Hi all.
I’ve made posts about this stuff before.
I know there are many who would rather not hear about any of this, so to them i say with love- scroll past this.
I appreciate everyone’s reasoned takes on this, I completely get it. This is my least favorite thing about the confluence of my job and my fandom.
Someone said (very respectfully too I may add) that I’ve been “wrong about this stuff before”). Guys, I say with all humility, I haven’t.
I know these people. I know how it works. I wish I didn’t. And I wish I could speak freely and not be some “rabble rouser” speaking in code and in half-statements. But there are other lives being affected.
Anyone who knows me knows I will speak to that in which I believe harms or could harm our fanbase, city, or team. I can’t say everything, but I can do my best to lay breadcrumbs.
Someday the light will shine. And then we can revisit all this.
Granger
Amazeen
Merchant
Gumpert
Jacobs
Rau
Moak
Braden
Garcia
Youngman
Blankenship
That’s a partial list of amazing, hard working people that have either been “moved” or left, mostly recently.
This isn’t run of the mill business type employee maneuvering. It’s the mistreatment of really good people.
I know they’ll read this (the Kings), and as I told many there yesterday I’ll always be fair and honest.
But what you’re seeing isn’t the entire story. It just isn’t. Flame me all you want if you wish, or scroll past.
As to being a radio host and dealing in controversy, that’s fair. But in this case that’s not what it’s about. In fact, other than asking Kenny Thomas what Pete meant to the players (at 8:55 as my show was ending), I didn’t speak a word of it today. It’s not a “ratings grabber”
But in my opinion what happens behind the scenes affects what we see on the floor, directly and indirectly. If i know about it, players and agents and coaches and GMs know about it. Trust me.
This is an ongoing problem that continues to hamper and hinder and hamstring our franchise. It’s just not as easy to diagnose as a poor rebounder or floundering offense.
But to me, it’s also deeper. It’s about loyalty, what this team represents, which in part is a place where good people can live here and thrive and be a part of something. The Kings are more than just a team to many of us, they’re a reflection of the spirit and culture of our city.
And good people just keep getting shuffled and dealt.
That’s a problem for me, and morally I can’t just ignore it and be quiet. I feel like that’s a lie by omission to the city and fanbase I try to serve and be a part of.
I just wish more people who know things would speak out as well. I expect they will in due time.
I don’t expect this post to do anything but act as a bookmark that we can revisit someday to openly talk about it. Be well.