Kings to Leave Sacramento?

I’m sure most of you that follow the Sacramento Kings have heard by now – talks are now underway about a proposed new stadium to be built in Sacramento. The Maloofs are now basically threatening to leave the city, and taking the team with them, if a new arena deal isn't reached. Rumored new locales include Las Vegas and Anaheim. No telling when they plan on the move, but all signs point to very soon - within the next year or so.

Now, here's the deal. I, for one, don't want them to leave. Obviously - I'm a Kings fan, and the Kings are our sports team. To see them as the Las Vegas Kings, or the Anaheim Kings just wouldn't be right. Besides being the State Capitol, the Kings are all Sacramento has going for them right now.

Speaking purely as a sports fan, and a Kings fan (I'll admit, not lifelong, but still passionate), the people have to realize what they are potentially willing to give up if they don't come up with a new arena deal. I mean, Sacramento has had this team since I was born (1984, for those of you who don't know my birth date). And, for as long as I've been living around here, Kings fans have been loyal throughout its long, and in most cases sad, history. I mean, year in and year out, the Kings have had some of the most loyal fans in the NBA - they have been terrible for the majority of their stay in Sacramento, and still the fans keep coming. Especially in the last seven years, you would rarely find less than a sold-out game every time the Kings play in ARCO Arena.

We Kings fans have just seen a team renaissance these last four years that we hope can last for a long time to come. The team came within a Robert Horry three, a few bad referee calls and a few missed free throws of an NBA Finals berth and, arguably, an NBA Championship. Imagine that: for your team to be so close to a title, you could taste it, and just a few years later, you're willing to give that team up. Anywhere else, it would be a travesty, a sham and a mockery (a traveshamockery!) - this wouldn't even be a question: "You need something to keep our team here? You got it!" How could we possibly think about giving up something so important to the identity of this city?

Now, I realize that, I guess, there is some sort of majority of Sacramento Residents that don't really give a damn either way about Sacramento having a sports team. Most of these people aren't willing to pay higher taxes to fund a new stadium just for a sports team. I can understand that argument - "Why should I fund a stadium for something I don't even care about?" So, up to this point, my arguments have been completely moot. Now, I suppose I could understand your point of view. I get that there are people not willing to support major sports in this city ... I guess.

But, here's something that you people need to understand - this new arena will not just be for the Kings. What people have to understand is that: 1) Arco Arena is the only major entertainment venue we have in the tri-county area, and especially in Sacramento (I mean, seriously, could you imagine U2, or the Rolling Stones or Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus performing at Hornet Stadium?), and 2) ARCO is dying. It's on its last legs, and it's beginning to fall apart. At least, that's what I keep hearing - in a couple of years, it will no longer be capable of holding any major entertainment venue safely.

In the end, I guess, here's what it all boils down to: Keep the Kings in Sacramento. Give the Maloofs what they want. If a new stadium's all they're asking for, fine. The citizens can pay a few extra tax dollars to keep entertainment in this city. Something's gotta be done, or Sacramento will just be another cow town. The only niche we'll have then is that we have the Governator. Now, seriously: is that what we want Sacramento to be known for?

Indy Going 16-0: Is It Really Possible?

The Indianapolis Colts have just defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, reloaded with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, 26-7. Their win puts them at 11-0, the only undefeated team in the league, and the first team to go 11 wins with zero losses since the 1998 Denver Broncos, who went 13-0 before their first loss.

At this point, as it has been for the past month, it is appropriate to discuss whether Indianapolis can run the table, and go 16-0 for the season - the first to do so since the legendary 1972 Miami Dolphins team went undefeated, at 17-0. Hell, everyone else has. So, first, I'm going to bring up the obvious points (to those who follow the NFL). Here's why they will go undefeated:

First of all, they have the talent and the necessary tools to do so. Peyton Manning is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league - some consider him one of the greatest pocket passers and field generals they ever saw. His track record says it all - coming off of a record 49 TD season last year, he is currently in the top five among quarterbacks in several statistical categories: fourth in passing yards (2,779), second in passing TDs (22), and second in passer rating (104.5). Now, granted, he may not have the same statistics as his phenomenal 2004 season (4,557 yards, 49 TDs, 10 INTs, 121.1 Passer Rating; currently on pace for 4,042 yards, 32 TDs, 12 INTs, approximately a 100 Passer Rating), but his knowledge of the game and near-perfect precision passing prove that monster stats don't mean much when it comes to winning.

