It took me eight years, but I finally popped my Los Angeles Kings playoff cherry on Monday and it felt great. Like every Kings fan who has waited for this occasion, I was pumped up like a kid on Christmas morning. It was a fantastic feeling walking to Staples Center hearing the fans chant, seeing all of the jerseys, witnessing the incredibly hot Ice Girls hand out Mardi Gras beads and take part in some innocent jawing with the many Canucks fans in attendance.
This is a whole new meaning to "Silver And Black Attack"
But then we entered the arena and the booze started flowing and some Kings fans found themselves some liquid courage. Awesome. I saw a Canucks fan get punched for standing up and cheering for his team. I saw drunk Kings fans try to start a fight in the upstairs patio. I overheard a Kings fan question a Canucks fan’s sexual orientation…in the bathroom.
Fuck.
When did Los Angeles Kings fans become Raider Nation?
Let’s start with booing the Canadian National Anthem. This is just classless and, in Twitter terms, a #fanfail. I get it, we’re amped. We’re ready to march all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. We’re finally on the national stage. Can we please avoid the title of “ghetto-est fans in the league”?
Then there’s telling the Vancouver Canucks players to “Go back to Canada”. Now this is plain dumb. Please, someone, explain the logic here to me. This isn’t a national series. This ain’t the Olympics. This is the NHL playoffs. Let’s just say for a moment that the Canadians “went back to Canada”. Well, then, you can say goodbye to Drew Doughty, Wayne Simmonds, Ryan Smyth, Jarrett Stoll, Justin Williams, Brad Richardson, Richard Clune and Randy Jones. Then we’d have the first overall pick in the draft and we could draft Taylor Hall. Oh, wait, he’s Canadian too.
Okay, Randy Jones can go back to Canada.
Which one is Keith?
Now I have nothing against trash-talking the opposing team. You can make inappropriate comments about the Ginger Twins, say Luongo looks like a combination of porn star and a rat, or call Kyle Wellwood the fattest player in the NHL next to Martin Brodeur.
But when you’re throwing beer at someone in a Canucks jersey who is cheering because their team just scored, you’re a douche.
When you and your five drunk friends are trying to start a fight with one Canucks fan in a parking lot, you’re a douche.
And, yes, when you spit on a small and seemingly un-tough Canucks fan, you are very much a douche.
Hunter S. Thompson said “The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled.” Do we really want this comparison? Look, I know that the handful of people that act like idiots are small compared to those who are just passionate and want to watch hockey.
So, if you’re reading this and thinking to yourself “Hey, that sounds like me!,” please stay home….or go to an Angels game.
Keith Korneluk is a Los Angeles Kings fan. He’s the co-host of the video show Overtime by KingsCast. You can follow him on Twitter and friend him upon Facebook. He likes that.
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Uhh, I'm sorry but have you ever been to a game at the RBC Center? Did you go anytime during the 2006 Cup run? Or are you just trying to show how well you can generalize?
Hurricanes fans are overwhelmingly classy and very good at self-policing, and the few assclowns that do show up get beat down in short order.
But what do I know, I've only been a season ticket holder since Day 1.
“A massive fail on both sides.”
That pretty much sums it up. I really wonder if both sides were just returning the animosity or if its a different crowd lately. The bad part about winning is that it will bring this out. And fans tend to be a little braver when their team is good…
“The Canucks fans I've seen have been less than gracious visitors. If you're a visiting team's fan and your team scores, cheer as loud as you want–toward the ice.”
That was a HUGE problem in our section. There were a couple of Canucks fans who, after the go-ahead goal was scored just turned the douche-meter to 11. No one was giving them shit all game, then when they took the lead they went for it. Maybe it was liquid courage, maybe it was the lead. But the guy stood up, turned around and directed his cheering TOWARDS THE FANS. “Yeah, thats right!” was his cheer of choice.
Just like its not OK for Kings fans to treat visitors like crap when they're just trying to watch their team play, its not cool with fans start shit with OTHER fans. Cheer for your team. Cheers as loud as you want. Boo the refs. Just don't make it personal with other fans…
Yeah, it was pretty rough the last couple of games from my vantage point. I must have the drunker section
I talked to some fans online who shared similar stories. I'd like us to be known as passionate fans who are always gracious to visitors.
Loved that quote by Namath!
Here, here. I haven't seen the behavior you mention and I've been to both games, so I was hoping it was just hyperbole. These Kings fans could follow some advice…“You learn how to be a gracious winner and an outstanding loser.” –Joe Namath.
The Canucks fans I've seen have been less than gracious visitors. If you're a visiting team's fan and your team scores, cheer as loud as you want–toward the ice. Don't turn around, face fans behind you, and do a little mocking dance. I guess I'm old school in thinking you don't turn around when your team scores, but you cheer as loud as you want toward your team to encourage them.
When I'm in an another arena cheering for the Kings, I don't cheer toward any other fan, but toward the rink. I'll even chat a little with the home-team fans. Why make it an unpleasant experience for everyone? Plus you are just asking for abuse when your team chokes away the lead (like some certain Boston fans in Staples Center earlier this season).
I'm all for heckling the fans of the visiting team, Frozen Fury walk of shame style, but that's where it should stop. Let Bailey take care of 'em. We sat next to two of the nicest old CANADIAN men in Kings sweaters. On the other side of me was a guy in a blue Dodgers jacket—think before heckling the person in front you for wearing blue—who was taking his kids to see the game, and they were really into it.
I wanted to smack each and every person who booed “O Canada.” That's just uncouth no matter when or where.
