Kings Fans from Southern California

*So why are so many looking at this as a surprise, as a sudden happening? * *Where were you, the harshest critics of a Kings move now when they and we needed you the most in the past 8-9 years? As Marcos Breton said this morning, "passionate fans are not enough". *Especially in this economic climate I might add.


I was going to Kings games, and supporting them any way I knew how.

It's fine and dandy that you and Baja remain fans of the team. I don't find fault with anyone who still will follow them wherever they are. If the Dodgers or the Bengals moved I would still follow them as well. The Kings are different to me. Once the name and location changes then it's pretty much gone in my eyes. Like I said, I am a Sacramento Kings fan, not an Anaheim Royals fan.

Maybe it's like a drug.. After going to so many games over the years not having that option anymore just kills me. TV just isn't enough. And I am not about to move to LA. I hated it there when I had to stay for a couple months. HATED with a passion. So much Lakers crap everywhere. I can't imagine people changing allegiance. Maloofs took my team and moved them into enemy territory. Ouch.

Funny thing though was when I lived in Reno for a while I was still diehard. I can change cities and remain so, but when the team changes cities I cannot. Funny how the mind works. I am glad though that they won't lose all their fans.. Just probably 90% or so from the Sacramento Area. You don't see many Seattle fans rooting for OKC do ya?
 
I guess I left the last part of my reply on the cutting room floor (so-to-speak). As BajaDen says, I am a true Sacramento Kings fan and have been since the year after moving to Auburn in 1984 from Southern California (I was not a Laker fan). In 1988 I went to my first game at the new ARCO Arena, standing room only! Wow, what a shock, the only game day tickets were SRO! The next year we bought a block of tickets for some 15 home games and in 1990 full season tickets for the following seven years. My business required our moving to the coast in 1998 and we became one of the first 1 Direct TV users in Santa Cruz to sign up for the NBA League Pass so we could watch our Kings.

From the late '90s thru 2006 I travelled internationally quite frequently. Where ever in the world I went folks knew about the Sacramento Kings. That team of CWebb/Vlade/Bibby/Doug et al was exciting and they put the city on everyone's map. But even then the arena issue reared it's ugly head. Again and again it came up and every time the city council did what they could to kill it. The Maloofs persisted and persisted. They supported virtually every significant community based activity for many years. They explored arena options but virtually alone in a small market city and each one a dead end. Nine years later their options had long run out and the economy dictated business decisions never before even considered.

Like BajaDen, I don't want the Kings to leave Sacramento either. But reality is just that and the inevitable is close at hand. Anaheim would be OK if that is what is the best option. From Solana Beach, Amtrak gets to Anaheim at the parking lot bordering the Honda Center in about an hour. Not bad. Oh well, what will be will be.
 
I guess I left the last part of my reply on the cutting room floor (so-to-speak). As BajaDen says, I am a true Sacramento Kings fan and have been since the year after moving to Auburn in 1984 from Southern California (I was not a Laker fan). In 1988 I went to my first game at the new ARCO Arena, standing room only! Wow, what a shock, the only game day tickets were SRO! The next year we bought a block of tickets for some 15 home games and in 1990 full season tickets for the following seven years. My business required our moving to the coast in 1998 and we became one of the first 1 Direct TV users in Santa Cruz to sign up for the NBA League Pass so we could watch our Kings.

From the late '90s thru 2006 I travelled internationally quite frequently. Where ever in the world I went folks knew about the Sacramento Kings. That team of CWebb/Vlade/Bibby/Doug et al was exciting and they put the city on everyone's map. But even then the arena issue reared it's ugly head. Again and again it came up and every time the city council did what they could to kill it. The Maloofs persisted and persisted. They supported virtually every significant community based activity for many years. They explored arena options but virtually alone in a small market city and each one a dead end. Nine years later their options had long run out and the economy dictated business decisions never before even considered.

Like BajaDen, I don't want the Kings to leave Sacramento either. But reality is just that and the inevitable is close at hand. Anaheim would be OK if that is what is the best option. From Solana Beach, Amtrak gets to Anaheim at the parking lot bordering the Honda Center in about an hour. Not bad. Oh well, what will be will be.

:) I was a Laker fan before a King fan.. Up until about 16 years old when I became a Kings fan. I wouldn't ever find the time to go to SoCal (or want to) to see a Kings game so I can't see myself even coming close to the fan that I am today. I still will follow Cousins, but League Pass, and anything NBA is oficially off my expendature list.
 
I spend time in both areas. I am currently in Roseville, for example. I don't like the idea of the move, even though I have always supported the idea of the NBA in the OC since the HC was opened in 1993. Still, the Sac area deserves its own team. The fans have been good. The economy just sucks up here, but things will turn around.
 
I'm down in vacuous Santa Barbara, pretty close to LA and the heart of Lakers land...

This doesnt sting nearly as bad as it would if I still lived up north (grew up about an hours drive from Sac), in fact the move is going to make it so I can actually watch more games (presumably). But its still going to feel weird rooting for the Royals instead of the Kings. And I really feel for all you guys up north.

Something I've noticed down here... Southern California basketball fans are some of the most bandwaggony d-bags in the world. People who bashed the Clips mercilessly are already rocking Griffin jerseys. Point I'm trying to make is; its going to be a shame that when the Kings are good again, a lot of their fanbase is going to be fiiiiiiilthy Lakers fans. Damn shame.
 
I'm down in vacuous Santa Barbara, pretty close to LA and the heart of Lakers land...

This doesnt sting nearly as bad as it would if I still lived up north (grew up about an hours drive from Sac), in fact the move is going to make it so I can actually watch more games (presumably). But its still going to feel weird rooting for the Royals instead of the Kings. And I really feel for all you guys up north.

Something I've noticed down here... Southern California basketball fans are some of the most bandwaggony d-bags in the world. People who bashed the Clips mercilessly are already rocking Griffin jerseys. Point I'm trying to make is; its going to be a shame that when the Kings are good again, a lot of their fanbase is going to be fiiiiiiilthy Lakers fans. Damn shame.
I was in SB during the best of the best years I think I hated the Lakers fans there more than I did when I actually lived in LA. They are bandwagony in LA but 10x that in SB. Just the way it goes though.
 
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