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Kings Start New Era with Win!

Published on October 30, 2013November 1, 2013 by tonyrenteriaLeave a comment

By Tony Renteria
Sacramento CA: The Sacramento Kings (0-0) opened the 2013-2014 NBA season by hosting the Denver Nuggets (0-0) and holding off a tough Denver squad for a 09-88 win.
This was the first regular season game with the new ownership group and new head coach, The Kings may be turning the corner after the train wreck the last owners left
The Kings Led at the half 48-45 behind some strong inside play by DeMarcus Cousins who led the team with 14 points and six rebounds. Cousins has become the team leader with new altitude and passion. Cousins finished with 30 Points and game high 14 rebounds. This may be the start of an all star run of Cousins.
The Nuggets were led by Ty Lawson’s 20 points .
The Kings next play the Los Angles Clippers at Sleep Train Arena on Friday while the Nuggets host the Portland Trailblazers on the same day.

Kings hold off the Clippers in the Preseason Finale

Published on October 25, 2013October 27, 2013 by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings closed out the preseason with a 110-100 win over the LA Clippers Friday night in LA. The game was not the most picturesque affair, but it had its moments.

The Clippers came out of the box ready to play. They outscored the Kings 30-20 in the first period.

The Kings came roaring back in the second quarter scoring 37 points to the Clippers 21. Isaiah Thomas led the charge scoring 18-points in just 15 minutes of play.

Sacramento continued to stay hot in the third period outscoring LAC 32-20.

The Clippers made a real run at a comeback in the fourth quarter. They the used the 3-Pointer and Free Throw opportunities in an attempt to cut the Kings commanding 19-point lead down to a manageable size. The Clips topped the Kings 29-21 in the final period but ultimately fell short.

The Kings shot 44.0% (37-84) from the field. They were 7 for 27 (25.9%) from 3-Point land.

Sacramento pulled down 50 rebounds to the Clippers 41. They committed 25 Personal Fouls and 11 Turn Overs.

The Kings defense held the Clippers to just 39.2% (29-74) from the field. Anytime you can hold your opponents under 40.0% shooting, a win is most likely the result.

Isaiah Thomas led all scorers with 27-points. DeMarcus Cousins added 20-points. Jason Thompson was the leading rebounder with eight.

Greivis Vasquez led the Kings with 12 assists. Ironically, he scored no points in his 21:44 of Playing Time.

Notes: Guard Trent Lockett has been waived by the Kings. Lockett made two preseason appearances scoring four points (2-3 FG), gathering in two rebounds and posting one assist in five minutes of playing time. The preseason roster is down to 15 players … The Kings have launched an additional section to their website: www.kings.com/hindi. The site features stories, interviews and player information written entirely in Hindi. Kings Chairperson and majority owner, Vivek Ranadive, who is originally from Mumbai, wants the Kings to establish an international fan base. The new section of the website is the first step in rolling out the global initiative … The Kings will open the 2013-14 regular season next Wednesday night with the Denver Nuggets at Sleep Train Arena. The 7:00 PM tip-off can be seen locally on News 10 and heard on the Sports 1140 – Kings Radio Network.

Kings arena: anti arena group to ally with non-union contractors

Published on October 17, 2013 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Ken Gimblin

SACRAMENTO–The new ownership of the Sacramento Kings might have to dig in at the ballot box politically this coming June as a anti arena group has geared up to oppose the new arena proposal. The new group Voters for a Fair Arena Deal will not be working with Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed To Pork or STOP. Non-union contractors who appeared at one of the Kings rallies at the Westfield mall the site of the proposed new Kings arena are joining the protest against the new arena and plan to support VFAD.

The non-union contractors are upset that they were not included in any process of the new arena build, the new arena is expected to be built by only union labor.VFAD is separating itself from the better known group STOP due to questionable petition gathering by STOP and how signatures were gathered by STOP were in question. Also STOP’s involvement with Seattle hedge fund manager Chris Hansen who paid $50,000 to have signatures gathered by STOP. Hansen who lost his bid to move the Kings to Seattle might have been seeking a way to stop the Kings from building a new arena in Sacramento if it were put to a vote regarding public funding.

