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[Deleted member 38182]

They're playing it on 1140 right now. I can only imagine what the video montage adds to it.

Ya that was like the radio edit of it, a little different from the TV one

I wish these guys would have gotten video of it!

Led by @nickmonacelli, the pack of #Sacramento media just chased down Joe Maloof for a few blocks...escaping in a beige SUV.
— Jonathan Santiago (@itsjonsantiago) April 18, 2013

Joe Maloof's comment to the media: "Good meeting" #SacKings
— Jonathan Santiago (@itsjonsantiago) April 18, 2013

Really wish I just rolled video on media chasing Joe Maloof.That initself would've gotten 10000000 pageviews
— Jonathan Santiago (@itsjonsantiago) April 18, 2013

Great moments in media history just now as Joe Maloof was hunted down by a pack of reporters running down the middle of 5th Ave.
— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) April 18, 2013

 

[lightweight champion]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — You could hear the cowbells from 100 yards away.
First one, then another, answering in the distance of the arena parking lot. The sound brought back memories. Of the days when Arco was so loud that opposing coaches wore earplugs. Of Vlade and C-Webb and Peja, cutting and passing and finishing. Of a love affair between a city and a team.
On this night, the love affair remained, even if the team was different. Wednesday night, the diehards came out in groups, holding signs that read “NOT SAYING GOODBYE” and “Long Live the Kings.” The men had purple hair. The women wore purple dresses. Everywhere there were jerseys: Cousins and Evans and Fredette and Turkoglu and Webber. If this was the final home game in Kings history, these fans came ready for a party, not a wake.
A couple months ago, the outcome seemed inevitable: the Kings would become the Sonics, whisked away by a wealthy hedge fund manager and an even-wealthier Microsoft magnate. Back then, Dave Weiglein, the Sacramento radio host who goes by “Carmichael Dave” and who has been instrumental in rallying fan support, lamented to me how, “in the end we’re just a number — all they care about is money.” Meanwhile, Mayor Kevin Johnson gamely spoke about market size and legacy and fighting for his town and his team. Then, after offering a final line of rhetoric about how the Kings were going to come back from the brink, like a playoff team down 3-1 in a series, he asked a favor as we finished our interview: “Just don’t make me look crazy, OK?”
Now, who knew what was going to happen. Now, it was a toss-up. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, NBA team owners had met in New York to evaluate the latest offer from a new, encouraging Sacramento group. As a result, commissioner David Stern announced that a decision could still be weeks away, citing the unprecedented nature of the situation.
For Kings fans on this night, it meant there was now hope — real, genuine hope — amid all the messy emotion.
That hope was evident two hours before tipoff, when Kings radio play-by-play man Grant Napear stood courtside, staring up at the empty seats. “I feel more confident this time than I did two years ago,” he said. “That night, I really thought it could be the last game. I don’t feel that way this time. I hope I’m right.”
It was there outside the arena at 6 p.m., when a line of fans curled down the asphalt rampway, waiting to enter the arena. A woman held a “Keep the Kings” placard. Two men in turbans with long beards held signs that read “Thank You KJ, Here We Stay!” Just up the hill, DJs blasted Prince from loudspeakers, urging everyone to “party like it’s 1999.” The message, whether intentional or coincidental, seemed both nostalgic and elegiac; after all, 1999 was the first playoff season of the great Adelman teams.
There was even hope, or at least what passes for it, in the media room. Walk in, past what must be the only existing photo of DeMarcus Cousins smiling on a basketball court, and you found beat writers discussing the promise of Vivek Ranadive, the software tycoon leading the latest Sacramento group, and how his connections in India are appealing to the league. The writers couldn’t help it. This thing has a shot, they said.
Down the hall, in the Sacramento locker room, power forward Jason Thompson, the longest-tenured King at five seasons, preferred to think about the past, talking about his favorite Sacramento memories. “Man, there are so many,” he said. “This was my first new home, coming from 3,000 miles away [in New Jersey].” Thompson grew up a Sixers fan but the first jersey he owned was Chris Webber’s, and he loved the Kings teams of the early 2000s. “For me the most powerful moment was playing the Lakers for the first time,” he said, “because I knew about the rivalry and tradition”