His weapons on the offensive end have refined themselves into a well-oiled machine that are rarely thrown off their stride. His dynamic duo of wide receivers - future hall of famer Marvin Harrison and potential pro bowler Reggie Wayne - are as good as they have been: Harrison with 62 receptions, 794 yards and 9 TDs, Wayne with 64 receptions, 814 yards and 4 TDs. Both are on pace for 1000-yard seasons. RB Edgerrin James has been the main cog in the Colts' offense: his dangerous ground game allows for the passing game's success. His 1,240 yards and 11 TDs say it all - Indianapolis' offense, whether it be on the ground or in the air, is virtually unstoppable.

The best part for the Colts is that when their offense hits a rare wall in the face of opposing defenses, their defense has the talent and schemes they need to bail them out. The ascension of the Colts' defense as a league power has been a pleasant surprise to the team. DE Dwight Freeney's refinement of his patented "spin move" has kept him as a defensive threat to any team that faces him - so far, he has 23 total tackles and 7 sacks. The devastating tackles of FS Bob Sanders and the play of new acquisition DE Corey Simon have anchored the undersized, yet lightning quick defense that has been, statistically, among the best in the league.

Because of their balance on both ends of the ball, they have proven over the past 12 weeks that they have the flexibility to beat teams in any type of game they play - for example, they have the offensive firepower to beat teams in high-scoring games (Week 11 @ Cincinnati - W, 45-37), or they can win with defense (Week 2 vs. Jacksonville - W, 10-3). They have exercised demons of the past (Week 9 @ New England - W, 40-21; Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh - W, 26-7) and have shown supremacy over lesser teams (Week 4 @ Tennessee - W, 31-10). Bottom line: they are capable of beating teams by any means necessary. So, with all that the Colts are armed with, can they do it? Can they go undefeated?

Most experts point to "No".

First of all, their remaining schedule will be their toughest stretch of the season. After a "trap" game against a motivated Tennessee Titans team (3-8), their next three games will be a virtual gauntlet of NFL powers. Week 14 brings the Colts to Jacksonville (8-3). Even with QB Byron Leftwich out with a broken leg, backup David Gerrard can still play tough, and their defense did hold them to 10 points back in Week 2. The next week brings the San Diego Chargers (7-4) to the RCA Dome, most likely fighting for their playoff lives. With perennial offensive weapons RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Drew Brees and TE Antonio Gates, this may be the defense's biggest challenge. It only gets worse in Week 16, when they go to the Pacific Northwest and face the best team in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks (9-2). MVP Candidate RB Shaun Alexander and QB Matt Hasselbeck lead the Seahawks in what could be another offensive showdown.

Another reason could have nothing to do with legitimately getting beat. Head Coach Tony Dungy has publicly announced that, if the Colts clinch home-field advantage before the end of the season, he will sit his offensive starters - namely, Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Little known second stringers Jim Sorgi (QB) and James Mungro (RB) would most likely start the last couple games of the season, leaving the Colts wide open for a defeat or two.

Now, having said that, I think that it is very possible for the Colts to go 16-0. I believe that the only way the Colts have a chance at going undefeated depends on one team, and, ironically, it is the team that last had a shot at an undefeated season: the Denver Broncos. They are currently at 9-2, with no signs of letting up. If they win out, that gives the Colts little wiggle room of letting up. In Week 16, the Colts could be at either 14-1 or 15-0, forced to win out because of the Broncos' 13-2 record. As long as Denver keeps the pressure on Indianapolis by winning, the Colts would have no choice but to play their starters until the final week of the season.

Which brings me to my second reason. By going 15-0, the Colts will have clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Now, at this point, Dungy will sit his starters. So, why do I still think that the Colts have a shot at a perfect season? First, the second-string isn't as bad as people think - Mungro is a decent running back, and Sorgi can play, if he has the right weapons. Second, they will have the perfect season to play for: it is the ultimate motivation. Finally, look at their Week 17 opponent: the Arizona Cardinals. Granted, they are somewhat improved in offense with Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. But, they are 3-8, and are 23rd in total defense. The Colts defense will most likely have enough to stop Arizona's offensive attack, and the Colts, even with a second-string offense on the field, have a legitimate shot at a victory.

