KJ's press conference and other latest news, rumors, etc.

[Section 101]

The problem is that they were bound by a horrible lease before. That's why nobody stepped up to buy the team. They aren't bound by that lease anymore. They finally got past city politics and have an arena deal where they will have full control of revenue from all events.

That being said, I think a case can be made for the value of the team being higher here due to being the only sport in town. Plus, I'll piggy back on the first paragraph. If I'm Burkle or whatever whale steps up, I'd seriously consider putting more money into the arena plan if it means having control of the building. It's a bigger financial sacrifice in the short term but makes sense in the long run as it gets you your money back and some. The Maloofs couldn't do that because they are so broke. When you're as loaded as a whale, you front your own money and then get help from the city to bridge the gap.

My point is that they didn't care until the team was going to move. They should have cared when an OKC guy was stepping up to buy the team. Bennett had the team for 2+ years before he moved it.

[Trueblood]

My point is that they didn't care until the team was going to move. They should have cared when an OKC guy was stepping up to buy the team. Bennett had the team for 2+ years before he moved it.

That was pretty much my point in the previous post as well. From purely a value standpoint, the team is probably worth just as much if not more than Sacramento but I just dislike how there was so little done to save the team yet when they actually moved, the media jumped to their defense, were very misinformed about the facts of the relocation and started using terms like "hijacked" to describe the whole affair and that led to this whole movement to go out of our way to get a team back up there.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for Seattle getting a team back but not at the expense of Sacramento. But I refuse to point the finger at Clay and Stern when there were tons of other villains in the saga.

[arwen undomiel]

Dylan Thomas once wrote:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

----------------------------------

I thank you, Mike0476, kennadog, Capt. Factorial and all the others who are raging against the dying of the light. This battle is not over yet. The only way we lose now is if we stop fighting.

If people cannot understand that, I feel sorry for them. The sweetest victories come after the hardest-fought battles.

Here's more inspiration if you need it - excerpts of Shakespeare's version of Henry V's speech at Agincourt:

That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;


For those who don't know, the English army Henry V led that day defeated a much larger, better equipped and more experienced foe who was fighting on home turf. What Henry's forces have, we also have: leadership and heart.

[Warhawk]

Dude, when did I ever say that I would be "happy" to be right? Quite the opposite.... All i'm saying is that, everyone seems to be pointing out how wrong I am and that the Kings are staying, so I think YOU are the one who's concerned about being "RIGHT", not me!.... I have a feeling the kings won't be able to get a deal together in time to keep them here, and you think they will, why can't you just leave it at that, instead of lashing out at how wrong I am about expressing my opinion??? ...I never ever said that I couln't be wrong, of course I could be....If I wouldn't have heard so many people saying how "wrong" I am, I wouldn't have even brought up the whole, "admit it if you end up being wrong" part of it. Quit acting like a jerk!

I/we have NEVER said that the team is staying, all we are saying is that we are doing what we can to keep the team here and we do have, I think, a decent shot. We are not "celebrating" or trying to prove who is "right" - we are trying to get folks to help keep the team here. You are the one posting about how when the team moves you want us to all say how "right" you were. **** that. I want no part of that. I want people here who love the Kings to do what they can to help, not have a pity party curled up in their mom's basement corner crying about how the team is leaving and not bothering to do anything about it. If you truly do love this team, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

You have a "feeling" based on what facts? That's right, none. Well, other than those of the national media, who have done a lousy job of following the issue closely and have already moved the team. They don't know ****.

I happen to have a "feeling" that KJ will have the whales lined up before long and will announce our "whales" / financial team and plan to build an arena. I also have a "feeling" that my sources of information and thus, the basis for my "feelings", are much better than yours.

So spare me the pity party about being picked on - frankly bruised egos are for those too frightened to put themselves out there to help. I want to do what I can to save this team. If they do end up leaving (and they could, I am not discounting that!) at least I did something about it by helping Mike and Crown Downtown to raise awareness, support the Mayor, and try to be an agent of change.

