http://www.sacbee.com/voisin/story/1615603.html
Voisin: Maloofs must trust in city
By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | Page 4C
We sniff around. We talk to the same people. We know the parasites from San Jose and Anaheim are salivating as the Maloofs lose millions and sweetening their respective arena deals in an attempt to lure an NBA franchise to their city. To lure OUR franchise to their city.
Like people need more grief?
Like Seattle deserved to lose the SuperSonics?
But Joe and Gavin, this is on them. They can end the angst simply by standing and shouting, by slamming the door, by reassuring a community that has hugged its professional franchise for the better part of three decades.
The Kings. Sacramento.
The Kings belong to Sacramento.
Say it out loud, again and again. The best owners in professional sports don't savor the good times and then split when the team hits its downward cycle and the economy slumps, not even under cover of needing an arena to replace the outdated, barely functioning Arco Arena.
Yes, the region desperately needs a facility.
Yes, the wait has been interminable.
Yes, mistakes have been made – by politicians who failed to lead, by the league for waiting too long to intervene, and by the Maloofs for relying on the wrong people within their organization and contributing to the toxic mix with their extended absences.
And, yes, the team stinks, but it won't always stink.
Joe and Gavin are suffering, but they have enjoyed a pretty sweet ride since purchasing majority interest from Jim Thomas in 1999. Right about the time Geoff Petrie executed a series of swift, spectacular personnel moves, the brothers from Albuquerque, N.M., swept into town and – to their everlasting credit – signed off on the acquisitions of Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Mike Bibby, Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic, among others.
The Kings went global on the Maloofs' watch, their willingness to spend, to upgrade the aging arena and improve concessions transforming Sacramento into a destination. Europeans can actually find California's capital on a map, and that never would have happened without the Kings and their impassioned fans, without Vlade and C-Webb and Petrie, without the Maloofs.
But come on, boys, speak up. Quality owners and civic leaders don't cut and run during the tough times, which is why I believe the Maloofs will bite their nails, swallow their losses and jump back into the new arena tussle. Joe says he loves the community, says to take him at his word. So we will. NBA Commissioner David Stern is invested heavily in formulating a viable arena proposal and says he is determined to save the franchise from the Sonics' fate. We'll take him at his word, too.
Besides, the sun will shine again. The economic crisis notwithstanding, the arena/political mood has swung for the better. Sacramento has a proactive mayor (Kevin Johnson), an engaged governor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and with league consultant John Moag doing most of the research, has one master arena plan ready to be unveiled, with other possibilities also being discussed. (Why not a joint venture pairing the Kings and Sacramento State?)
Understand, though, that this is about survival, about patience, about preparing for the day to break ground. Arco won't remain functional much longer, so constructing a new arena is inevitable. The team is crummy too, but Petrie can take a shovel to that as well. The Maloofs, meanwhile, can aid their cause by trading the overpaid veterans for as many draft picks and expiring contracts as possible.
Then bring Pete "Coachie" Carril back next year to teach offense (cheap), summon John Whisenant to implement a defense (also cheap), and revise ticket prices to more accurately reflect the rebuilding process. The community will buy in again.
Admittedly, Sacramento's civic treasure is buried beneath sand. But the Kings can be polished off, can be bright and shiny again, provided they are served and protected in the interim.
This is Sacramento.
This is Sacramento's team.
San Jose and Anaheim can poach elsewhere.
--------------------------------------------------
Amen.
Voisin: Maloofs must trust in city
By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | Page 4C
We sniff around. We talk to the same people. We know the parasites from San Jose and Anaheim are salivating as the Maloofs lose millions and sweetening their respective arena deals in an attempt to lure an NBA franchise to their city. To lure OUR franchise to their city.
Like people need more grief?
Like Seattle deserved to lose the SuperSonics?
But Joe and Gavin, this is on them. They can end the angst simply by standing and shouting, by slamming the door, by reassuring a community that has hugged its professional franchise for the better part of three decades.
The Kings. Sacramento.
The Kings belong to Sacramento.
Say it out loud, again and again. The best owners in professional sports don't savor the good times and then split when the team hits its downward cycle and the economy slumps, not even under cover of needing an arena to replace the outdated, barely functioning Arco Arena.
Yes, the region desperately needs a facility.
Yes, the wait has been interminable.
Yes, mistakes have been made – by politicians who failed to lead, by the league for waiting too long to intervene, and by the Maloofs for relying on the wrong people within their organization and contributing to the toxic mix with their extended absences.
And, yes, the team stinks, but it won't always stink.
Joe and Gavin are suffering, but they have enjoyed a pretty sweet ride since purchasing majority interest from Jim Thomas in 1999. Right about the time Geoff Petrie executed a series of swift, spectacular personnel moves, the brothers from Albuquerque, N.M., swept into town and – to their everlasting credit – signed off on the acquisitions of Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Mike Bibby, Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic, among others.
The Kings went global on the Maloofs' watch, their willingness to spend, to upgrade the aging arena and improve concessions transforming Sacramento into a destination. Europeans can actually find California's capital on a map, and that never would have happened without the Kings and their impassioned fans, without Vlade and C-Webb and Petrie, without the Maloofs.
But come on, boys, speak up. Quality owners and civic leaders don't cut and run during the tough times, which is why I believe the Maloofs will bite their nails, swallow their losses and jump back into the new arena tussle. Joe says he loves the community, says to take him at his word. So we will. NBA Commissioner David Stern is invested heavily in formulating a viable arena proposal and says he is determined to save the franchise from the Sonics' fate. We'll take him at his word, too.
Besides, the sun will shine again. The economic crisis notwithstanding, the arena/political mood has swung for the better. Sacramento has a proactive mayor (Kevin Johnson), an engaged governor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and with league consultant John Moag doing most of the research, has one master arena plan ready to be unveiled, with other possibilities also being discussed. (Why not a joint venture pairing the Kings and Sacramento State?)
Understand, though, that this is about survival, about patience, about preparing for the day to break ground. Arco won't remain functional much longer, so constructing a new arena is inevitable. The team is crummy too, but Petrie can take a shovel to that as well. The Maloofs, meanwhile, can aid their cause by trading the overpaid veterans for as many draft picks and expiring contracts as possible.
Then bring Pete "Coachie" Carril back next year to teach offense (cheap), summon John Whisenant to implement a defense (also cheap), and revise ticket prices to more accurately reflect the rebuilding process. The community will buy in again.
Admittedly, Sacramento's civic treasure is buried beneath sand. But the Kings can be polished off, can be bright and shiny again, provided they are served and protected in the interim.
This is Sacramento.
This is Sacramento's team.
San Jose and Anaheim can poach elsewhere.
--------------------------------------------------
Amen.
