A rivalry exists between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. Kings fans: is it solely a geographical rivalry between two teams separated by 25 miles of bottlenecked freeway lanes? Or does there exist a deeply seeded aversion towards Southern California’s other National Hockey League franchise?
It’s something I’ve never really been able to fully comprehend. The two teams have never met in the playoffs. Players have worn both jerseys and appear at charity skates over the off-season with each other. As Darryl Sutter said of the Edmonton-Calgary rivalry, “Calgary’s captain lived in Edmonton and Edmonton’s captain lived in Calgary. I don’t think there was a rivalry. I figure they all golfed together.”
The players enjoy playing in these games, but I’m not sure if the Kings view the Ducks as their biggest rival. It’s possible that they do. As Jeff Carter said earlier this morning, “I don’t know if it’s that big of a rivalry, but they’re always fun games.”
Because of the Smythe Division ties, and partly because they’ve met in the playoffs in two of the last three years, there certainly exists a rivalry with Vancouver. Though the luster has faded since the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the rivalry with Smythe Division foe Edmonton, and to a much lesser extent, Calgary, exists. Due to playoff series last decade, there is somewhat of a rivalry with Detroit and Colorado, with the former enhanced by the throngs of red-clad fans that invade Staples Center when the Red Wings are in town. And then there are the Phoenix Coyotes, a team that the Kings carved out a much more defined and fierce rivalry with after last year’s Western Conference Final.
The Dodgers and Giants share one of sports’ greatest rivalries, and the Southern California / Northern California contention drives much of the rivalry between L.A. and San Jose – two teams that have also recently met in the playoffs.
What about Dallas? Surely the Stars have to factor into this discussion somewhere.
So where do the Ducks rank amongst the Kings’ chief rivals? Am I crazy for placing them after the Canucks and Sharks, yet above the Coyotes and Red Wings? Maybe I’m just crazy. If I’m crazy, tell me I’m crazy. I would love it if Ducks fans who lurk on these boards chimed in. Please share your own opinions on the Kings’ fiercest rivalries.
….BIG game….still tied for 10th……
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Jeff Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@Deke’r, 5th if you go by winning percentage which factors in the number of games played.
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Why the distaste for Duck? I guess you have never seen the movie “A Christmas Story”?
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Kingstane9 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
@DesertKing, another answer here: Because they smell!?
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I think it is more of a fan rivalry. Especialy for the kings fans in the LA. For me as I do not live in California there is not much a reivalry. I know that if we loose I will not hear much from Ducks fans and I don’t loath their team.
I would take more pride in a win over all the teams mentioned above than the ducks.
Only reason why this is a big game for me is they are leading the division.
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cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
@Perro, Take your love everyone c__p elsewhere. This is hockey and it is competative.
No room for everyone play nice attitude!!!!
We don’t play nice, we play to win.
If you get in the way you get hurt!!!!!!!!!
Get the picture?
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nykingsfan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
@cetericeman,
Exactly what did he say that was wrong? He doesn’t hate the Ducks, but I’m sure he’s not rooting for them to beat the Kings.
It is more of a rivalry for the local fans then for out of town fans or the player, but a true rivalry doesn’t exist until you meet in the playoffs.
The best rivalry in hockey I ever saw was the NYR-NYI back in the 70′s. The reason was they met in the playoffs and had some bitter battles. A hatred grew between the players on each team.
The rivalry today between the Isles and Rangers really no longer exists because one team sucks and hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in years. There’s little chance that the rivalry will continue any time soon because of that.
As a Kings fan I don’t care who they play as long as they win.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
@nykingsfan, the PHI-PIT rivalry is pretty fun these days….
tim Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
@nykingsfan, The rivalry between the Bruins and Habs is one of the most intense in hockey!
cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@nykingsfan, My two favorite teams in hockey are:
1. the L.A. Kings
2. whoever is playing the ducks
Are we clear?
I said Are We Clear?
OUT
Gretzky to Kurri Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
@nykingsfan,
I agree, Perro said nothing wrong in my opinion. I grew up in Southern California in the Gretzky era, before the Ducks were relevant, and I actually was happy to see a SoCal team win the Cup when the Ducks did after I moved East. Especially liked their young group of talent then, and the fact they laid waste to the Red Wings en route, which to me is a much more “hate-able” foe than the Ducks, year after year.
Without a bunch of local trash-talkers around, the rivalry isn’t really relevant. Not much substantial has ever happened between the two teams in the playoffs or even the run up to the post-season. It’s more for hype than anything else in my opinion at this point. I consider games where the Kings meet Vancouver the easiest to term a rivalry. The Northeast Division…that’s where the hate is at. Nobody in that division likes anyone else. It’s pretty fierce hockey.
All that said, one team edging out the other for a playoff spot, or a long playoff series could change the tepid relationship instantly.
It’s all about proximity. Dodgers vs Angels. Lakers vs Clippers. Kings vs Ducks. Love one. Hate the other. That’s the way it works around here.
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JonRosen Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
@Brett, Do Dodgers fans hate the Angels? I’m indifferent to the Southern California teams I don’t follow. You would argue that the bigger rivalries are between Southern California teams, and not NorCal/SoCal?
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Brett Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
@JonRosen, I would argue that yes but only in the minds of the fans and not the players. The close proximity means you probably work/play/live with fans from the “other side” and that artificially pumps up the perceived rivalry. If the Kings lose to San Jose, most likely there isn’t a Sharks fan at your work/neighborhood to deal with. Not true with the Ducks. It’s purely a fan created thing. At least for now. Maybe this is the year both teams are good at the same time.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
@Brett, I live in SJ and I hate the Sharts for that reason. I think “rivalry” depends on perspective…
kings714 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@JonRosen, although i’m in the minority, dodgers and angels fans hate each other and it often turns violent at games (something that doesn’t happen kings, ducks). funny enough the city of anaheim is pretty much split angels/dodgers fans and kings/ducks.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
@JonRosen,
The true rivalry in California is Dodger/Giants, that was brought with them from New York. There were Socio-economic issues related to that rivalry in New York. All that changed when they moved west, as apparently we’re all equal out here. But if you want to really see what a sports rivalry is really all about, may I suggest seeing a Glasgow Celtic/Ranger Game or A Man U/Liverpool in person. Those games can get dangerous for its fans.