If that is too scary or overwhelming for you to comprehend, then I really don't care if your feelings get hurt. News flash - we have larger goals than holding a self-esteem party for you.

If the Kings do stay, then CD will have played it's part in a great story here in Sacramento. I will be happy to have played my small part in it.

You will be one of those apparently happy to reap the rewards but not interested in the outcome enough to actually do anything about it, right?

[VF21]

JIM MOORE: Mixed Emotions about NBA's return

When it comes to the Sacramento Kings’ potential move to Seattle, I don’t know what to think anymore.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/f...#ixzz2KZe1Nvrg

[VF21]

Another great article, although they didn't get all the details correct and totally overlooked Crown Downtown (shame on them!!)

...If the Maloofs love the NBA and their franchise as much as they have claimed, their regret and shame at seeing Saturday night unfold is surely endless. How did they possibly fail, year after year, to produce a product that cultivated and served this fan base to any reasonable degree? How did they make so many mistakes that some people have already forgotten that Kings fans were like this every game for seasons at a time?

And, how did the NBA allow a fan base like this to be held in limbo for multiple years without knowing whether the team would return the next fall? What steps need to be taken — at the league level — so that this situation never repeats itself?...

Read whole article here

[kennadog]

Another great article, although they didn't get all the details correct and totally overlooked Crown Downtown (shame on them!!)

...If the Maloofs love the NBA and their franchise as much as they have claimed, their regret and shame at seeing Saturday night unfold is surely endless. How did they possibly fail, year after year, to produce a product that cultivated and served this fan base to any reasonable degree? How did they make so many mistakes that some people have already forgotten that Kings fans were like this every game for seasons at a time?

And, how did the NBA allow a fan base like this to be held in limbo for multiple years without knowing whether the team would return the next fall? What steps need to be taken — at the league level — so that this situation never repeats itself?...

Read whole article here

Thanks for posting this. It made me cry. It acknowledges that we have all made a difference in this fight. If you love the Kings and want them here, let's keep proving what a great NBA fanbase is here.

I appreciated this part:

Those are all questions that might get swept under the rug if Kings fans had decided to give up the fight and fold their hand. It’s better for everyone — the NBA, the Kings, Sacramento, Seattle and basketball fans as a whole — that those questions get asked. Thank you, Kings fans. Congratulations on your event and your statement.

[Cwebb#4]

I pray to all heaven that I am wrong, that I am delusional, that the efforts of all these fans are not being wasted, but at this point my gut tells me that they're gone.

[Warhawk]

I pray to all heaven that I am wrong, that I am delusional, that the efforts of all these fans are not being wasted, but at this point my gut tells me that they're gone.

Then maybe you should start hunting for a Seattle forum to visit and maybe change your sig, huh?

[Section 101]

Then maybe you should start hunting for a Seattle forum to visit and maybe change your sig, huh?

You should change your name to Warpath!

[Warhawk]

You should change your name to Warpath!

Nope, just tired of all the negativity when positive things are happening. Of course there are no guarantees. But we would appreciate it if more people helped out. If all you are going to be is an uneducated lemming spouting debbie-downer retreads from the national media who really haven't been following the subject too closely, I am not going to have a lot of patience with you.

Listen. We have about 1 month (maybe 2?) to do all we can to help keep the team. It really is now or never. So if you can, please help out in whatever way makes sense for you. Making doom and gloom posts here doesn't help anyone and gets pretty frustrating to those that are trying to help the cause.

So - go to the games, show up at City Council meetings (every Tuesday at 6pm!), contribute to Crown Downtown however you can. One month. Maybe two. Do what you can. Let's see if we can pull this off with KJ.

[Rain man]

Nope, just tired of all the negativity when positive things are happening. Of course there are no guarantees. But we would appreciate it if more people helped out. If all you are going to be is an uneducated lemming spouting debbie-downer retreads from the national media who really haven't been following the subject too closely, I am not going to have a lot of patience with you.

