Oct 7, 2002 Page 2
Proof that Rick Fox is a Punk
(Take a look at Safety Rule 7 and it's picture)

PRE-SEASON THOUGHTS BY KINGSDUDE (CONTINUED)

* The Lakers are the "home" team for all 8 of their games, even though only the last 2 (?) are played in LA. These last 2 are part of this week's 4-team mini-tournament which I wrote about Wednesday.

* In some cases a team might want to showcase its product (be the "home" team) in a nearby community that doesn't have its own NBA team. Many NBA teams do this. For example, the Jazz play in eastern Washington. The Pacers bounce around Indiana. Last year the Kings played in Vegas. This year they played in Reno. These teams could make more money playing at home, but find value added playing in front of a different group of fans. Making converts. Of course, the team really would like to have a decent product worth showcasing when they do this!

* Some teams just want to get away from home to get out of their empty barns.

* Getting a team to agree to play you in podunkville (San Diego? Las Vegas?) is not an automatic done-deal. The other team is going to split ticket revenue with the "home" team so they want to know that they are going to get a big turnout. The Kings have become an elite team in the NBA with the luxury of being able to play to sold-out crowds wherever they go - even in the preseason. (Except in LA - see below.)

* Even though nobody in LA seems to care about watching their team play in the preseason (see below again), the team is still such a big draw elsewhere that they can take their show on the road to Vegas, San Diego, etc. and arrange "home" games wherever they go. They know they won't have any trouble finding an opponent. And since they're not in Staples, it means fans will actually show up to watch!

* Neither the Lakers nor the Clippers seem to want to play in Staples during the preseason. Perhaps the LA Kings (NHL Hockey) are using the floor this month. Or perhaps the 3-time defending champion doesn't want to play in an empty barn any more than the bottom feeders do. Perhaps an empty lower bowl and three levels of empty luxury boxes (you mean there are seats on TOP of those boxes?) would make it too obvious that nobody in LA (that can afford a ticket) would bother to show up to watch their team in a meaningless game. (Perhaps without their BIG star, the team is not worth watching?)

* Which brings up the question, does anybody know if anyone at all showed up to watch the Kings and Cavs play in Staples? From the sound of the radio call, the building was empty. You could hear the players, and even the benches, but no sound of any crowd. Did anyone show up for the Lakers-Bucks nightcap? (I did not watch it on TNT.) Will anyone show up to watch the games on Friday?

* Which brings us to these final thoughts. Arco Arena is probably the most egalitarian arena in the NBA, with fans in the nosebleed seats getting just as much enjoyment out of the games as fans on the floor. Kings fans will fill up Arco Arena for even an intra-squad scrimmage, much less a real (meaningless) game against another NBA team. The kings are such a complete "team" that they are worth watching even when 5 of their primary players are injured. And finally, even though Friday's game against the Lakers will be "meaningless", and won't include most of the star players, my wife and I will still truck over to our local pizza parlor and be glued to ESPN to cheer for the Kings.

 

Sacramento
Kings News
 





FastCounter by bCentral
1 millionth visit occurred on May 18th, 2002 		  HOSTED BY:

29-Oct Cle 7:00 p.m. KMAX
31-Oct Por 7:00 p.m. TNT
2-Nov @Mem 5:00 p.m. KMAX
3-Nov @Mia 3:00 p.m.
5-Nov @Orl 4:00 p.m.
6-Nov @NY 4:00 p.m. ESPN
8-Nov Mem 7:30 p.m. ESPN
10-Nov Atl 6:00 p.m.
13-Nov @GS 6:30 p.m. ESPN
15-Nov @Sea 7:00 p.m. KMAX
17-Nov Orl 6:00 p.m.
19-Nov Chi 7:00 p.m.
20-Nov @LAC 7:30 p.m.
22-Nov Pho 7:00 p.m.
23-Nov @Por 7:00 p.m. KMAX
26-Nov @Cle 4:00 p.m.
27-Nov @Min 5:00 p.m.
29-Nov LAC 7:00 p.m. KMAX
1-Dec Hou 6:00 p.m. KMAX
3-Dec Min 7:00 p.m.
4-Dec @Den 6:00 p.m.
6-Dec Den 7:00 p.m.
8-Dec @SA 5:00 p.m. KMAX
10-Dec @Hou 5:30 p.m.
14-Dec @Uta 6:00 p.m. KMAX
15-Dec NO 6:00 p.m.
17-Dec Pho 7:00 p.m.
19-Dec SA 7:00 p.m. TNT
21-Dec @Pho 6:00 p.m.
22-Dec GS 6:00 p.m. FSB
25-Dec @LAL 5:30 p.m. ABC
28-Dec Por 7:00 p.m. KMAX
4-Jan @Den 6:00 p.m.
5-Jan Mia 6:00 p.m.
7-Jan @Mil 5:00 p.m.
9-Jan @NJ 4:30 TNT KMAX
10-Jan @Min 5:00 p.m.
12-Jan Mem 6:00 p.m.
15-Jan Dal 6:00 ESP/MAX
18-Jan @LAC 7:30 p.m. KMAX
20-Jan @GS 1:00 p.m. FSB
21-Jan NJ 7:00 p.m. KMAX
23-Jan @Mem 5:00 p.m.
24-Jan @Atl 4:30 p.m.
26-Jan @Tor 9:30 a.m.
28-Jan Uta 7:00 p.m.
30-Jan @Sea 7:00 p.m. TNT
31-Jan LAL 7:30 ESP/MAX
2-Feb @Hou 1:00 p.m.
4-Feb @Dal 5:30 p.m. KMAX
5-Feb @NO 5:30 p.m.
11-Feb Was 7:00 p.m.
14-Feb Sea 7:00 p.m. KMAX
16-Feb SA 12:30 p.m. ABC
18-Feb Mil 7:00 p.m.
20-Feb Bos 7:00 p.m. TNT
23-Feb NY 6:00 p.m.
25-Feb Det 7:00 p.m.
27-Feb @Dal 4:30 TNT KMAX
1-Mar @SA 1:00 ESP/MAX
3-Mar Phi 7:00 p.m. KMAX
5-Mar Min 6:00 p.m. ESPN
7-Mar @Uta 6:00 p.m.
9-Mar Ind 6:00 p.m.
13-Mar @Pho 6:00 p.m.
14-Mar Tor 7:00 p.m. KMAX
16-Mar Dal 12:30 p.m. ABC
18-Mar GS 7:00 FSB KMAX
20-Mar LAL 7:00 p.m. TNT
22-Mar @Por 7:00 p.m. KMAX
23-Mar Hou 6:00 p.m. KMAX
27-Mar LAC 7:00 p.m. TNT
29-Mar @Chi 5:30 p.m.
30-Mar @Det 3:00 p.m.
1-Apr @Ind 4:00 p.m.
2-Apr @Was 5:00 p.m. ESPN
4-Apr @Bos 5:00 p.m. ESPN
6-Apr @Phi 12:30 p.m. ABC
8-Apr Sea 7:00 p.m. KMAX
10-Apr @LAL 7:00 p.m. TNT
11-Apr Den 7:30 p.m. ESPN
16-Apr Uta 7:00 p.m. ESPN

ESP/MAX = ESPN & KMAX
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