The First Sunday of Lent, at least in Roman Catholic lore, is known as Temptation Sunday. How can I resist the temptation to create a comic that touches slightly on the latest trade between the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and the New York Knicks. The Knicks later entry to the fray made it one of the most interesting threeways at the NBA Trade Deadline. At least slightly more interesting than any of the threeways I've been involved in (there's always the one guy that doesn't do much). Things of note were the end of the Kevin Martin era in Sacramento, the beginning of the great Hot Carl Landry era, and whatever we can assume about Larry Hughes. Also, Hilton Armstrong, we hardly knew ye. All three teams involved were in action last night and the first game was rather rough so to say, but I touched on the happy moments.
So gather the kids, or don't if you have a conscience, boil some water, make hot cocoa, and enjoy this edition of "Purple Pain" chronicling the recent NBA Ménage à trois.
Why? 1. San Jose Sharks Backup Goalie Thomas Greiss is their guy
If you haven't gotten around to watching many San Jose Sharks games, Greiss comes in at the end of back to backs or when Nabokov and the defense is feeling generous. He has the same rallying effect as the veteran Brian Boucher
2. They also have ex-Sharks Christian Ehrhoff and Marcel Goc
These were great scrappy guys and they are going to be great scrappy Team German guys
3. Come on haters, World War II and Nazi Germany was nearly 65 years ago
There was a time when there was a German nation divided, but once again united by the power of democracy, Reaganomics, and Baywatch reruns
4. This Olympic team is Chris Kaman free
Real Germans, Real Effort
David Hasslehoff would be all about this team as much as this team is all about David Hasslehoff
Tonight’s game between Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors from the luscious Oracle Arena has got me to once again think about the attendance disparity between the two teams.
As of today, February 17, 2010, on ESPN’s NBA Attendance report, the Golden State Warriors are 14th in the league at filling Oracle Arena with an average of 17,942 fans paying for tickets each game (91.6% to capacity). While the Sacramento Kings are near the bottom, 25th in the league, 13,489 paid tickets (77.9% of Arco Arena’s capacity). The percentage full is just barely better than the Pacers, T’Wolves, Grizzlies, Nets and 76ers.
Let’s take a Fairweather look at the many reasons why the Golden State Warriors outdraw the Sacramento Kings.
1. Arena
The Golden State Warriors play the majority of their games at the Oracle Arena. Constructed in 1966, renovated to the tune of 121 million in 1997, and now seats 19,596 people that want to call themselves Warrior fans. Okay on certain days about 30-50% of those fans are “Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs Fans”. For those not in the know, the basketball seating capacity is larger than Staples Center 18,997.Prior to the renovation, there were only 15,000 seats, now it contains two levels of luxury suites, state of the art electronic scoreboards and that old timey feeling you can get in a building originally built in the 60’s (Think Madison Square Garden West, except in Oakland).
Meanwhile in the capital city, there’s Arco Arena. Built in 1988 at the cost of 40 million to replace a renovated office buildingturned arena now turned office building (California Department of Consumer Affairs), it seats 17,317 and about as many luxury suites as most people have fingers. During the Kings’ heyday and even before that people came out to support in large numbers. I believe at one point they had a sellout streak of 300+ straight games.
Location wise, both arenas are miles from the center of town, Oracle about 6.5 miles from Downtown Oakland, same exit as the airport if you feel like you want to escape quickly. And adjacent to great nightspots such as Denny’s and GMC Truck Center, In-n-Out if you want to cross 880. Arco Arena also sits 6.5 miles from the State Capitol in sprawling Natomas, and stone’s throw away from the Sacramento International Airport if you feel like you want to escape quickly. At Oracle there are BART and Amtrak Stations nearby which means you can drive and park at the either lot. Arco Arena, much like Dodger Stadium, has parking as far as the eye can see and multiple freeway access.
If you want to base the attendance discrepancy between the Kings and Warriors on arena ambience and in-game experience, you will feel complete with the bells n’ whistles offered by the Warriors and Oracle. For Sacramento, the ease of getting into Arco Arena and getting home with the lack of Bay Area congestion is too easy it’s almost criminal.
2. Team Quality
The road numbers will indicate an opposite trend to the home numbers, the Kings are 16th in average attendance on the road, 16,864 (88.8% of road arenas filled) while the Warriors sit at 26th, 16,083 (84.8% of road arenas filled).Record wise, the Kings at 18-35 and Warriors at 14-38, you think you’re looking at identical teams. Well for the Fairweather fan, that’s as identical as they will get. Oh, also in the loveable rookies to watch category.