Now, this might easily be all moot if they lose at any point in the next 6 weeks. But, hey, the possibilities are endless. And, personally, even though I wasn't alive to see the last undefeated season, at least, if it actually does happen, it will end the '72 Dolphins reign as the only perfect team, and stop that ridiculous and played out champagne ceremony. Ugh.

Life as a College Student Pt. II

So, here we go. On to moving day. Now, to be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I have essentially been living by myself for the past 6 years - I say this only because, since my parents were always at work and my brother was rarely ever home while he was still living in Davis, and since I didn't have much of a social life since then, I have spent a lot of time by myself, alone with my thoughts. Knowing that I was about to share a suite with four complete strangers was a fact that proceeded to scare the crap out of me, once I started thinking about it.

But, there I was – after weeks of preparing my psyche for the move, I was moving into Cuarto Castilian North, Room 334B. Now, in all honesty, because I didn't know what to expect, the part of my brain that controlled enthusiasm completely shut down. Now, I don't know whether that was because of a defense mechanism to expectations of immediate friction between my suitemates, or because my parents were there with me during the move in. But, that's what went down. I was tres' uncomfortable for the first couple hours I was there. Don't get me wrong - I love my parents, of course. It's just that they have a way of getting under my skin that only a parent can.

When they left, though, I begun to establish a rapport with the men I had met only a few hours before. I knew their names, as I had stared at them on my room assignment sheet for the past month. I met Shota Suto first, my roommate. He was an exchange student from Japan, who was fairly fluent in English. My first impression of him was that he was fairly shy, a little out of place. Boy, was I wrong ... but, I'll get to that later. I then met Steven Howard and Ziv Simon - I wasn't exactly sure how to gauge them either, but I guess, considering the situation, and the fact that my parents were there put me in a negative mood to begin with, I went with the most negative view of the both of them: "oh, great, I'm gonna have to live with a couple of nerds. NERDS!!!" Granted, I was dead wrong there, too. And, again, I'll get to that later. Then, I met Matt Stauffer and his older brother from Redondo Beach, California. My first impression? "Hmm ... he doesn't seem too dorky." ... I wasn't dead wrong about that ... again, I'll get to that later.

Anyway, like I said, I established a rapport with the men in my suite. Soon, I began to feel comfortable around my suitemates. Got to know a bit about them, as I did throughout my stay here. Let's take Steve, for example. Dude's a music major, down with hard rock and opera. Hmm ... interesting, isn't it? Not usually the two genres of music liked by the same person. Likes his "Family Guy", as do the rest of us. It's something we all bonded with. Anyway, he can get on my nerves every once in a while, but his heart's always in the right place ... I think. Then, there's Ziv. Econ major, likes his video games - I'll usually see him either doing his math homework or playing video games. He's just cool to talk to, and he's pretty funny sometimes. He's Jewish, and Steve seems to enjoy ripping on him because of it. You know, kinda like a "South Park" Cartman-Kyle relationship, but, you know, without the anti-semitism.

There's Matt - he's the youngest. He's cool, though - Another "Family Guy" Afficionado, and a Ping-Pong whiz. I'd see him at the ping-pong tables almost every day. The guy's just chill, too - kinda rolls with whatever. A quality I like, I must say. He's got this online T-Shirt company (plug alert!), "Fat Guy Shirts". He even wrote an ad for it in Rolling Stone Magazine. Don't believe me? Check out the November 3rd issue with Bono on the cover, pg. 111. Anyway, good stuff. I'd like one, myself.

Then, there's Shota, my roommate. He's cool - and, about that shy thing? Yeah, he's more of a ladies' man than the rest of us combined. He's rarely in our room, and when he is, he's either sleeping, or chillin' at his computer. I don't talk to him much, but he is a funny guy.

So, anyway, from there, it was on to getting to know the people in my building, and getting ready for classes. And, for that, wait for my next installment. I'm ending this one ... now.

Fantasy Football: Midseason Report

Okay, so this isn't quite a midseason report, but it's close enough. So, from the fantasy perspective, this season has been one topsy-turvy one, to say the least. It seems like, in terms of the fantasy stars of last year, up is down, black is white, night is day, blah blah blah.

Let me put it to you this way - Before the start of the season, not knowing what we know now, if I were to offer you a team with Daunte Culpepper, Priest Holmes, Corey Dillon, Terrell Owens, Javon Walker, David Akers and the Ravens D, you would take it in a heartbeat, wouldn't you? Not knowing what you know now, of course you would. You would be a fool not to. After all, you got a QB who threw for almost 40 TDs, two WRs with 1200 yds and 12 TDs apiece, and two RBs with over 1000 yds and 10 TDs.

