Kings News: Rob Blake's No. 4 jersey will be retired by the LA Kings

[Statto]

Everyone can voice their opinion in my worlds view, even boo if you really want. However booing of your own team/organisation/players has never sat well with me. For a start I just don't get it. It achieves nothing but creating a negative atmosphere which can't help the players in any way. In this case Blake 'gets it' already and so does the organisation so all it is likely to do is create some negative headlines at a time we want good PR instead of what some will see as an embarrassment.

I've never booed my team, ever. Be that Hockey, football (soccer) or whatever. I may have booed the opposition when I was a kid but not in recent memory. Equally I don't cheer players when they come back in another shirt, I don't get that either, why make an opponent feel good? Don't get me wrong if I'm not happy about something I have plenty to say but I don't hide behind the keyboard (I'm not suggesting anyone here is doing that).

Locally I'm well known so if I post on the internet anyone in my home rink can come find me. However I don't tend to post significant critisms I prefer to discuss with the target face to face and quite often have. For a start it so often affects your perspective on things. That's the thing with Blake for me, it's become so polarised when the truth will be somewhere in between. At the moment it still feels people are hurt like a jilted ex and can't get over it, which I get to be fair. I'd be fairly confident a big percentage of the boo boys would soften their stance on Blake if they ever had the chance to speak to him, although I have my doubts all would be completely honest about their views. A bit of perspective would change things.

The guy must love the team, he must. Coming back was not the easy decision as he had a nice number with the league and was bound to get a similar opportunity at some stage in the near future. He knew how his return would be received so in my view made a brave decision. Since then he has been nothing but dignified including when we got the cup. DL clearly knows him well and he has no problems with his departure to the Sharks and actually knows exactly what happened there so if he has no problem there I don't see why anyone else should. I've already posted I blame the Kings for his first departure and I rarely side with players on these things.

I think some perspective is lacking, but if you're not over it now I doubt you ever will be. It's up to you if you boo but I just don't get the point of it.

 

[Kingler]

Well deserved. Sorry I cannot hold a grudge, didn't even think it was that bad at the time, the package we got for him certainly was a whole lot better than what we got for some of the players who didn't want to be here (and there were plenty of those), so I got no beef with him and some of you gotta learn to let go

 

[Vamos Rafa]

The few Ucks fans in attendance are gonna pretend to show class by applauding.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Well deserved. Sorry I cannot hold a grudge, didn't even think it was that bad at the time, the package we got for him certainly was a whole lot better than what we got for some of the players who didn't want to be here (and there were plenty of those), so I got no beef with him and some of you gotta learn to let go

See, I don't think it's about 'letting go' or 'booing' or all that other BS. Personally, I just don't care for the guy and I don't associate him with what's ever been good about this organization. Would I boo him? No....I just don't care, and I know I won't be getting all misty-eyed when that number is raised like when they did it for #20 or #99.

My issue with it is, why? What has he done to deserve his number raised to the rafters? We have a total of how many players up there now, 4? After 45 years of existence? And this guy is next? Hell, Deadmarsh is a more respected Kings player by the fans than Blake, and he was only here 2 years. That should say it all right there.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

In protest, I'll be attending the Ducks game the night of the jersey retirement.

 

[Ron*]

The few Ucks fans in attendance are gonna pretend to show class by applauding.

You mean like the Kings did for Teemu? That kind of pretending? Maybe you need some perspective on the human spirit as well.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

In protest, I'll be attending the Ducks game the night of the jersey retirement.

 

[Ron*]

Everyone can voice their opinion in my worlds view, even boo if you really want. However booing of your own team/organisation/players has never sat well with me. For a start I just don't get it. It achieves nothing but creating a negative atmosphere which can't help the players in any way. In this case Blake 'gets it' already and so does the organisation so all it is likely to do is create some negative headlines at a time we want good PR instead of what some will see as an embarrassment.

I've never booed my team, ever. Be that Hockey, football (soccer) or whatever. I may have booed the opposition when I was a kid but not in recent memory. Equally I don't cheer players when they come back in another shirt, I don't get that either, why make an opponent feel good? Don't get me wrong if I'm not happy about something I have plenty to say but I don't hide behind the keyboard (I'm not suggesting anyone here is doing that).