We as Kings fans take umbrage to the existence of the Sharks and Ducks. To us they haven’t paid their dues yet. The fact that they have, up until last year, received more recognition and respect around the league has been a very sore point. For me anyway.
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LB Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
@Brett, The biggest one – USC/UCLA ! Not sure that Dodgers/Angels or Lakers/Clippers are that much of a rivalry.
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Absolutly more than geographical.
The name of that team is the HATED Anaheim Duckies!!
They are the hated water foul, and we want to blast them every time we play them.
Get real folks, do New Yorkers have two teams they they like the Islanders and the Rangers?
Of course the answer to that question is NO!!!
The only good Duck is one that has it feathers missing because we just torched him on the rink!!
Does that answer your question?
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Real 7 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
@cetericeman, I’m sure the players do NOT share that intense feeling of rivalry with Anaheim…
the biggest motivation for the Kings is that the Ducks are HOT and they are well ahead of us in the standings, AND they beat us the 1st time we played….that’s all the incentive the Kings need…
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cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
@Real 7, Take your love everyone c__p elsewhere. This is hockey and it is competative.
No room for everyone play nice attitude!!!!
We don’t play nice, we play to win.
If you get in the way you get hurt!!!!!!!!!
Get the picture?
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Osaka Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@cetericeman, The players (Kings and Ducks) all practice together during the summer. Hell, Doughty and Ryan went to the Twilight primer together.
Get the picture?
InTheCrease Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
@cetericeman: Oh please, wind it down a notch, will ya? It’s like you had a double dose of Wheaties for breakfast or somethin’…
Personally, I dislike Vancouver more than any other team. They are the team that I love to see the Kings beat the most. The hit that Brownie put on one of the Sedin sisters in the playoffs is one of the greatest moments in Kings history, as far as I’m concerned
.
I would certainly place San Jose at #2. Then the Ducks. Then Phoenix. Then whoever — it doesn’t matter who it is as long as we win.
I would definitely like to see the Kings whoop some ass tonight…
Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
@cetericeman, ….hahahaha….I remember the year Wild Wing set himself on fire prior to a game doing some sort of stunt with a fire hoop……hahahahaha…
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cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
@InTheCrease Reply:
Ya I did have wheaties and my wife put some sort of food supplement in it that seems to have had an effect on me!
I enjoyed the hit on Ms Sedin as well…In fact I loved it!!
That being said:
I had my fill of the hated duckies ragging me every place I turned and now it is time for payback. Maybe you didn’t experience that, but I did.
Revenge is best served HOT with the proper amount of sarcasim included.
It is the HATED DUCKS
are we clear
I SAID…..ARE WE CLEAR?
I enjoyed the hit on Ms Sedin as well…In fact I loved it!!
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nykingsfan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
@cetericeman,
Dude you’re so far off base it isn’t funny.
I answered you above, but I’ll repeat it here.
I live in NY and have seen the Rangers-Islanders rivalry up close. THe rivalry is now dead because the Isles are a terrible team and they have no chance to meet in the playoffs.
It’s still a rivalry amongst the fans, but not as much as it was when they played each other in the playoffs back in the 70′s.
The Kings-Ducks is still a rivalry but until they meet in the playoffs and gain some hatred for each other on the ice, it’ll remain between the fans.
Sorry, but that’s just the way it goes.
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cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
@nykingsfan, 1940, 1940, 1940, 1940. Ya, the Islander fans just like that year right?
Don’t think that the rivarly just passes along. Yes it will get more intense if they ever meet in the playoffs. Read Doughty’s comments and try and get the feeling behind his words.
There is only room for one top dog in so. cal.
And it is going to be the Kings!
And I am not talking about what they might say off the ice. I played the game and I had guys that I could talk to off the rink, but when it came time to play it was back to business.
And when I say “hated ducks” I mean it in a sports fashion.
Our society is so wacked right now I don’t want anyone thinking anything else is meant.
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rick Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
@cetericeman, One word – medication…
cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@Rick:
One word:
Eat your wheaties!
That is medication when you wife puts some sort of food supplement in it!
I am on a roll today…………….talk to me tommorow if you want a loving centericeman.
I’d say that the Sharks are #1, Canucks are #2, and Coyotes are actually #3 above the ducks. I think Bobby Ryan actually likes the Kings players better than the ducks players (as he should).
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LB Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
@CityOfKings,
That’s about right, but I’d say Ducks and Coyotes are tied at #3.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@LB,
Hey, I just peeked at Richards and Brown proxy votes and they both have the Yotes as their # 1
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LB Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
@mask0425x, I bet they do! haha
PRMan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
@CityOfKings, I’d say Red Wings are still #1, then Vancouver and then the Ducks. Phoenix and San Jose are close behind. Edmonton has been too bad for too long, other than trading us injured players for crybaby Smyth.
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IMHO, it’s really just a geographical rivalry. Earlier in the season, some players were downtown playing the whole “rivalry” thing with the Ducks. Honestly, I think they’re kind of on the bottom of the list. I think it’s Canucks, SJ, PHX, Ducks and then everyone else
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Ducks fans lurking here? I’m sure they are lurking somewhere, perhaps in a middle school hallway or Hot Topic, or wherever else unpopular 13 year olds hang out, just not here.
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TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
@Hutch, hahhaah i laughed out loud at this nicely said.
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jess Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
@Hutch, /\NICE
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I don’t know how the players feel about SJ, but the fans are definitely against them more than ever after last year when Clowne cheated from the bench
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Personally, it’s a rivalry because many long time Kings fans were teased when the Ducks won the Cup before the Kings. Then there’s also the Orange County vs LA County dynamic. For me, the rivals for the Kings in order are:
1. Vancouver
2. Detroit
3. Anaheim
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RobSD Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
@sstephen17,
San Jose has to be on the list and most likely above Detroit.
