Thoughts and observations on the world of sports

May 15, 2008

You knew food was involved

Margie Parilo, the season-ticket holder who won the "luckiest" Kings contest and a trip to Manhattan to represent the team at the NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, N.J., next Tuesday, revealed a few more details about the excursion. And, of course, knowing that this was Joe Maloof's idea, you knew food would be among the major attractions. Parilo, who is flying her three grown children and husband to New York for the event - from San Francisco, San Diego, Boston and Sacramento, respectively - told me last night that, among other things, the family is being treated to dinner Monday night at Orso.

Having been at the restaurant before, I recommended the mixed green salad and pizza with spicy tomato sauce. I also told her how much I liked the place, which is located in the theater district, because it's pet-friendly. Sort of. While I was in New York covering the U.S. Open tennis tournament - one of those years in the 1990s - several writers and I walked into the bistro and bumped into Martina Navratilova. While we were chatting, her little Yorkie peeked out from underneath her jean jacket. We suspected management was fully aware of the unique little visitor, but kept our petting to a minimum. Hey, you know, it's all who you are ...

More on the Parilo family trip early next week. And while the numbers indicate that Margie has a less than one percent chance of securing the No. 1 draft pick for the Kings (who are currently No.12), the poor woman actually believes she has a chance of finishing one-two-three. Let's not ruin her trip just yet ...

Keeping it real
The five other finalists who watched the ping pong ball bounce Parilo's way in the Kings' "lottery" finale at Center Court Restaurant on Sunday were good-natured about the outcome. One of them was also exhausted: Paul Shank, the Yuba City resident who wore a costume and "rapped" on a hilarious video presentation, delivered a baby earlier in the day. Besides being a die-hard Kings fan and soccer coach at Yuba City High, he is a physician's assistant. As he related the events, he delivered the baby early in the morning, drove to Chico for Mother's Day brunch with relatives, and still arrived at Chris Webber's restaurant in Natomas in time to NOT win the contest!

As we jaded journalists would say, fans are crazy.

Speaking of women's tennis
Chatting with Parilo about the chance meeting with Navratilova at Orso reminded me of the sorry state of women's professional tennis. While Maritna, Chris Evert, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin, Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Gabriela Sabatini and even the tragically transformed Monica Seles seemed to embace the competition and the lifestyle, Justine Henin is the latest of the ensuing generation's stars to burn out and retire at a stunningly early age. Henin, who is ranked No.1 in the world, announced her retirement at age 25. Serena and Venus Williams? Might as well be retired, given their injury problems and lack of presence in women's sports. Too much too soon, and too many demands on the body? The body of evidence is growing ...

Maybe the youngsters should consult Martina about her legendary conditioning programs.

Ron Artest and Rick Carlise?
While echoing colleague Sam Amick's intrigue regarding new Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and his high praise of his former player and potential free agent, Ron Artest, I would not be shocked by the Mavs' interest. Artest would be a nice complement to Dirk Nowitzki. He also was an All-Star under Carlisle in Indiana. However ... I would be shocked if Carlisle wasn't projecting the "old" Artest, the muscular small forward who absolutely dominated games defensively, and didn't dominate the ball offensively. With Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in the lineup, Artest would be forced to play faster and move the ball. Interesting.

Posted by Ailene Voisin at 12:14 AM | Comments |

May 08, 2008

Petrie's European vacation

Who Cares About the Exchange Rate?
Geoff Petrie returned earlier in the week from one of his longer overseas scouting ventures, with stops in Slovenia, Spain and France, and a mere 18 hours in Paris. What a waste! But in a conversation we had a few hours ago, he said the 11-day, 11-game trip was beneficial, moreso in terms of reinforcing his assessment of potential draft picks than changing his opinions.
If the Kings don't get lucky in the lottery, and retain the No.12 draft position, don't be surprised if Petrie plucks another European. A more likely scenario has the Kings using one of their two second-round picks on an international prospect.
Petrie, by the way, chatted with Vlade Divac while attending the Euroleague Final Four in Madrid. The Kings' icon continues to work for Real Madrid, and according to Petrie, plans to remain in Europe with his family for the next few years. "Same old Vlade," Petrie told me, laughing. "I saw him outside the arena at halftime, smoking away, and planning the rest of his evening. He told me there were a lot of things to do at 1 a.m., but I told him I had trouble seeing past 11 (p.m.)."