The Canucks fans in our section were directing their cheering more in a “in your face” towards us kind of way. I don't know if they were just jerks, or returning the animosity. It seemed like the some of the Canucks fans who showed were also bandwagoners who didn't know what they were talking about either. I was told “You just like Quick because he's American.” Right, which is why I like Drew Doughty and Ryan Smyth… wait.
A massive fail on both sides.
Very well said man. I think the same thing too when people yell “Go back to Canada”, and boo the anthem and are too stupid to realize they're also disrespecting some of their own players. I'm a Leafs fan from Toronto, and the only time I've seen the U.S. anthem booed in a Canadian city was in Montreal. It really was no suprise coming from Habs fans, and it really was embarassing making the rest of the country look bad. There's being passionate and then there's being stupid. Big difference.
I remember when the Oilers made their big run a few years ago. I can't remember which team they were playing in this series, but when they were on the road in this city the Canadian anthem was booed. How did the Oiler fans react at the next game in Edmonton? They sang the American anthem at the top of their lungs and cheered, lol. It was incredible.
This has been a very entertaining series. I'm cheering for the Canucks on this one, but there is no hard feelings if the Kings go through. I like their players and will cheer for them if they move on.
“Are you lost”!? Zinger! I saw you before the game and thought “why is this guy in a Philly jersey?”. Then I saw it was Hextall and thought that was pretty cool. I actually think it's pretty sweet when fans wear current players jerseys of their former team.
I've noticed over the past couple of months that Kings fans are becoming more aggressive at the games. Maybe it's because we're winning. I don't know about you but I could see the fans rioting LA Lakers style if we ever win the Cup.
Why can't we just enjoy the win?
THANK YOU KEITH!!!!!! You said everything I was thinking. I love the Kings as much as anyone, but LET'S HAVE SOME FREAKIN' CLASS PEOPLE!!!
I couldn't have said it any better. I was embarrassed to be an American on Monday during O Canada at Staples. I have seen a lot of classless things at sporting events, (fuck Santa Clause) but booing another nation's national anthem is right near the top.
I also had a very interesting perspective Monday because I was wearing a Ron Hextall Flyers sweater. There was no middle ground with peoples reaction to me as I walked around Staples. Half of the people were very polite and wanted to talk about how they really enjoy watching the Flyers because of the style of hockey they play. Others talked about the great things Hextall has done for the Kings organization as their Asst GM. While still others wanted to remember how great and tough Hex was as a player. Even suggesting they would like a little Hextall to rub off on some of the good young goalies in the Kings organization. Perfect example of educated true hockey fans.
Then there were the Kings fans that didn't know how to behave once they got to the dance. Most were wearing a shinny Kings sweater or hat and most still had the tags on them. I'm pretty sure that some of them bought their Kings gear that night after their friend said “want to go the Kings playoff game, I have an extra ticket” and they responded “don't you mean the Lakers, Sacramento didn't even make the playoffs”. Maybe they were shocked it was so cool inside and wondered what the hell is all this ice for. They needed to buy merch and drink like Teddy Kennedy to warm up. Most of these fans were bored out of their minds 42 and half seconds after the players hit the ice and thought “no wonder why the NHL is dying, hockey sucks”. Completely over the game befor they even dropped the puck, they decided to have a how big of an ass hole can we be contest during the Canadian national anthem. Like a large group high school bullies that have 3 inch cocks, dead-end jobs, and hate themselves more than anyone could possibly imagine, they decided to fuck with others. It didn't matter if it was a Canucks fan, or someone like me in my Flyers sweater. They projected their depression and misery on anyone that looked a little different. Most of them were ignorant as well. There were probably 7,000 people there that had no clue that Hextall is the second most important front office person for the Kings. Then there were the ones that argued he was the Kings goalie coach and personally responsible for how well Quick has played. I'm curious if they thought my #27 Flyers sweater was really a Bill Ranford Oilers jersey or if they just didn't know simple little facts about their own team. Probably the most annoying were the fans yelling “are you lost?” “Why the hell you wearing that sweater here? They aren't playing” “Why don't you just wear a Kings sweater?” Really. Can you say WTF. I guess it is illegal in LA to be a hockey fan and enjoy watching good live hockey if your team is not playing. I am a Flyers fan and I wear that logo proudly no matter who is playing or what barn I am in.
But to put an end to my all ready too long tangent, I have one thing to point out that will help you sleep at night. Kings fans are NOT turning into Raider fans. For one it is a known fact that the only way ANYONE becomes a Raider fan is first being an ex-felon. You don't have to commit a felony to become a Kings fan, just have bad taste. But you still have an issue that can be mistaken for a Raiders fan but much less harmful. What you experienced Monday night at Staples Center can be seen only if conditions are right and only in certain parts of the country. You may recall recent breakouts in Anaheim back in 2007, Carolina in 2006, Tampa Bay in 2004, and a big one in Dallas in 1999. Not to worry though, these outbreaks are always quick and short lived and you should be back to normal sometime around October. What Staples Center and the Kings have been infected with is a case of the snowflakes. Not familiar with snowflakes. Snowflakes are what most of the NHL's fans call the outbreaks of random, annoying hockey fans that seem to sprout up in cities that are not usually known to be hockey hubs. These people are always load, rude, and never know what they are talking about but are so arrogant they would argue with you that Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most fighting majors in a single season. They get more confidants and violent as they drink more and more thinking hockey is like woman and it might get tolerable the more they drink. All I can tell you is the only cure is time. Usually these teams crash back to reality very quickly and these snowflakes (you may like band wagoners) snap back to reality and say fuck this, lets go watch s some NASCAR.