waived Indiana Pacers
October 15, 1976 Marv Roberts Waived Los Angeles Lakers
October 15, 1976 Nate Hawthorne Waived — (Retired)
October 15, 1976 Phil Lumpkin Waived — (Retired)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SUNS: 1976–77". nba.com/history. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.