I'd thought the Kings moving from Sacramento to Anaheim was all but done (and maybe it is) but then I just read this article about my favorite King, Chris Webber, getting into the mix, aiding the effort to keep the Kings in Sacramento. If there's one snag in the Maloof brothers' in-progress plans to move the team to the Honda Center, it's the great, great Sacramento fans, whose energy has been so unrelenting for the last 20+ years that maybe their roar is to blame for the deteriorating arena that everything seems to be hinged on. I showed a friend of mine—a native of Sacramento and a fan before there was anything to reasonably cheer about—this Webber/Kings article about the possible move, and he gave me a great, great recollection. Here it is, Sacramento Forever!
Never did i think Chris Webber would give me goosebumps OFF THE COURT.
I hold this to be true: "Even when the team sucked, they (fans) were great. I mean, they were raising hell every night."
Minus one year, the Richmond era Kings never got to... the playoffs, and every game I went to was packed and filled with screaming fans.
One game in particular, if I may reminisce, was against the Trailblazers--Kings were down by one point (86-87) with 1.8 seconds left on the clock. Kings had the ball (passing it in mid court on their side). Billy Owens passes it to Richmond, who, as if an acme rocket were strapped to his back like Wile E. Coyote--bloodthirsty for a righteous slaughter and a bird blood smoothy, drove to the hoop and laid it in for 2 at the buzzer. And that buzzer, well, it was instantly drowned out by the fans' cheers of glory and shouts of victory. Babies were birthed, the lame were healed--yes, the Kings had pulled off their first victory in nine games.
And afterward, walking back to my Dad's truck, people were literally crying and wrapping their arms around each others' shoulders in comradery. I'd hate to think that die-hard passion has waned in Sacramento (I haven't been back in a long time), but I doubt it has.
If the Kings were to move to Anaheim, it'd be officially telling all those and underdogs in Sac (which is stricken with poverty and loserdom) that they truly are worthless.
I'm glad to hear Webber is saying: not while I'm around. In fact, I forgive Webber of any and all clutch-time choking habits. For, it is written: He is inherently a King.
—Kevin Colpean
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