Tradition. That’s part of what this is about. A number of the old Kings came out on this night. There was Brad Miller in the family room, wearing a baseball hat and a long-sleeve polo shirt that, against all odds, was not camouflage-patterned. And there, in the tunnel, was Mitch Richmond, who later received a prolonged standing ovation when shown on the big screen during the game. And of course there was Bobby Jackson, the former defensive stopper and current Kings assistant coach, trying but failing to pretend it was just another game. “It’s tough,” he said quietly, standing in the locker room. “You try to think just about the game but it’s the end of the season so now you have to focus on the future.” Jackson said he still talks with Doug Christie, and Mike Bibby on occasion. He worries what will happen to their shared history if the team moves. Will they hang Kings jerseys from the rafters in Seattle? Jackson shook his head. “If they go to Seattle, we would disappear,” he said. “When they move, nothing goes with them. All this Sacramento Kings stuff stays here. They’ll be the Supersonics.” Jackson’s not happy about it but seems resigned. “Power, that’s what controls this,” he said. “I’m here to do my job and wait and see what happens. It’s all I can do.”
Kings fans feel otherwise. For months — actually years now — they’ve rallied and pledged and picketed. On this night, the epicenter was in the K14 area of the parking lot, where Weiglein held court outside a giant purple-and-white RV. Man and machine had just come back from traversing the country, rallying for the Kings. They rolled up to the NBA meetings in New York, dipped through the South. Now, upon return, the RV was covered with good luck messages, scrawled in Sharpie by fans and supporters across the country.
Keep fighting Dave!
Save the Kings
- Matt W.
Kings fan since 85
- Lou
Keep the Kings!
- Season Ticket holder for 23 years Brandon Quan
Purple & Black
Stays in Sac!
Kings for life – Mikell Wood
With each minute, more signatures were added, higher and higher up on the RV, in the only spots where space was available. Young guys with bushy beards and tats signed, white-haired grandmothers signed, women holding Coors Light cans signed. Weiglein stood in the middle of it all, a man who’s afraid of crowds working hard to embrace this one. He posed for pictures, led the swarm in “Go Kings!” chants, signed the jerseys of 8-year-olds. “I’m feeling good,” he told people about the future, and he seemed to mean it.
Half an hour later, Weiglein and his troops swarmed into the building, joining thousand of others to create a rippling mass of purple, a sellout crowd that sang along to the national anthem, stood and clapped throughout intros and booed the Clippers lustily.
In the end, a game was played, one the Kings almost won behind an epic 36-point, 22-rebound night from Cousins, the crowd roaring the whole way and Kevin Johnson clapping from his seat at midcourt. It had all you could ask for: monster dunks (by Cousins) and airballs (by Marcus Thornton) and beautiful drives (by Isaiah Thomas) and a close finish (112-108 final). There was even some solid Chris Paul heckling from the fans on the baseline.
This night was never about a game, though, even if this happened to be a surprisingly good one by Kings standards. Rather, this was an outlet, a stage, an opportunity, a soapbox. It was a community coming together. It was about shared memories, and love, and resilience. It was about hating the Maloofs and adoring the Kings, about toasting the past and yearning for a future.
Most of all, though, it was about one more chance to be heard, in the hopes that the right people are listening.

Great read

 

[lightweight champion]

Reading that it was Joe Maloof that said that instead if George gives me a slight but more hope.

 

[mister916]

I would love to see a video of that.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

wow lil Georgie does have a pair of balls after all

George Maloof put his phone down to talk to us, did not run. #nbakings twitter.com/nickmonacelli/…
— nickmonacelli (@nickmonacelli) April 18, 2013

 

[Deleted member 38182]

found it!!!

 

[Deleted member 38182]

rewatching it and it still makes me weak 

 

[lightweight champion]

Awesome video. Thanks for posting it rck! So many emotions watching that.

 

[crcballer55]

I always have to remind myself that the Christie uppercut and subsequent fight was in a PRESEASON game. That's how intense the rivalry was then.

