Taking a look at the (Sacramento) Kings Crystal Ball

[TyFreak Evans]

Let's play a game of "What if" for a second here. Let's say that WE (Sacramento) win the hearts of the board and the sale is blocked, and we get ourselves the new ownership.

In terms of the overall entertainment aspect of a Sacramento Kings basketball game, what changes would you most like to see?

I do not speak of the players or coaching staff, or any personnel for that matter. Because we know that Smart is pretty much as good as a burnt piece of toast in Sacramento. And we know that the new head master(s) are going to "clean house" and bring in some new, and fresh talent.

I speak of the game itself. I speak of what happens before the game, during a timeout, during half time, after the game. What changes would you most like to see made by the new ownership group?

What changes, in your opinion, would enhance your game experience the most?

Let's make this a two part question...

What would you, as a fan attending a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience at the arena?
What would you, as a fan watching a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience on TV?

I will toss in a bonus question (and a much tougher question, in my opinion)....

What would you, as a fan listening to a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your listening experience on the radio?

 

[VF21]

Let's play a game of "What if" for a second here. Let's say that WE (Sacramento) win the hearts of the board and the sale is blocked, and we get ourselves the new ownership.

In terms of the overall entertainment aspect of a Sacramento Kings basketball game, what changes would you most like to see?

I do not speak of the players or coaching staff, or any personnel for that matter. Because we know that Smart is pretty much as good as a burnt piece of toast in Sacramento. And we know that the new head master(s) are going to "clean house" and bring in some new, and fresh talent.

I speak of the game itself. I speak of what happens before the game, during a timeout, during half time, after the game. What changes would you most like to see made by the new ownership group?

What changes, in your opinion, would enhance your game experience the most?

Let's make this a two part question...

What would you, as a fan attending a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience at the arena?
What would you, as a fan watching a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience on TV?

I will toss in a bonus question (and a much tougher question, in my opinion)....

What would you, as a fan listening to a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your listening experience on the radio?

Do you work for a marketing firm?

I only ask because I received a survey from the Kings this morning (via the Kings Insider email) that consisted of a whole bunch of questions about my viewing experience with Comcast Sports Net over the past year.

 

[TyFreak Evans]

Do you work for a marketing firm?

I only ask because I received a survey from the Kings this morning (via the Kings Insider email) that consisted of a whole bunch of questions about my viewing experience with Comcast Sports Net over the past year.

No. I am currently unemployed, actually. I may have received the same e-mail you speak of. I have not gone through and filled it out yet, but am planning to do so.

With all that has been going on, I was just curious as to what other's opinions were in regards of that aspect of Kings basketball.

This is not in any way shape or form a marketing deal. As I have pointed out, I am unemployed, do not work for anyone, and just asked those questions out of curiosity.

 

[VF21]

No. I am currently unemployed, actually. I may have received the same e-mail you speak of. I have not gone through and filled it out yet, but am planning to do so.

With all that has been going on, I was just curious as to what other's opinions were in regards of that aspect of Kings basketball.

This is not in any way shape or form a marketing deal. As I have pointed out, I am unemployed, do not work for anyone, and just asked those questions out of curiosity.

I was just pulling your leg. I think you're put out an interesting topic for discussion. I'll be posting some comments once I have a chance to think about it a bit.

 

[TyFreak Evans]

I was just pulling your leg. I think you're put out an interesting topic for discussion. I'll be posting some comments once I have a chance to think about it a bit.

No worries. I am going to do the same as you and think about it for a bit before posting my comments.

 

[chief bromden]

In arena, I would quit playing music for every single one of the Kings possession. I'm sure this won't be popular, but I think the dancers and their routines are yawn fests. I appreciate looking at beautiful women, but it's pretty boring to me. I rather watch Slamson do some circus acts.

