Basketball from a fans perspective
A familiar name
The Lakers signed Thomas Robinson former Kansas Jayhawk recently. The 6-10 237 pound Robinson was drafted by the Kings with the 5th pick in the first round of the 2012 draft. After a good junior year and the impressive run Kansas made in the NCAA stardom was predicted for Robinson. I admit I lost track as Robinson drifted from team to team 5 in all and 6 if we count two runs with the Blazers. I have no idea if he will make the final cut the Lakers although not a good team has plenty of depth in the backcourt. Hope he makes it just because I feel a connection.
Two teams
The New York metro has an estimated population of 20 million souls. It’s likely with a population that huge it equates to a team in Manhattan (Knicks) and Brooklyn (Nets). The greater Los Angeles area is roughly 13 million and two teams the Lakers and the Clippers. Is Los Angeles too small to serve as home base for two NBA teams? The question is posed based on Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s comments during the summer. Although Ballmer’s team is tied to Staples Center by contract what exactly is Ballmer saying.
Ballmer mentioned his Clippers were last in securing dates for Staples lined up behind the Lakers, NHL Kings and other events. He hinted building his own arena somewhere in west Los Angeles. I suggested this once previously and still believe it’s an option move the Clippers to Seattle. 1. Ballmer lives in the Seattle metro from his days at Microsoft. 2. He’d have an exclusive market no more sharing an arena (or popularity) with another team. 3. Despite their poor record over the last several years Los Angeles will always be Laker town.
Broadcasters
Four current broadcasters who once called Kansas City Kings are still working. Kevin Harlin the voice of the NBA on TNT began his professional career in 1982 broadcasting Kings basketball while the team was in Kansas City. Harlin was the long-time radio voice of the NFL Chiefs before leaving to broadcast Wolves basketball. He divides his broadcast time between CBS Sports and TNT. A voice often heard on ESPN NBA telecasts is Kevin Calabro; in addition to the NBA he was also the voice of Sonics basketball. After Harlin left Calabro broadcast Kansas City Kings basketball 1983-84.
Bulls fans are familiar with the voice of Neil Funk so are older NBA fans in Kansas City. Radio voice for the Kings he moved to the same duty with the Bulls in 1991 and moved over to the television side in 2008. There must be some connection between the Chiefs and the Kings at the time the later called Kansas City home. Wayne Larrivee is closer identified with football broadcasting Bears and Packers football. He also broadcast Kings game while the team was in Kansas City. As you can see in addition to the athletes selected members of the broadcast media also have a Kansas City connection.
Comparison
A couple of week’s back I indicated I didn’t believe the NBA and NHL were fighting for the same sports dollar. Right or wrong on my part I’ve always believed a person is either or. They are NBA or NHL fans I believe it’s likely rare you will locate someone who says; “I love the NBA but I also love the NHL.” I just don’t think that’s the prevailing thought of most sports fans. My hometown Kansas City has neither sport as indicated previously. I was curious to discover which exhibition game would draw the largest number of fans.
The NHL exhibition game between the Blues and the Capitals October 5th drew 11,000+ fans to Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City. The NBA exhibition between the Wolves and Heat October 8th drew 13,000+ fans to Sprint Center. I didn’t check ticket pricing but believe it would have been comparable. Even more interesting was an article in the Kansas City Star indicating the growth of junior hockey. This is not a trash the NHL piece however I can conclude basketball is still the winner in Kansas City.
