Larry David
Starter
I think emotions have made us look at placing blame in any way possible, and while there is plenty of blame to go around as to why we are now at this point in team history, maybe we can focus for just one post evenon what the bottom line is here.
The bottom line is, no matter how we got to this point, the only way the Kings stay now is based on goodwill.
It is pretty clear that if it is for strictly financial reasons, the Kings should move. Sacramento right now is not as lucrative a market as Anaheim would be for the team. It just isn't. We all know this no matter what our emotions might say to the contrary. And the truth is, even if Bill Gates were to say this very hour that he, "Loves the Kings and will donate the money for a new arena" the Maloofs will still have to have the Kings play at Power Balance Place for 4 to 6 years! It took 5 years for Orlando's new arena to be built from the day they announced the deal. So, knowing that by committing to staying in Sacramento you were committing to playing in PBP for the next 5 years with perhaps the attendance numbers they have been getting in this "no-sign-of-turning-the-corner" economy... would YOU stay if it were your business being discussed. It makes no sense for them to stay.
However...
We think, and hope, and pray that they like it here. And like having us as fans even when we are fickle and don't attend games now when the team is under-performing.
And that goodwill between the Maloofs and the fans is all we have to believe in that might make them stay.
That is why Dave is upset, I think, by KJ's public stepping on of that tenuous goodwill we hope we still have. Even if KJ is probably right about some of the things going on, and I think most of us would agree that certainly KJ, in his heart, is a huge fan of keeping the Kings here, it is worrisome to have the goodwill between our city and the team being squashed even a little right now.
Using cool logic... by most signs the team is gone.
But hopefully, and all we can really hold on to at this point, logic won't always prevail when you are talking about a team and/or city you love.
This is dumb. The only way they stay here is to build an arena.
It's like having a disease that's probably too far along to be cured. Instead of focuing on getting treatment and trying to fix the problem, you just want to hope the problem goes way for 12 months and kills you then.
To anybody who can see the big picture, the Here We Stay and media push served one important goal. Getting 5 votes to fund an arena on the city's bill. That keeps the Kings for 30 years.
Begging the Maloofs to say might get you 12 months, and there might not be any Kings game during that time.
You are right about one thing. The goodwill is gone. Dumb kings fans are pushing back on the guy that actually needs the Here We Stay momentum - KJ.
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As for the deal probably already being done. Per Grant, 4 NBA teams filed for relocation last year. After you file on 3-1, you don't have to act until the 4-14 meeting. None of the teams that applied moved. We didn't know about it until a year later.
So if the Maloofs: (1) are thinking about moving; (2) but aren't sure; and (3) need until 4-14 to decide ... why ask the NBA to create an extension for the first time? Just do what 4 other teams did - apply, consider, and refuse to answer questions on the topic.
The extension is a smoke screen to keep people calm and grab more cash.
They are either selling tickets here, trying to get a better offer down south, or both. KJ can see the writing on the wall. Yet, he's still fighting for Sacramento to get a deal. He's trying to fight for time the team hasn't given him. End of story.
The people bashing KJ don't understand what's really going on and are in denial.
