An Open Letter To Kings Fans. From A Kings Fan.

[TyFreak Evans]

Dear Kings Fans,

Like many, I became a die hard Kings fan before the 1998-1999 NBA Season. Prior to seeing my loyalty being drenched in Purple and Black, one could have found me wearing Chicago Bulls colors, mainly those colors accompanied by the number 23. I mean, let's face it, who was not a fan of Michael Jordan in the 90's? I won't lie, I was.

After his retirement, which at that time I thought would be for good, I decided to cheer for my 2nd favorite team at that time, which was my home town team, THE Sacramento Kings.

Since the moment I proudly wore the colors of this franchise, I have, like most of you, started to form some sort of a relationship (more like a close bond) with this franchise.

Like you, I was there when Chris Webber arrived. Like you, I was there when we won our first playoff series. Like you, I was there (and actually at the game) when Mike Bibby drained that shot from the top of the key to send us to a 3 games to 2 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2002 Western Conference Finals. And, like you, I was there when the final buzzer went off in Los Angeles at the end of game 7, realizing I won't be seeing my beloved Kings host an NBA Finals game later that week.

Like you, I have also been there since that season, when the team only seemed to be getting worse and worse every year.

I am still here. And I hope you are as well. I know these are tough times, and I understand that we do not know if we will have the opportunity to cheer on THE SACRAMENTO KINGS next season.

But, one thing that I do know is that we should cheer the men who put on those jerseys for us every night there is a Sacramento Kings game on the schedule. Is it frustrating to watch them play? Absolutely yes. But they are still the Sacramento Kings. And we are still Sacramento Kings fans.

I intend to bleed purple and black all the way until the very end. I hope that I do not see an end, but unfortunately things are not looking so good right now. I still intend to attend some Kings games this season, like I did tonight. I still intend to throw on some Kings gear, like I did tonight. I still intend to stand up and cheer during the opening introductions, like I did tonight. I still intend to stand up and cheer after a Kings basket, like I did tonight.

You should intend to do the same as well.

Stay positive Kings fans. I know its tough, and I know I may be asking for a lot. Don't do it for the owners. And don't do it for yourself. Do it for the players.

Signed,
SACRAMENTO Kings Fan 4 Life

 

[HereWeBoogie]

good man. i still find myself paying my hard earned cash year after year to go see the team play, and watch every game on TV if i do not attend it live. sometimes i wonder why i continue to do it. but i do. i just hope there is some payoff eventually.

 

[Rug King]

Though I've been a loyal fan since the Kings moved here, I just can't spend another hard earned dime on a maloof product. I'm sorry I can't be a better fan but that's just the way I feel after the maloof's have stabbed us in the back.

 

[Brac-o-matic]

I think fans HAVE to stick by the team and continue to support them, because if we don't, it will be easy for the Maloofs to go the NBA and say, "see? We have to move...we can't make any money in Sacramento anymore". I despise the Maloofs as much as most fans do...but I would rather have them thrive and be wildly successful, if it means "Sacramento Kings" for generations to come...

 

[pshn80]

I think fans HAVE to stick by the team and continue to support them, because if we don't, it will be easy for the Maloofs to go the NBA and say, "see? We have to move...we can't make any money in Sacramento anymore". I despise the Maloofs as much as most fans do...but I would rather have them thrive and be wildly successful, if it means "Sacramento Kings" for generations to come...

..... And to build on that, if we don't continue to support the Maloofs financially then it's gonesville. It" a hard fact to swallow but it's the way it is.

 

[Jose]

..... And to build on that, if we don't continue to support the Maloofs financially then it's gonesville. It" a hard fact to swallow but it's the way it is.

As far as I'm concerned, it's gonesville already. I will not make their exodus less painful by giving them my money when they're trying to leave. I will not give them any money so they can leave. Every dollar I give them is a dollar more that they have to pay for their relocation fee, or pay back the city loan, or pay for moving expenses, or use for travel/meetings/whatever to secure a place to move to.

Make a commitment to Sacramento and I'm back, full force. Otherwise, make do without my support.

 

[Bricklayer]

As far as I'm concerned, it's gonesville already.

