AU REVOIR LES ROIS DU SACRAMENTO - Sacramento Gets 1 More Shot

As it turns out, contrary to initial statements found on both this site and legitimate news outlets, the Sacramento Kings will not be moving to Anaheim next year.

They will play next season in Sacramento, with expectations being that the Maloof Ownership group will finalize the move to Anaheim sometime next year, depending on the state of the projected lockout as a result of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

There are two primary reasons for the development;

Sacramento Mayor and former Phoenix Sun Kevin Johnson tirelessly canvassed local businesses and confirmed pledges of increased funding for the team. Now it is up to Johnson and local businesses to develop a means of funding the construction and maintenance of a new stadium.

"If we want to be a major league city, you have to have major league facilities" said Mayor Johnson following the news that the franchise would have another year in California's capital city.

Also, with the Lakers and Clippers already claiming Los Angeles as home, the proposed move to suburban Anaheim was met with opposition not only by their ownership groups, but by other owners who were opposed to the Maloofs sudden change of heart.

"We spent 13 years and millions of dollars to try to get an arena built," Maloof said. "We don't have the answer. The mayor has the answers and we're willing and able to listen. He's got to have a plan. We never want to be untruthful to the fans of Sacramento. There is a sense of urgency, and that's up to Mayor Johnson and his political team."

Regardless, the move will likely take place next year and be sure to check bad news blog for a scathing review of the franchise.

Before I go, I want to briefly mention an idea and allow you guys to think about it. Should taxpayers really be responsible for the partial funding of an arena used for professional sports? Are these teams not owned by anglo fat cats in Italian suits who solely profit from the team? What is the difference between an NBA franchise and any other form of private business? If we don't pay for a new IBM factory or GM plant, regardless of the jobs it creates and the beneficial impact on the economy, why should be fund an arena.

This is the problem that faced the people of Seattle. A municipal referendum concluded that the city would not increase taxes to fund a replacement for the dated Key Arena. Instead, Starbucks owner and Seattle SuperSonics frontman Howard Schultz decided a move to Oklahoma and the nation's 48th largest television market would be a more promising fiscal venture, and with that, OKC got the Thunder and Seattle lost a franchise they wholeheartedly supported for years through winning seasons and hardship.