On TV, I would change the broadcast team. Grant is play-by-play, but he rarely calls the play. I know TV play-by-play has gotten pretty mediocre in basketball over the past 20 years, but there are so many possessions where he simply says the last name of one player for the entire possession. I think he's been doing it for too long and is bored, especially by the usual mundane offense of the Kings. Reynolds hasn't come up with anything new other than nicknames, and that's all he uses to refer to a player. If I hear "Bayou Bomber" or "Lil Buckets" again... sigh. No creativity anymore. He's a nice guy in person, but he's pretty below average for a color guy. His "takes" are very very general. Maybe that is due to their target audience, I dunno.

I also notice that the replay truck usually plays replays that are one play behind the action. You can catch Jerry slipping up occasionally, talking about what just happened and leading into the replay, only for the replay to be of the previous play and he has to backtrack. It's an "Emmy Award Winning Broadcast" many times over, so what do I know?

Those sound critical, but I really am happy just to be able to go to games and watch them on TV. I can live with all that and be happy. Just my thoughts.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well as soon as I know who to direct the message to, I am going to start a bring back Kayte Christensen movement. And I am dead serious about that.

 

[Warhawk]

Well as soon as I know who to direct the message to, I am going to start a bring back Kayte Christensen movement. And I am dead serious about that.

Agreed. Met her at a couple of the House Party Live tapings and she really knows her stuff and was a great communicator. Shame they let her go. She was a bright spot for the organization "off the court."

 

[LWP777]

In arena, I would quit playing music for every single one of the Kings possession. I'm sure this won't be popular, but I think the dancers and their routines are yawn fests. I appreciate looking at beautiful women, but it's pretty boring to me. I rather watch Slamson do some circus acts.

On TV, I would change the broadcast team. Grant is play-by-play, but he rarely calls the play. I know TV play-by-play has gotten pretty mediocre in basketball over the past 20 years, but there are so many possessions where he simply says the last name of one player for the entire possession. I think he's been doing it for too long and is bored, especially by the usual mundane offense of the Kings. Reynolds hasn't come up with anything new other than nicknames, and that's all he uses to refer to a player. If I hear "Bayou Bomber" or "Lil Buckets" again... sigh. No creativity anymore. He's a nice guy in person, but he's pretty below average for a color guy. His "takes" are very very general. Maybe that is due to their target audience, I dunno.

I also notice that the replay truck usually plays replays that are one play behind the action. You can catch Jerry slipping up occasionally, talking about what just happened and leading into the replay, only for the replay to be of the previous play and he has to backtrack. It's an "Emmy Award Winning Broadcast" many times over, so what do I know?

Those sound critical, but I really am happy just to be able to go to games and watch them on TV. I can live with all that and be happy. Just my thoughts.

I think you are spot on with all your comments about the telecast. I feel the same way.

 

[Siranthony]

I like Jerry. I really don't understand why a couple of people have given him a hard time. I like his nicknames. He has some personality. I also appreciate that he is positive as opposed to you know who. Grant on the other hand, I can understand how you feel. He pretty much gives a running count of mistakes being made. "That's the 15th turnover of the quarter jerry". He is generally negative most of the time. I do like his expression on a big play but that is once or twice a game. I also like the Kings cheerleaders. Maybe they could tone down some of the more risque outfits they wear. I think the arena is noisy. The sound system is not good. the acoustics are not good. But everyone knows that about ecco arena.

 

[Kingster]

well as soon as i know who to direct the message to, i am going to start a bring back kayte christensen movement. And i am dead serious about that.

100% behind that!

 

[ninjabiscuit]

Well as soon as I know who to direct the message to, I am going to start a bring back Kayte Christensen movement. And I am dead serious about that.

I always thought she was awesome.

 

[bajaden]

I'd love it if they brought back Kayte Christensen. I have no idea why they dropped her from the broadcast. Maybe she wanted more than minimum wage. As for Jerry and Grant, I'm fine with them. Their not perfect, but at least they don't come across as total homers, and they stick with the game, instead of cutting away to a split screen while someone interviews someone I don't give a damm about in the audience. After watching all the other announcing teams in the NBA this year, I think Jerry and Grant are in the top third of the league. Guys like Tommy Heinson, Sean Elliot, and Walt Frazier are hard to take for a whole game.