One wonders how so many Sacramento fans have come to this conclusion. They wanted to go, tried to go. They were told no. Why were they told no? Because Sacramento showed its support. Why mess with a winning formula?

 

[Dreadnought]

There's only two things I pray for.

1. We win the draft lottery.
2. We perform an underdog story of winning a championship and the team stays in the city.


Is either so much to ask for?

 

[Mike0476]

As far as I'm concerned, it's gonesville already.

What makes you feel they're gone?

I will not make their exodus less painful by giving them my money when they're trying to leave. I will not give them any money so they can leave. Every dollar I give them is a dollar more that they have to pay for their relocation fee, or pay back the city loan, or pay for moving expenses, or use for travel/meetings/whatever to secure a place to move to.

The money you would have contributed is just a drop in the bucket for them. Despite everything, I renewed my season tickets. I will continue to show my support to the Kings with their players and staff. As far as what's going on this is not their fault. They need our support. But at the end of the day that's a decision that you and only you can make.

Make a commitment to Sacramento and I'm back, full force. Otherwise, make do without my support.

Regardless of how you may feel, Sacramento needs your support.

That's why I helped create Crown Downtown.

 

[Mike0476]

One wonders how so many Sacramento fans have come to this conclusion. They wanted to go, tried to go. They were told no. Why were they told no? Because Sacramento showed its support. Why mess with a winning formula?

This is a great statement and I agree with it 100%.

 

[Jose]

One wonders how so many Sacramento fans have come to this conclusion. They wanted to go, tried to go. They were told no. Why were they told no? Because Sacramento showed its support. Why mess with a winning formula?

It's not a winning formula. They still sabotaged the arena plan - again. They were not told "No" - they were told "Not Yet", to give Sacramento another shot at an arena deal. Which fell appart (thanks to THEM). There is no statement from the NBA saying the won't be allowed to move. They still say they won't sell in order to keep the team here. They're still trying to get out of Sacramento and are considering other offers. The only way this ends in a "win" is with the Maloofs out of the picture and new ownership committed to Sacramento.

What makes you feel they're gone?

See above. NOTHING they have said or done indicates anything other than a desire to leave.

The money you would have contributed is just a drop in the bucket for them. Despite everything, I renewed my season tickets. I will continue to show my support to the Kings with their players and staff. As far as what's going on this is not their fault. They need our support. But at the end of the day that's a decision that you and only you can make.

My drop in the bucket is indeed insignificant. It does not impact the players or staff. Players will continue to get paid. Staff will keep or lose their jobs regardless.

How many times do you "forgive" a cheating girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/partner? Would you still want to support them if they tell you they want to leave, try to make arrangements to lease a new place, see other people behind your back, get quotes to move out but end up staying because they have no choice at the moment, only to treat your house like a dump, make no long term commitment and continue to look for ways to move out and sabotage your efforts to make things work?

Regardless of how you may feel, Sacramento needs your support.

Sacramento and a new ESC have my support. The Maloofs don't.

 

[pshn80]

It's not a winning formula. They still sabotaged the arena plan - again. They were not told "No" - they were told "Not Yet", to give Sacramento another shot at an arena deal. Which fell appart (thanks to THEM). There is no statement from the NBA saying the won't be allowed to move. They still say they won't sell in order to keep the team here. They're still trying to get out of Sacramento and are considering other offers. The only way this ends in a "win" is with the Maloofs out of the picture and new ownership committed to Sacramento.



See above. NOTHING they have said or done indicates anything other than a desire to leave.




My drop in the bucket is indeed insignificant. It does not impact the players or staff. Players will continue to get paid. Staff will keep or lose their jobs regardless.

How many times do you "forgive" a cheating girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/partner? Would you still want to support them if they tell you they want to leave, try to make arrangements to lease a new place, see other people behind your back, get quotes to move out but end up staying because they have no choice at the moment, only to treat your house like a dump, make no long term commitment and continue to look for ways to move out and sabotage your efforts to make things work?




Sacramento and a new ESC have my support. The Maloofs don't.

