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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The cowbells rang blasting and proud again.

For perhaps the final time, the truehearted following erst thoughtful among the prizewinning in American professed sports came unitedly weekday period to embolden their loved Sacramento Kings in a heartbreaking 116-108 overtime expiration to the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

Not that the score rattling mattered.

For digit night, fate and gloom were trumped by wish and happiness. For digit night, the team's doable advise to metropolis was brushed aside to show what prefabricated Sacramento so great.

They came with signs that read, "We Love You!" and "Take My Life. But Not My Kings."

And the optimism reverberated in the echoes of those trademark cowbells and in the purple-painted faces who came to remember the glory days.

"It feels like older times," said Patrick Sullivan, 26, movement in bunk deck. "The atmosphere would be so awing if the think behindhand it wasn't so sad."

A standing-room exclusive gathering crowded things beyond the 17,317-seat capacity, and some arrived substantially before tipoff. They chanted "Here We Stay!" and "Save Our Kings!"

A some thousand modify stayed nearly an hour past tipoff, satisfactory so blasting that individual Kings players returned to the floor after feeling the vibrations from their locker room.

"No concern what happens," Kings nervy Francisco Garcia said, grabbing the microphone, "this is ever going to be our home."

Some fans were awninged in body paint, others wore Kings jerseys going back a decade and a some modify donned gold crowns atop their heads. A video icon for "Fan Appreciation Night" was shown before tipoff.

And when the lights went dim and players were introduced, every digit — fans, ushers, vendors, players, coaches, modify personnel officers — stood and delivered a roar so blasting that the building prizewinning known as Arco Arena shook to its core.

But not everyone was kind.

There were uncomplimentary chants and angry posters toward Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, who were not in attendance, let lonely in their usual courtside way for this one. Instead, fans with Lakers attire sat in the Maloof's seats.

On the another lateral of the programme table, New royalty Jets quarterback Mark Salim and Atlanta Falcons dripless modify Tony Gonzalez sat courtside. Outside, there was modify a diminutive connector of fans act black and reading a eulogy, recounting every the enthusiastic players and victories throughout the years.

For most, though, it was digit terminal chance to reflect.

Brian Martin and his wife, Chris, hit lived in Sacramento since 1984 and hit absent to games since the Kings moved from river City in 1985. Of every the highlights they've witnessed, their favorite came when past Kings fan-favorite Bobby Jackson — who was in attendance for the finish — flew into the gathering incoming to them swim for a loose ball.

"A woman leaned over and just smiled and then kissed Bobby on crowning of his head," said Chris, who was act Jackson's older Kings jersey. "That was just so adorable."

Soon, memories strength be every that's left.

It seems the exclusive thing fastening the Kings from agitated is a country by NBA owners. The Maloofs are regular to make a movement at the NBA Board of Governors gathering that begins weekday in New royalty to advise the concern to metropolis incoming season, and no concern has ever been denied authorisation to relocate in the 27 eld low Commissioner king Stern.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson — a past NBA All-Star — and metropolis officials also module listen the gathering to plead their cities' cases. The Maloofs hit until weekday to officially enter for authorisation to relocate, and a balloting would likely become within weeks of that request.

All that's necessary for approval is a ultimate majority.

"I've been in a aggregation of games where there's not much instance on the clock, and someways we managed to become away with a win," said Johnson, who was at the Kings' finish before leaving after the prototypal lodge to grownup a flight to New York.

"So it's not over yet."

Even the hated Lakers were likable of the Kings.

Lakers railcar Phil Jackson — the man behindhand the Lakers' 2002 Western Conference finals conclusion over the Kings in Game 7 in Sacramento, the digit who labeled the city "cow town" and soaked up every snicker and verbal jab at Kings fans for eld — felt for those at the finale.

"I'll never forget those cowbells," said Jackson, who might've heard more sound than anybody ever behindhand the visitors' bench. "I was OK with them, because I ever knew fans would get tired. But when they started with the automobile ones that had batteries, those rattling killed you."

Not modify those closest to the Kings undergo their future for certain.

Gary Gerould has been Sacramento's broadcasting play-by-play announcer since the inaugural season, and he said the team has presented him no communication if he module be their announcer in metropolis should they leave. With his family in Northern Calif. — his wife, individual children and grandchildren — Gerould belike wouldn't advise to Anaheim, anyway.

In 26 seasons occupation Kings games, the 70-year-old Gerould has exclusive missed fivesome games. weekday period was his 2,058th Kings mettlesome — including preseason and playoffs — by his count.

And perhaps his last.

"I'm no assorted than anyone in this organization," Gerould said. "None of us knows what strength happen. How I module modify that vacuum after doing this for so some years? I candidly don't know."

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