Kings for a day





TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS—Pia Toscano, at center ice, sang a rousing rendition of the national anthem last week before Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals at Staples Center.

TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS—Pia Toscano, at center ice, sang a rousing rendition of the national anthem last week before Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals at Staples Center.

COMMENTARY

There’s no snow in L.A.

There’s not much of a winter here either, and definitely no arctic chill from a Lake Manitoba gale rattling the bones of a solitary ice fisherman.

But there is a hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings.

Last week I went to my first hockey game. Yeah, I know I’m late to the party.

I attended Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals pitting the Kings against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center.

Of the big four North American pro sports leagues— the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball—the NHL was my last frontier.

Man, oh, Manischewitz, was I in for a treat.

* * *

I got chills just walking to the arena.

Hecklers from a sushi restaurant insulted a couple in Sharks gear moments after the lovebirds parked their car. In moments, we were surrounded in a sea of black and silver . . . and the occasional dollop of royal purple. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s statue donned a Kings sweater mid sky hook.

My friend Itai Roth got us a deal on great tickets. He’s a lifelong Kings fan, and he’s witnessed some of the biggest moments in team history, including last year’s Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 victory against the New Jersey Devils.

The Kings aren’t just another sports team.

“I’d go to games with my grandfather,” said Itai, who lives in Oak Park. “They’re the only memories I have of him.”

When he was a youngster, Itai went to Kings games at the Forum with his dad, Don, and grandfather Charles, who played on the Canadian Air Force hockey team. A Toronto native, Charles Roth changed his name from Sollie Roth when he moved to the United States in hopes of eluding anti-Semitism in this country.

In the 1960s, Don and Charles watched the Los Angeles Blades, a semipro team of the Western Hockey League, at the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena. The Blades featured Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player.

“The only hockey fans back then were ex-Canadians,” Don said.

Times have changed.

The Kings are the hottest game in town. What’s not to like?

Hockey is an elegant and brutal game. The action moves so quickly. Anything can happen in a moment, so it’s impossible to look away.

Kings and Sharks glided and smashed into each other on a frozen cloud at Mount Olympus with the fate of the galaxy at stake.

These fans are different, too. Lakers fans are spoiled brats. Clippers fans are more hopeless and helpless than Gilligan. USC football fans are holier than thou. Dodgers fans? Don’t get me started on Wyoming armadillo rancher/Thousand Oaks Acorn editor Kyle “Kip” Jorrey and Mr. Soccer Mom/Camarillo Acorn and Moorpark Acorn editor Dan Wolowicz.

Kings fans are a blue-collar bunch. They’re tough and loyal, and many, especially the old-school Canucks, are funny enough to carry their own skit on “Conan.”

“Kings fans are very passionate,” said Itai, who played soccer at Oak Park and Westlake high schools.

“ They’re united after so many years of frustration. It took 45 years to win the Cup. They’ve been through a lot. It’s so emotional for many people.”

* * *

We follow sports to see greatness, to see something never seen before.

On May 16, I saw more than just a hockey game.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Kings scored two goals in 22 seconds to pull out a 4-3 victory against San Jose. A frenzied celebration ensued. This was the loudest crowd I’ve ever heard in my life.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, and anything can happen in sports.

Journalists and fans are calling the comeback one of the five greatest Kings victories ever. It’s in the same conversation with the “Miracle on Manchester,” “Frenzy on Figueroa” and, of course, last year’s Game 6 triumph that clinched the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

“Game 6 was more of a religious ceremony,” Itai said. “It was a release of the frustration from all the years we didn’t win the Cup. There was a point in Game 6 we knew we won it. We started celebrating, hugging and crying.

“We went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in this game. It’s the loudest it’s been, this season for sure. It was just electric.”

I’ll never forget, unfortunately, Kings star Anze Kopitar taking a puck to the face. He left a pool of blood on the ice. Kopitar’s return minutes later—to the theme from “Rocky”—gave the Kings a huge boost.

There are more good memories.

The beautiful and talented Pia Toscano sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

In a pregame video on the big board, Cartman from “South Park” clobbered a cockeyed cartoon shark with a hockey stick.

Fans cursed Raffi Torres, the Sharks goon who’s suspended for the rest of the series after a cheap shot to the head of Kings center Jarret Stoll in Game 1.

Kopitar played inspiring hockey, and goaltender Jonathan Quick made one spectacular save after another. Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, captain Dustin Brown added goals for Los Angeles, while Trevor Lewis punched in the emphatic game-winner.

No snow in L.A.

No problem.


KINGS WIN—Oak Park resident Itai Roth, left, savors the L.A. Kings’ 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks last week at Staples Center with Acorn sports editor Eliav Appelbaum.

KINGS WIN—Oak Park resident Itai Roth, left, savors the L.A. Kings’ 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks last week at Staples Center with Acorn sports editor Eliav Appelbaum.

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