February 28, 2011; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings owner Gavin Maloof celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at ARCO Arena. The Kings defeated the Clippers 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
From time to time here at A Royal Pain, we like to feature outside work that’s passed along to us by readers and fans of the site. Today is one of those days as @Wyatt_Goodtimes sent me a piece he wanted to share – below are his thoughts which I’m sure plenty of purple and black faithful will share:
Dear Maloof family,
Oh what a journey it’s been. From Mike Bibby’s nose fouling Kobe’s elbow, to a team of youngsters leading one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history against a top notch Bulls team. It’s been a ride hasn’t it? A ride that may very well end with some heartbroken owners, a heart broken city, and some heartbroken players who after giving all they had to a team now have nowhere to hang their jerseys.
But it doesn’t have to end like this, with a family angry at a city and a city angry at a family. Odd considering we once had such a great love affair. You were our hero’s, the young playboys who stepped in on our behalf when no one else would. Things were great, the team was winning and there were sellout crowds every night, but after years of both sides wanting the same thing and no one having a solution on how to accomplish that goal things got personal. Like a divorced couple fighting over custody of the child they both love things got ugly, ego’s got out of control, both sides got bitter, and the relationship turned sour.
We understand why you didn’t want to sell the Kings, it’s the same reason we as fans don’t want to lose them to Seattle. You love being a part of the team and so do we. I know one of the greatest times of your lives was when your father owned the Houston Rockets. I imagine you all bonded so much while admiring the amazing athletes and hoping to get a win even when games got out of hand and seemed hopeless. Well there are millions of others who, while rooting for the Kings have memories just like that. From the father and son who bonded while watching games from the nose bleed seats to the kids who just got a glimpse of their favorite player while eating dinner at a restaurant. I remember being in my living room as a teenager watching one of those great playoff games against the Kings and the Lakers, jumping straight up and down screaming every time the Kings made a basket, and even though they never won that elusive championship I still cherish those memories.
Fortunately for both of us things don’t have to end on a bitter note. We can metaphorically hug and make up. We were both fighting for something we love, we were just fighting from different sides. That isn’t necessary anymore. If you can forgive our transgressions then we can forgive yours and things can go back to the way they used to be. We can keep our team and you can supplant your legacy as the owners who could have broken a million hearts but instead decided to do the right thing and gave the Kings and their fans a chance to live on and create more memories. All we need is an opportunity, an opportunity to match the Seattle group. We would be grateful beyond measure for that opportunity and you guys would go back to being the heroes. Just give us a chance.
Sincerely,
Kings fans