QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
My earliest days of watching basketball were spent watching the Chicago Bulls dynasty. I instantly fell in love with Michael Jordan. Although, his supporting cast wasn't all that bad either (Scottie, Toni, Steve, Dennis, Bill, Luc, amongst others). Oh, and they also had them a very fine coach (although he later went on to coach the hated Lakers, I still respected the heck out of the guy as a head coach and, looking back, I actually still do - one of the greatest I've seen. And he will most likely remain towards the top of my list).
Once Jordan retired the 2nd time around, the SACRAMENTO KINGS, my HOMETOWN team, instantly became MY TEAM. I didn't even consider looking elsewhere. It wouldn't have even mattered if our roster was 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats or 1972-1973 Philadelphia 7ers bad...I was still going to become a Kings fan. I was ready (both mentally and physically) to endure more losing seasons before I ever saw winning basketball in Sacramento.
Luckily, for me, my switch of allegiance coincided with the 1998-1999 strike-shortened NBA season, during which "The Greatest Show on Court" was formed. That team instantly fell in love with Sacramento. And Sacramento returned the favor by instantly falling in love with the team. The years that followed provided me with some of the greatest basketball that I've had the pleasure of watching with my own two eyes. The high-powered offense was something that one would have had to see in person to actually believe. It was fun. It was efficient. Jason Williams' passing, Vlade Divac's passing, Peja's threes, Webber's game in the post, Doug Christie's defense, Bobby Jackson's energy (off the bench), Scot Pollard's crazy hair, Coachie's Princeton offense...All of those were identities that belonged to the Kings during those years.
Arco Thunder, Cowbells, THE 6th Man, Big Mike pumping up the crowd before the game, and in between quarters...Everything was a CULTURE. Going to Kings games was not something fans dreaded, but rather looked forward to. Most of us planned our entire day around making sure we get to the arena well before the opening tip, because we didn't want to miss a second.
And then the decline began to happen, and what was once reality almost immediately became a memory.
We miss the "old" days; When will we ever be good again?
Why can't we be like THOSE Kings?
2006-2022 - Years I am sure that many, if not all, on this forum would like to instantly erase from our memories. They were no fun. Not even a single season (although some gave us a little more of a glimmer of hope than did others).
It got so bad that we were constantly the laughing stock of the NBA. We were the laughing stock of North American sports. We were the laughing stock of sports in general. We were the most dysfunctional team in history. We had no hope. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. We were also, at one point, the holders of the longest postseason drought any of the major 4 North American sports leagues.
Not anymore, Kings fans!!!
We're back. We COULD end up being a 50 win team...We were a 38 team last season.
Because of this, I have to say THANK YOU.
Thank you, Sacramento.
Thank you, Kevin Johnson.
Thank you, Vivek Ranadive.
Thank you, Mike Brown.
And, above all and most importantly...
THANK YOU, KINGS!!!
Once Jordan retired the 2nd time around, the SACRAMENTO KINGS, my HOMETOWN team, instantly became MY TEAM. I didn't even consider looking elsewhere. It wouldn't have even mattered if our roster was 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats or 1972-1973 Philadelphia 7ers bad...I was still going to become a Kings fan. I was ready (both mentally and physically) to endure more losing seasons before I ever saw winning basketball in Sacramento.
Luckily, for me, my switch of allegiance coincided with the 1998-1999 strike-shortened NBA season, during which "The Greatest Show on Court" was formed. That team instantly fell in love with Sacramento. And Sacramento returned the favor by instantly falling in love with the team. The years that followed provided me with some of the greatest basketball that I've had the pleasure of watching with my own two eyes. The high-powered offense was something that one would have had to see in person to actually believe. It was fun. It was efficient. Jason Williams' passing, Vlade Divac's passing, Peja's threes, Webber's game in the post, Doug Christie's defense, Bobby Jackson's energy (off the bench), Scot Pollard's crazy hair, Coachie's Princeton offense...All of those were identities that belonged to the Kings during those years.
Arco Thunder, Cowbells, THE 6th Man, Big Mike pumping up the crowd before the game, and in between quarters...Everything was a CULTURE. Going to Kings games was not something fans dreaded, but rather looked forward to. Most of us planned our entire day around making sure we get to the arena well before the opening tip, because we didn't want to miss a second.
And then the decline began to happen, and what was once reality almost immediately became a memory.
We miss the "old" days; When will we ever be good again?
Why can't we be like THOSE Kings?
2006-2022 - Years I am sure that many, if not all, on this forum would like to instantly erase from our memories. They were no fun. Not even a single season (although some gave us a little more of a glimmer of hope than did others).
It got so bad that we were constantly the laughing stock of the NBA. We were the laughing stock of North American sports. We were the laughing stock of sports in general. We were the most dysfunctional team in history. We had no hope. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. We were also, at one point, the holders of the longest postseason drought any of the major 4 North American sports leagues.
Not anymore, Kings fans!!!
We're back. We COULD end up being a 50 win team...We were a 38 team last season.
Because of this, I have to say THANK YOU.
Thank you, Sacramento.
Thank you, Kevin Johnson.
Thank you, Vivek Ranadive.
Thank you, Mike Brown.
And, above all and most importantly...
THANK YOU, KINGS!!!