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Real 7 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
@RobSD, right…Vancouver, San Jose, Detroit definitely the top three rivals…
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Gretzky to Kurri Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
@Real 7,
My thoughts as well. And I think PHX before ANA at number 4. Remember Doan stiffing Brown in the handshake line? Hockey players who aren’t REALLY upset don’t shirk on that tradition, even in beer leagues, let alone the Stanley Cup playoffs.
kings714 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
@sstephen17, you make a good point on the early cup when we have suffered for a long time.
interestingly enough, i wouldn’t characterize it so much as LA v OC but more LA vs South OC. i’m from anaheim and here it’s probably split kings ducks (just like split angels, dodgers). but in southern OC it’s fairly unanimously ducks/angels from what i’ve seen.
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LittleRhody Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@kings714, Whoooaa there buddy
I’m from South OC and have been a Kings Fan before the Ducks existed.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
@sstephen17, I don’t particularly agree with your rivalry rankings (although its all about opinions), but you’re the first one who absolutely nailed it in describing the Kings-Ducks rivalry. It’s already like a lot of people have forgot feeling like we’d never win a cup and how painful it was in 2007 to see the Ducks do it and the Ducks fans I know were certainly NOT gracious winners. Oh what a nightmare. The whole LA-OC thing plays into it in a big way but its between the fans. I don’t think most of the players even understand that.
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Is it really so mysterious? The Ducks come in as a half-joke from a kid’s movie, divide the LA fan base, bring in a bunch of bandwagon Disney fans, and become the first team to bring the cup to California… to fans who barely appreciate it. Salt in the wound.
It is not about playoffs – it is about history. It is a fan rivalry more than a team rivalry.
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Tyfighter77 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Obviously these are generalizations and less true these days, but like I said – history.
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RobSD Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
@Tyfighter77,
I think you hit the nail on the head
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4tee Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
@Tyfighter77,
I second this. My problem with the Ducks started with Disney. Anybody remember how Tinkerbell would fly on the screen and sprinkle pixie dust on a Ducks goal scorer? Plus an ignorant fan base who end up with bragging rights they don’t even know what to do with. It’s definitely not territorial as I live in OC and like the Angels and Dodgers both. But I grew up a Kings fan before the Ducks existed. When they came out, it was not a hockey team but another Disney entertainment product. They’ve tried to move away from that but I’m scarred for life.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@4tee, Concur!
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taz42 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@4tee, Sorry I replied before saw your answer regarding the silly flying Tinker Bell. Not to even mention one of their first goalies wore leg pads the size of twin mattresses.
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taz42 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
@Tyfighter77, This is exactly the case. The Mighty Ducks indeed. Began with a lot of Disney Cartoon figures flying around. Had Tinker Bell flying through the air,touching players with a wand. Silliest beginning for any team in the NHL. Most of their fans still act like children.
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PRMan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
@Tyfighter77, Exactly this.
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LittleRhody Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
@Tyfighter77, WINNER !! This is exactly why I hate the Ducks.
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GoKingsGo Reply:
March 1st, 2013 at 9:35 pm
@Tyfighter77, EXACTLY!!!
Reasons why I hate the Sucks:
1) Based on a Disney movie.
2) Bandwagon, douche-bag fans who know nothing about hockey (and who were absolutely obnoxious when they won the cup)… 3) Hayward is not even close to being on Bob Miller’s level. Even Bob and Jim can admit when an opposing team does something good. Brian is so far up the Ducks butts it’s ridiculous.
For rivals:
1) The Sucks
2) The Vancouver Dive Team
3) San Jose
4) Phoenix (“Slasher Smith”, Doan, ’nuff said)
5) Detroit
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Sharks. Especially because of recent playoff history. And Clowe’s cheat move at the end of last season. Sharks are our biggest rival IMO and they’re also the biggest punks. And punks is not the word I would have preferred to use.
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Two reason why I distaste the Ducks….Hayward and Perry….both appear arrogant!!
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Golly gee Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
@rogiesbackup, I second that!!!
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Jerry B Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Hayward is very arrogant.
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Jeff Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
@Jerry B, Hayward is definitely a putz. Every play made by the Ducks is the greatest play ever and every play made by the opposition should have been called because the refs missed some kind of rule violation.
Drake Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
@rogiesbackup, Having Center Ice and listening to all the other announcers has proven, beyond a doubt, that they are the most biased announcers in the league.
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Real 7 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@Drake, according to some, the BlackHawks announcers top the list in the bias category…
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ItsAKingThing Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
@Drake, I throw up a little, in my mouth, everytime I hear those clowns call the game.
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Bradapiller Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
@rogiesbackup, You hit the nail on the head. Its more about who they are that I despise, not just the fact that we share SoCal. The way they carry themselves in utter doucheness makes me want to beat the feathers off them.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
@Bradapiller,
“The way they carry themselves in utter doucheness”
Classic. +1
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@rogiesbackup, who’s the one guy that everybody on the Kings loves? I forgot, but they all like him…
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Real 7 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
@Shiny, I’m sure they all respect and admire #8 on the Ducks….now let’s go out there and DOMINATE….GO KINGS GO!!!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
@Shiny, Teemu?
Everyone loves Teemu, don’t they?
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Shiny Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@Duncanz, no, it was the guy Kopi brought to Sweden. I wanna say Ryan Miller but I don’t remember…
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
@Duncanz, I think Teemu prevents the Ducks from winning another cup!! He’s good but takes up new refreshing talent!
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Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@rogiesbackup, ….have to disagree….Teemu still outplays most of their “new refreshing talent”…
tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@rogiesbackup, Teemu Selanne is one of the top 10 best players of all time and probably still in the game TODAY. i have to strongly disagree with that statement.
cetericeman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
@Duncanz, No, he’s a Duck!
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OFF TOPIC: You guys feel if the NHL fined the Sharks for Clowe’s “unsportsman” stick incident against the Kings last season would have prevented yet another “unsportsman-like” behavior by clowe this time around? I know it would’ve.
This league is too lenient on “unsportsman-like” behavior and therefor these kinds of behavior keep rising to the surface.
Mike Smith is a good example who the NHL should watch…Jordan Tootoo yet another.
