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.
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.
