Posted on 05/02/2014 7:06:55 PM PDT by BenLurkin
“People have been waiting a long time for this,” said Ducks forward Emerson Etem, who grew up rooting for the Kings in his native Long Beach. “It’s huge for the game down here.”
And it’s huge for the Los Angeles sports scene, which has never experienced a matchup quite like the series that begins in Orange County on Saturday night.
The Lakers and the Clippers have never met in the NBA postseason. The Dodgers and the Angels have never reached the World Series together. The Rams and the Raiders never reached the Super Bowl at the same time when they both called Southern California home nearly two decades ago.
But in their 20th season of head-to-head competition for the hearts of the Southland’s hockey fans, the Kings and Ducks are squaring off for a trip to the Western Conference finals.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
Darryl is the only guy who looks like that.
Ain’t for the cup though.
“It’s a great day for hockey!”
“IIRC, they began their existence as “The Mighty Ducks” consistent with a marketing tie-in with D....y, which had a then recent film of that same name.”
Pretty close. I worked for The Mouse, at that time, it was actually a bit more of a ‘perfect storm’. The movie was a hit, and of course, sequels were planned in short order. You may recall the “Greed is Good” chairman of the corporation, Michael “I Sneer”, an egomaniac, of the highest order. His son had a passion for hockey, but no real talent to rise above possible Junior league.
About the same time, The City of Anaheim built a palatial arena, on the speculation that they would be able to attract an NBA team, such as the (Sacramento)Kings, Clippers, or an expansion team. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Naturally, the city started to panic, with no major tenant, and construction on the arena almost complete.
Up steps Michael I Sneer. He was a big player in Anaheim, due to the famous theme park he ran, along with ownership of the Anaheim MLB team. The NHL was eager to pump up their marketing arm, who better to aid them, than one of the world’s biggest showmen ? I Sneer wanted an NHL vehicle for his son (as an executive, not a player), so a deal was quickly struck -the corporation was awarded an expansion team, to play in Anaheim.
Marketing genius that he was, or at least his underlings were, they named the team, after the movie. They also scored a sponsorship with a bottled water company, and named the arena “The Pond”, nicely tying in with the team name. Young I Sneer got his NHL job, and that was the beginning of the franchise.
POSTSCRIPT: The corporation did not find the synergy, and profit that they desired, by running a famous theme park, an MLB, and an NHL franchise in Anaheim. Add to that, the fact that I Sneer elder, and younger, grew bored with their playthings. A decade later, they began the divestment proceedings, first the MLB team was sold, and rechristened as “The Los Angeles Angels, of Anaheim”. Next up was the NHL team, rechristened simply as “The Ducks”. Finally, after a record of questionable business, and ethical decisions, The nephew of Uncle Walt, the corporation’s founder, was able to stage a coup, and remove I Sneer from his perch, atop the mouse house. IMHO, a happy ending, all the way around !
I think going be Kings who knew could be Ducks again
Does anyone really care about a game being played on ice in May? Seriously. We’re sick of cold and ice and anything wintry.
hehe
If the government is in charge of everything, I say make it illegal to finish hockey and basketball after baseball’s opening day!
We are there. Go Kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are there. Go Kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Championship tonight... Go Kings!
If only Rogie Vachon had that defense in front of him.
Remember him? He would lead the team that beat my Kings in the Norris division. That Ken Dryden, the Canadiens goalie, is a no good leftie, by the way.
Those Kings were great fun to watch. A great goalie (Vachon), the Triple Crown Line (Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor) and absolutely NO defense. Those Canadiens won five titles in a row or something like that. Lots of great hockey, at least outside of the Smythe division.
You called it! Got a chance to go to all of the games at STAPLES Center. First time I've ever seen - in person - a handshake line...in 26 years of following hockey/the Kings.
Yes. Me. Granted, I live in Los Angeles...not exactly the capital of inclement weather...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.