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Shiny Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
@rogiesbackup, you mean like Smith slashing players and getting away with it?
I don’t know if a fine last year would’ve prevented the.Clowne from rushing off the bench to start a fight in the last like 2 minutes of the game when his team, who had the lead and had dominated the game for a good 35 minutes before they couldn’t finish, was down 3-1.
I mean he’s an idiot and a cheater and can’t handle losing with grace and dignity. He’s just a sore loser
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Ducks won the Cup before the Kings, simple as that. You saw a lot of bandwagon fans in So. Cal talk a lot of smack for the past 5 years. Obnoxious fans you can see and hear around town will leave that bad taste in your mouth. Hence the distaste for Duck and their fan base.
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Brett Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
@cup4kings, my distaste for the Ducks was born WAY before they won the Cup…
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cup4kings Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
@Brett,
As did mine. The Mighty Ducks were the punchline to a joke. I laughed at them more then actually hating them. 07′ to present day, I can say I hate the Ducks and their fan base.
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For me it’s always been a “we were here first” type of thing. The Mighty Ducks came onto the scene and all of a sudden there were these new hockey fans. Kings fans had been through thick and thin with the team and all of a sudden the spotlight is on the new SoCal hockey team…then they won the cup.
I’d agree with what someone else said about the fan rivalry more than the team rivalry. But, ever since the Getzlaf hit on poor little Oscar Moller, and then the hip check from Doughty in retaliation it has seemed to show a little more on the ice.
Plus, Brian Hayward is a horrible, horrible announcer.
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Dave from Torrance Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
@Drake, that scumbag maneuver was from that classy guy bobby ryan. the sucks suck, and thats why they’re the sucks
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tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
@Drake, wasnt that Ryan on Moller?
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Lime Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
@Drake, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsA4tTXgNuU
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Yes the Ducks are a natural rival due to geography, but the team I dislike the most, and feel is our biggest rival are the Vancouver Canucks. Playing them in the postseason two of the last three years is a big part of that. I still get goosebumps watching Brown’s hit on Sedin. It still cant watch that highlight enough. I think the kings rivals are as follows:
1. Van
2. Anaheim
3. Phoenix
4. Detroit
5. SJ
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kings714 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
@Hockeysureshot, i would rate
1.van
2.phoenix
3.sj
4.anaheim
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
@Hockeysureshot,
1. Vancouver
2. San Jose
3. Phoenix
4. Anaheim
Vancouver and San Jose are pretty much universally despised around the league, and Smith and Doan have elevated the bad feelings between LA and Phoenix with their immature antics. Right now, when the Kings and the Ducks are on the ice I just don’t sense the tension like I do with the others listed. Maybe all that changes tonight.
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i’m probably in the minority here, but i harbor no ill will towards them. i always hope we beat them obviously, but if they aren’t playing the kings and their result doesn’t negatively affect us then i root for them. it’s nice to have someone to watch on the kings off days too. i like seeing the la area win period. (minus the clippers).
*but i will be at the honda center in april being obnoxious and talking smack to ducks fans aha
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Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
@kings714,
The Los Angeles Ducks of Anaheim.
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@kings714, Their wins always affect us.
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LB Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
@kings714,
I felt that way about their team early on, because having them here would make hockey more popular in SoCal. Once they got Pronger/Niedermayer in 06 and became a real threat – that’s when I started hating them. Before that I just didn’t see them as a threat and didn’t mind them having some mild success.
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Steve W Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
@kings714, I prefer the Clippers winning and the Fakers losing.Though I am not a Clipper fan, would love to see them win a championship.
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For me it’s all about the movies. Disney decided to take some little kids movie and turn it into an NHL team, stupid goofy logo and all. They have always been a joke to me. For someone who takes hockey seriously, I couldn’t take that team seriously. How could anyone? It was just Disney’s cutesy little attempt to cash in even more on those horrible movies. Now they have a new owner, name (sort of), and logo. But it’s too late. The hate is already there. And it was permanently cemented on the most horrible day in NHL history (June 6, 2007).
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Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
@Matt R, …..you have to admit it was a brilliant business stategy…..
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Personally I’m a fan of the game and I like good hockey or a good team story wherever I find it. The Ducks were a great team and exciting to watch that season when they took the Cup, and they have that same feel about them this season. The story of the Kings rebuild over these last several years has been fascinating and their Cup win was thrilling. I’m happy to have enjoyed both.
As between the teams themselves, they may play each other enough to have developed some animosity, but I don’t think there will be real rivalry until they’re both contending at the same time, which hasn’t happened so far. Once that first playoff meeting happens (could be this year!), then we’ll have the makings of a rivalry.
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It’s geographical, but the history is important here. Almost 30 years into the Kings’ quest to win the Cup, and after decades of work to be taken seriously in Southern California, Disney showed up with a team named after a character in a children’s movie. (Good thing he wasn’t named Mr. Arseworth!)
How dare they come into the league with Tinkerbell changing the score on broadcasts, expecting to be considered on par with our Kings? To add insult to injury for the Kings’ faithful, they won the Cup first. For me, this was inexcusable. I truly believe that many of the Anaheim fans who celebrated that Cup win don’t know the first thing about hockey.
For those of us who have been around long enough to remember, I enjoy eliminating Detroit, Edmonton, and St. Louis (Courtnall!), but I feel it is the Kings’ duty to keep the Ducks where they belong: behind and beneath the Kings.
I have lived in Orange County for 10 years. I drive within two miles of Honda Center on the way to and from Staples Center. I’ve worked with the Ducks organization and many of their excellent staff. I’ve played alongside Ducks fans. As a teacher and coach, I have even been the recipient (through my students) of some of their charitable programs…
But I cannot bring myself to support their team on the ice. I am with the Kings. Somehow, it’s in my blood. Maybe when there’s a team named after the Snow White or iCarly, I’ll change my mind. Go Kings!