Locally I'm well known so if I post on the internet anyone in my home rink can come find me. However I don't tend to post significant critisms I prefer to discuss with the target face to face and quite often have. For a start it so often affects your perspective on things. That's the thing with Blake for me, it's become so polarised when the truth will be somewhere in between. At the moment it still feels people are hurt like a jilted ex and can't get over it, which I get to be fair. I'd be fairly confident a big percentage of the boo boys would soften their stance on Blake if they ever had the chance to speak to him, although I have my doubts all would be completely honest about their views. A bit of perspective would change things.

The guy must love the team, he must. Coming back was not the easy decision as he had a nice number with the league and was bound to get a similar opportunity at some stage in the near future. He knew how his return would be received so in my view made a brave decision. Since then he has been nothing but dignified including when we got the cup. DL clearly knows him well and he has no problems with his departure to the Sharks and actually knows exactly what happened there so if he has no problem there I don't see why anyone else should. I've already posted I blame the Kings for his first departure and I rarely side with players on these things.

I think some perspective is lacking, but if you're not over it now I doubt you ever will be. It's up to you if you boo but I just don't get the point of it.

So by your post I take it you are a professional player somewhere but do not understand why an arena would cheer an opposing player? Really?

When Guy Lafleur played his last shift in Los Angeles, the entire Forum stood and gave him a protracted standing ovation. (As an aside, he was so shocked that he could not stand until his coach told him to take a bow.) It was an incredible heartwarming moment and I don't really understand how you as a player can make the comment about making an opponent feel good. That moment was priceless and I still remember it to this day, some odd 20 years later.

 

[cyclones22]

I wasn't happy with Blake either, directly after each departure from LA. That being said, I was over it fairly quickly and if I were in attendance, I wouldn't boo during the ceremony. I'd cheer. Blake is in the HHOF now. Drafted by the Kings and spent the great majority of his career as a King and his best seasons occurred while as a King. It was going to be a no-brainer that his jersey was going to be retired once he was elected to the hall of fame.

This organization has not had a lot to celebrate in its many years of existence until the last few years. This franchise is a winner now and Blake now has his name on the Stanley Cup as part of Kings management. DL wants to win more than anything. If DL saw fit to hire the guy as Assistant GM for cripesakes, that says something. Why doesn't Luc, his long time teammate, hold a grudge against Blake? I've been with the same company for 14+ years. Love most of my co-workers. But the minute I feel management is mistreating me, I'm outa there. It would be no different if I were a hockey player instead. Kings management circa 2000 is not the same as management now.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

but do not understand why an arena would cheer an opposing player? Really?

.

Ron brings it everday!


I am with you here Ron. Class needs to transcend the game itself. If I were at game 7, I would have cheered Teemu.
Even though he was a Duck, he is also a legend. One of the classiest players to ever play the game. Never a cheap shot, never spoke bad about other players, just played the game for way longer than anyone expected him to do and excelled at it.

We are all people first, hockey fans second and Kings fans third. (Except Froot Cake, I am convinced that he is a chihuahua that can type)

 

[Ron*]

Ron brings it everday!


I am with you here Ron. Class needs to transcend the game itself. If I were at game 7, I would have cheered Teemu.
Even though he was a Duck, he is also a legend. One of the classiest players to ever play the game. Never a cheap shot, never spoke bad about other players, just played the game for way longer than anyone expected him to do and excelled at it.

We are all people first, hockey fans second and Kings fans third. (Except Froot Cake, I am convinced that he is a chihuahua that can type)

Hahaha thanks, I might change my moniker to "bringing it every day."

 

[HYORI 1963]

We are all people first, hockey fans second and Kings fans third. (Except Froot Cake, I am convinced that he is a chihuahua that can type)

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I said it at the beginning of the thread and I'll say it again, there's a LOT of mileage/grey area between blind fanboyism and blind hatred. The polarizing hyperbole has to stop or there's gonna be an infraction parade.

Plenty of people have given legitimate reasons why Blake's number should be retired and many have also given legitimate reasons why Blake's number should not be retired without going into eating our own fanbase. Respectfully disagree and move on if you wish, but the comments about "I wish xxx would just disappear" are going to be treated as flames.

Some of us are talking about his accomplishments, some are talking about character; make sure you're on the same wavelength before bashing an opinion. And be damn sure you respect the other poster and tread lightly because there are obviously going to be large philosophical differences when we're talking the business of professional sports.

