Matt Murray has been a Kings fan since the late '80s, when Wayne Gretzky grabbed headlines by defecting to the West Coast. Since then, he has been a card-carrying bandwagon member as the club soared in popularity with their sole Stanley Cup appearance to their position near the bottom of the Pacific. But things are looking brighter, as he is anxious to witness the rise of the new Kings.
Eschew Obfuscation, Espouse Elucidation
In this NHL.com article, Doug Ward points out that Kings GM Dean "The Don" Lombardi is seemingly making all the right moves, maintaining a core of young talent and building around that nucleus. He also points out that rebuilding from the ground up is a long process, which may well stretch into the following season.
But he also offers this small bit of optimism:
Attendance at Staples Center dipped from 17,821 in 2005-06, to 16,743 last year, suggesting the Kings' ridiculously loyal fan base might be growing a bit impatient. Still, there is a difference between the intensity of the frustration of patrons at Staples Center and the fans at a place like Madison Square Garden, when things aren't going well. With a loyal fan base and dispassionate media corps, Los Angeles just might be the perfect place to rebuild a hockey team from the ground up.
Kings fans have been waiting ever since Wayne and Co. took the club to the Stanley Cup. We came so tantilizingly close to the prize, that many have jumped ship to go root for the OC Ducks. But there are still some who have shown the patience of Job, and we may soon be rewarded.
If your allegiance is still to the Purple, Black and White after this past season, then you are truly a Kings fan. When the Kings start to win consistantly, and your friends suddenly decide it's cool to be a Kings fan again, you are now allowed to make fun of them as "bandwagon fans." All the years of frustration and disappointment are drawing to a close, as The Don works his magic.