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kings714 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
@BringBackMarcel, that’s true about the fans. i used to go to the occassional ducks game cuz it was close and cheap and there you have people talking about golf, booing the refs for making the right calls, generally showing ignorance/indifference to the activities than the ice. MUCH different than a kings crowd lol
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JonRosen Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
@BringBackMarcel, good take. St. Louis is also a good call – not only for the Courtnall incident, but also as a fellow Expansion Six team (that until recently had an awfully similar postseason history)…
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I dislike their announcers…I hate their Disney origins….I despise the team name, not fit for a junior league club, never mind the NHL…Their fans are “white bread”, without a shred of true passion…Honda Center is dank, dark, miserable arena….The franchise should be moved to San Diego, re-named the Gulls!!!
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Real 7 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:43 pm
@GillesMarotte, GO GULLS!
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RobBordson Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
@CaptCrunch#4, As a San Diegan, a Kings fan, and a true hockey fan (over 20 years) I cannot in good conscience agree to accept the Ducks. Besides, the Gulls already exist. They’re in the WSHL! They play at Iceoplex n Escondido.
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CaptCrunch#4 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@RobBordson, San Diego needs to follow the same plan as Seattle…build a world class arena downtown…Gasla.mp area…a performance/sports venue that San Diego deserves!! The NHL and NBA come calling…. The Gulls in the 90′s were awesome, great atmosphere at games, players who wanted to be there, solid fan base…BLOW UP the damn Sports Arena!!! It’s a dump and a disgrace to the city!…
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King4life Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@CaptCrunch#4, That is an awesome idea!
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1.) The Ducks concept was hatched from a cartoon.
2.) Kings fans drink beer, Ducks fans eat nerds and drink slurpees.
3.) To really kick the rivalry into gear, Bob and Jim need to call a game with a ventriliquist puppet of Hayward sitting on Bob’s lap and interupting and arguing with Bob and Jim about stupid stuff.
4.) Gets-Laugh is irritating.
5.) Hiller huffs liquid paper.
6.) Ducks fans always pee in the shallow end.
-L-G-M-F-K- (!!)
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tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
@jess, LMAO
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Shiny Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
@tornado12, man I wish we were playing 5 Hole Hiller tonight (as so nicknamed by a Ducks fan). He’s such a mediocre goalie, the Kings would have no trouble beating him
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As a fan living in Ontario, Canada, it isn’t a geographical rivalry for me personally. To be quite honest, I was envious of Anaheim because they had won a Stanley Cup and the Kings hadn’t. Now that that’s changed, I don’t pay much attention to them unless it’s standings or fantasy related.
When I went out to LA last season, @Puck73 and @TeamJMFJ caught a Kings/Ducks game in Anaheim
(Kings won, Kopitar had a brilliant goal to win it in the 3rd) and I really enjoyed my time there. I can honestly say I hate the Ducks much less after going to the Honda Center. It really reminded me of Scotiabank Place (Ottawa Senators). Same type of atmosphere.
I absolutely despise Phoenix. It’s not so much the players or the city of Glendale, just hockey and a desert don’t mix, and their regular attendance proves that.
I’ve always disliked Dallas. The games are always tight and very competitive. I don’t really know what it is about the Stars, but I can’t stand them.
As someone on the other side of the continent and a Kings fan, I can say with a straight face, that I like Anaheim more than Dallas.
Then there’s the Sharks. I think we can all confidently say, the Sharks’ run is almost up. They’re getting older and I think are going to be on the decline. They have been the Kings’ biggest divisional rival the last couple of years. I’m still upset over game 3.
They haven’t won anything except for a few Divisional titles, but with Re-alignment on the horizon, winning a Pacific Division title is as relevant as winning a Smythe Division title.
Big game tonight boys!
Go Kings!
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There are 10 billion reasons! For me, being a Kings fan is a twofer.I get to love the Kings and love to hate the Ducks. Where to begin?! was it two years ago, that the duks beat the kings in the last two games of the season bumping them from a pretty good seed down to 8th seed? I was broke and saved up money for good seats and some drunk ducks fan from the safety of a luxury box was yelling at all the kings fans at the end of the game, “Oh Yeah. The Ducks came into your house and bad worded up your bad word.” That was a very, very bad day. I grew up in Orange County, and at first, there was just the Kings, but then the ducks came along and sometimes bumped the kings games on the local channels, and the local paper stopped covering the Kings. And the teachers at my grade school would tell me i should be a mighty ducks fan everytime I wore my Kings T. And maybe the Pond wasn’t the first expenseive, luxury type arena in the league, but it was the first one I encuntered and suddenly the Forum with its wonderfully depraved fans (I learned so many great things at the Forum) was replaced with the staples center, where they have a VIP entrance, sushi, expensive tickets and thousands of people playing with their cellphones – my child’s mind always blamed the Disney Mighty Ducks for that trend, and I am content to continue blaming them. Plus they have Getzlaf…and Hazie…remember Kariya? Next to him Crosby’s not even a whiner…I could keep going if you want.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
@paige, Well done indeed!!!!! Rock solid post!
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Are you kidding me???? Where do I start???
First of all, had it not been for that lying, cheating Bruce “Soap-on-a-Rope” McNall and his US Government-type spending there would be no Anaheim franchise at all. That $25 million Eisner paid him lasted about six months.
I happen to live very near to the Ponda Center, therefore I happen to know so many of Anaheim’s fans. Trust me, their typical fan knows nothing about hockey. I have one friend who is a quack season ticket holder and he couldn’t name three players in Norfolk. My neighbor across the street says he “loves hockey, and was a Kings fan before the Ducks came here”. No he wasn’t. Both of these guys are warning me to look out for the “Flying-V” tonight.
Tying all of this brilliance together is none other than Brian Hayturd. Yes, that sage of sensability, that unbiased commentator that every true hockey fan is cursed with at one point or another during the year. Yes, it is hazy and that ring he so proudly displays because he was such a huge factor in winning that year, who stuck it in Foxy’s nose like a 14 year-old who just got “pinned” by her true love.
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Lime Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
@Michael J.,
THE fllying V?
In Anaheim, they’re all flying V’s if you catch my drift.
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In my experience, the rivalry stems from Ducks fans being our friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. Nothing fuels a rivalry like good ol’ fashioned trash talking around the water cooler or out at the bar. I grew up in Orange County and currently live about five minutes from the Ponda Center, but I was here before the Ducks were, so the Kings have always been my team. I have friends that are younger or got into hockey later and naturally root for the (more) local guys.