Man, I hate the summer.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

You mean like the Kings did for Teemu? That kind of pretending? Maybe you need some perspective on the human spirit as well.

Teemu is loved by 100% of the Ducks fan base. You can't say the same about Blake and the Kings fan base. So Ducks fans will make Kings fans look really bad when half of the Kings fans (or more) are booing while they're cheering.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Teemu is loved by 100% of the Ducks fan base. You can't say the same about Blake and the Kings fan base. So Ducks fans will make Kings fans look really bad when half of the Kings fans (or more) are booing while they're cheering.

I think the part of the equation that people are missing in this whole Blake thing is that Lombardi is trying to change the way that other players and agents view the Kings. Lombardi himself was warned against taking the job and Lombardi learned firsthand by losing Chara at the zero hour to Boston that the alumni players hold a lot of creedence around the league.
I talked to Jamie Storr the season after Blake was traded and the trade was NOT popular in the Kings locker room. Even though, everyone loved Deadmarsh and Miller, Blake was seen as the leader and the team's one true superstar.

I was hoping to find a long version of the handshake line, but the every King stopped, hugged and a had a talk with Blake.





Lombardi has been bringing a lot of alumni in to the fold, Donnelly, Emerson, Storr, Muzz, etc.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Might as well lockup this bad boy. I think both sides have said what needs to be said. Besides, I'm sure another Blake thread will pop up as we get closer to the ceremony.

 

[Choralone]

Again, I am over what he did. I don't think he deserves a "trophy" for what he did.

Yet he is being honored for his actions 15 years ago...you can't have it both ways.

I get the feeling from you guys and others that raising his jersey is sending a tacit message that the organization is rewarding Blake for the "wrong" things he did, rather than rewarding him for the right things.

 

[Herby]

I kind of agree here. This entitlement/Neanderthal thinking is really getting old with a section of the fan base. We had threads of player x should be released immediately, during a cup run for crying out loud. Some still hate Gretzky for leaving, and that he doesn't deserve a statue. McSorely is hated for an obvious reason. Time to get over that ****, we've won two cups.

As far as Blake goes, DL did his homework on him. Knows what happened in his second stint with the Kings and the trade deadline. He was a great player for the Kings, he did tremendous community work and like Luc, is still involved with the organization they started with. He's been good to the Kings, and the business deals that went awry are squarely on Lieweekly and his pr machine.

Boooing is one thing, I agree with you, anyone who boooos Rob Blake at his jersey ceremony has serious issues. If you are a STH who feels like you are going to boo either sell your tickets or don't show up for the ceremony.

I still disagree that his career as a King warranted his jersey being retired and totally disagree that anyone who doesn't want it retired shouldn't be a fan of the team.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Only King to ever win a Norris and a HOF inductee alone should be enough to have his jersey hung, nevermind that he leads in all offensive category.

Time to forgive and move on boys.

 

[Ron*]

Only King to ever win a Norris and a HOF inductee alone should be enough to have his jersey hung, nevermind that he leads in all offensive category.

Time to forgive and move on boys.

Are you a Roman Catholic priest?

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Are you a Roman Catholic priest?

If he was, he would have molested all of us by now

 

[HYORI 1963]

Are you a Roman Catholic priest?

People make mistakes. It just seems childish to be upset about something from almost 15 years ago.

 

[cyclones22]

Boooing is one thing, I agree with you, anyone who boooos Rob Blake at his jersey ceremony has serious issues. If you are a STH who feels like you are going to boo either sell your tickets or don't show up for the ceremony.

I still disagree that his career as a King warranted his jersey being retired and totally disagree that anyone who doesn't want it retired shouldn't be a fan of the team.

This is all I care about. Hate him all you want, but booing at the ceremony would be a complete embarrassment as it will be broadcast and reported on by major sports nets. Blake will come off as an even more sympathetic figure and the fanbase will look like joyless idiots.

 

[donkozak]

Rob Blake was the best Kings draft pick during the Gretzky era by far. Good to see the Kings are going to hang his jersey from the rafters!!!

PS Like to see the name hung but not the number because after awhile we'll have just football numbers given to WR's left!

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

This is all I care about. Hate him all you want, but booing at the ceremony would be a complete embarrassment as it will be broadcast and reported on by major sports nets. Blake will come off as an even more sympathetic figure and the fanbase will look like joyless idiots.

Unfortunately, there are way too many idiots in the world.....he will be booed.