The Crosby Chronicles: Angeleno pride for Kings victory

The Los Angeles Kings have won their first NHL Championship after 45 years of being in existence. While not a rabid fan, I have followed the Kings all of my life. I would listen to the games on radio with Bob Miller announcing them (he still does).

We long-time Angelenos are extremely fortunate (and spoiled) to have had the best basketball announcer of all time, Chick Hearn, the best baseball announcer, Vin Scully, and Miller. Both Chickie Baby and Vinnie have enjoyed several championships; now Bob gets to join the club.

I’m happy for all the long-time, suffering Kings fans, a team that rarely makes the playoffs, only once going for the Stanley Cup back in 1993. I still remember being in a restaurant packed with Kings fans for that infamous game 2 when the Kings, who had won the first game and had a lead in that one, lost four straight to the Montreal Canadiens, never recovering from the McSorley illegal stick.

And what a nice change of pace that fans didn’t commit havoc in the streets “celebrating” by burning cars and smashing store windows. I’ve never understand that thug/criminal behavior that appears to have become a tradition after a home team wins a championship. You’d think people would want to do something for their city than destroy it. This says a lot about the quality of the Kings fans compared to the Lakers fans.

May this first cup be the beginning of a new dynasty at the Staples Center.

This column will return July 3.

BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at brian-crosby.com.