Do we really want to be another Charlotte?

[Amanjoy]

I've had the priviledge of attending Kings games since I was little, and ARCO always has a special place in my heart. The atmosphere at ARCO can't be beaten and some truly memorable moments have taken place there that have united the city and brought us closer to together.

With all that said, I can't help but notice that the recent issue of the new arena for the Kings is starting to parallel what happpened in Charlotte when the Hornets left. Granted, the Maloofs haven't done anything yet to alienate themselves from the community the way that the ownership under George Shinn did with the Hornets. (Hopefully this Adelman thing doesn't start something like that).

However, I will note the similarities in the fact that for most of the 90's the Charlotte Coliseum was one of the premiere venues in the league in fan support, loudness, and fun factor. The Hornets had some excellent teams that would've contended for the Eastern Conference had it not been for the dominance of Jordan's Bulls. Players such as LJ, 'Zo, Glenn Rice, & Vlade all had their magical moments. And with Baron Davis at the controls with his sidekick Jamaal Mashburn, and talk of a new arena in sight, the future looked bright.

But then, all of a sudden, something changed. Charlotte, once known for it's loyalty to the Hornets turned on the ownership because of some moral misjudgements and alienations, and stopped going to games, and all but killed the thought of a new arena. Unfortunately it took the Hornets leaving the city before the new arena was built, and it was only so the city could get the Bobcats through expansion. CHarlotte had proven that they could support an NBA franchise by what it did with the Hornets, so they were so rewarded.

I just hope that it doesn't take the Kings leaving for a new arena to be built. So much of the city's love and support has been invested in this team, that if would we didn't do whatever it took to keep them. Based on what we've done with the Kings in supporting them, the NBA knows we can supprort and NBA franchise and if necessary would probably receive an expansion team like Charlotte did. However, let's not allow it to come to that. It would look hypocritical on our part if being supposedly the loudest and most loyal fans in the country we didn't stay loyal to the franchise when it needed our help the most in getting out of ARCO and into a nicer facility.

I've mentioned in other posts that everything the Maloof's have touched since they've been here has turned to gold. Let's trust these guys and let them do what they want because they'll do it right. Until they fail me, I'm going to continue to trust them.

 

[hoopsfan]

I've mentioned in other posts that everything the Maloof's have touched since they've been here has turned to gold.

...including those lovely uniforms. (Sorry..someone was bound to say it.)

 

[Amanjoy]

...including those lovely uniforms. (Sorry..someone was bound to say it.)

LOL! Nice one!

 

[Ryle]

George Shinn is a complete *** and he always had been when he ran the Hornets. The city hated him and that's why they got run out of town. The Maloofs are a completely different story.

 

[VF21]

Amanjoy - I think the "Adelman thing" was a bump in the road. Basically, few people actually question the rationale behind letting him move on. It was more how it was done. I think it's something that can be gotten past, especially if the Maloofs keep in mind that they're pretty much operating in a fishbowl and they're the only fish in there.

Once again, simply voicing disapproval with HOW a particular event was handled doesn't indicate abandonment of the franchise.

I love this team. I've been a loyal Kings fan since 1985. That's not going to change. I can continue to support the team without having to blindly believe that everything the Maloofs do is above discussion.

NOT everything they've touched has "turned to gold." They bought an NBA franchise with a rabidly devoted fan base, a great coach and one of the best GMs in the business. Yes, they opened their purse strings but it was - for the most part - Petrie and Adelman who got us to the WCF.

The "gold" uniforms, as alluded to by hoopsie above, have pretty much been recognized as an abysmal failure.

I'm very glad the Maloofs own the Kings. Jim Thomas was a joke. I'm thankful the Maloofs are energetic, excited, and enthusiastic. I wish the media didn't always portray them tied to the Palms because I really think it hurts their image more than it helps when you're trying to get an arena deal rolling. But they ARE Las Vegas gamblers who happen to own our team. That's just the way it is... At times, they're going to make decisions and undertake actions they have a complete right to do but how they do those things are going to be viewed differently here because Sacramento is still a very big small town. Character matters...

 

[kennadog]

Actually, our situation is different than Charlotte's. Shinn basically bailed out on the city of Charlotte. Shinn treated the city so badly, Stern promised the City a new team if they would build a new arena.

The Maloofs have been wonderful owners and if they leave, it will be because they have no other business choice. They have never treated the City or fans badly. The City, however. will have made it clear that they don't want an NBA team here. The League is not going to reward us for that.

 

[Amanjoy]

Amanjoy - I think the "Adelman thing" was a bump in the road. Basically, few people actually question the rationale behind letting him move on. It was more how it was done. I think it's something that can be gotten past, especially if the Maloofs keep in mind that they're pretty much operating in a fishbowl and they're the only fish in there.

Once again, simply voicing disapproval with HOW a particular event was handled doesn't indicate abandonment of the franchise.

I love this team. I've been a loyal Kings fan since 1985. That's not going to change. I can continue to support the team without having to blindly believe that everything the Maloofs do is above discussion.

NOT everything they've touched has "turned to gold." They bought an NBA franchise with a rabidly devoted fan base, a great coach and one of the best GMs in the business. Yes, they opened their purse strings but it was - for the most part - Petrie and Adelman who got us to the WCF.

The "gold" uniforms, as alluded to by hoopsie above, have pretty much been recognized as an abysmal failure.

I'm very glad the Maloofs own the Kings. Jim Thomas was a joke. I'm thankful the Maloofs are energetic, excited, and enthusiastic. I wish the media didn't always portray them tied to the Palms because I really think it hurts their image more than it helps when you're trying to get an arena deal rolling. But they ARE Las Vegas gamblers who happen to own our team. That's just the way it is... At times, they're going to make decisions and undertake actions they have a complete right to do but how they do those things are going to be viewed differently here because Sacramento is still a very big small town. Character matters...

I think that you're right in the fact that the overall minority really question why Adelman was let go. It was truly the question of HOW. The problem is that with controversial issues such as this, the outcry takes on a similar look as the political sphere. Those with the influential positions many times take the minority side and use their status to make it sound like they have the majority opinion (Napear, Mike Lamb, MArty Macneal, Breton, etc.)

Moving on though...when analized closely, true that the Maloofs haven't done everything right with this franchise, but they have been the some of the best owners overall in professional sports in the last 5-8 years, and are off-the-court faces of the franchise.

Ok, so the Gold Uni's make the Kings look like bad Laker imitators, and Maloof's association with the Palm's sometimes puts their moral ethics in question due to the nature of the entertainment that often graces that casino with it's presence, but I feel that besides that, they truly have done nothing so far to alienate themselves from the Kings fans or the Sacramento community as a whole, so give them credit for that. As I mentioned before, I hope that this whole Adelman backlash doesn't cause the community to alienate itself from the Maloofs and the organization. Based on the loyalty of Kings fans though, I doubt that will happen.

I think that this will all blow over as soon as training camp starts and the Kings start back on their way to a 50-win season and a top-4 seed in the playoffs. The talent is there, the excitement is there, all we need now is the Maloof's and Petrie to go out and make the right move...and based on their history, I expect that to happen.