Back in the day ...
Arguably, the most talented players at this year's Final Four were dressed in streetclothes. The spectators included Divac, Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, former Kings' guard Sarunas Marciulionis and Dejan Bodiroga, the versatile Serbian star and 1995 Kings second-round draft choice who admittedly lacked the confidence to test the NBA. Divac and Marciulionis - joined by the late Drazen Petrovic, Alexander Volkov and Zarko Paspalj - started the influx of international talent into the NBA when they signed contracts in 1989.
How good was Petrovic, who died in an auto accident in 1993? A shooting guard, he shot better than 50 percent in each of his last three seasons.

HDTV rocks ...
With the Kings in the lottery, not the playoffs, that means more time to sit home and watch TNT's entertaining trio of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith on Inside the NBA. While Charles usually hogs the spotlight (and the microphone), I will be writing a column on EJ for Sunday's Bee.

Posted by Ailene Voisin at 05:24 PM | Comments |

May 07, 2008

Van Gundy Is Everywhere

He Can't Get away ...
While I was driving around downtown Martinez yesterday, waiting to meet with Alhambra High teacher Carlos Meraz to discuss his brief tenure as head football coach at Elk Grove High, I was reminded about the Van Gundy familly local roots. One-time Kings head coaching candidate Stan Van Gundy - who snookered Kings president Geoff Petrie last spring into a one-way ticket to Sac, then split later that night after accepting an offer from the Orlando Magic - attended school here. The athletic director, Dave Silveira, also happens to be Norv Turner's brother-in-law. So while Meraz certainly has a gripe about the way Elk Grove administrator's botched his hiring (and eventual release), the company he keeps should enhance his future job prospects. Plus, he seems like a really decent guy.
As for Martinez ... what a darling downtown. For all of my years living in Northern California, including making innumerable trips to Oakland and San Francisco for A's, Giants, 49ers, Raiders and Warriors coverage, this was my first visit to Joe DiMaggio's old neighborhood. Lovely, lovely area ...

Maui, Some Other Time ...
While I loved the idea of the Kings conducting training camp in Maui, I always suspected the trip to Hawaii was a non-starter. Travel expenses are the least of it. The Kings are trying to sell tickets and grow their product, so holding training camp so far away from their fan base made no sense.
This was so typical of the Maloofs, though. Joe and Gavin get all excited about an idea, hyperventilate for a while, then after someone hands them a paper sack, they take a deep breath ... and listen to Geoff Petrie.

Confession Is Good For the Soul ...
Ok, though I swore I could keep a secret, my favorite fan video in the Kings' lottery contest goes to Rob from Roseville. The guy is hilarious.

Posted by Ailene Voisin at 11:06 PM | Comments |

May 05, 2008

Humor me, Kings fans

After listening to the videos of the 12 season ticket holders competing to represent the Kings at the NBA lottery in Secaucus, N.J., on May 20, I already have my winner.
Sorry. He/she shall remain my little secret.
The contest is a pretty slick marketing idea, and from what I have been told, at least two NBA clubs attempted to do the same thing, but were rebuffed by the league - something about the Maloofs already having dibs.
It's just too bad the voters, who can continue voting for their favorites on the Kings web page (check it out for yourselves at www.kings.com) through Thursday, won't select the eventual winner. In keeping with their lottery "theme," the six finalists will convene at Chris Webber's Center Court restaurant this Sunday at 3 p.m., and the winner will be chosen at random. "There will be one of those machines with ping pong balls," said Mitch Germann, the club's vice-president of business communications.
The winner will fly to New York on May 19th, spend two nights at a five-star hotel in Manhattan, arrive at the NBA Entertainment Studios the following day in a limousine, then return to Sacramento on the 21st.
Just asking, but if the Kings fan has the misfortune of improving the club's likely No. 12 draft selection, does that make he/she a loser? Can't take this stuff too seriously ...
-- Ailene Voisin

Posted by Ailene Voisin at 05:18 PM | Comments |