... and I repeat, don't forgive the Maloofs, support them financially. It is the only way we can influence whether the Kings stay or leave. lIf I have to spell it out I will but you should be able to do that on your own even though an unpleasant task.

 

[Bricklayer]

How many times do you "forgive" a cheating girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/partner? Would you still want to support them if they tell you they want to leave, try to make arrangements to lease a new place, see other people behind your back, get quotes to move out but end up staying because they have no choice at the moment, only to treat your house like a dump, make no long term commitment and continue to look for ways to move out and sabotage your efforts to make things work?

Its not about your ex-wife. Its about the kids. She may have cheated on you, she may have tried to kick you out of the kids' life two years ago. You are free to hate her for it. But in the end you went before the judge, you made your child support payments, and showed you were a good dad. So her petition failed and you still get to see them.

Now you have decided to withhold the child support payments because your wife gets to use it as she sees fit. How do you think its going to go before the judge next time she tries to tag you as a deadbeat and take away your visitation rights?

You can wish her all the ill in the world, but in the end she is irrelevant. Its about the kids. And so long as you show your dedication to them, any judge is going to be hard pressed to grant any motion from your wife.

 

[kennadog]

Thanks, Brick.

My going to games and showing my support is for my team, not for the owners. Nothing I do is going to have an effect on the Maloofs. Showing I love my team and want them in Sacramento is the only thing I can do that has any shot in hell of keeping the team right here. I'm supporting the Kings as much as always, because I love my Kings and want the world to know it. The world happens to include the NBA owners. It is only part of the picture, but it is important to show the league how we feel.

When I go to games, I'm not there to support the Maloofs. I could not care less about them. I'm there to support those guys out there playing with Sacramento on their jerseys. I want them to know I care about their efforts, that I'm proud they represent my city, that I've got their back, that I want what they want.....a great team in Sacramento.

Not incidentally, I'm also there to support all those people working at the arena, who make some or all of their living working there. The parking people, the ticket takers, the ushers, the security people, the food service people, etc.

I'm a hopeless fan. I actually feel like the team belongs to us more than the Maloofs. (I'm not stupid. I do know the Maloofs control the future of the Kings, for now.)

 

[Jose]

Its not about your ex-wife. Its about the kids.

It's not. It's more akin to fighting over where the dog she bought AND owns is going to live. You have a right to the kids, you don't have a right to HER dog - it's a piece of property, just like the Kings.

The Kings are the Maloofs' property. We (the fans, the city) have NO RIGHTS to them. None. As long as Maloofs fulfill their contractual obligations, they are free to do whatever they want with the team.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for a new ESC. I'm all for keeping the Kings (with owners committed to Sacramento). I will support any efforts having to do with those two things. I will not give a penny to the Maloofs unless they do a 180 and come back to the table fully committed do staying here.

 

[kennadog]

It's not. It's more akin to fighting over where the dog she bought AND owns is going to live. You have a right to the kids, you don't have a right to HER dog - it's a piece of property, just like the Kings.

The Kings are the Maloofs' property. We (the fans, the city) have NO RIGHTS to them. None. As long as Maloofs fulfill their contractual obligations, they are free to do whatever they want with the team.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for a new ESC. I'm all for keeping the Kings (with owners committed to Sacramento). I will support any efforts having to do with those two things. I will not give a penny to the Maloofs unless they do a 180 and come back to the table fully committed do staying here.

And how do you think that will make even an iota of difference? The less revenue the Maloofs get, the more you will enforce a good argument for them to make with the BOG that they can't survive financially in Sacramento and the fans don't care about the team any more. So, if a lot of people follow your lead by not spending a dime or going to to the arena, you actually are supporting the Maloofs desire to move the team. Works out perfect for the Maloofs.

I want the league BOG to know we do support our team and do want them right here in Sacramento. I want the pressure to be on the Maloofs to sell to one of the buyers who want to keep the team here or to do the deal for a new arena, at minimum. It may not work, but I'm not going to bolster the Maloofs argument that they can't make it in Sacramento and the fans aren't interested any more.

