The way I see it...

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
As one of the most outspoken people on the board, I have very little problem with posting my views on a variety of subjects. Sometimes I post initial reactions that I later change - much like real life. Other times, I try very hard not to say too much too soon but it rarely lasts long.

This whole "gold standard" concept the Kings front office came up with just seems to scream desperation. And that's what I'm gonna give my three cents on here...

WHY do the suits in the Kings office think they have to romance the fans? Why do they create obviously fake quotations from some of our players to put in a full-page ad to tell us how wonderful we are?

Apparently, they simply do not have a clue. While their intentions might be the best in the world, I honestly don't think they get it at all.

It's not about the organization saluting us. We don't need to have a statue erected in front of Arco in our behalf. We don't need to have sunshine blown up our skirts.

What we want - and need - is a competitive team; a team of warriors that will, on a regular basis, take our breath away. We want to see players that want to leave it all out on the court every game they play. And we really don't care if they're dressed in clown outfits or polka dots, if they really get the job done.

The whole idea of the "gold standard" and the gold uniforms to salute us (the fans) was not well thought out. I'm not the only one saying this. While I applaud the desire of the suits to reach out to the fans, there were better ways to do it. If, for example, you're going to have an alternate uniform to show the team's love of the fans (which I don't quite understand anyway) then here's a hint: DO NOT MAKE THAT UNIFORM in any way, shape or form resemble the uniform of the one team most fans hate the most. DO NOT DO IT.

Another problem with the concept, IMHO, is the use of Midas as the spokesman for the "gold standard." Anyone with a basic knowledge of mythology knows that the "Midas touch" isn't a charm; IT'S A CURSE! Midas was greedy beyond belief. He was granted a wish by Dionysus and he chose to make everything he touched turn to gold, including his servants, his daughter, and even the food he was trying to eat to stay alive. Finally, the curse was lifted when Dionysus gave in and told him to wash his hands in the river. (Don't remember the name of the actual river but supposedly the shores are golden because of Midas.) That's basic Greek mythology.

And if you really want to nitpick, gold isn't the most precious metal. Yes, gold was discovered in Coloma to start the 1849 Gold Rush, but it's a stretch to try and turn the Kings into the 49ers. Platinum is much more precious, and guess what? Platinum looks an awful lot like SILVER, which is already an official Kings color.

The whole emphasis on the fans is misplaced, IMHO. It shouldn't be about the fans. It should be about the team. Am I the only one who hears all this "You fans are so great" stuff and gets the feeling I should go in and take a shower? It's swarmy; it's just not real; it sounds forced and contrived.

Here's Mike Bibby's quote from the full-page ad run in Friday's Bee:

"When we need that extra energy at home, we draw it from our SIXTH MAN - the 17,317 screaming fans." - Mike Bibby

Oh please. That sounds more like a Snickers commercial than something Mike would say. We've all heard Mike do interviews. Can even one of you honestly and truly say you think he said that all on his own, without a 3 x 5 card in his hand with it written on it?

I love the Kings. I have since 1985 and I will until the day I die. If I stop, it's not going to be because the organization didn't flatter me enough or make me feel "special." It's going to be because the excitement, the goosebumps, the shivers of anticipation, etc. all went away - and I don't see that happening. My loyalty and that of a LOT of other fans like me doesn't depend on flattery by the front office. It depends on the product on the court.

So, I ask and URGE the organization to quit worrying so much about us, the fans. Give us a good competitive team and we'll keep showing up. It's not about us anyway. After all, when's the last time one of us did anything that actually won or lost a game?

Please, focus on the team and let us do the same. We'll be there. I promise.
 
The Maloofs are running a business. We are their customers. The Maloofs are trying to keep their customers happy so their business can maximize its profits.
 
WHY do the suits in the Kings office think they have to romance the fans?

Well, the cynic in me says that the organization is trying too hard because they know arena negotiations are going nowhere and eventually the team will be moved.

By appealing to the fans, they think that they can make the city look like the bad guys when things fall apart and therefore not lose TOO much money in the transition year as they prepare to leave town.

The optimist in me says that the Maloofs are just trying to improve marketing but their sensibilities are clouded by the glitz and gaudiness of Vegas, leaving us with an ugly, overly flashy uniform/media campaign in an unfortunate color scheme.

The realist in me says that we live in a cynical world.
 
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Coach - What? The NBA is a business? OMG ... why didn't I get the memo?

Yes, the Maloofs are trying to keep the customers happy. The problem is telling the customers how great they are is okay, if you're the type of person who needs to hear how great you are I suppose. Fans don't win games. Players do. Instead of all this hype about how good we are, why not focus on the team? It's the TEAM that will win the games, etc.

