After 354 consecutive sellouts, dating back to November of 1999, the Kings and Arco Arena failed to sell out their home opener.
THEIR HOME OPENER!!!
Not only did they fail to sell out the game, only 14,908 fans showed up to the 17,317 person facility. That number also set the standard for the lowest attended home opener in the NBA this season. Local ticket brokers have stopped accepting Kings tickets for resale because they can't get any where near face value for them.
Wonder if the Maloofs and Geoff Petrie thought this would happen when they put together one of the worse, and I might add - overpaid, squads Sacramento has not seen the likes of for over a decade. At least back in the '1980's, Kings's fans could come see Mitch Richmond play. "The Rock", at least, was clearly one of the most talented shooting guards this side of Michael Jordan, who said he was the hardest guy who ever defended him in the NBA.
What does the Sacramento Kings have to offer the average fan paying out an average of $89.50 to $115.00 (for semi-decent seats), or $25.5 to $68.50 (for nosebleed seating)?
Ron Artest getting his latest suspension. This time for the first seven games of the season after his latest run-in with the law. Something about animal abuse.
Mike Bibby rupturing a ligament in his shooting hand. See you in January, Mike.
The slimmed down version of Brad Miller, who still is trying to market his signature sneakers with those suction cups on the bottom. What rate are we paying him, a million dollars per rebound?
The inconsistancy of Francisco Garcia. Great talent, but he usually ends up where he wants to be about five seconds prior to the ball. Nice if he ever could bring the ball with him.
Mikki Moore. Nickname comes from that old Life cereal commercial, where a little kid is coerced into trying Life because, "Mikey will eat anything". Now you know just about all you need about him. Except we are paying him $5,356,000 this year for 25 minutes a game so far that provides 4.5 points a game and 3.5 rebounds. Throw in that one assist he provides and you got yourself our poster boy for the "What the F***?", placards I plan on putting up around town.
The Kings' "other" power forwards. Okay, boys and girls, choose between Kenny Thomas, Sharif Abdur-Rahim, and Darryl Watkins - which King PF has been the most productive so far this season? Hey! Don't cheat!!! Sure, Thomas is making $7,331,250 this season, and SAR is making $5,800,000, while the bigger and stronger (and undrafted rookie) Watkins is, um, making the minimum, shall we say. That should not influence you one bit! Well....its Watkins, who is scoring as well, rebounding as well, and playing about the same number of minutes as our $13 million dollar combo PF that is supposed to be holding down that position. While playing the only meaningful defense coming from that position, period. If only he was, like, a reknown NBA player who had something of a reputation. Kenny Thomas came to the Kings in the Chris Webber trade, essentially replacing Webber in the lineup, and being advertised as the "Mini-Webber", because his game was sooooo much like Chris', except, of couse, Kenny was three inches shorter and sort of snuff fodder when facing your average 6'10" power forward that plays in the NBA. SAR came with a bad knee, was given a five year deal, and now has to recover from a surgery on that knee to start this season. The Kings are screwed for the next two seasons after this one at the PF position, moneywise. That is how much longer both of these dead weights will be paid under their current contracts.
No trades forthcoming to help out. We would like to move Kenny Thomas. Petrie tried to move Kenny Thomas. Other GM's could not cover up their giggling through the phone, when Geoff called and offered to trade them Kenny for a set of dishes and the ball boy. No takers. Maybe he can convince Isiah in New York that Kenny Thomas in his long lost love child he had with Magic Johnson?
Where's our drafted rookie? Don't know. I hear he is finally practicing with the team, so maybe we will see him shortly. He is supposed to be very skilled offensively. So I have heard. Don't know. Never seen him play. Has anyone? His name is Spencer Hawes and he played for Washington in college. I think he is a white seven footer who doesn't rebound. Don't know. Never seen him try to rebound either.
Our interim point guard, while Bibby is out, has so far been a guy called Orciscoquin Greciaby. Orien Greene, Francisco Garcia, and Quincy Douby. But not to fear. We signed Beno Udrih to fill in as well.
So we now will have a point guard called Orciscoquino Greciabyrih. That name alone should refill Arco to the rafters, just to hear the PA announcer try to say it.