Retiring #4 and #21
- Thread starter VF21
- Start date
I suppose some can take the cynical approach and say the only reason that this is being done is because the team has sunk so low rather than to realize that the main reason the fan base is down in the dumps is because of the expectations that these two gentleman brought each year they were here.
I've always been a "small hall" guy, but a team should be able to remember its greats anyway they see fit and in this case its a no brainer.
I've always been a "small hall" guy, but a team should be able to remember its greats anyway they see fit and in this case its a no brainer.
jon e
Bench
that article in the bee was crap. i dont really care if it is a ploy to boost attendance, all i know is that this had to be done at some point and i dont really care what the reason for doing it is. if we were 19-7 or 7-19, id still be there to support the members of the team i loved the most. webber and divac belong up there. the only beef i have is that its on seperate nights. i would have liked to see them go up together
NoBonus
Starter
These two guys represent the best players on the best Kings team to date... a team that won the pacific division championship twice (or was it three times) and took us to the Western Conference Finals and nearly won. Two jerseys almost seems like too few... also, that Kings team changed basketball from either having a defensive team or a run and gun team showing the world the Princeton offense with bigs on the high posts and exciting team plays... many teams today copied and continue to copy what that team was doing.
I agree with this, but then again this is an individual honor. I'm sure they debated it, if they did them together it may seem a little more calculated as a "remember the good old days" night.
kings4lyfe32
Bench
Nice entry VF
Dreadnought
Bench
I know I just failed and become a tool of marketing, but I bought tickets for Webber's night vs. the Jazz and I'll be coming home that weekend! I've wanted to see this happen ever since he left the Kings.
I'm excited!
I'm excited!
This is a no brainer. No one is nominating them for the Basketball Hall of Fame here, but it's not often that a player comes along and completely changes the tone of the franchise and the fans' expectations. That's what Vlade Divac and Chris Webber did.
Since the Kings moved to Sacramento over 20 years ago, there hasn't been a single period of time when they were at or even near the top of the League. In fact, they spent most of the first two decades in the cellar, looking up at, well, pretty much everyone. It seemed like everything that happened to the Kings was negative, even off the court, with the Bobby Hurley and Ricky Berry tragedies.
And then, 1998 happened. The Kings went from perennial doormats to championship contenders in just four years. And while there were several other factors that contributed (Peja's development, Rick Adelman's coaching, the Maloofs, etc.), the signing of Vlade Divac and the trade for Chris Webber started it all. Those two players together did more for the Sacramento Kings in their time here than any other players have ever done.
It sucks that 2002 and 2003 ended the way they did. Had the Kings been able to close the deal in '02, and had Webber's knee not deteriorated in '03, we'd probably not even be having this discussion. In fact, the Kings might have been able to keep a good thing going even into '04. But you can't rewrite history, unfortunately.
The point, in short, is that I don't even see why anyone would venture to argue against this decision. There's no way you can argue against the impact that those two had on the Kings, whether you liked them or not. The writer of the editorial is way off on this one.
Since the Kings moved to Sacramento over 20 years ago, there hasn't been a single period of time when they were at or even near the top of the League. In fact, they spent most of the first two decades in the cellar, looking up at, well, pretty much everyone. It seemed like everything that happened to the Kings was negative, even off the court, with the Bobby Hurley and Ricky Berry tragedies.
And then, 1998 happened. The Kings went from perennial doormats to championship contenders in just four years. And while there were several other factors that contributed (Peja's development, Rick Adelman's coaching, the Maloofs, etc.), the signing of Vlade Divac and the trade for Chris Webber started it all. Those two players together did more for the Sacramento Kings in their time here than any other players have ever done.
It sucks that 2002 and 2003 ended the way they did. Had the Kings been able to close the deal in '02, and had Webber's knee not deteriorated in '03, we'd probably not even be having this discussion. In fact, the Kings might have been able to keep a good thing going even into '04. But you can't rewrite history, unfortunately.
The point, in short, is that I don't even see why anyone would venture to argue against this decision. There's no way you can argue against the impact that those two had on the Kings, whether you liked them or not. The writer of the editorial is way off on this one.
I knew I was going to a Kings game in February - turns out it's this one. Nice bonus! Do they usually do the jersey retirement ceremonies at halftime, or before the game?
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Normally its halftime -- make sure everybody is there. They mentioned in the paper maybe doing it after the game, which I think is just silly. People have to get home, and there's abnout a 1 in 2 chance it will be a 20pt blowout anyway and the stands might start to empty.
fiction916
G-League
I couldn't agree with jon more. what a thoughtful comment. je, I really love you, man.
Tmassfan4life
G-League
The initials of this certain Bee writer wouldn't be A.V. would it?
If so, it figures. If not, I'm surprised. Nothing ever made her happy, even in those good times.
If so, it figures. If not, I'm surprised. Nothing ever made her happy, even in those good times.
rhythmless
Starter
i would disagree taht webbers stats do not merit HOF. his 20/10/4 career avgs rank up there w/the greats. its the fact taht he did not win a championship that puts him outside the bubble.
Dreadnought
Bench
EDIT: I just misread everything..
Does anyone know where the players leave after games? He's the only Kings player I never got an autograph of when I was a kid.
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We're actually in agreement.
What I said was "Webber's stats won't get him into the HOF, most likely..." I meant that his stats alone wouldn't get him there partially because he doesn't have the championship to go along with them.
Regardless, I think the real point is that he does deserve to see his number retired by the Kings.
Mike0476
Starter
My wife and I will be attending both games (Jazz and Hornets) to witness the jersey retirement ceremonies of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac.
When both players arrived and helped turned things around I promised myself to attend a ceremony like this should it ever happen and I am very happy to know that I will in fact be a part of something very special.
Anyone else from our group attending? We'll be in section 103.
When both players arrived and helped turned things around I promised myself to attend a ceremony like this should it ever happen and I am very happy to know that I will in fact be a part of something very special.
Anyone else from our group attending? We'll be in section 103.
Great post, VF.
Both players are indeed deserving for their multiple, significant beneficial impacts and achievements, as you cite.
As a side note, does anyone else think that our retired jersey banners look really cheap-o? After seeing the gorgeous banner made by the Blazers for Terry Porter's jersey retirement recently and viewing others around the league in recent years, I think ours are about the worst I have viewed.
Both players are indeed deserving for their multiple, significant beneficial impacts and achievements, as you cite.
As a side note, does anyone else think that our retired jersey banners look really cheap-o? After seeing the gorgeous banner made by the Blazers for Terry Porter's jersey retirement recently and viewing others around the league in recent years, I think ours are about the worst I have viewed.
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