How much is the "best fans in the NBA" mantle gonna suffer?

[mcsluggo]

Kings fans got the tittle of "best fans in the nba" largely because of their years devoted cheering for what was possibly (probably) the worst franchise in sports. Before the Webber/Vlade/Jwill surge in 99, the kings hadn't had a winning record in their entire 15-ish year stay in Sacramento. However, they sold out every game until that final futile season in 98. (and the enthusiasm really kicked in big when suddenly the Kings got good in 99)

However, now the kings fans are used to seeing a winning product. Expectations are clearly different. How long do you think it will be before the arena SHAKES like it did in 1995 because the kings were trying to get to a 39 w versus 43 loss season and the 8th playoff seed? The whole town was going nutz.

Question: given current expectations, and a diminished product... are kings FANS going to be any good? Or is sac going to become a western version of philly?

 

[Smart_guy3]

Kings fans cheer when it's worth it right now It's not the case the King players make us believe and right now there not doing that.

 

[Bricklayer]

Nope, not even remotely the same, and I think that that former "innocent" time is probably lost forever now. Can't go back. Still the only game in town though, and still a lot of pent up enthusiasm waiting for expression.

Biggest thing I have seen is the stupid "Webber wars" "arena wars" Adleman wars" and now "Peja wars" have just thrown up such a negative wall that a lot of people have been turned off. Another reason why the front office might want ot make a clean break here and just try to start over while hopefully resetting all of the "sides" back to zero.

 

[VF21]

It's the interim time that's gonna be the worst. Right now, it's just not much fun being a fan...

We've been bad, and the fans cheered. We've been really bad and the fans cheered. We've been improving and the fans cheered. We've been really close to the top and the fans cheered. We started to stumble and the fans still cheered.

Now, however, we've tumbled to the bottom of the barrel. The only thing to cheer about was that the team that kept us from the top of the mountain was at the bottom of the barrel first to break our fall.

It's hardest to cheer when your team is in an inevitable downward spiral. Once they get there, though, and you realize things can only get better, you start looking again for reasons to cheer.

A couple of changes to the roster and a DEFINITE change in effort and attitude, and some of the fans will come back.

I agree with Bricklayer, however. The innocence has been lost forever.

 

[SacTownKid]

Hey I look at other teams that rarely even have half full arenas. And some of those are winning teams! Arco is still the loudest, or at least close to it, arena in the game. That is, when they have something to cheer for.

 

[Londonking]

We might not have the best team in the NBA at the moment, but i have little doubt that the Kings fans are the very best.

It is only to be expected that we feel frustrated and upset when we see our team underachieving.

However, come the next game the past is gone, and we cheer and hoot and root for our Kings becasue WE LOVE THIS TEAM !!

 

[love_them_kings]

yeah, the innocence is gone, as are the years were expectations are so low that the Kings can't help but beat them. It's hard to cheer when the team looks like this, especially when it seems like the effort isn't always there.

That said, I still think the Kings fans are among the best in the NBA. At this point we are just dying for something to cheer about. Come on Kings-- give us an excuse to get LOUD!

 

[Peja]

It hurts a lot...Ok,we used to watch good games,50 wins every season...Some different time came and we should accept fact that we aren't one of the best teams in the league anymore.I am still sure that we are enough good and strong to reach playoff spot but we could do that only if we would find some chemistry out there.
Unfortunatelly,I don't have chance to watch Kings games this season and everything I have is this board and a few minutes of video clips after every game.
I think that we as a fans should be there when it is good and when it is bad(like now).However,what hurts every fan the most is lack of effort.It is not shame when you can say your players left their hart on the court,but when they play bad,when they play like bounch of individuals and not like some team,then you have every right to be mad.
I already said before that basketball can't be played without fans.Well if more than 17,000 people come to watch you almost every night,give them some reason to watch you,to support you,to love you...Our players aren't doing that recently.
If you ask me,I think someone should make a few transparents like:
1.You don't deserve fans like we are!
2.We live for Kings and you from them!
3.Adelman we need a coach!
4.Victory or defeat is not so imprortant,just fight for that amblem you wear on your jersey!