Most of my complaints will be fixed with a new arena. Build it, and I will come!!

 

[TyFreak Evans]

Now that I have had some time to think about my own questions, here I go...

What would you, as a fan attending a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience at the arena?

I would cut down on the music during game play. It does get quite annoying, and I am sure the players get kinda PO'd at that after about 2 quarters of play. This will not be very popular among those roaming these realms, but I would get rid of the dancers completely. A basketball game is supposed to be a family friendly environment. I doubt little kids looking at scantily clad, below average looking, and generally low basketball IQ chicks are what most parents deem as family friendly.
I would also get rid of the two emcees (Fresh and Jenn, who I believe was formerly of SKD "stardom"). If I had to only pick one to keep. I'd keep Fresh. Jenn's voice gets increasingly and excruciatingly painful by the second...

What would you, as a fan watching a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your viewing experience on TV?

I would actually take a page out of the Chicago Bulls telecast and show the starting lineups during every home game. I personally find myself a little more energized at the games after the lineups. Why not convey that energy when I am seated on my couch?

Replace Grant. He annoys me. Replace Jerry. He annoys me more.

Bring back HPL (and Kayte Christensen)

I will toss in a bonus question (and a much tougher question, in my opinion)....

What would you, as a fan listening to a Sacramento Kings game, change to enhance your listening experience on the radio?

This is a tough one. But, in the end, I would not change a thing. Just make sure Gary Gerould remains THE VOICE OF THE KINGS.

 

[Gary]

Now that I have had some time to think about my own questions, here I go...


I would cut down on the music during game play. It does get quite annoying, and I am sure the players get kinda PO'd at that after about 2 quarters of play. This will not be very popular among those roaming these realms, but I would get rid of the dancers completely. A basketball game is supposed to be a family friendly environment. I doubt little kids looking at scantily clad, below average looking, and generally low basketball IQ chicks are what most parents deem as family friendly.
I would also get rid of the two emcees (Fresh and Jenn, who I believe was formerly of SKD "stardom"). If I had to only pick one to keep. I'd keep Fresh. Jenn's voice gets increasingly and excruciatingly painful by the second...


I would actually take a page out of the Chicago Bulls telecast and show the starting lineups during every home game. I personally find myself a little more energized at the games after the lineups. Why not convey that energy when I am seated on my couch?

Replace Grant. He annoys me. Replace Jerry. He annoys me more.

Bring back HPL (and Kayte Christensen)



This is a tough one. But, in the end, I would not change a thing. Just make sure Gary Gerould remains THE VOICE OF THE KINGS.

Oh my god yes! The music that's played is always the same music that's played at every game MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL and it gets annoying. I never knew where that bad music came from until I heard 107.9 for the first time since their change to a "pop" station. It's all autotuned and repetitive. The same lines in the song over and over (in some cases 15 times in a row). Autotune has made musicians out of people that don't have the musical talent and the 12 year old girls are eating it up for some reason

I heard them playing the Chris Brown (don't wake me up) song at one of the games so I youtubed it because the part where he sings the hook is really really bad autotune, and when watching it he's singing that hook like it's his own voice, showing all the "passion" ect ect that he supposedly has, yet it's so badly autotuned lol.. Terrible. Peopl like Chris Brown and Drake shouldn't be musicians, and they wouldn't be is autotune wasn't invented

I can only imagine that it must be worse on the players than me because they're there every night and I just hear it occasionally. I am surprised that someone hasn't publically said anything because it would totally break my concentration if I was playing.

 

[Purple Reign]

I would definitely like to see Grant Napear brought back. As annoying and condescending as he is on the radio, he is for sure in the top echelon of NBA play by play announcers.

