Tag Archives: Sacramento Kings

NBA Draft: Kings Need Rubio

Sports, , ,

Even though Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie has said that they will simply “draft the best player available” in today’s draft, the simple fact is that drafting Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio would put Sacramento back in the spotlight, back on the basketball world map and more crucially, put butts in seats at Arco Arena.
Tyreke Evans may be a better point guard and could contribute straight away, but he does not have the draw that the Maloofs so desperately want: Butts in seats.
Rubio on the floor would be a throwback to Jason Williams. He wasn’t the best point guard either, but people came to watch the Kings – and had a good time even when they lost – and we all know what happened once that buzz started… Butts in seats.

Do the right thing, Geoff.

– MCZF1

By the way, Petrie was in particularly zen form yesterday when he said, “Whatever happens in this draft tomorrow, there is not going to be any absolute truth – only some people will say there is. The absolute truth will come down the road, when the truth becomes more self-evident.” If they ever want to do a remake of “Kung Fu” I think ol’ Geoff could sub for the late David Carradine…

A Class Act (for a change)

Sports, , , ,

The Sacramento Kings announced the retirement of Shareef Abdur-Rahim yesterday, after 12 seasons in the NBA. With his arthritic knee which had troubled him for well over a year, it was no great surprise.
He was a solid contributor before his body gave out on him, but even more importantly, he was a class act and a major off-court basketball ambassador – something well worth mentioning at a time awash with Josh Howard’s.

During the press conference he said, “I just hope that whatever team I was on, whatever city I was in, whatever organization I was with, that my contributions were about more than just playing basketball. If all I did in those situations I was in was play basketball, then I’d say I did a poor job.” Truly wonderful words to come out of an athlete’s mouth.

Abdur-Rahim could have ridden the pine again this coming season and collected his money, but he chose to retire and give the Kings some options (and future cap relief). Thankfully, Geoff Petrie also recognizes class too, and will be offering the veteran a place within the Kings organization. I wish him every success in the next faze of his career.

– MCZF1

Welfare for Millionaires

Politics, Sports, ,

The Kings arena deal would not be objectionable if the facility were going to be a publicly owned and operated facility like a library or park.  The bottom line after all the numbers are crunched, is that the Maloofs, and by extension their employees (professional basketball players among others) will benefit from the taxation of citizens if this deal goes through.

I love basketball.  I love the Kings.  I hate subsidizing businesses — especially those where the employees make 6 and 7 figure salaries.

Margaret Williams of Tahoe Park, who brought her two children to the Sacramento Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, July 25th was exactly right when she asked Dickinson to explain to them why “mommy should invest in an arena instead of their milk.”  She should not be forced to spend money on the Kings. 

It would be much more appropriate for the Kings to charge what the market will bear for tickets and if the arena doesn’t warrant the ticket prices, it shouldn’t be built. There is no reason a public/private partnership cannot be created, but the taxpayers should not be out one dime. It is their money.  I would hate to see the Kings leave, but if the most loyal, loud, dedicated fans in the NBA aren’t reason enough to stay in Sacramento, I’ll be happy to drive the Maloofs to the airport with a one-way ticket to McCarran.  I would thank them for what they did for the city while they were here and hope that the example set here would lead to more of the same throughout the country.  Eventually we would regain an NBA franchise based on the fan support we offer.

– Jeffersonish