Thread: born-again Kings fan here

Hi Everyone,

I first got hooked to the Kings (and ice hockey in general) beginning around the 1983(?) season when I was a kid. The Kings were Smythe Division fodder every year it seemed, with the Oilers, Flames, and Jets leading the way, leaving only the Kings and Canucks to battle it out for 4th.

I remember vaguely the Triple Crown Line. Guys like Nicholls, Hardy, Dionne, Taylor, and Wells (and of course, Bob Miller and Nick Nickson) stand out to me from that era. There were also the wonderful rookies that Dionne took under his wing -- Carson, Robitaille and Duchesne... There was also a player by the name of Bob Miller, which always confused me while listening to the games because that was the same name as the broadcaster. Unfortunately, I also remember names like Larry Murphy, players whom the Kings let get away and went on to become stars elsewhere. I remember the fans at the Forum who would wear brown bags over their heads at the end of 7-2 losses...

My hockey world (and everyone else's) would turn upside down with the Gretzky trade. The Great One had become a King!!!! Former enemies (Kurri, McSorely, Krushelnyski, etc.) had crossed over and joined our side. Everything was wonderful and weird at the same time.

Anyhow, I went on to college and, as fate would have it, could only follow from a distance when the Kings made their magical playoff run in 1993. My heart broke when McSorley's stick was challenged and defeat was snatched from the jaws of certain Stanley Cup victory.

I lost touch with the Kings after that.... Whereas I once was able to name the entire rosters of the teams from the 80s, I can only name maybe a dozen players or so from the late 90s through 2000s.

But the magical playoff run of 2012 reeled me back in. With each playoff victory, the scars from 1993 were erased. All the suffering over the years somehow became worth it. When the Cup was finally ours, I got very emotional. I was so happy for all who toiled for a losing franchise all those years. I was so happy for everyone who had ever been a fan of those teams. How beautiful that team captain Dustin Brown seemed to understand that the Stanley Cup victory was not just for the 2011-12 team, but for every Kings team, for every Kings fan, for all time.

I'm a huge fan of the Dodgers and Lakers too. Their championships over the years were sweet. But they were nothing like the 2012 Kings Stanley Cup title.

I'm not sure which Kings sweater I will get first. Brown? Kopitar? Bob Miller? (Do they even make one for him?) Nicholls? Dionne? Gretzky? Blake? Robitalle? All seem like worthy choices...

Anyhow, I'm glad I found this community.

Go Kings Go!

That '93 loss was a bitter pill to swallow. I still haven't entirely forgiven the Habs.

Welcome to LGK!

Welcome back! You came to the right place. The best Kings forum in all the interwebz.

Welcome back to the fun!

Great introduction post! Welcome to LGK!!!

Welcome to the nuthouse!

Welcome aboard, Pumpernicholl! It sounds like you started following the Kings the first time right around the same time I did. I do remember the player Bob Miller as well. Unlike his broadcast namesake, he was a flash in the pan.