That said a lot of Lukenbil to get up in the rafters himself and patch the leak so the game could go on. If only we had owners of that quality for the past 6 years. I'm convinced that George is the one who has caused most of this since he was the one running the Palms into the ground too.

 

[lightweight champion]

That guy is hell bent on making Vegas a place for a sports franchise. I understand UNLV is his alma mater but damn, it's a financial hell hole! The thought of an MLB team playing baseball in 112 degree weather :x

 

[crcballer55]

That guy is hell bent on making Vegas a place for a sports franchise. I understand UNLV is his alma mater but damn, it's a financial hell hole! The thought of an MLB team playing baseball in 112 degree weather

Phoenix got a team

Wouldn't be surprised if he pitches using the new UNLV stadium as the one the major league team will use too. After all, they've balked at building a new stadium here for long enough.

 

[lightweight champion]

How many business and sponsorship luxuty suites does that stadium have? Wasn't that their big issue (among other things) with Arco?

 

[senorroboto2k5]

Unreal video... Perfectly captures everything KJ and the team has been pitching to the NBA as to why they shouldn't be moved. Horrible level of disrespect in the NBA thread though

Two personal and meaningless critiques:

1.) They left out the JAMES JOHNSON BUZZER BEATER but were able to sneak in some shots of the Maloofs?

and

2.) **** Doug Christie

 

[Deleted member 38182]

  I knew Lakers fans probably wouldn't like the Christie footage.... Hell Christie was probably my least favorite Kings player back then, but oh man what'd I do to have a team full of guys that actually cared about playing... unlike the current team

Seeing the Maloofs in it bummed me out, because from 99-06ish they were great owners....... and it hurts to think that as early as 2000 they (were rumored to be) looking to relocate the team. Only thing that prevented them from doing so was probably the success of the team back then 

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Stern presser is on now..... its on NBA Tv and News10 is streaming I think

 

[Deleted member 38182]

after Stern referenced to inaccurate reports coming out of Seattle:

"I'm glad you read and watch our news" -Chris Daniels

"I'm waiting to see something accurate" -David Stern

 Stern stays owning that poor dude 

 

[mister916]

Lmaoooooo

 

[lightweight champion]

Holy mother of ...

 

[Deleted member 38182]

The main points I got out of this presser was

-Stern pointing out that this process is about relocation, not sale of the team

-Sac offer not as complete as it will be (as in not having i's dotted or t's crossed)

-Most critical point is each cities arena paths (the Staples Center was built in 2 years 

)

-Sac offer is in the ballpark/close enough and not 'way off' as previous reports had noted, and either offer from Hansen/Ballmer or Vivek/Mastrov/Jacobs will be the same net result for Maloofs

 

[Deleted member 38182]

With Stern saying net result to Maloofs is same, would love to know their motivation in fighting so hard for Seattle. Something missing.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 19, 2013

 

[Deleted member 38182]

also, the league will be voting on relocation first then on the sale of the franchise.

IMO should relocation get denied, Hansen/Ballmer would have to bow out of their binding deal and Sacramento would be the last offer standing.

The reason Sac's offer isn't binding, I think, is because the Maloofs can't have to binding agreements.

 

[crcballer55]

With Stern saying net result to Maloofs is same, would love to know their motivation in fighting so hard for Seattle. Something missing.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 19, 2013

This is what I REALLY want to know. It's not like they haven't received multiple offers from Sacramento investors in the past. Instead, they've tried everything possible to move the team when competitive bids are on the table.

 

[lightweight champion]

There's a couple of ways to look at it.

1.) They have a personal vendetta against KJ and Sacramento, which is what we all think this is about.

2.) If they openly said they want to rescind their contractual agreement with Hansen/Ballmer, even with the $30 million binding, they'd probably face a pretty big lawsuit which could probably be filed under breach of contract.

I'm not eliminating number 2, but I'm pretty sure its personal for those bums.

 

[a55a5in11]

my favorite kings memory :x

 

[Deleted member 38182]

That is a dope play.

But you should post it in the Sonics thread.