Kevin Johnson meeting with press at 3:30
- Thread starter GoSACtown
- Start date
Basically he's saying we are at a situation where "Option 2" might be applicable - same team, new owners. He says that the team appears to be for sale and now is the time for an ownership group to stand up and try to keep the team here. He wants to keep fighting to keep the team here as no deal is "done" to move it. He is reiterating that the City has exceeded all expectations for keeping the team and deserves to keep the Kings.
I think it's important to point out KJ didn't mean that the ENTIRE ownership group had to be local. He essentially wants some part of group to have local presence in order to maintain important relationships within the community such as chamber of commerce, etc. I think it would be unrealistic to expect an entire ownership group based out of Sacramento.
Maybe, maybe not. But the NBA BOG has not always gone with the highest offer when approving the sale of teams. KJ said he called Stern but hasn't heard back. I'd be interested to know how that conversation unfolds when it happens. If Stern backs a Sacramento group, I think that will happen (assuming the Maloofs actually ever agree to anything) but if he is backing the move to Seattle I think that's how this swings. We'll see.
Remember how irritated they were in NY when Burkle's name was mentioned as a potential buyer? Paraphrasing, they basically said to "Tell Ron Burkle to go back to wherever he came from".
If they truly would refuse to sell to him now that they are amenable to selling, it's obvious that (A) they blame his association with KJ as the reason their attempts to move to Anaheim and retain ownership failed and are holding a very LARGE grudge and / or (B) they simply are deadset on making sure the city of Sacramento can't keep the team thus win the war.
This has become more than personal with them and they have chosen the "scorched earth" tactic.
And with that, it becomes crystal clear why the Maloofs have been and will always be poor businessmen. A good businessman doesn't allow personal feelings and emotions get in the way of business.
I have no doubt that we will see the Maloofs homeless and sleeping in park one day just like Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy in "Coming to America". When that day finally comes, please .. NOBODY hand them a bag full of money as Eddie Murphy did. Just spit on them and be on your way ....
If they truly would refuse to sell to him now that they are amenable to selling, it's obvious that (A) they blame his association with KJ as the reason their attempts to move to Anaheim and retain ownership failed and are holding a very LARGE grudge and / or (B) they simply are deadset on making sure the city of Sacramento can't keep the team thus win the war.
This has become more than personal with them and they have chosen the "scorched earth" tactic.
And with that, it becomes crystal clear why the Maloofs have been and will always be poor businessmen. A good businessman doesn't allow personal feelings and emotions get in the way of business.
I have no doubt that we will see the Maloofs homeless and sleeping in park one day just like Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy in "Coming to America". When that day finally comes, please .. NOBODY hand them a bag full of money as Eddie Murphy did. Just spit on them and be on your way ....
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It's really both A & B. Burkle is said to be close friends with Jerry Buss and the AEG boss aka Laker owners. Burkle's involvement was essential in that it gave a reason for Stern to ask the Maloofs to give it one more year whether Burkle just did Buss/Stern a favor or he really wanted to buy the team.
Because of how bitter this whole ordeal have turned out for both the Maloofs and the fans, I'm not surprised if George would choose not to sell to the guy that was part of the reason why he couldn't move the team to Anaheim.
The big question in all this is "Can the league step in to make sure that the local ownership group is given a fair chance?!" The team is obviously for sale and any sale should not be limited to a single buyer. NBA BOG need to approve every sale and IMHO, Sacramento has built a fair deal of goodwill with the NBA BOG with their latest effort on the arena front!
i think this is much closer to the truth than kings fans would like it to be. refusing to sell was always about ego for the maloofs. they sold off the remainder of their assets just so they could hold onto their fledgling small market nba franchise. that's hardly a healthy business move, and it was undoubtedly motivated by a desire to retain the appearance of stature, of celebrity. those familiar with the history of the maloof family should well know that they reluctantly sold their majority stake in the houston rockets in the early 80's. it was a very big deal when the family was able to buy back into the nba with a majority stake in the sacramento kings. that said, attempting to move the kings to anaheim last year represented the bailout the maloofs were hoping for after going all-in with their nba franchise. it seemed a sure thing, and the maloofs' accountants were likely tallying up the potential television revenue that would result long before the board of governors ruled on relocation. but surely none involved in the process saw kevin johnson coming. nor did they anticipate his ability to raise millions in committed sponsorship, nor his ability to secure the public backing of billionaire ron burkle. johnson's tenacity, the renewed enthusiasm of kings fans, and the community of sacramento at large rather loudly convinced the nba to block the relocation. and when push came to shove on a newly-proposed arena deal, the maloofs reneged after recognizing that it wouldn't be enough to secure their financial future. i'm sure they've poured over all of their available options in the time since. clearly they've considered every option, because they even panhandled their brand to virginia beach, of all places, only to come away with no deal and no bailout. so now they're forced to sell their beloved stake in the ego-machine that is nba ownership. and of course they won't sell to ron burkle, who was a member of the coalition that ultimately sank their hopes of retaining a majority stake in an nba franchise. truth is, the maloofs' dreams of clawing back into the black started and ended with anaheim. i would expect them to agree to a sale with chris hansen long before they consider any further northern california investors. again, it has always been about ego for these clowns...
I've said it before long ago, I always thought Maloofs mantra that Kings were not for sale was mostly smokescreen. They couldn't say team was for sale for fear of stabbing Sacramento fan base in the back. Now, obviously they don't care and simply want biggest payday possible.
The only hope is local or semi-local group can be put together fast for a bid - at least to buy out portion Maloofs own at 53%. But this is Sacramento where nothing happens fast, if ever.
The only hope is local or semi-local group can be put together fast for a bid - at least to buy out portion Maloofs own at 53%. But this is Sacramento where nothing happens fast, if ever.