I would not mind if both Jerry Reynolds and Gary Gerold stayed, but I would not be mad if one or both retired. I think Jerry Reynolds color is good, and he is Mr. Sacramento King. But sometimes good things come to an end. I just am not a fan of "The G Man". It is not that he does anything wrong, it is just his folksy smooth style is too warm and buttery. Then he tries to go hard through strong critique and it does not work for me.

But more than all of that I would like to see a 30 min pregame show brought back on Comcast. It would add a little content to the whole broadcast, if there was a studio show for road games and an arena show (especially the new arena) at home games.

 

[The Hammer]

I would definitely like to see Grant Napear brought back. As annoying and condescending as he is on the radio, he is for sure in the top echelon of NBA play by play announcers.

I would not mind if both Jerry Reynolds and Gary Gerold stayed, but I would not be mad if one or both retired. I think Jerry Reynolds color is good, and he is Mr. Sacramento King. But sometimes good things come to an end. I just am not a fan of "The G Man". It is not that he does anything wrong, it is just his folksy smooth style is too warm and buttery. Then he tries to go hard through strong critique and it does not work for me.

But more than all of that I would like to see a 30 min pregame show brought back on Comcast. It would add a little content to the whole broadcast, if there was a studio show for road games and an arena show (especially the new arena) at home games.

I think you may literally be the first person I've heard say they don't like Gary Gerould. I get it's a style issue for you. For me, his pure skill at painting the picture of the game is unparalleled. I also find him unbiased in his critiques of the Kings. In my opinion, he's simply the best in the business (admittedly I don't have a large sample size, so yes, I'm a homer.)

We all love Jerry, but sometimes I get the feeling he'd like to move on. I'd offer him that opportunity.

Bringing back Kayte is a no brainer.

Grant, I could go either way on, as PBP. I think (would hope, anyway) that with new owners he'd be encouraged to be less negative on his radio show. Perhaps with a new color guy, the nursing home type banter would change. I wonder how Carmichael Dave would do as a color guy. Although my personal pick would be SCOT POLLARD.

I don't think it would go over too well with the community to axe Grant. Then what, he just does his radio show? He'd be kind of twisting in the wind at that point. I think we may be stuck with him, which isn't too bad if he can cut down the *******ry. Some of his lines have just become classics "If you don't like that, you don't like NBA/Kings basketball." (But wasn't that G-man's line first??)

 

[Ryan]

I agree with everyone in cutting down the music and getting a new PA announcer. But if I could only have one request granted in the new arena it would be this...

...bring back the old kings logo on the center court. The one seen in TyFreak's avatar.

 

[jalfa]

I think you may literally be the first person I've heard say they don't like Gary Gerould. I get it's a style issue for you. For me, his pure skill at painting the picture of the game is unparalleled. I also find him unbiased in his critiques of the Kings. In my opinion, he's simply the best in the business (admittedly I don't have a large sample size, so yes, I'm a homer.)

We all love Jerry, but sometimes I get the feeling he'd like to move on. I'd offer him that opportunity.

Bringing back Kayte is a no brainer.

Grant, I could go either way on, as PBP. I think (would hope, anyway) that with new owners he'd be encouraged to be less negative on his radio show. Perhaps with a new color guy, the nursing home type banter would change. I wonder how Carmichael Dave would do as a color guy. Although my personal pick would be SCOT POLLARD.

I don't think it would go over too well with the community to axe Grant. Then what, he just does his radio show? He'd be kind of twisting in the wind at that point. I think we may be stuck with him, which isn't too bad if he can cut down the *******ry. Some of his lines have just become classics "If you don't like that, you don't like NBA/Kings basketball." (But wasn't that G-man's line first??)

Pollard is a grand idea, when he's been on with Jerry&Grant it's always been fun and he was a great personality (and fine player) for this team, too. he also doesn't seem to have that steady a gig going. with him in and Kayte back (foregone conclusion, imo) that would be a nice (re-)infusion of new blood for the broadcasting team.