But I put my opinion out there for comment. I was pretty sure you'd disagree. If you want, feel free to start your own thread of dissention. That's what message boards are for, after all.
 
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I agree that they are trying to keep the customers (us) happy. BUT, the best way to do that is with the product, not the packaging. Give us a competative TEAM, we will be happy.
 
Coach -

Very astute...and so full of insight and thought.

Whatever... If all you can do is use the tired "NBA is a business" response, then I guess that's all you have.
 
Disagree with what? It sounds like you now agree the Kings are a business trying to keep their customers happy. But in your post you seem perplexed that the Kings are focusing on the fans/customers.
 
Of course the Kings are a business. But, as chelle pointed out, the BEST way to keep your customers happy isn't with the packaging; it's with the product. If you don't agree, no problem.
 
While I agree with VF, The Kings is a business. It is kind of lame the kind of stuff they try to give us though thinking it will make us happy. Give us a winnig team, and we will be happy.
 
Didn't the Maloofs go out and acquire Bonzi Wells and Sharif Abdur Rahim? Haven't they gone out and acquired Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, and Peja Stojakovic? Is there something wrong with this product? What exactly haven't they done?
 
I don't know, I like the relationship that the Kings Owners and Front office have with the fans. They know that we are the best fans in the world and feel like they should acknolowdge it. I think it's somewhat of special of a relationship which you find rarely on other teams, especially when they (owners) give out their phone numbers to the fans. It shows they care. And I know they are trying to put the best team out there on the court everyday so I don't have a problem with it.
 
I felt a little embarrassed sitting there last night, listening to them rave about how terrific WE, the fans, are. IMO, we haven't been worthy of that high a praise in a few years now. ARCO isn't as loud and proud as it used to be, that's not even open for debate. As a city, we can't even agree to build a new Arena so that this team that we all claim to love so much stays here. The last couple years, we haven't been 'Gold standard'
On the bright side, they played Collective Soul's 'Better Now' to start and I have to admit, with the season just about to start, that song sums up my feelings.
 
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Coach said:
Didn't the Maloofs go out and acquire Bonzi Wells and Sharif Abdur Rahim? Haven't they gone out and acquired Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, and Peja Stojakovic? Is there something wrong with this product? What exactly haven't they done?

while it's better than resting on the obviously discombobulated team we ended last season with, i'd like to see them address the other needs of the team, such as strong man-to-man D, team defense, rebounding, shotblocking, etc. we need more than scoring, and it just seems like they haven't addressed it. that's what they "have not done."
 
Kingsgurl said:
I felt a little embarrassed sitting there last night, listening to them rave about how terrific WE, the fans, are. IMO, we haven't been worthy of that high a praise in a few years now. ARCO isn't as loud and proud as it used to be, that's not even open for debate. As a city, we can't even agree to build a new Arena so that this team that we all claim to love so much stays here. The last couple years, we haven't been 'Gold standard'
On the bright side, they played Collective Soul's 'Better Now' to start and I have to admit, with the season just about to start, that song sums up my feelings.

Good points. I think that might be a big part of the slimey feeling I have. It was desperation that came through, IMHO. "PLEASE STILL LOVE US!"

If the owners think about it, a lot of the fans are still pretty insecure. There's been a lot of talk about moving the team, about not being able to get a new arena, etc. (and at this point whether the city is involved or private investors, something needs to get started!).

If they build it, we will come!

;)
 
I don't think it screams desperation at all. What are they desperate about. They will have a better team then last year. Ticket sales aren't going down. This town is still in as much love with this team as they always were.

When I hear Joe and Gavin and/or other players talk about how great the fans it doesn't make me want to, "Go take a shower.". I think it's cool that they show their appreciation for fans give 110%. It's even better when players from other teams that become kings come in and say man I'm glad to be on this side of the line now. I HATED coming to play at Arco, because these fans love the team so much. They cheer so loud. That makes me feel good.

Honestly the sentiment of "the team taking my breath away" is the only concept I've heard of that seems contrived, and overly dramatic. This isn't a romance, this is a sports team. Yes I am a die hard fan, but a person that I love will take my breath away, not sports. Nothing personal it just seems a bit over the top for me.
 
Coach said:
The Maloofs are running a business. We are their customers. The Maloofs are trying to keep their customers happy...
They need to try harder. If "Midas" and these uniforms are their idea of keeping the customers happy, they've been getting bad data from somewhere.
 
Uh oh, something is wrong with me then. I've seen lot's of plays that 'took my breath away' Not in a romantic way, of course. Watching the old Kings slice apart a defense with exquisite passing was quite often, IMO, breathtaking.
 