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I think part of it stems from the fans mainly. I personaly got tired of hearing “at least we have a cup, we got it first”. I know also the majority of the times i have been to a ducks game (i am a southern california resident, long time kings fan) i get boo’d for wearing the gretzky jersey, its frustrating to me to see them disrespect the reason they have a team. Its that alone why i can truly say i hate the ducks, but in reality i think i despise the fans more than anything.
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Dustin Hoffman Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
@Dustin Hoffman, Not to mention, they have a true lack of love for their team. The team does bad the seats sit empty. The team does good they sell out…posers!
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Shiny Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
@Dustin Hoffman, that’s true with any team. How often have you seen empty seats at Staples? I saw it plenty on TV and when I went to the gamed. Only reason games are selling out now is cuz the Kings got the Cup.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Kings fan, I just think the empty seat thing is true of most teams in any sport.
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I think the rivalry stems from the hatred the LA Kings fans and organization has for Brian Hayword more so than the actual Ducks. That guy makes my blood boil!
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It quite simple, or two reasons. One- it’s all about the difference in lifestyle between LA and OC. LA is a melting pot of diverse cultures and tax brackets. OC is full of entitled rich white people. People from LA have a general dislike for the area, them having a hockey team is bogus.
Which brings me to one of the real reasons for the rivalry that no one ever discusses.
When the Ducks came into the league, they ‘stole’ a lot of Kings fans. Ppl had gotten upset paying for the Kings and jumped off to support the new team that had cheap season tickets. The Ducks are usurpers. The fact that they won the Cup first, and as the first California team to win the Cup, when LA and Gretzky are the only reason they exist in the first place, chapped a lot of asses. We don’t need a playoff matchup to have a rivalry. Yes, the best rivalries are built in the playoffs, but its misguided to think it is a prerequisite for a rivalry.
That said, I’m calling it right now. This is the year the Kings and Ducks meet in the post season.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
@Surly Jacob, Now that would be alot of fun. I think it would be a later round matchup as both are probably going to end up in the top 4 though…
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Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
@Surly Jacob,
I live in OC. Where is my entitlement? My dad died when I was seventeen and I’ve been on my own since then. Although there are plenty of people on both sides of the Orange Curtain that most would describe as “entitled”, almost every person that I know down here is hard working and can lay no claim to being entitled to anything.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Michael J., Right on! where the eff is my Grey Poupon?. That may Surly’s attempt at race baiting, how about I like to surf and I like the So OC beaches better.
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Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
@Michael J.,
General perception dude. There are no absolutes in this life. I often forget to write because for me it’s a given.
General perception is that OC is a snobby white suburb. Your family and your friends don’t change that perception.
Also, we are talking an emotional rivalry here, so of course I’m baiting. That is built into the entire premise of an ultimately inconsequential sports rivalry.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
@Surly Jacob,
“General perception is that OC is a snobby white suburb…” as is the perception that LA is full of hish school drop-outs, drug dealers, criminals, gang members, and illegal aliens.
Why bring the class warfare/race-baiting into the conversation? The truth is that the OC has plenty of illegal aliens, drug dealers, and criminals-just as LA has it’s share of entitled, rich white kids.
Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
@Surly Jacob, levity. Duck fans often say such things about the drug addicts and criminals in LA, so the response is rich snobs. It’s not class warfare for (words I can’t say on this blog) sake. It’s ribbing. I would expect it to bother Duck fans, not Kings fans.
Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
@Surly Jacob, ……so your upset the people got the most for their money?….hope you don’t drive an auto from an asian manufacturer…..
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Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
@Deke’r, I see you checked your reading comprehension at the door. And if you think the Ducks are getting the most for your money, what are doing being a Kings fan? Ducks tickets are still cheaper. Jump ship. I promise not to be upset.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
@Surly Jacob, You guys are pretty clueless or just racebaiting,”Rich entitled white people” I guess you’ve never been to Anaheim,Santa Ana or San Juan Cap,what a piss poor comment.I’m sure that people in LA, let alone LA KINGS fans don’t really care one way or another about the OC but I guess you guy have a problem with an ignorant comment like that. Hey Jon! how about a delete button for ignorant comments?
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Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
@LVKINGS88, geez, I forgot the lack of a sense of humor from commenters here. Come to http://www.lakingsnews.com, there’s lion and tigers and levity, oh my!
What’s with the over sensitivity?
And I have friends who live in Anaheim. I’ve been there dozens of times. Met lots of rich entitled white people.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
@Surly Jacob, No lack of humor on my part if that was considered humor, sorry not funny, not even close to being humorous,actually there are some pretty funny people on this site but you haven’t been around here in awhile either. I guess one could say the same about LA huh? the rich white people of Beverly Hills,Trousdale Estates,the Hollywood elite. I guess you must have been in Anaheim Hills if you were hanging with rich whitey huh?. I’m sure I could show you some low to middle class hard working white people here in the OC.I’ve been to your site,oh! by the way are you the one with the tan? Oh! see what I did? I don’t care what color any Kings fan is,no matter what county they are from. Stick to hockey, your attempt at racial/class humor is not your forte.
Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
@Surly Jacob, untwist that thong. What I said wasn’t even really that offensive. Of course there are entitled rich white people all over Los Angeles. Of course there are hard working people somewhere in the OC. This nonsense about telling me “there are hard working ppl in OC!” Is hilarious. I said OC is “full of” not that there is nothing but.
But you are missing the point because you are too busy being offended on behalf of nobody. While what I said had levity to it (which is different than trying to make people piss their pants laughing), the reason I said it all was because there is a rivalry between fans and a large part of why many, including you yourself, have said that Ducks fans are for the most part ignorant buffoons, is largely because of cultural differences. We’ve bred a hockey culture in LA for a long time that has been passed down from generations, Ducks fans are young and snobby, or people who jumped ship from the Kings, therefore their loyalty is suspect to begin with. People like their hockey more than they do in LA, which is why many of those who do like hockey properly in OC are Kings fans instead of Ducks fans, despite the distance difference,
Is a rivalry of fandom, geography and hockey culture.
