I've avoided talking about the Sacramento Kings for the past month because, well ... I'm just tired of anger that wells up inside me when I think about the NBA and its indifferent attitude towards its loyal fans.
But last night was something different. For some reason, the Kings' departure has not captured the attention of the country the way the Sonics' did. Maybe its because the Sonics just danced this dance, maybe its because I'm not living in Sacramento and it doesn't cut so sharply, or maybe its because the Kings continue to wear purple and black even though that jersey scheme was played out 13 years ago (sorry, just kidding Sacto fans), but doesn't it just seem as though the sporting world has issued a general "eh" to this whole situation?
In any event, I won't bore you with a diatribe about how ridiculous this (possible) move is, how evil it is to uproot a team from the most loyal and devoted fanbase in the NBA, or how much I wish the Maloofs would just sell the team and got back to wasting their parents' money on other things. Instead, I'll show you a video I've swiped from the great SacTown Royalty. It's a one-minute clip of Kings broadcasters Jerry Reynolds and Grant Napear signing off on what very well could be the final home game in Sacramento history.
I'll put it this way: If the NBA owners let this team leave it will be, in my opinion, as much if not more shameful than allowing the Sonics to leave Seattle.
7 comments:
Completely disagree. You don't know if there was that much coverage for the sonics either, under the assumption that you were not living outside of Seattle then. As a result you have no way of knowing whether or not the coverage of both situations were similar.
Conversely, I completely disagree about the kings leaving, as more "shameful."
Bill Simmons is eloquent on this matter:
"25. Sacramento Kings
I keep getting emails: "Why don't you care about the Kings leaving as much as you cared about the Sonics leaving?" Let's settle this in four paragraphs …
The Sonics were bought by Oklahoma-based owners who deceived Seattle into thinking they would do everything possible to keep the Sonics there, then backstabbed the city and moved the franchise to the group's hometown -- a much smaller market, in an arena that wasn't any different than the one they left -- and, as a trail of emails later revealed, it turned out stealing the Sonics away had been their intention all along. Even worse, the commissioner's office enabled what happened, and may have even been in on the plan. It's the darkest NBA saga of the 21st century other than the Donaghy scandal, and whomever ends up writing the Woodward/Bernstein-style investigation someday about how Miami really ended up with LeBron, Wade and Bosh. Which I predict will be written within the next 18 months. And will end with Miami losing somewhere between two and 40 first-round picks.
The Kings? They were stolen from Kansas City in 1986, which stole them from Cincinnati in 1972, which stole them from Rochester in 1958. They're moving to Anaheim because their owners can't afford to run a small-market NBA franchise anymore; they need a better arena and extra cash to keep their team from going under. Within ten years, they will probably move again. They are NBA nomads.
Both situations stink. I feel bad for Kings fans. I continue to feel bad for Sonics fans. But the Kings are leaving Sacramento because their franchise wasn't worth anything where it was. Small-market NBA franchises are doomed in 2011 unless they have (A) a modern arena, and/or (B) a franchise player like Kevin Durant. The Kings have neither. That wouldn't matter if they had lucked out and had owners with deep pockets, but they drew the short straw in this respect. (It happens. Clippers fans have been holding the short straw for 30 years.) At least in Anaheim, they'll be playing in a modern arena in a market that supports two other pro teams.
It's defensible. I hate it … but it's defensible. What happened to Seattle wasn't defensible. Their arena was fine, their market was fine, their fans were fine. The hijacking of that franchise was meticulously planned and executed, and that hijacking had the unspoken consent of the commissioner's office. There's no comparison. Other than the fact that both events prove we're saps for caring about sports this much, because you never know when your own team is going to take a sledgehammer to your heart."
Personally I don't think the departure of the sonics captured any attention of the nation, other than seattle and oklahoma. I'm pretty no one else in the nation gave a crap.
Wow. A few points.
1. I don't live in Seattle.
2. To say "their arena was fine" for Seattle's situation shows a complete lack of understanding of the situation. The arena was the WHOLE REASON the Sonics left - nothing more, nothing less.
3. Charlotte had a "modern arena" in the 90s and the team left for New Orleans and another "modern arena," and they're planning on moving again. The Grizzlies had a "modern arena" in the 90s and left for Memphis for another "modern arena" and they're planning on moving again.
Basically, everything Simmons said in his argument was false, with the exception of market size. Sacramento has a better arena and draws more fans than Seattle did, and while it's in a smaller market, it doesn't have to share that market with anyone - no NCAA team, no NFL team, no MLB team.
Of course, I'm arguing with a guy who quotes Bill Simmons to back up his point, so ...
That video was rough. I am a lifelong devoted Sonics fan. I married a Sacramento girl who is a big Kings fan. We met at a mutual friend's apartment 8 years ago when a bunch of friends gathered to watch the Kings playoff games that year.
This is heartbreaking...again...
Just like Seattle sports fans have been spoiled by Dave Niehaus and Kevin Calabro, among others, Kings fans absolutely love Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds. Sad for all...
I'm a fan of Bill Simmons in a nostalgic sense--I used to read his stuff when I was still in my naive sports fan days. I'll always give him a break because of his unflagging support for the Supes and their fans. I think his point about the arena was from a fan perspective, because it was far from a palace but you could actually see the stupid game. From an owner's perspective, though, the Key was an abomination in terms of amenities, revenue streams, lease terms, and taxpayer bilking.
I absolutely do sympathize with the Kings fans. It sucks, I was where they are.
But in a perverse, Kaiser Soze kind of way, a subatomic part of me hopes the Kings do leave, if only to further besmirch the legacy of David Stern and hasten his exit. Two high-profile relocations in 4 years, a lockout, franchises bleeding money out their asses? Doesn't reflect well on the health of the league. I want that fucker gone even more than I want a team back. But like I said, perverse.
I'm totally down with chunk's mindset. No matter where we're coming from, we can all agree that David Stern has to go.
MLS will take over NBA within 10 years.
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