At this point, you wouldn't even touch that team, knowing what you know now. Obviously, it's because no one, with the exception of Dillon and the Ravens D, is even playing, and those who are, aren't even doing that well.

That's just one of the examples of how topsy-turvy of a couple months this NFL season has turned out to be.

One of the main problems this season has been too many season-ending injuries. For example, I know that this was a problem for my brother, as he had both Javon Walker of the Green Bay Packers and Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs last year. He lost Walker in Week 1; He then lost Holmes last week. Deuce McAllister and Ahman Green are other examples. Daunte Culpepper was touted as one of the best QBs in fantasy football, even without stud WR Randy Moss. Fast forward two months, and he’s thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns, and, to add injury to insult, is out for the rest of the season with a leg injury. Then, there’s Terrell Owens, who, technically, is out for the season, but not because of an injury – he was suspended by the Eagles. Many extremely productive players from last season have been sidelined, making it a tragic, yet interesting, circumstance in the world of fantasy football.

Another unpredictable circumstance came from the balance of power in the QB position. Last year, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts was virtually unstoppable last season, posting an NFL-record 49 TDs, throwing for over 4500 yards. He was considered the consensus top fantasy quarterback in the NFL. This year, however, Indianapolis shifted their focus from a high-octane offense to a speedy, effective defense. With emphasis on defense and the run, they are 9-0. However, Manning’s numbers have dropped, along with his receivers’ numbers.

Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb were considered usurpers to Manning’s throne as top QB in the league. As I have pointed out before, Culpepper’s numbers have suffered greatly with the absence of Randy Moss, and he is now no longer a factor, out for the season. With the turmoil of WR Terrell Owens’ situation with the Eagles, McNabb’s numbers, too, have suffered.

The emergence of Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer and New York Giants QB Eli Manning were also somewhat unexpected. The potential was there, yet it was not expected that they would be putting up the numbers that they have. At this point in the season, Palmer, statistically, is the best quarterback in the league. By week 4, it seemed that Eli Manning was a better option at QB than his brother, Peyton.

The hierarchy of fantasy running backs is one of the aspects that are, for the most part, still intact. LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers was toted as one of the most valuable players in fantasy football – his 1335 yards and 13 TDs on the ground, as well as his 441 yards and 1 TD receiving last year, make him a threat to put up big numbers whenever he is on the field. This year, through 9 games, he has piled up 835 yards on the ground, along with 13 rushing TDs. His 264 yards and 2 TDs receiving show his double threat capabilities. Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks is a monster on the ground – his 1,645 yards and 16 TDs last season spoke for themselves; his 1114 yards and 17 TDs this year speak much louder. Remember: this is only through 9 games. Both of them have put up similar numbers to their previous totals this season, and are viewed as the top of their position.

The second tier of running backs was the most rocked this season. Corey Dillon and Jamal Lewis were viewed as premier running backs in fantasy. So far this season, neither have been nearly as productive, compared to seasons past. Ahman Green and Deuce McAllister were both considered to have resurgent seasons - now, both of them are on Injured Reserve, out for the year. Clinton Portis seems to have been the only running back so far to have had a semblence of a good season, with 764 yards and 5 TDs through 9 games.

Despite the usual suspects - Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Randy Moss of the Raiders - doing well, wide receivers have had their share of surprises. Not only have superstar WRs like Javon Walker and Terrell Owens been lost for the rest of the season, but others have had subpar years. Torry "Big Game" Holt of the St. Louis Rams, for example, although amassing 635 yards and 5 TDs, has been riddled with injuries. Reggie Wayne, who had 1210 yards and 12 TDs last season, has amassed 633 yards and a mere 3 TDs.Perhaps the biggest disappointment so far this season has been Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans. He was impressive last season with 1142 yards and 6 TDs. So far this season? 209 yards, and 0 TDs.

Despite that, new wide receivers are making big names for themselves. For example, Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers came seemingly out of nowhere, one year removed from the league because of a broken leg, to lead the league in receiving. His 937 yards and 9 TDs through 9 games this year have been best in the NFL. He is an end zone and big play threat every second he is on the field, and he is on pace for 1666 yards and 16 TDs. Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals has totalled 854 yards and 5 TDs so far this season; Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals has been impressive with his mouth, as well as his hands. So far this season, he has put up 808 yards and 5 TDs. Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins wasn't considered a viable fantasy threat as of late. That is, until he posted 935 yards and 5 TDs through 9 games this year. Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants, too, wasn't seen as a potent threat in fantasy. So far, he has 706 yards and 5 TDs.