That a properly sized chill pill for you?
Surly Jacob Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@Lvkings, untwist that thong. What I said wasn’t even really that offensive. Of course there are entitled rich white people all over Los Angeles. Of course there are hard working people somewhere in the OC. This nonsense about telling me “there are hard working ppl in OC!” Is hilarious. I said OC is “full of” not that there is nothing but.
But you are missing the point because you are too busy being offended on behalf of nobody. While what I said had levity to it (which is different than trying to make people piss their pants laughing), the reason I said it all was because there is a rivalry between fans and a large part of why many, including you yourself, have said that Ducks fans are for the most part ignorant buffoons, is largely because of cultural differences. We’ve bred a hockey culture in LA for a long time that has been passed down from generations, Ducks fans are young and snobby, or people who jumped ship from the Kings, therefore their loyalty is suspect to begin with. People like their hockey more than they do in LA, which is why many of those who do like hockey properly in OC are Kings fans instead of Ducks fans, despite the distance difference,
Is a rivalry of fandom, geography and hockey culture.
That a properly sized chill pill for you?
I just never thought the colors went well together, silly
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I hate the fans more than the team. If your a Ducks fan you should of been a kings fan before the team existed.
You switch teams because they won the cup sooner. That makes you a sellout. If they moved a team across the street from my house Id still love my kings. The only Duck fan I can live with is the younger fan that didnt know hockey before the ducks came to be.
A lot of Duck hate comesfrom Disney and their corporate America BS they tried to bring to Hockey, Mickey and Donald Duck at the game.
So glad that failed.
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@Jon Rosen – time for your first poll! “Who are the Kings biggest rival?”
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jess Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@LB, Agree!
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mask0425x Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@jess,
+1
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Agree w those stating more of a fan rivalry.
IMO they r mostly “bandwaggoners” n don’t know the game as well as kings fans (in general). Also they (the fans) r arrogant because they won the cup first.
Then u have the horrible “Homer” approach of the announcers which IMO reflects the feelings of the fans. “They have never taken a deserved penalty, we were robbed by refs”, etc…
So I dislike the fans n hope to punish them by having our team punish theirs…BRUTALLY, but fairly.
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its because all ducks fans are children that get super excited and scream their pants off when a shot goes 20 miles wide. they also boo offsides and icing its just plain pathetic
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I’ll echo what some have said here about the Kings/Quacks rivalry. I do think that a lot of it is fan-based, but I think there are some players that feel a certain dislike of the other team as well.
For me, it is the fact that the Quacks came into the league as a Disney movie extension. It all seemed like an attempt to market a Disney movie/attraction rather than play hockey. I remember “Iceman” and “Wild Wing” coming down from the rafters on the few occasions I went to a game at the “Pond”.
And yes, there is certainly bitterness for some fans that they won the Cup before the Kings did and many of their fans had no clue what they had. I work in South OC and I doubt if I can run into anyone here remembers that their local team won it all or what year they did.
Finally, their announcers are just to be loathed. It’s so easy to show the contrast between Bob Miller/Nick Nixon and the Quack announcers. It’s not even close.
But in the end, IMHO, no self-respecting Kings fan could ever root for the Quacks.
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Ducks are filthy, cantankerous varmints, that in reality have the habits of a pig, but instead of a sty they slop around in water. They taste nasty too!
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@ JonRosen
Kings>Ducks,Dodgers>Angels,Lakers>Clippers,and also Raiders>Rams
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Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@Kopi Bryant, …..woah…..don’t remember the LA Rams eh??….Raiders ain’t > than nobody….
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@Deke’r, Being a Raider fan I will never switch teams. I grew up in south LA (Born ’83) and when I was a kid I had a friend who lived across the street who’s dad was a Raider fan. I always noticed this big black guy would always go over and visit, well that guy was LA Raider Greg Townsend. He was the nicest guy and always played football with us in the street. So for me, yeah Raiders>Your team.
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Steve W Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
@Kopi Bryant, Don’t forget Galaxy-Chivas USA.
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
@Steve W, I don’t watch MLS because the product is like single A baseball compared to MLB. I do like European Football so I would say Barcelona>Real Madrid. I know it’s not local but you get me.
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As rivalries go, Kings/Ducks is insignificant compared to Kings/Canucks or Kings/Coyotes. It will remain so until we meet them in the playoffs.
We got eliminated by the Cannots twice in the first round.
We eliminated the Cannot once in the first round on out way to win the Cup.
We eliminated the Coyos in the WCF and left them whining and watching us win the Cup.
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Kings rocket up the rankings list 10 spots.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings
Go Kings Go!
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Boy Jon, you really opened a can of worms here LOL. Who knew there was such animosity and hatred towards the Ducks that Kings fans were only too happy to unload. You basically gave them an excuse to blow some steam but I think it’s funny.
Ducks suck- Kings rule. That’s all you need to know
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For me the rivalry is more fan related, basically because I truly dislike their fans. I think they’re some of the biggest bandwaggoners I’ve ever seen in sports. Plus they’re not hockey savvy at all, in fact they mostly know sh*t about hockey! As far as the team itself they are a rival only because they’re in the same division, but personally I dislike SJ and PHX as teams much more, although I can’t stand those teams’ fans either!
But when it comes to teams I truly despise VAN, DET, COL and PHIL are right there with SJ and PHX. My dislike for VAN dates back to the playoff series the Kings had with them after the Miracle on Manchester series. I really thought when the Kings beat EDM that year they could have a chance and then VAN ruined it. Plus their fans are just horrible in so many ways! I have always disliked DET probably mostly because of their arrogant fans. COL had some brutal playoff series with the Kings in the early 2000′s and I will never forget them and dislike them for that reason. PHIL for me goes all the way back to the early 70′s when they would come into the Forum and dominate and their fans were just brutal, therefore I have always had a dislike for them. I used to dislike BOS for the mid 70′s playoffs series’ that broke my heart but I’ve kind of let up on them since, as have I with EDM and CAL.