Some of them are maybe too hard,but it can't be harder that their bad results are hard for us.
If I would be there,I would send them some note like those above and then support them as hard as I can and if that wouldn't make them play better and left their har on the court than I don't know what is solution...

I hope better days will come!
GO KINGS GO!
NAPRED KRALJEVI!

 

[nbrans]

It's the interim time that's gonna be the worst. Right now, it's just not much fun being a fan...

We've been bad, and the fans cheered. We've been really bad and the fans cheered. We've been improving and the fans cheered. We've been really close to the top and the fans cheered. We started to stumble and the fans still cheered.

Now, however, we've tumbled to the bottom of the barrel. The only thing to cheer about was that the team that kept us from the top of the mountain was at the bottom of the barrel first to break our fall.

It's hardest to cheer when your team is in an inevitable downward spiral. Once they get there, though, and you realize things can only get better, you start looking again for reasons to cheer.

A couple of changes to the roster and a DEFINITE change in effort and attitude, and some of the fans will come back.

I agree with Bricklayer, however. The innocence has been lost forever.

Man, I give you credit for expressing the prevailing sentiment but I just don't feel this way. I don't see this so much as a downward spiral as a new beginning. A rocky one, clearly, but it's kind of cool to have new players and a new identity, even if so far the Kings aren't winning a lot. And while I think some of the boos are deserved due to lack of effort on the court, it would really be a shame if Kings fans deserted the team now, just because the going got tough.

It's kind of strange, the same people who were the most pessimistic in the offseason are the people who are the most down on the Kings now. Shouldn't all you pessimists have "known better" and lowered your expectations?

And since when does a win/loss record have anything to do with being a devoted Kings fan? Maybe the homers who jumped on the bandwagon when the going was good need to jump off and stay off so those of us who suffered throuh 1985 to 1998 can enthusiastically stick with the Kings until they're good again.

 

[VF21]

I think you miss my point. I am not giving up being a Kings fan...

I am also, however, not going to pretend I didn't see this coming. I've said it all along.

It IS a downward spiral. They aren't improving; they're getting worse and it's pretty plain to see. You can pretend it's not but who are you kidding besides yourself?

I am NOT talking about a win/loss record. I'm talking about a whole aura that is totally different from anything I've seen and experienced in the ENTIRE TIME I've followed the team, and that's right from their first game in Old Arco.

It's not about homers and bandwagon fans.

It's not about a new beginning until there's something new. And that will most likely be new players and a new coach. Until that happens, the angst, the anger, the frustration, etc. on the part of a lot of people is going to continue.

If some fans cannot wait for that to happen, it's their choice. I bear them no ill will whatsoever and I'm certainly not going to call them names or insinuate in any way that they weren't true fans. Fans follow teams for different reasons. It happens. It's like the tides.

What I cannot understand is how you can possibly act as though our team, as currently structured, is what Petrie had in mind. That it's the end product. IF that was the case, I would be truly and utterly depressed because the team I'm watching every night on the court is NOT a team. And it doesn't mean they aren't good players. Separately, each of them may be a viable piece but together they just don't form a big picture that I can recognize.

The people who were the most pessimistic, in your words, are being proven right. It's only the people who were convinced that this current assemblage was playoff bound and real contenders that are the most frustrated.

If you think we're just talking about the W/L record, you have clearly and utterly totally misunderstood pretty much every single thing I've said since Feb. 23, 2005.

 

[Bricklayer]

And since when does a win/loss record have anything to do with being a devoted Kings fan? Maybe the homers who jumped on the bandwagon when the going was good need to jump off and stay off so those of us who suffered throuh 1985 to 1998 can enthusiastically stick with the Kings until they're good again.

People aren't going to games. They're booing the home team. Almost never happened with far worse teams from 1985-1998. That tells me the change/sickness runs beyond "bandwagoners" and right inot eh core people who have been around.

Of course I call it a sickness, but really its more of an adjustment into a more normal fanbase. That luster is lost though, and once you lose your innocence you really can't go back to the way it was.

 

[nbrans]

It's called rebuilding. Rebuilding is painful. I don't see the point of everyone being so negative about the Kings and Adelman and Petrie just because their expectations have been raised by a long stretch of winning teams.

The Kings made a decision to rebuild. It's up to the fans to be patient.

