http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13702924p-14545586c.html
By Joe Davidson
It's a new era all right, right on down to a revamped Kings dressing room. Plain white walls in the entry hall have given way to wooden ones, like the hardwood floors you'd find in some Fab 40s home. There are three giant plasma-screen TVs and some tiled walls as well, with more upgrades to come.
The dressing room across the way for the visitors? Still considered a dump by every man who wondered if there wasn't more room to change in a broom closet.
And those quarters compared to what the Kings have now?
"Oh, Lord, night and day," said Bonzi Wells, one of many first-year Kings on hand. "This is great. Feels like home."
Big D out of Big D
It was odd not seeing Don Nelson stand in front of the Dallas bench - arms crossed, face contorted - as he had for so many years. Nellie said a year ago that his greatest achievement with the Mavericks was upending the Kings in the 2003 playoffs and that retirement and tropical beaches were near. He would soon step down to be a team consultant and allow Avery Johnson to assume his lead chair. Nellie was reportedly spotted last week chatting it up with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich during the Spurs' training camp - in the Virgin Islands.
Help defense
Before tipoff, Wells was needled for the action photo that hangs above Mike Bibby's locker, a poster-like image of Bibby easily going to the bucket. Wells - then with Portland - is shown standing nearby, hands to his side, expressionless. "I asked him if he requested that picture - got me lookin' crazy," Wells cracked.
And that soft D?
"He wasn't my man," Wells said, and then laughed. "I had the two-guard."
Jersey verdict
It was hard to find any fan who approved of the Kings' new gold jerseys - to illustrate "the gold standard" of loyal customer excellence - but there were plenty of choice words on what they thought. The uniforms will be used in 14 games this season. "Beyond awful," said Barry Lawrence of Rocklin. "I ain't buyin' that."
Tip-ins
Slamson fired a Nerf football into the stands during a first-half timeout, with fans trying to match his arm by throwing it back. The Kings' mascot then let referee Bernie Fryer have a toss, and he unleashed a decent spiral of about 40 yards. Didn't matter. He was still booed. • A fan behind press row was unloading on the referees - common fare at an NBA game, of course - and it was suggested by a media member that he save his breath for the regular season, when it really counts.
"We've got to get conditioned, too," he said.
By Joe Davidson
It's a new era all right, right on down to a revamped Kings dressing room. Plain white walls in the entry hall have given way to wooden ones, like the hardwood floors you'd find in some Fab 40s home. There are three giant plasma-screen TVs and some tiled walls as well, with more upgrades to come.
The dressing room across the way for the visitors? Still considered a dump by every man who wondered if there wasn't more room to change in a broom closet.
And those quarters compared to what the Kings have now?
"Oh, Lord, night and day," said Bonzi Wells, one of many first-year Kings on hand. "This is great. Feels like home."
Big D out of Big D
It was odd not seeing Don Nelson stand in front of the Dallas bench - arms crossed, face contorted - as he had for so many years. Nellie said a year ago that his greatest achievement with the Mavericks was upending the Kings in the 2003 playoffs and that retirement and tropical beaches were near. He would soon step down to be a team consultant and allow Avery Johnson to assume his lead chair. Nellie was reportedly spotted last week chatting it up with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich during the Spurs' training camp - in the Virgin Islands.
Help defense
Before tipoff, Wells was needled for the action photo that hangs above Mike Bibby's locker, a poster-like image of Bibby easily going to the bucket. Wells - then with Portland - is shown standing nearby, hands to his side, expressionless. "I asked him if he requested that picture - got me lookin' crazy," Wells cracked.
And that soft D?
"He wasn't my man," Wells said, and then laughed. "I had the two-guard."
Jersey verdict
It was hard to find any fan who approved of the Kings' new gold jerseys - to illustrate "the gold standard" of loyal customer excellence - but there were plenty of choice words on what they thought. The uniforms will be used in 14 games this season. "Beyond awful," said Barry Lawrence of Rocklin. "I ain't buyin' that."
Tip-ins
Slamson fired a Nerf football into the stands during a first-half timeout, with fans trying to match his arm by throwing it back. The Kings' mascot then let referee Bernie Fryer have a toss, and he unleashed a decent spiral of about 40 yards. Didn't matter. He was still booed. • A fan behind press row was unloading on the referees - common fare at an NBA game, of course - and it was suggested by a media member that he save his breath for the regular season, when it really counts.
"We've got to get conditioned, too," he said.
