I put off reading this post for a little while because I knew I would need a tissue and, honestly, I was not ready to "close the book." Thank you, VF, for giving us a fitting closing to the final chapter.
I had a suprise visit Friday morning from some former students. My kids all know that I am a huge fan. The boys printed a copy of that SI cover and had it framed for me. They wanted to come by and make sure I was ok after the trade. They are all sophomores through seniors now, but I taught them in the fourth grade and kept the books for their middle school bball team, so they know all about my obsession with this Kings. Many of them became fans themselves after being in my class - a fact of which I am VERY proud!
That group of guys (Vlade, Peja, J-Will, Doug, and Chris) will always be the first team that comes to my mind when I think of THE KINGS, even though I was a fans before any of them were on the roster and will still be fan now that they are all gone. I wish there was way to tell them all thank you for the joy they gave me while they were here. In my mind, they will always be KINGS!
By the way, I was right, I needed that tisue after reading this. Thank you VF for summing up the feelings of many!