 

[Warhawk]

And how do you think that will make even an iota of difference? The less revenue the Maloofs get, the more you will enforce a good argument for them to make with the BOG that they can't survive financially in Sacramento and the fans don't care about the team any more. So, if a lot of people follow your lead by not spending a dime or going to to the arena, you actually are supporting the Maloofs desire to move the team. Works out perfect for the Maloofs.

I want the league BOG to know we do support our team and do want them right here in Sacramento. I want the pressure to be on the Maloofs to sell to one of the buyers who want to keep the team here or to do the deal for a new arena, at minimum. It may not work, but I'm not going to bolster the Maloofs argument that they can't make it in Sacramento and the fans aren't interested any more.

Exactly. An empty arena plays into their hands with their desire to move. A full one possibly prevents them from leaving as the NBA knows we can support a team.

 

[Bricklayer]

It's not. It's more akin to fighting over where the dog she bought AND owns is going to live. You have a right to the kids, you don't have a right to HER dog - it's a piece of property, just like the Kings.

The Kings are the Maloofs' property. We (the fans, the city) have NO RIGHTS to them. None. As long as Maloofs fulfill their contractual obligations, they are free to do whatever they want with the team.

Again you seem to be a little forgetful about even very recent events. The Maloofs are franchisees. That means there are all KINDS of rules about what they can and cannot do, including moving the team. Which THEIR boss told them they could not do less than 2 years ago. Not only are they franchisees, they are franchisees not in high standing at the moment. If you abandon the field and let them flounce on out of town unopposed, you, the fans, may well have opened a door for them that they could not have opened themselves.

Put another way, if Kings fans sold out the arena every single game the rest of the season, and the city continued to pledge to build a new arena if the Maloofs came to the table, do you thinlk there is ANY way the NBA would allow them to move? Like ever? You as a fanbase actually hold an absolute veto over all nthe Maloofs machinations. Instead you are fleeing the field and giving them the game. Fill the arena, go to the game, make rude remarks about the Maloofs, their ancestry, their taste in colthes etc. There is not a thing they would be able to do about it.

 

[chief bromden]

Again you seem to be a little forgetful about even very recent events. The Maloofs are franchisees. That means there are all KINDS of rules about what they can and cannot do, including moving the team. Which THEIR boss told them they could not do less than 2 years ago. Not only are they franchisees, they are franchisees not in high standing at the moment. If you abandon the field and let them flounce on out of town you unopposed, the fans, may well have opened a door for them that they could not have opened themselves.

Isn't the commissioner hired by the owners?

 

[Bricklayer]

Isn't the commissioner hired by the owners?

yep, but he didn't tell the Maloofs what they could or could not do, except as mouthpiece. He's powerful, but it was a committee of other owners who put the stop to things, with Stern heading it up.

Without a lawsuit the Maloofs don't go anywhere without the sayso of the league, which is to say the commissioner and the other owners. Its mystifying to me how Kings fans seem to have forgotten that so quickly.

 

[spudfan]

yep, but he didn't tell the Maloofs what they could or could not do, except as mouthpiece. He's powerful, but it was a committee of other owners who put the stop to things, with Stern heading it up.

Without a lawsuit the Maloofs don't go anywhere without the sayso of the league, which is to say the commissioner and the other owners. Its mystifying to me how Kings fans seem to have forgotten that so quickly.

I hope Silver likes us. *fingers crossed*

 

[Padrino]

I hope Silver likes us. *fingers crossed*

i don't know that he "likes us," but i imagine he doesn't want the kings' exodus from sacramento to be among the first major hallmarks of his legacy...

 

[spudfan]

i don't know that he "likes us," but i imagine he doesn't want the kings' exodus from sacramento to be among the first major hallmarks of his legacy...

Stern has said letting the Sonics move is a big regret of his. Hopefully he has made Silver feel the same way too, so he won't even consider it so early in his career. That leaves the lawsuit method and I am going to bet the Maloofs don't have enough money left to pay for some competent lawyers

 

[rainmaker]

I doubt Stern retires and simply goes into hiding. Not usually how it works with people who've had very powerful positions. They consult in some manner, whether publicly or privately, and I'd wager Silver will lean on Stern. If Silver screws up then Stern looks bad in his grooming of him and picking him as his replacement.