A Kings fan wants to do what’s right, right?
So what does that actually entail, right here and right now, with the rest of NHL world watching as they watch the Ducks waddle through another round of the Stanley Cup playoffs?
Put it this way: O.C. Orange ain’t the new L.A. black.
Who started this misguided narrative that, because the Kings now have a couple of Stanley Cup souvenirs from the recent past, they should be comfortable enough in their own history to be loud and proud to get all caught up in the #PaintItOrange swirl and lend support to the rival Ducks during their playoff run?
For the “greater good” of this puck-rich region (some still want to throw San Jose into that Google map search). For the fruitful karma it will bring to Freeway Faceoff ongoing strife.
Or is it just the opposite?
Is there any joy to be had in the Kings’ kingdom when witnessing the Ducks’ soul plucked out of them after yet another Game 7 defeat. It didn’t happen in the Western Conference semifinals, but if history repeats itself, it’ll happen in this Western Conference finals or perhaps the Stanley Cup final.
Having put that question out on social media, we got a slappy array of responses, but just to make sure we had the ice-cold temperature taken correctly:
“That’s like rooting for the Giants to win the World Series for the greater good of California … heck no,” writes @Dave_In_SoCal.
“Go Preds Go” from @KingsMenPodcast.
“Never cheer for Anaheim. Only Nashville can save us from those fans,” from @siptico.
“No can do. Sorry Ducks,” from @EdCoughlan.
“Kings fan, followed Nashville from the outset thanks to family in SW Kentucky, but I’ve never been a bigger Preds fan than right now,” writes @GunkaNick.
But then, there are these two points to be made:
“They were so nice to Bob Miller during his last broadcast I’ve suspended my Duck hate for a year … (and Getzlaf is a stud),” writes @JohnOndrasik.
Then from the esteemed media realist Tom Leykis: “I’m for the Ducks. If the Ducks win the Cup, it forces the Kings to get better. Remember, the Kings never won a Cup until the Ducks embarrassed them.”
Touche. The rest of us will just have to wing it.
- And still, we’re still good with a nickname like the Predators catching on?
Even as there’s a guy named Chris Hansen trying to bring the NHL to Seattle, and there’s been no “Dateline NBC” investigation in any of this?
- If we’re OK with Blake Griffin leaving the blundering Clippers and thundering down to his old homestead in the OKC, are we obligated to tell Russell Westbrook and friends that the guy probably has a few pre-existing medical conditions that might not be covered in whatever team health plan they pick? Or is there a farmer-based insurance policy that Chris Paul can sign off on for him?
- The Rams are allowing fans to vote through the magic of social media and on their website about which games they’d like to see the team wear throwback uniforms this fall – specifically, the royal blue tops with the yellow accents, yellow pants, blue helmets and the yellow horns.
What about just plain, basic, clean blue and white? Can’t we throw it all the way back to the ’60s?
Actually, the standard unis for all Rams games at the Coliseum will be just that, the team has said – blue helmets with white horns, white face masks, white pants with one navy stripe. So a “throwback” is now defined by what they wore from 1973-99 during much of their Anaheim glory.
So which games would you prefer?
Is none of the above an appropriate response?
Nope.
Then why even ask in the first place?
- Magic Johnson insists the The LaVar Ball Not-Based-In Reality Show has “no effect at all” on how the Lakers will evaluate UCLA one-and-done point guard Lonzo Ball for the upcoming NBA draft.
Because the reality is that Baller Zo has zero mid-range jump-shot ability with that awkward shot, showing in college only an ability to cast off 3-pointers or drive for dunks, and there are probably three other point guards in the draft who really are better long-term investments – if the Lakers even want another point guard prospect.
- If existing venues are L.A.’s greatest strength in trying to convince the IOC during its visit this week that this is the place for the 2024 Summer Olympics, what’s the sportsmanship in trying to wrestle that date from Paris, which would be having a 100-year five-ring anniversary, and acting so indignant about accepting the 2028 date? The venues will still be there, right? Or are they just Hollywood props?
- Why all the contentious hand-wringing now about relocating season-seat holders and arm-twisting more donations out of USC football fans as the Coliseum renovation? Trojan alums who now see the price of tuition for their kids still can’t handle the sticker shock?