Okay, giving a rating of the Sacramento Kings is difficult. I am somewhat conflicted between giving a 3 or a 4 star. This season's team hasn't been doing well, but they are a spoiler team when they play against the GS Warriors, my local team. Hopefully, when I am through writing this review, I can come up with a rating.
I remember the Kings leaving Kansas City and moving to Sacramento in 1985 to play in Arco Arena. Back then how I wanted to attend a Kings game to see my favorite ballplayer, Reggie Theus. It never happened. Even my visits to my best GF in Sac never resulted in us attending any of the games. Of course, she went and her favorite ballplayer was Doug Christie. Also, back in the mid-80's I was a LA Lakers fan because of Kareem, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Michael Cooper and their coach, Pat Riley, in his Armani suit.
I stopped rooting for LA Lakers over 10 years ago, as the Kings were robbed of a chance to play in the NBA Championship series against the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn), and at that time there were some BS calls by the officials, especially a no foul call against LA on Vlade Divac. I haven't forgotten that playoff game. That's why I love to say "beat LA" and that applies to the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers and Angels.
Yes, I am from the Bay Area and a GS Warriors fan, but I do root for the teams in Northern California (A's, Giants, Raiders, a sometimey Niners, Kings - not LA as in ice hockey - the SJ Sharks and Cal Bears). Hmmm, perhaps I better pull out my Skybox basketball card collection to see who was playing for the Kings in the early 90's. I know Mitch Richmond was because he was traded for Billy Owens...thanks a lot Kings fan...Billy Owens was somewhat a disappointment. Then there was C-Webb playing with the Kings. The one player that I felt bad for was Bobby Hurley. Watching him played at Duke in the NCAA, the guy had potential of being an excellent guard. Oh, yeah, I can't forget "white" chocolate aka Jason Williams.
It was three years ago this date that I finally attended a Kings game against the Dallas Mavericks. Another one of my GFs lived right across Arco Arena and treated me to a Kings game. The fans around me were nice and they did not rag on me for being a Warriors fan. I had a great time despite the Kings losing that night. (I wasn't rooting for Jason Kidd on the Dallas team, even though he attended St. Joe's in Alameda and then UC Berkeley before turning pro.)
The half-time show was different. It was the Kings Skater Night and pro skateboarders were in the house performing their stunts. Shall I say "totally awesome, dudes"? Who did I watch that night and they were some great ballers - Tyreke Evans, Carl Landry and Spencer Hawes. I don't know who Spencer Hawes is playing for right now, but thank you for Carl Landry. He has been wonderful off the bench along with Jarrett Jack and Harrison Barnes for the Warriors.
Finally, this is one sports fan from the Bay Area hoping that the Kings stay in Sacramento and a new arena is built closer to Downtown Sac (either near the shopping mall or the convention center). Send the Maloofs away and to the Kings team I dedicate this song from back in the days by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - "Stay, ahh just a little bit longer, please, please, please..."
I am still conflicted on the rating, but I am gonna go ahead and give it a four star for the team players, not the owners. read more