By Mardeio Cannon | OBSERVER Columnist
If you love old-school music like I do, you will probably remember a song by the Drifters called “This Magic Moment.” The Golden 1 Center had its magic moment this past Saturday in the Sacramento Kings’ first trip to the playoffs since 2006. Adding to the drama was the Kings’ opponent: their Northern California neighbor, the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors. This was the first time the teams faced each other in the playoffs, or even been in the playoffs at the same time since the Kings moved here in 1985.
I was at Arco Arena in 1996 when the Kings made the playoffs with their former Golden State star Mitch Richmond as their star player and their first-round opponent was the Seattle Supersonics. Upon returning to Arco after splitting the first two games in Seattle, the Kings came out of the tunnel for pregame warm-ups to a deafening roar.
Fast forward to Saturday night and the Kings, having to endure the embarrassment of being the team with the longest playoff drought among all major sports teams in the USA, were preparing to take the court for pregame warm-ups. The crowd was in all-white T-shirts and when longtime Kings radio play-by-play announcer Gary Gerould introduced the Kings for pregame warm-ups, it was deafening just like Arco in 1996.
The Kings are the only major league professional team in town. Sacramento, being a small growing metropolis, endured jokes for years about being a “cowtown,” not ready for prime time like the big cities.
These Kings make many people in these parts feel like they are ready for the “big leagues.” Knocking off the champs would mean more to this community than if the Kings opponents were the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Kings have heard from all the pundits and so-called experts that they had no chance to defeat the mighty Warriors. As I pen this column, the Kings lead their series 2-0. By the time you read this column, most likely the series will be 2-1. If, however, the Kings are 3-0 and you are reading this column, just realize that in the Kings locker room led by NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown, these Kings will not celebrate until they are holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy as NBA champions!
The Damar Hamlin Miracle
The news that Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest on the field Jan. 2, was cleared to resume his football career is news worth celebrating from the highest mountain top. Again, the power of prayer of healing and faith for this outstanding young man is the truth that miracles and God’s healing still is much alive today. I wish Hamlin the best as he resumes his career.