The Sacramento Kings are having a moment the likes of which we haven’t seen in a very long time. Even if you think back to the best starts of the drought era, like the Scores or the pre-meningitis Boogie/Malone era, the Kings have not captured the hearts and attention of fans and media like this.
It’s a special thing to enjoy. We’re all conditioned to expect that it could end at any moment, but it’s a sweet reward for those of us who have suffered through these last 16 years of mostly-miserable basketball. The Kings currently sit 4th in the West, the Beam is a genuine phenomenon, games are packed, and the atmosphere is fun.
Considering all we’ve been through, it’s understandable that some Kings fans may feel protective of this experience. It’s natural the feel possessive over a team that you’ve suffered with, and resentful of bandwagon fans hopping on now that things are fun without having paid their dues through the worst of it all. I understand that inclination, but I also think it’s one we should reject.
Games are more fun when they’re sold out. The atmosphere downtown is more fun with a bunch of people walking around all wearing Kings gear. I want the Kings to be popular and beloved. Not everyone is a diehard sports fan, and that’s fine with me. Hell, I’m downright jealous of people with the sanity and clarity to enjoy sports when they’re fun and spend their time doing literally anything else when the sports aren’t fun. I’m not going to begrudge anyone who chose not to suffer this franchise’s ineptitude over the years and is willing to come back now that they’ve displayed competence. I’m going to welcome them back with open arms.
At the end of the day it’s not about who is a fan in the correct way or who is a better fan. Someone returning to Kings fandom this year may not feel the same catharsis that a diehard does, but they’ll still be anxious in a close game and feel joy or disappointment at the outcome.
So to fans who gave up and are returning, welcome back. To the bandwagon fans jumping into this world for the first time, welcome. There’s plenty of room here for everybody*.
*except for Warriors or Lakers fans
Down on your knees now and worship The Beam!
Appreciate you writing this Greg, it’s an interesting topic. I’m “guilty” of regurgitating some of the things I learned growing up near Philly and being a Philly fan. For example, Cowboy fans are cockroaches (they show up everywhere), or that you can’t root for a second team. I found that moving around the country negates that second point.
…but back home I heard many times on the sports squawk that bandwagon fans are how you build the base, so I’m all on board.
New fan? See you at the game. Right now is fun.
100% agree. The more the merrier. Never will I shame a bandwagon fan for not knowing about the Kenny Natt season or when they went over a year without winning a single road game (prior to the golden years). They don’t have to have a Rodney McCray jersey in their closet, or a vintage Kings penny jar. They are welcome to enjoy this version of the Kings and I hope that they stick around when things inevitably go south (sooner or later, but hopefully later). They don’t take away the joy of being a fan who has suffered and now can be excited and optimistic just at the hope that this team seems different. That there is reason to believe, even though they have accomplished exactly nothing other than a decent 1/4 of a season.
Come on and believe in the beam team and I’m happy to share the stoke.
Yeah, before I buy into that, how does this affect my ability to talk down to fans of other teams for their bandwagoneers?
That won’t be hypocritical, right? I have earned that right, right? Right?
I think it would be hypocrisy if you are treating our bandwagoners differently. For example, we know that Laker bandwagon fans are cocksmoking douche nozzles, because of the way they act the mere fact that they become fans when the Lakers get good it’s OK, but when they act high and mighty and throw stuff in your face about how great the fakers are and your team sucks yada yada yada then they deserve your ire . Now, if the bandwagon Kings fans become douche nozzles, and you’re OK with that, then you’re being a hypocrite.
This is literally half of my current age. 😐 And when I actually started following the Kings/NBA in general, it was the first time in eight years the Kings missed the postseason (the 2006-07 season). I truly hope I can finally see this team have long term success after so long.
More than the 16 years. Many have been fans since they arrived in Sacramento. That’s 37 seasons in which they made the playoffs 10 times and made it past the first round only 4 times. Kings fandom hasn’t only been a lesson in patience and futility for the past 16 years. Success has definitely been the exception and not the rule for this team since they arrived in Sacramento.
Your Sacramento KIngs: Exceptional since 1985!
On twitter I’ve seen some “gatekeeper” posts, which I’m not particularly fond of, but also kind of fond of.
So I decided to make a quiz that is easily passed by non-bandwagoners.
Are you a bandwagoner?
his left arm
Depends on who sits next to me.
What boy part do you instinctively reach for?
His or mine?
Don’t reach, or you’ll get called for a foul.
But you can elbow your opponent’s face. That is not a foul.
turned it off
You’re a better man than me!
(although technically, in the end my TV did turn off)
“Hey! I’ve got even more stories, but you’ll have to wait until the Kings game starts so I can tell them!”
I yelled aloud at work.
Boo this Kosta!
“Who is Babe Ruth”
you mean Baby Ruth. It’s a candy bar.
“…What is Baby Ruth”
(“thanks!!”)
All of these are awesome! Well done!
Thanks, Adam!
(obviously you passed)
Completely agree and needed the smile these generated! Well done Kosta
Thanks, Want2win!
(you passed as well!)
As long as I didn’t pass, that’s all that matters.
