An open letter to Mr. Lombardi, GM of the LA Kings.
Dear Mr. Lombardi:
I must preface this letter by stating I am not an LA Kings fan. When I do venture to the Staples center, it is in a bright red winged wheel jersey and an air of smugness that should make a true Kings fan want to punch me right in the nose. Luckily, the remaining true Kings fans tend to be so crushed and demoralized that I never have to worry as I walk the stadium aisles with a red foam finger chanting “GOOOO WINGS”. Ok not really, I’m not the foam finger type. And it’s more than a little mean to do stuff like that when the home team isn’t likely to even make the playoffs.
I never miss a Wings- Kings game here in LA because I KNOW the rafters will be painted Red and that we will win.
But 2 live games a year aren’t enough for me anymore. Since my relocation to LA, and especially since this last Stanley cup, I have grown to so miss hockey in any form that I am desperately trying to embrace your team as my back up. I need my hockey, so please don’t force me to start attending my Brother’s pick up games in Burbank. Give us a team I can at least watch, follow and see grow.
And not just for me. For the good of the Entire NHL.
For the good of the Entire NHL.
See, you –personally- have a huge (and difficult) responsibility. Not just to your team, but to the League. The LA market, population-wise, is top three for the NHL and the whole league needs this team to be at least moderately successful. More (any) winning from the Kings will trigger more national interest in the whole league. As you know that means more money, more coverage, for the whole league
Both you and Mr. Bettman know that this country loves/is fascinated with the City of the Angels. Everything Hollywood seems more glamorous and fantastic. I mean think about it. Kobe is a despicable, felonistic, cry baby who isn’t fit to buy Hanes briefs from Cuba Gooding Jr., and yet the NBA finals this year- insane ratings. Lakers are nationally and internationally loved, and for what? In part merely because of the City where they reside.
Look. I get it. Hockey is a game where you have to learn to read plays before you can follow the puck- its the the very fastest sickest sport. Hard for some people to follow and understand.
No matter. The truth is: Hockey should not be less popular than golf and nascar- it just shouldn’t be. It shouldn’t be less popular than Basketball. It is the best game on earth.
I’ve said it before, Take the all around athleticism of your Barry Sanders and David Beckhams, throw in the endurance of a soccer player, the strategy and team work of a basketball team, the physicality of a rugby, even a football game, combine it all with the deft precision skill of Tiger Woods and throw in his gear for good measure,
There is no excuse not to love this game.
A good Kings franchise will have the effect of bringing more money to the whole league. Television ratings would grow, fan base will come back. A winning Kings team WILL have the effect of boosting league wide revenues. And if anyone thinks that doesn’t matter, it does. For instance, a significant jump in league wide revenues allows the cap to increase and gives the entire NHL more leverage against the growing impact of the CHL (KHL).
And as disgusting and hard as this is for me to say, its probably true that a moderately successful LA team will get more national and international press than even my beloved, dynasty in the making Detroit Red Wings.
So you have a huge responsibility – not just to the long suffering Kings fans, but to the whole league.
Progress is being made.
I know, I know. You took the gig in 2006 and I immediately panned you and your organization or hiring a coach I detest. It was a move I considered to be an enormous mistake, because my general belief about NHL Management can be summed up in the following phrase:
“Go Holland or go home.”
Sometimes I mix this up phrase up and say “Go Ilitch go home, Go Bowman or go home”. You get the idea.
But now you’ve wisely moved on and seem to be trying to remedy errors. You’re growing your young team, you are working on coaching, all things I see as positive.
But something crossed my mind yesterday when I saw the unsigned UFA list. Let’s face it it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, to see you need a couple of Stanley cup winning leaders on your team. Someone the young ones will listen to, who is a future hall of famer, who has won cups in a proven system, who can lead a team and teach these kids a bit about what it takes.
Crown Jewel
Yes. You have to convince your ownership to shell out some money, and true he doesn’t seem to want to leave his current team, but there is a Crown Jewel out there who could make an immeasurable positive difference to the Kings Organization.
Brendan Shanahan
I’m not gonna list his career stats, I’m not gonna talk about his years in the league, his 9 Gordie Howe hat tricks or number of times he has lifted the Stanley Cup (three).
I’m gonna talk about a guy with intellect, talent, leadership skills, respect from younger players, and a winning attitude and ability to work well with management. Who still has great legs, and a sick game.
And his personality- geez, no one in the NHL is better suited to Hollywood. Just take a look:
He has the charisma and the brains to make this city fall in love with him. He is worth a 4-5MM salary for th amazing PR he can bring to the Kings and the league ALONE.
Hell, Mr. Bettman should subsidize his salary out of league marketing funds just to get him here.
I honestly don’t think there is another current UFA or seasoned player out there- Sundin included- who could bring more to your team. Maybe Chelios. Ok yea Cheli could. But you can’t have him. Frankly, we should never have let Shanny go.
Brendan Shanahan. Get him. I don’t care how you do it. This is a once in a life time opportunity. You need him, the League needs him here.
To quote a namesake: “”Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.”
GO Get Brendan Shanahan. Keep up the path that will bring your team success. I would bet my 1998 playoff issued Igor Larionov Wings sweater that bringing Shanny to LA would send the Kings well down the path to the success you are elusively looking for an benefit the entire League.
Ok,ok you called my bluff. NOTHING would make me give my Larionov jersey up, but I would buy a Shanahan Jersey if he played for the Kings….
Crown Jewel, you need one, and Shanny is still available.
Sincerely,
Juice in LA
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