I have been a Kings fan since the day they became the Sacramento Kings. At first, it was just about rooting for the home team. It didn't take long, though, for it to become something more.
If you never attended a game in the old Arco Arena, it's hard to explain the atmosphere. There was magic in the air. Those who were there know what I mean. Those who weren't won't understand.
Over the years, the passion just continued to grow. Our team wasn't good but we supported them through thick and thin. We had a sellout streak that boggled the minds of NBA experts. They couldn't understand how we could come out night after night and support a losing team.
I won't bother to repeat the tales of the rise of the Kings to the rarefied air of playing past mid-April. It peaked with the 2002 WCF, and we had no reason to think it would stop there...but it did
Through it all, my family remained loyal to the Kings. Even when fans were leaving in droves, we stayed. We knew in our hearts the Kings would not leave Sacramento. We supported Carmichael Dave, Mike Tavares, and all the other grassroots guys who worked so hard to keep the team here against all odds.
Bad trades, horrible draft picks, a coaching merry-go-round that never seemed to stop. It didn't matter. We remained loyal. We even continued to buy the jerseys of our favorite players, even though we should have probably just set fire to the $$.
I don't know what else to say. I have always tried to maintain a positive attitude. I've tried to keep the faith and encouraged others to do the same.
Now though? I'm just about done. It wasn't cheap for my family to attend opening night, especially when you add in the cost of some of us traveling nearly 200 miles round trip to meet up for our annual outing. One round of beverages for our group was nearly $150.
Don't get me wrong. I love the opportunity to see my family and friends and share the tradition of "opening night". It's not about the Kings any more, though, as much as it is about the experience. And I can get the experience without the angst and disappointment.
I don't blame Vlade. I don't blame Vivek. I don't blame Luke. I don't blame the players themselves. I'm past trying to point fingers. Whatever the reason, I'm just not passionate enough to blame anyone.
For someone who has been an ardent fan for decades, not caring is worse than being angry. I hope it's temporary. I don't know what it would be to not eat and breathe basketball from October to April - and I'm afraid to find out.
If you never attended a game in the old Arco Arena, it's hard to explain the atmosphere. There was magic in the air. Those who were there know what I mean. Those who weren't won't understand.
Over the years, the passion just continued to grow. Our team wasn't good but we supported them through thick and thin. We had a sellout streak that boggled the minds of NBA experts. They couldn't understand how we could come out night after night and support a losing team.
I won't bother to repeat the tales of the rise of the Kings to the rarefied air of playing past mid-April. It peaked with the 2002 WCF, and we had no reason to think it would stop there...but it did
Through it all, my family remained loyal to the Kings. Even when fans were leaving in droves, we stayed. We knew in our hearts the Kings would not leave Sacramento. We supported Carmichael Dave, Mike Tavares, and all the other grassroots guys who worked so hard to keep the team here against all odds.
Bad trades, horrible draft picks, a coaching merry-go-round that never seemed to stop. It didn't matter. We remained loyal. We even continued to buy the jerseys of our favorite players, even though we should have probably just set fire to the $$.
I don't know what else to say. I have always tried to maintain a positive attitude. I've tried to keep the faith and encouraged others to do the same.
Now though? I'm just about done. It wasn't cheap for my family to attend opening night, especially when you add in the cost of some of us traveling nearly 200 miles round trip to meet up for our annual outing. One round of beverages for our group was nearly $150.
Don't get me wrong. I love the opportunity to see my family and friends and share the tradition of "opening night". It's not about the Kings any more, though, as much as it is about the experience. And I can get the experience without the angst and disappointment.
I don't blame Vlade. I don't blame Vivek. I don't blame Luke. I don't blame the players themselves. I'm past trying to point fingers. Whatever the reason, I'm just not passionate enough to blame anyone.
For someone who has been an ardent fan for decades, not caring is worse than being angry. I hope it's temporary. I don't know what it would be to not eat and breathe basketball from October to April - and I'm afraid to find out.