“As long as I didn’t pass, that’s all that matters.”
-Marvin Bagley III
Yep, I can live with that.
Goddamn these are amazing!
Everyone here is passing! It’s like that team we had in the early 2000’s!
Thanks!
Best thread of the year.
The social media fan thing is so weird.
I’ve been a Giants fan since ‘65. Been in the game (not professionally, of course) in some form or another for over 50 yrs. I know & love baseball. I would never purport to know more than the next fan, nor do I begrudge any fan that arrived in 2010 and/or took a hiatus since 2015.
Being a fan is a choose your own adventure, based on your life & interest & passion. Why would another person have a problem with that?
And 1 – A full arena is a loud arena, and a fun place to be. Why would we not invite anyone / everyone with any level of interest in rooting for the Kings to come in and add to the beautiful, beautiful noise?
Scene outside of Golden One Center before tipoff:
“Anyone got any tickets to sell to me and my brothers here? Anyone? Light the laser!”
It depends on how they add to the noise.
R.I.P. Luke Walton’s headcoaching job.
More like “celebrating Luke Walton’s firing.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll clean up that mess!”
“But I HATE cleaning up this mess.”
Keith Smart
DeMarcus not smart
Towel bro needs gloves!
No need–just wipe it up with this!
Looks like a perfect application for the shamwow.
My family moved around a lot when I was a kid, so I picked up a random collection of sports teams that I root for based on where we lived when I took an interest in that sport. Historically, the Kings have been by far the least successful. Now, they’re the only team of the bunch that’s good. Strange
Coldworld.Jason Thompson, eating ice cream too fast
Screw all this.
The only real ones have watched the Kings play in Arco I. (And maybe caught a Ms. Bigfoot contest there too.)
The rest of you are a bunch of posers.
If years later they build a new arena, will it be called Golden Two Center?
New Balance Pavilion?
Unlike Arco II, this place is still around! Just need to put things back where they were over 30 years ago and we can play basketball in there…
My daughter plays basketball for her junior high, and I’ll admit, she is pretty darn good, as in arguably one of the best players on her 8th grade team, and she is in 7th grade. That being said, she has drawn the attention of the boys who also love basketball. Quite a few come to the girls’ games. All being under the age of 14, none have known a successful Kings team and most wear that Bay Area team’s merchandise with regularity. My daughter on the other hand, wears Kings gear. She used to get teased wearing the purple and black, but things have started to change. Now the boys chat her up about the Kings and comment how good they look. They want to talk to her at lunch about Sabonis or some play they saw. One even told her he liked her Fox shirt.
I told her to tell all of them to go fuck themselves. Was I wrong in doing this?
Can she play SF?
Also, you were not wrong. In fact, you were right!
“Light the Beam!”
Anyway, who said Buddy has trouble holding onto the ball?
The canned response for her is to say…..
“If the Warriors stink this year, don’t worry. You always have your Yankees and your Cowboys to fall back on.”
(make sure she emphasizes the YOUR in her response)
I have a daughter. When in the 8th. I would never tell her to use the F word but if you go ahead and say it;s alright IMO you may have yo pay consequences later on. I have always agreed with you on almost all your comments about the Kings but in this case if you think t’s okay I disagree but your the father of an 8th grade basketball player.
Dude, it’s said in jest. My daughter doesn’t swear; she’s an angel, and I rarely swear in her presence. It’s just a running joke in our house to make fun of Warrior and Laker fans. I’ve known all those boys since they were in Kindergarten and they know we are a Kings household. We poke each other all the time.
Just the other day, I was talking with on the boys (whom we’ve known to have a crush on my daughter for some time) and I told him he’d never be allowed to date my daughter. He asked why, and my exact words were: “because you are a Warriors fan, you knucklehead!”
No, keep all the boys away from her. I don’t even care if they’re Kings fans. They’re leeches
Right? Sounds like they’re trying to get their Mac on.
Hahaha! That’s an awesome story.
Hahaha! Never let any young guys around your daughter…for any reason.
All aboard to the Church of BeamShakalaka
And after 16 years we no longer have Dysentery!
Nor viral meningitis!
That playoff hunger strike was a bad idea tho…
Remember when we all had cowbell fever?
I always knew this would work, and the team would start winning.
Just kidding. I had given up hope.
This sure is fun though. I love screaming at the tv “light the fucking beam!”
Sir, this is a Wendys.
Sorry, I thought it was a P.F. Kangz.
Free Taco Hell.. uhh Taco Heaven for all ye believers!
“I said ‘basketball’ hell, coach. Welcome to basketball hell.”
For a brief period of time we all thought it was basketball swell.
When new Kings fans find their way to The Kings Herald, we’re gonna have to teach them all of our memes and inside jokes.
“No one expects the yeti.”
“Bap bap bap.”
“Go on…”
“Breakfast.”
Among others…
This thread is freaking gold!!!!
“…well. What do we do now?”
Why am I suddenly craving a $5000 hamburger and a glass of wine?
Chase it with this.
Actually, don’t.
Nor with this.
This was a better fan site two days ago.
What really double jumps out at you is…
Badge Legend