I'm not trying to insult your dedication or your outlook -- clearly you're entitled to being upset with the current situation. But for me, I just don't see the point of everyone moaning and groaning about the team so much. Sure, it's more fun to follow a winner. But it's also fun to watch a team rebuild. And anyone who thinks Petrie is just going to sit back and watch this team as it is and not try and improve it is crazy.

^Brick, I agree with you, there's nothing like the first time, and that initial run will always be special until it's exceeded by a more spectacular run. I just think it's a shame that the Kings fans, who were always behind the team no matter what and cheered encouragingly even when the team was down by 30, have turned into a bunch of booing Philly fans. I don't want the Kings faithful to be a normal fanbase, it would be a shame if it did.

 

[VF21]

I think the point you just don't get is that a lot of people come here to moan and groan and then go to the game and cheer. I know I do - and I know a lot of others do.

That's pretty much what message boards are all about, isn't it?

The Kings made a decision to rebuild? Interesting...considering no one wanted to face that fact until it hit them right between the eyes.

Whatever the semantics, people aren't happy right now and I honestly think the best way to deal with it is either: 1. Quit following the team entirely, or 2. Speak your frustrations, just remembering to do so in an acceptable manner. Share that angst with your fellow Kings fans. You're in New York. You haven't been in Arco. You really aren't in a position to comment about what the fans have and haven't done. It's not fair to those who have ponied up their hard-earned money and had their hearts broken because - more than once - the "team" that showed up pretty much made it clear they didn't care if they won or lost or even gave a decent showing.

I have never been a proponent of booing. I have supported this team through thick and thin. All I've ever asked for in return is effort. If they can't even give that, then they deserve to know that the very fans they've relied upon need something - ANYTHING - to give them a reason to continue to cheer.

Show some heart, show some desire, show some effort and the fans will reciprocate. Continue to stink up the court with abysmal play and a total lack of respect for the people who did pay the bucks to come see you play a stupid game, and you SHOULD be booed. Loudly.

 

[nbrans]

I think the point you just don't get is that a lot of people come here to moan and groan and then go to the game and cheer. I know I do - and I know a lot of others do.

That's pretty much what message boards are all about, isn't it?

The Kings made a decision to rebuild? Interesting...considering no one wanted to face that fact until it hit them right between the eyes.

Whatever the semantics, people aren't happy right now and I honestly think the best way to deal with it is either: 1. Quit following the team entirely, or 2. Speak your frustrations, just remembering to do so in an acceptable manner. Share that angst with your fellow Kings fans. You're in New York. You haven't been in Arco. You really aren't in a position to comment about what the fans have and haven't done. It's not fair to those who have ponied up their hard-earned money and had their hearts broken because - more than once - the "team" that showed up pretty much made it clear they didn't care if they won or lost or even gave a decent showing.

I have never been a proponent of booing. I have supported this team through thick and thin. All I've ever asked for in return is effort. If they can't even give that, then they deserve to know that the very fans they've relied upon need something - ANYTHING - to give them a reason to continue to cheer.

Show some heart, show some desire, show some effort and the fans will reciprocate. Continue to stink up the court with abysmal play and a total lack of respect for the people who did pay the bucks to come see you play a stupid game, and you SHOULD be booed. Loudly.

Hey now, just because I live in New York doesn't mean I don't go to games. I've only been in New York for a few years and even still I manage to get to 3-4 games a year.

I guess maybe I'm not cut out for the message board world if it's such a locus of negativity. I'm all for cathartic expressions of angst, but man, this board, which used to be such a great, positive Kings community has just gotten so pathetically down about everything Kings-related that it's ceased to be much fun to visit. There's nary a sign of optimism or hope or hey, they'll pull through even if this isn't the year. Instead it's this person sucks and this person should be traded and fire this person and that person.

I guess I'm just making a lonely plea for a little bit of optimism and patience and actual basketball-talk amidst the angst.

 

[Zyphen]

I think the team has performed even worse than the expectations of the "pessimists" in the offseason. Even in our wildest dreams, we didn't expect to be an under .500 team. Everybody just kind of assumed we'd make the playoffs. Since the pessimists set such a low goal of a 7th-8th seed and a 1st round exit, I don't think it's any wonder that we'd be upset. Optimists are used to seeing their hopes dashed on a daily basis. A pessimist's view of reality is shaken when his meager predictions go down the drain.