And, so, with 6 weeks to go in this fantasy season, there are bound to be more ups, downs, and stunning surprises for the fantasy football world. Good luck to all fantasy owners out there.

The Arco-Detroit Debacle: Why?!

I just got finished watching a rant by Mitch Albom on The Sports Reporters this morning. He was putting in his two cents about the whole situation with the Kings' home opener against the Pistons. For those of you who don't know, here's what happened:

It was November 7, 2005, and it was Sacramento's home opener at Arco Arena. We were playing Detroit, former NBA Champs, and the Pistons were introduced first, as the visiting team always is. But, as the starters were being introduced, the Jumbotron in the arena aired images of burned-out cars, abandoned buildings and other negative images of the city of Detroit. Don't ask me why, but someone in the control booth up there either thought it was funny, or a way to pump up the crowd. Obviously, the Pistons Organization was pissed. Probably so much so, it gave them the motivation they needed to whoop us in our own arena, adding injury to insult.

Now, Albom, being from Detroit, found it necessary to retaliate for the incident. He took pot shots at Sacramento - the stereotypes of it being a "Cowtown", using our Cowbells, how the Governor isn't even in the city half the time, etc., etc. Initially, it all sounded fairly petty.

Here's the thing, though - I'm not mad at him. In fact, Mitch Albom, and any other sports writer who feels the need to take pot shots at Sactown (as easy as it is) for this incident, has every right to do so. 'Cause, hey, in this case, we deserve it, I guess. I can't be mad at the people we offended when they feel the need to channel their frustrations at someone.

No, no, my anger is pointed at the drooling idiots that figured that putting those insulting, stereotypical images of Detroit would be funny. "Oh, yeah, let's trash the former NBA Champions! They'll think it's hilarious, too! No, no, they'll see that stuff and laugh at how accurate we portray their city! Yeah, that's it! Drr-Duh-Drr!" (Wondering about that sound? Watch Mind of Mencia.)

I am speaking to this particular individual now: God, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? How could you possibly think that those images were at all humorous or clever? Didn't you think, for one second, that the Pistons would look up on that Jumbotron and be insulted? Flip Saunders is their new head coach, who hasn't even been in Detroit that long, and he was insulted! I just don't get it. As a Kings fan, I am insulted. A KINGS FAN!

Here's something else those friggin' morons working the Jumbotron didn't take into consideration at the time. See, since the Kings play in Sacramento, it is actually quite easy to take pot shots at us. Sacramento is a farm town. We do use cowbells in our stadium to distract visiting teams. Our governor doesn't even live in Sacramento half the time. It's like B. Rabbit's last battle with Papa Doc in "8 Mile" - see, we know all of the stuff that people can make fun of us about. We're not ignorant to it - hell, Los Angeles had a good time pointing it out in 2002.

With those negative images, we turned ourselves into classless a-holes, in the eyes of the media. We inadvertently opened ourselves up to the kind of criticism we've been trying to shake off since the Kings turned themselves into an NBA powerhouse. You know, the type of hypocrisy that people will call you on every time - the whole "you may have made fun of us, but take a look at yourselves" kind of diss that you could only ask for.

That's not me. That's not the average Kings fan. Don't think that, just because we're Kings fans, we're insensitive, classless jerks like that dumbass in the Jumbotron. NO! We didn't think that the incident was funny at all. It was offensive, insensitive and inappropriate - any rational Kings fan realizes that. That's what makes me so angry - not that Mitch Albom and other sports writers and commentators are going to take hits on us. It's the fact that we were stupid enough to give them the ammo to do so. It's not the effect - it's the cause that I'm resentful of.

So, let me say this - what that moron did up in that Jumbotron was stupid, insensitive and wrong. But, Detroit and the Pistons have every right to be mad at us, anyway. And, hell, if it makes you guys feel any better, you can hang your hat on two things: that you're undefeated while we're currently 2-4, and that you have carte blanche to run as many redneck images as you want at the Palace, when we come to Detroit. Then, hopefully, we can return the favor and beat you down in your house.

Hey, man, sorry - that's just the Kings fan talking.