So far in the first half of the NBA season, I’ve seen the Kings lose a fair bit of their games with a young nucleus and a new coach.This includes a couple of buzzer beaters on both ends of the losing and winning spectrum, a couple of close overtimes to the Lakers and Cavs near Christmas time, an uninspiring 0-6 southern swing where Kevin Martin, like Stella, tried to get his groove back, and many more frustrating finishes that plagues many desperate housewives across America.
In the Warriors sphere, there’s been some quality wins early on against Portland, in Dallas, and at tough New Jersey. While at the same time, there are more head scratchers than slices of Wonder bread. Granted, I would say the Warriors quality of schedule has been likely less favorable than what the Kings have done so far. There’s an ongoing circus of injuries that has forced the Dubs to bring on D-League caliber talent and a head coach that just doesn’t look comfortable coaching. In fact, Don Nelson looks as comfortable coaching as I am riding on the bus when stuff like this happens. The players that aren’t injured seemingly are not interested in playing for the Warriors or Don Nelson, as Stephen Jackson was and perhaps as Corey Maggette claims to be. Monta Ellis has been hurt which has taken some wind if any in the sails. Davidson standout Steph Curry though has been a pleasure to watch.
Apart from the surprise 2006-2007 season, the Warriors haven’t really had a quality season since the late 80’s/early 90’s. So you got to credit the fans that actually continue to pay and watch. It should also be noted that the Kings prior to the Chris Webber and Lawrence Funderburke years had a healthy fan base to support the Mitch Richmond, Wayman Tisdale, and Tyus Edney era.
In addition to some other economical reasons we could divulge into, the median income in the Bay Area’s various districts is$65,052 with a population totaling somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 million. Let’s not forget the Warriors is the Bay Area’s professional only basketball team, isn’t it obvious as hinted by “Golden State”? Attendance does not struggle as fans are not divided between two baseball or football teams. Which coincidentally the Warriors’ neighbors, the Raiders and A’s have trouble bringing people out to the old ballgame (that’s another Fairweather Channel post and involves Al Davis somehow).
Sacramento can really only draw from 2 million people with a family’s median income of $57,112 of course all these numbers based on the 2000 Census which will probably be different in the 2010 census. Being the only professional sport in town, you’d think people would look to fill the joint like Snoop. But perhaps losing years after years of contention, an aging arena, and some civic resentment toward rich sports owners and construction of a new arena (this is common problem through California) will probably keep people at home watching Peaches (Grant Napear), and good old JR on TV for their basketball fix.
Just remember when you watch the Kings on CSN “California” and the Warriors on national TV (which you can do 7 more times this year BTW) that the economics of sport in Fairweather California, fan support, win-loss record, attendance numbers, and people’s well being just don’t go hand in hand anymore.
The Kings may not be heading to the NBA Playoffs this year, but it is a pleasure to watch them give their best effort night after night. Sure they may have beaten the Knicks and Pistons who have not been the overachievers many been. But add the fact that it was a back to back after winning in overtime at Madison Square Garden, which has not been friendly to the Kings, even when they were good.
Perhaps it's just one of those anomalies or it was an off night for the Knicks and Pistons, let's enjoy the win streak heading into the All Star Break. While we wait for Omri and Tyreke's contributions to All Star Weekend in Dallas, enjoy this edition of Purple Pain, They're Trippin, Road Trippin'.
I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to mess with your brain. I only wanted to one time see you laughing, I only wanted to see you laughing at the Purple Pain.
Despite being somewhat Fairweather on the NBA these days, I can still appreciate the raw hustle and grit of these youthful Sacramento Kings. In this first edition of "Purple Pain", I tried to catch some of the Fairweather observations from last night's Spurs and Kings game. It was simply a fine competitive effort by the young Kings, complete with another faltering 4th quarter by the young guys that the veteran Spurs took advantage of. At least if the Kings are going down, they are not going quietly into the night, especially Tyreke Evans.
If you are hurtin' about this team now, just remember...
Honey I know, I know, I know times are changing. It's time we all reach out for something new, That means you too. You say you want a leader, But you can't seem to make up your mind. I think you better close it, And let me guide you to the Purple Pain.
The Oakland Athletics have had a busy winter keeping all the fans around the Hot Stove warm. Billy Beane sure has had somewhat of an interesting outfield fetish lately, but to most Fairweather Fans, moves like this ensures some ticket sales in the first few weeks.
Enjoy this Fairweather take on the latest moves by the A's in the first edition of the Oak-Town Quadruple A's.