DocHolliday said:
I don't think it screams desperation at all. What are they desperate about. They will have a better team then last year. Ticket sales aren't going down. This town is still in as much love with this team as they always were.

When I hear Joe and Gavin and/or other players talk about how great the fans it doesn't make me want to, "Go take a shower.". I think it's cool that they show their appreciation for fans give 110%. It's even better when players from other teams that become kings come in and say man I'm glad to be on this side of the line now. I HATED coming to play at Arco, because these fans love the team so much. They cheer so loud. That makes me feel good.

Honestly the sentiment of "the team taking my breath away" is the only concept I've heard of that seems contrived, and overly dramatic. This isn't a romance, this is a sports team. Yes I am a die hard fan, but a person that I love will take my breath away, not sports. Nothing personal it just seems a bit over the top for me.

I hear what you're saying, Doc, but for me the expression "they take my breath away" means that the game the Kings play and have played has been so exciting for the past few years, that I would literally hold my breath while I watched. The Kings from 1999 on did things so formerly rare on the court at Arco that it was breath-taking. I didn't mean it romantically...

I didn't say NOR did I mean that every time the Maloofs or the players talk about how great the fans are I want to take a shower. I meant that there can be way too much of a good thing. If you praise something too often, the praise loses its meaning.

It's a difference in viewpoint. I'd rather see them focusing more on the team in the media with things like player bios, Meet the Family, etc. Those would be new and different. To once again put all the focus on the fans IMHO simply puts the emphasis on the wrong syllable, so to speak.
 
Honestly the sentiment of "the team taking my breath away" is the only concept I've heard of that seems contrived, and overly dramatic. This isn't a romance, this is a sports team. Yes I am a die hard fan, but a person that I love will take my breath away, not sports. Nothing personal it just seems a bit over the top for me.

Sorry, but that seems pretty personal to me, disclaimer notwithstanding.
 
I do agree the uni's looked a bit too much like our biggest rival for many years. Although after seeing fandemonium pics, I don't really mind them. They are much more gold than yellow. I'm warming up to them a bit after the fandemonium pics.
 
From the looks of the team store last night, there are plenty of people who liked the gold. The place was as packed as I'd ever seen it. And they were all in the gold section. In fact, there was a line of people waiting for the employees to bring up more jerseys.

I was worried how they would look on TV (a la the Mavs silver disaster), but they looked great. I'm still a believer. And I think a lot more people are buying into it than VF21 would like to believe (or ever admit).
 
Well, apparently not. Check the sacbee.com/sports page. There's a poll. And 92% of the respondents so far seem to feel the jersey looks just like the Lakers.

But it's not about me, regardless of what you and a few others (nice to see you again, BTW) want to make it.
 
VF21 said:
Well, apparently not. Check the sacbee.com/sports page. There's a poll. And 92% of the respondents so far seem to feel the jersey looks just like the Lakers.

But it's not about me, regardless of what you and a few others (nice to see you again, BTW) want to make it.

LOL...you and your polls.
 
I actually hated the jerseys when I first saw them, but when I saw them in the fandemonium pics i began to really like them. I love them now, i was getting very sick of the purple jerseys. I used to think they look like the lakers jersey but now i don't.
 
Coach said:
Didn't the Maloofs go out and acquire Bonzi Wells and Sharif Abdur Rahim?
They did.
Coach said:
Haven't they gone out and acquired Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, and Peja Stojakovic?
They have.
Coach said:
Is there something wrong with this product? What exactly haven't they done?
I'm not a hundred percent certain that I can put my finger on it, but I don't have a very good feeling about this team as it's currently put together. I mean, we have a bunch of guys that put up pretty numbers, and that would be great if this were fantasy basketball we were talking about. But this team has seemed to be somehow less than the sum of it's parts for quite some time to me... They still haven't addressed the defensive and toughness issues; even the one or two guys that we have who have respectable defensive numbers don't intimidate anybody. Skinner gets blocks for example, but a 6'8", opposing teams completely disregard him for pretty much the whole game... In fact, our entire frontcourt pretty much motivates other teams to start a layup line to the basket.

This team seems oddly put together to me; we remind me too much of the 2001-04 Mavericks, and for a team which is ostensibly supposed to be a contender, that's not a good thing.
 
KingFrog1 said:
LOL...you and your polls.
Shouldn't this comment be directed at the Sacramento Bee? Why are you trying to come across like VF is the only person who thinks the jerseys are ugly/look like the Lakers?
 
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
Shouldn't this comment be directed at the Sacramento Bee? Why are you trying to come across like VF is the only person who thinks the jerseys are ugly/look like the Lakers?

Because any time she tries to make a point, she refers to polls. It cracks me up. "Look, see, my point is valid because an internet poll says so".
 
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