It wasn’t that long ago that the Maloof family could do no wrong. They, themselves, were an extension from the purple and black product on the floor. They were universally loved by the fans and community (for the most part). Sure, there were always little oddities that made you raise a ‘brow, but you looked past that – I mean, they were the Maloof’s – we loved them.
But then like a wavering relationship, rumors of infidelity surfaced. Ah well, we said – it’s not true. Many want what we have – it’s just other cities attempting to pry it away. It’s not like they’d leave Sacramento anyway. But then the rumors got stronger – then we had confirmation. Okay, so it’s just business – we get that. After all, if they don’t have courting from other suitors how can they determine what to do in Sacramento? They’re just using the other cities for our benefit – a way to get the city of Sacramento to take the potential of them leaving seriously. Ah, those shrewd Maloof’s…
We all know what happened after that.
Which brings me back to my initial point. As the Kings prepared to take on the Lakers at
Arco
PBP for the final game of the 2010-2011 season and quite possibly what could have been the final ever game in Sacramento, Maloof sister Adrianne made her way to the game, cameras from the Bravo television show “Real Housewifes of Orange County” in tow.
While Gavin and Joe were fixtures at King games until news broke of their potential relocation, Adrianne was spotted at King games less frequently than Chris Webber on the Billboard charts. But of course, given the fantastic storyline, Adrianne and her crew made their way from Orange County on their private jet to Sacramento, “fearful” of what King fans would do to her when they saw her at the game. That of course, taking in the assumption that King fans would even recognize her given the two games per decade schedule she fits in.
I’m not one who would normally watch Real Housewives of Orange County – I’d actually never seen the show before the past episode, but I heard about the broadcast and I had to tune in just to see how she handled the situation. I initially thought it was incredibly silly of her to show up with cameras when we found out she was in the house that evening, but I didn’t think she’d make the mockery she did.
Adrienne did her best to act like a concerned mother seeing her children off to college – continually bringing up the “intensity” of the situation and saying that the “move” was “one of the most difficult decisions SHE and her family ever had to make”, but of course followed that up with a “we don’t know what to do” – even going as far as to claim the situation “exhausting”.
On her way to the arena, they stop by a mural painted on a city wall inscribed with the words “Baby please don’t go Kings” which of course leads to a tearful encounter followed by a foot rub as the tears streamed down her face. Yes, you read that right….
Maybe the most ironic part of the night came when Adrienne decided to explain herself when pressed about attending the game, saying “it would have been easy to stay home but she knew it would be an emotional night and she wanted to show up and support the King fans”…which is ironically about the same time I vomited.
Of course, adding to the drama, Adrienne and her crew opted to walk through the concourse’s of PBP, dealing with the “rowdy” King fans she was so initially fearful of on her flight to Sacramento. She then became even more choked up as random text messages from King fans began to appear on her cellphone, saying “this is what rips her heart out”. Huh. I must have missed the media release of her phone number to text my concerns….
As the evening came to a close, unhappy being “stuck in a box” in her oddly located suite (behind the basket?!), she wanted to get “close” to the fans – first asking her bodyguard (LOLZ) to go sit on the floor. After the decision was made that sitting on the floor was “unsafe” (claims were made that it was “dangerous”!1111!!1!!1), she decided to pull out her best Geoff Petrie imitation and stand in the tunnel – bridging that huge gap between she and the legions of purple and black, allowing her to be SO SUPER FREAKING CLOSE to the fans she loves so much.
The evening ended with Adrienne again crying in the tunnel while sharing embrasses with “happy” King employees and fans on her way out.
Listen, I don’t know Adrienne – and I’m certainly not judging her outside of this charade that was put on, she seems like a nice lady – but the family, especially Joe and Gavin should be embarrassed by this. The fact that part of the Kings ownership, despite the little effort she puts into it, felt the need to use what was potentially the last Kings game in Sacramento as a pawn for TV show drama – really? Really?! And this was allowed by the figureheads, Joe and Gavin? The silliness in claiming how dangerous the situation was – how volatile the King fans could be. It’s shameful. More than that, it’s embarrassing as a King fan that it was even allowed to take place.
But unfortunately, it doesn’t shock me – which says plenty enough in itself.