subject: Maloof's are not to Blame for Leaving Sacramento [print this page] Maloof's are not to Blame for Leaving Sacramento
The city of Sacramento is blaming the Maloof's as being the reason the Kings are for leaving. I don't. Sacramento is. They've been telling the city for most of the decade, that they need a building to play in because by NBA standards the Arco Center or whatever it's called was below standards. It's not like they just bought the problem up this year and said. "Build us a new venue or we're leaving." For what whatever reasons, be it political or financial they kept getting the "We're working on it" answer. Whoever was in charge was thinking that they would never leave, it's like the wife who's been asking her husband to lose weight and he keeps telling her he will. Fifteen years later he still hasn't lost the weight, thinking that she would never leave. One day she finds a shiny new man who wants her and she's gone. That is what the Maloof's are doing. That's what anybody or business would do. David Stern who had spent money trying to get the Maloofs' a new building had enough." Go ahead and leave, I tried." That is what the previous owners did when they left Kansas City. Sacramento has forgotten all about that. Those who loved and remember them in Kansas City haven't.
Most people in the county think that choice of Anaheim is questionable. "Why would you want another team in Los Angeles, they already have two." Anybody who ever spent any time in southern California knows Orange County and Los Angeles are as different as night and day. Even though only 25 miles separates them. The fact is many Orange County residents love the Lakers, could care less about the Clippers but in fact loathes Los Angeles as much as Sacramento does. They only time they see a Lakers game is on the couch or at their local sports sport. They are not going to trek two hours in rush hour traffic one way to see them in person. The only Orange County resident that is does this is a certain number 24 who plays for the Lakers, but he does this by helicopter. I'm serious. Orange County can support a team even its Lakers territory. Over five million people live in Orange County. It's will help if the Kings or whatever they will call themselves win but if they are young and exciting which the Kings are, they will support them. The Kings aren't that bad either they have a nice young nucleus. They are a couple of players and some experience away from being a playoff contender. No joke.
So don't blame the Maloof's leaving Sacramento for Anaheim even if it's not official yet. They got offered a sweet deal that no other city could offer in terms of fans, radio and television. They took it. I can't blame them. And besides, where would most of you want to live if given a choice? Kansas City? Pittsburgh? Anaheim?