Listen. We have about 1 month (maybe 2?) to do all we can to help keep the team. It really is now or never. So if you can, please help out in whatever way makes sense for you. Making doom and gloom posts here doesn't help anyone and gets pretty frustrating to those that are trying to help the cause.

So - go to the games, show up at City Council meetings (every Tuesday at 6pm!), contribute to Crown Downtown however you can. One month. Maybe two. Do what you can. Let's see if we can pull this off with KJ.

Amen! If the team leaves we will have all the time in the world to be doom and gloom. But not now! There is NOTHING more irritating than someone saying "I hope I am wrong, but we are leaving." You "fence-sitters" are the type of people who like to say "I told you so" and probably try to "hedge" or sit on the fence in all aspects of your life. If we stay you will be happy- after all, you were "praying you were wrong," and if we leave, you were "right all along." How convenient. The only problem is, none of us here give a damn that you "were right the whole time."

As my dad would say- "Sh!t or get off the pot!" Stop trying to have it both ways. Either you are in or you are out.

In that spirit, I just bought tickets to 4 games in the next month. We need to keep being heard!

[Mike0476]

We need to keep being heard!

Be heard at city hall tomorrow night for a 6pm meeting but show up by 5pm.

[VF21]

Nope, just tired of all the negativity when positive things are happening. Of course there are no guarantees. But we would appreciate it if more people helped out. If all you are going to be is an uneducated lemming spouting debbie-downer retreads from the national media who really haven't been following the subject too closely, I am not going to have a lot of patience with you.

Listen. We have about 1 month (maybe 2?) to do all we can to help keep the team. It really is now or never. So if you can, please help out in whatever way makes sense for you. Making doom and gloom posts here doesn't help anyone and gets pretty frustrating to those that are trying to help the cause.

So - go to the games, show up at City Council meetings (every Tuesday at 6pm!), contribute to Crown Downtown however you can. One month. Maybe two. Do what you can. Let's see if we can pull this off with KJ.

Very well said.

People who don't think the fans are making a difference need to read the SI.com article I posted above.

The game isn't over yet. The only way we've already lost is if we quit, if we stop at half-time and never play the second half. There are times in life when you just have to put it all on the line, despite your fears that it may not be enough. I had a wise boss once say that you cannot be afraid of failure. If you don't try the things you're not sure you can do, you'll never know how much you CAN accomplish.

We are Kings fans. We have been there through thick and thin, in the old barn and Arco II, when fans of other teams thought we were insane to waste our time and our money. We are Kings fans. We do not give up, even when the odds are against us. On Dec. 21, 2009 the Sacramento Kings were playing the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. The Kings trailed by 35 points (79-44) with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter. And then the magic happened. The Kings started to eat away at that deficit. Slowly but surely the impossible came within reach. The Kings ended up winning the game by a score of 102-98. The comeback was the largest in the NBA since the Utah Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit against the Denver Nuggets in a game in 1996.

There's a reason you play all four quarters and there's a reason people are urging all Kings fans to step up now. As Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over til it's over."

/rant

[Capt. Factorial]

Be heard at city hall tomorrow night for a 6pm meeting but show up by 5pm.

I guess that means we are officially on this week?

[Mike0476]

I guess that means we are officially on this week?

Yup and every week until we no longer have to.

[Tetsujin]

In moderately connected news, Burkle is getting into the player representation business

[Capt. Factorial]

In moderately connected news, Burkle is getting into the player representation business

But, that makes no sense. Where did you hear that?

[Glenn]

Seems like there could be some conflicts of interest unless, as some people have suggested, he would ne involved with the arena and Mastrov would be involved with the team. Still ......

[Section 101]

But, that makes no sense. Where did you hear that?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-sports-349606

Doesn't look like NHL is involved.