http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13970751p-14804777c.html
Kings notes: ESPN rankings aren't as kind to franchise
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 12, 2005
The Kings have even taken a hit on the national rankings scale, at least according to ESPN.
Sacramento ranked 12th among NBA teams and 40th overall for all NBA, NFL and major-league baseball teams in the annual ESPN Ultimate Standings. In 2003, when the Kings were still on the cusp of championship greatness, they ranked No. 2 in the Ultimate Standings behind the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Here's how the current Kings break down, for all major sports, starting with rank, with 2003 overall rankings in parentheses:
• 19 (4) - Fan Relations (ease of access to players, coaches and management).
• 39 (15) - Bang for the Buck (revenues directly from fans divided by wins in the last three years).
• 40 (3) - Ownership (honesty, loyalty to players and city).
• 45 (7) - Players (effort on the court, likability off it).
• 51 (29) - Championships (titles won or soon expected to win).
• 53 (21) - Coaching/management (strong on-court leadership).
• 67 (14) - Stadium or arena experience (friendliness of environment, quality of game-day promotions).
• 73 (17) - Affordability (price of tickets, parking and concessions).
Dealing with expectations
Corliss Williamson can tell you about losing. He would prefer it was repressed memory, the 1997-98 tailspin by the Kings when the team lost 19 of its last 20 games to bottom out at 27-55.
He was then a third-year forward with the Kings. Now, he is in the second year of his return tour with the franchise. He explained that the recent woes have been even more painful, all because the expectations now were different. The Kings were used to losing then.
"The bar's been raised the last seven years," Williamson said. "This organization shouldn't expect anything less. The fans shouldn't expect anything less. It's our job to come and meet those expectations. Maybe in April, in the playoffs, we'll all be laughing about it."
Admiring college mentors
Brad Miller applauds the Toronto Raptors for bringing aboard Gene Keady, Miller's college coach at Purdue. They remain close, with Keady something of a father figure who has a lot of gruff to go with hidden charm. Keady will work as an assistant coach.
"He'll bring more fire," Miller said. "For me, I wanted to play well for him in college. I wanted to impress him because you want to keep him off your (butt). His style will work in any situation, even the NBA, but you have to have guys whose egos are willing to take constructive criticism. They have some young guys who are still growing up and becoming men."
Meanwhile, the naming of Jim Boeheim as an assistant coach for the U.S. national men's team pleased Jason Hart. The Kings reserve guard set steals records as an impact defender for Boeheim at Syracuse.
"He'll help because he's a great coach and because he knows how to use the zone, baby," Hart said, grinning.
Charitable spirit
Maloof Sports & Entertainment hosted five displaced families from Hurricane Katrina that now reside in the Sacramento region. The families participated in a halftime presentation to the American Red Cross-Sacramento/Sierra Chapter, presenting a check for $329,327.36 for hurricane relief. The money was raised by Kings and Monarchs fans and others throughout the community, including online auctions. The Kings matched all contributions dollar-for-dollar.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: ESPN rankings aren't as kind to franchise
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 12, 2005
The Kings have even taken a hit on the national rankings scale, at least according to ESPN.
Sacramento ranked 12th among NBA teams and 40th overall for all NBA, NFL and major-league baseball teams in the annual ESPN Ultimate Standings. In 2003, when the Kings were still on the cusp of championship greatness, they ranked No. 2 in the Ultimate Standings behind the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Here's how the current Kings break down, for all major sports, starting with rank, with 2003 overall rankings in parentheses:
• 19 (4) - Fan Relations (ease of access to players, coaches and management).
• 39 (15) - Bang for the Buck (revenues directly from fans divided by wins in the last three years).
• 40 (3) - Ownership (honesty, loyalty to players and city).
• 45 (7) - Players (effort on the court, likability off it).
• 51 (29) - Championships (titles won or soon expected to win).
• 53 (21) - Coaching/management (strong on-court leadership).
• 67 (14) - Stadium or arena experience (friendliness of environment, quality of game-day promotions).
• 73 (17) - Affordability (price of tickets, parking and concessions).
Dealing with expectations
Corliss Williamson can tell you about losing. He would prefer it was repressed memory, the 1997-98 tailspin by the Kings when the team lost 19 of its last 20 games to bottom out at 27-55.
He was then a third-year forward with the Kings. Now, he is in the second year of his return tour with the franchise. He explained that the recent woes have been even more painful, all because the expectations now were different. The Kings were used to losing then.
"The bar's been raised the last seven years," Williamson said. "This organization shouldn't expect anything less. The fans shouldn't expect anything less. It's our job to come and meet those expectations. Maybe in April, in the playoffs, we'll all be laughing about it."
Admiring college mentors
Brad Miller applauds the Toronto Raptors for bringing aboard Gene Keady, Miller's college coach at Purdue. They remain close, with Keady something of a father figure who has a lot of gruff to go with hidden charm. Keady will work as an assistant coach.
"He'll bring more fire," Miller said. "For me, I wanted to play well for him in college. I wanted to impress him because you want to keep him off your (butt). His style will work in any situation, even the NBA, but you have to have guys whose egos are willing to take constructive criticism. They have some young guys who are still growing up and becoming men."
Meanwhile, the naming of Jim Boeheim as an assistant coach for the U.S. national men's team pleased Jason Hart. The Kings reserve guard set steals records as an impact defender for Boeheim at Syracuse.
"He'll help because he's a great coach and because he knows how to use the zone, baby," Hart said, grinning.
Charitable spirit
Maloof Sports & Entertainment hosted five displaced families from Hurricane Katrina that now reside in the Sacramento region. The families participated in a halftime presentation to the American Red Cross-Sacramento/Sierra Chapter, presenting a check for $329,327.36 for hurricane relief. The money was raised by Kings and Monarchs fans and others throughout the community, including online auctions. The Kings matched all contributions dollar-for-dollar.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