 

[VF21]

Hey now, just because I live in New York doesn't mean I don't go to games. I've only been in New York for a few years and even still I manage to get to 3-4 games a year.

I guess maybe I'm not cut out for the message board world if it's such a locus of negativity. I'm all for cathartic expressions of angst, but man, this board, which used to be such a great, positive Kings community has just gotten so pathetically down about everything Kings-related that it's ceased to be much fun to visit. There's nary a sign of optimism or hope or hey, they'll pull through even if this isn't the year. Instead it's this person sucks and this person should be traded and fire this person and that person.

I guess I'm just making a lonely plea for a little bit of optimism and patience and actual basketball-talk amidst the angst.

I understand, believe me I do... As far as my comment about you not attending games, I was referring in particular to the past couple of years when things have just subtly but slowly changed at Arco...

There are a lot of negative comments because the whole atmosphere in Northern California - at least among Kings fans - is really down. If you notice, people will start positive threads only to have them hijacked by the people who can't wait to make another trade proposal or talk about firing Adelman or try to figure out who should be starting, since player A clearly sucks.

The optimists are still there. I'm actually optimistic about the long-term future of this team, although I'm not looking at any real chance of much to cheer about in the near future.

At one point, I used to be accused of being Pollyana - of only seeing the good side and never letting the negative side be expressed. Ironically, now I'm perceived as one of the negative thinkers and I'm not. I love this team. I will love this team as long as I draw breath. It is, if anything, WAY too much a part of my being. I have cancelled family plans because of conflicts with games. I cry when I think of Doug's last phone call with Grant Napear. I sob when I think of the picture of CWebb, his back to the camera, holding up the "V" sign as he walks towards the plane to leave Sacramento...

Those memories will always be mine. This team will always be mine. I can survive these bad times because I know in my heart the good times will come again. And that doesn't mean winning so much as finding a combination or players that will again put forth the effort the gives us goose-bumps. It may take a while, but it will come again. And, because I know that, I can weather the times right now ...

It is, bottom line, just a game but it's the game I've loved for over 40 years and I'm not alone. There are a lot of people here who are optimistic about the long-term but feel perfectly okay in being a little pessimistic about the right-now. It's all good, IMHO.

 

[mcsluggo]

boy howdy!

I posted this right before the festering spitoon of bile bubbled over from Brad Miller's comments about "fair weather fans".

Personally, I think Miller has just pointed out the obvious: Kings fans have become downright ordinary, run of the mill. I know many of you would rather call that "more sophisticated" or nuanced or whatever. Whoohoo, the sophistication of a philly fan. Nice.

And YES, i realize that as paying customers you have the "right" to boo as you see fit. woohoo again, fight for your rights, or at least the important ones.

But why stop there? There are many many other important rights you can choose to assert.
--Don't forget you also have the right to talk backwards if you want to.
--You have the right to walk around with three fingers up your nose to the second knuckle.
-- You have the right to say "shazbot, nanoo nanoo" to every person you meet, while you give 'em the spock sign.
-- you have the right to keep your chin moist with a constant stream of drool

 

[Bricklayer]

-- You have the right to say "shazbot, nanoo nanoo" to every person you meet, while you give 'em the spock sign.

So...we've met?

 

[quick dog]

I think nbrans is right. I think most fans are in a state of shock because of all the bad news lately. However, grief and sadness are largely self-imposed. We need to fight through all the bad news and find ways to enjoy these games despite all the problems. I suppose we need to lower our expectations just to enjoy Kings games again. Afterall, that's how we enjoyed games in the "bad old days".

My coping method is to develop "tunnel vision" of sorts. Instead of opening my eyes and focusing on the entire game, which at times is brutally awful, I try to focus on the plays of one or two players. In my case, it's Bonzi and Corliss. When they do well, I am happy. I don't focus on Peja allowing Earl Boykin to take rebounds from him. i look the other way when point guards posterize Brad Miller under the basket.

 

[mcsluggo]

So...we've met?

shazbot!