Hansen later said he had nothing to do with paying the $50,000 for the signature gathering after receiving heavy criticism by city and NBA officials behind closed doors sources say to put a ballot measure to have any new public funding for any new sports facilities built in Sacramento to be voter approved first.

The public’s share of subsidizing the new Kings arena downtown is around $258 million. Hansen later backtracked after realizing he might have damaged his chances to buy, build a new arena, and own an NBA team in Seattle. VFAD is going forward with the petition campaign saying they want the public funds policed for new sports facilities which should be voted on by the Sacramento voters.

The non-union contractors who will not be involved in any of the construction work are willing to contribute to the ballot measure effort by donating $15,000-$25,000. VFAD will not be joining STOP to work in concert with getting the measure on the ballot distancing themselves from STOP because of what is considered questionable campaigning in obtaining the petition signatures and their involvement with Hansen.

Community activist Craig Powell from the group Eye on Sacramento said, “we are not opposed to the new arena, we are not opposed to the public subsidy for an arena. What we are in favor for is a subsidy we can afford.” Craig has said that the price tag of $258 million in public subsidies is too much and will do damage to the city budget.

Ken Gimblin is covering the Sacramento Kings for Sportstalk with game day reporters Tony Renteria and Charlie O

Kings Score Big Over Clippers

Published on October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Tony Renteria

Sacramento, CA–The Hometown Sacramento Kings continued the pre seaon by A convincing win over the visiting Los Angles Clippers, 99-88. The Kings were led by a very aggressive DeMarcus Cousins who Kings with 31 points on 11-18 shooting from the field.

The Clippers limped into the game with out All Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Sacramento Native Matt Barnes was also out of this game. With out the leadership of Paul and the Interior Power of Griffin, Cousins worked his way close to the basket and scored seemingly at will during the first half.

The Clippers were lead by Jamal Crawford and his 25 points.

This game puts both teams at 2-1 for the pre season. The Clippers head to Phoenix to play the Suns tomorrow While the Kings Host the same Suns on Thursday.

Anti Kings arena groups close to getting initiative on ballot

Published on September 20, 2013September 20, 2013 by Sports Radio Service1 Comment

by Ken Gimblin
Thursday September 19, 2013

SACRAMENTO–In what will be a grass root effort by anti Sacramento Kings arena groups Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed To Pork or STOP are within a few thousand signatures of getting an initiative on the ballot that all new sports facilities in Sacramento that are being publicly funded will have to go through voter approval before any public money is spent on any new facility. The anti arena movement confirmed that they have now 18,000 signed petitions which were financed by Chris Hansen who wanted to move the Kings to Seattle.

Hansen who was fined $50,000 for not revealing that he was the financier of the petitions missed the state deadline code to file with office of elections. Hansen wanted to be a quiet contributor to the petition drive so that he would have a chance at getting an NBA team in the future or the Kings if the initiative passed and public funds couldn’t be used. Hansen only revealed himself after he was forced to come clean on who contributed to the campaign to put the initiative on the ballot. Hansen later apologized for his campaign contribution after realizing the NBA who granted the Kings to stay in Sacramento probably will not want to do business with Hansen since he played a role in contributing to a campaign drive in Sacramento that stop public subsidies for the Kings arena.

Hansen has demanded that all the petitions be returned to him, STOP has said the campaign to put the initiative on the ballot will go forward and that the campaign is close to making the resolution, “these petitions represent the will of 18,000 people who took the time to provide their signatures and express their desire to put this tax subsidy to a vote.” said STOP president Julian Camacho.

STOP is living up to their full name in trying to stop public funding of the arena “make no mistake, this initiative will qualify” said STOP’s treasurer Jim Cathcart. Doug Elmets spokesman for the 2006 initiative that proposed using tax monies to finance a new arena in 06 that failed said there is enough political power in Sacramento to defeat the initiative, “all the invested parties are going to be out in droves trying to defeat this initiative, when you combine, business, labor, and local government all who are eager to see the arena built you’ll see an incredibly well funded effort.”

Ken Gimblin is covering Kings basketball for Sportstalk Radio