Thank you for allowing me this therapy session!
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@Shotongoal, Hey, it’s ok. You’re a Stanley Cup champ fan now!
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
@Kopi Bryant, SWEET, right?!
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Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
@Shotongoal,
Yes, a true Kings’ fan will always hate Philly.
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@Michael J., amen to that!
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@Michael J.,
Why? We have so much to thank them for.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
For exactly what Shotongoal said above. They killed us for something like 17 straight games.
Forum Gold Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
@Michael J. +1. When we picked up Dave Schultz it was very tough to swallow. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
@Forum Gold, seriously it was hard to see Hextall in the front office at first!
Crosby on Voracek (and the Flyers): “I don’t like him. Why? Because I don’t like him. I don’t like any guy on their team.”
Who are we kidding here?
The only reason I started to hate the Ducks, and really it’s their fans, is because they got their cup so quickly. It was like how I hated the Raiders because their fans waited only 5 seconds for a Lombardi Trophy. I am still waiting (for the LA Rams) to win one.
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There are quit a few reasons,most of the fan base are unknowledgeable, living in the south OC I run into many mealy-mouthed Duck fans who start arguments with me and taunt me about them winning the cup first.When the Ducks first came into the league my ex boss became a Duck season seat holder,he had no clue about hockey and his interest didn’t last long,I went to many a game with him,there was hardly anybody there and the ones that were,were more into talking on their cell phones than paying attention to their beloved ducks.I had an argument with a duck fan who claimed that the ducks team that won the SC would beat the Kings SC winning team, I posted the stats,what the experts said about this team and the fact that the 2011/12 SC Kings team set more records as well as being a big underdog team,facts don’t lie but it didn’t matter to this guy.If you go back and compare the two teams and their run to the SC win,it’s pretty eye opening,check it out. Although the Ducks movies were cool, both my son enjoyed them but calling a team the “Mighty Ducks” come on! and finally the other reasons I can’t stand the Ducks,Hazy,Ahlers,Perry, Getslaugh, “the ladies tee’s” “left handed larceny, and right handed robbery”, clowns, oh and their fans.To me there is only one So Cal team and that’s the LA Kings.
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
@LVKINGS88, the easiest comeback to a Ducks fan when they say that they won the Cup first to ask them “so who was on that team besides Selanne?” Promise you most of their so-called fans don’t have a clue! Lol
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Shiny Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@Shotongoal, that’s a great comeback in general with the Sucks fans. “Name 3 key players on the team that aren’t Teemu Selanne”. You’ll hear a lot ums and silence LOL
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As for why the distaste for anything Anastain, it’s simple:
1. They won the Cup before we did barely after a decade in the league. We had to wait 45 years.
2. The Samuelis were among the most draconian anti NHLPA owners in the league during this last lockout. AEG always maintained a good relationship with its players
3. LA county is Democratic. Orange county is Republican.
4. LA has too many damn street potholes. Orange county is well known for the flower lined and width of its streets.
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JonRosen Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
To those who listed “having to hear about the Ducks’ Cup”, do you encounter many Ducks fans in your day to day routine? Or are you just referencing the game enviroment?
I was somewhere recently (man, I can’t ever remember where it was, meh) and I saw someone in a Ducks jersey and thought “Wow, I can’t remember the last time I saw Ducks paraphernalia in Los Angeles outside of a Kings-Ducks game at Staples Center.”
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Osaka Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
@JonRosen, When the Ducks came into the league and were owned by Disney, the promoted their team with children in mind. I think hockey fans (outside of Anaheim) were taken back by the gimmicky approach. I know I was. I don’t have the same distain for the team now. Now I just look at them as another opponent.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
@JonRosen,
My boss is a Ducks fan and I use the word “fan” loosely. During their cup run and the years leading up to it, he bought season tickets and that’s all I’d ever hear about. That, and trashing the Kings. And this guy was a typical brand new to hockey, bandwagon, OC fan who wouldn’t know a forecheck from a bounced check. He bought the jerseys, the hats, and acted as if he was raised a hockey fan. Since then? I don’t think the guy has been to 5 games and he doesn’t have a word to say about hockey. And I’ll go out on a limb and say I think that’s pretty typical.
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luc20rules Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 12:55 am
@JonRosen, The most remorable thing about the Ducks fans was that at game 6 of the SCF vs the Devils in 2003. I went in my Ziggy Palffy Jersey and I was dumbfounded by the fact that less than 10% of the fans wore Ducks Jerseys. I think that # has improved as they are many years away from the Donald Duck Cartoon Mask now, but really not be much. I would say that same year the Kings Fans probably about 50%+ wore jerseys to games over the season. Also the fans didn’t know the rules. Also the you could hear a pin drop in the aftermath of the Stevens hit on Kariya.
When the Mighty Ducks first came into the league just being named after a movie of 9 year olds with a girl goalie that had a crush on the center was just embarassing. I felt the very franchise was an insult to the game of hockey, but thats just MHO.
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@Gustavo, Dude, what does politics have to do with it? I’m sure there are just as many political conservatives as liberal Kings fans.
So, you like pot holes?
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Osaka Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED, As Mike Ness would say: “We have drug dealers, pimps, and whores in Orange County too.” I was from Fullerton, not like the TV show OC at all.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
@Osaka, ….I love somebodies comment about the OC not being culturally diverse…..hahahaha…
Gustavo Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED,
LOL, HELL NO..I live in OC
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CaptCrunch#4 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
@Gustavo,
Nailed it bro!!!!
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goaliemom Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
@Gustavo, I believe you wanted to say Democrat. Republicans can be democratic also.
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I think on the west coast it’s harder for fans to travel to away games than it is on the East Coast, and frankly there’s nothing cooler than “traveling” with your team to watch them on the road (it’s one of the things which makes soccer in England so cool, since the country is smaller it’s easier to travel). so for Kings and Ducks fans it gives you a chance to travel to see your team. also it’s more of a pride thing for the fans and that probably makes the crowd more boisterous.
it’s sorta like watching a Lakers/Clippers game now. they’re both good teams but there’s really no historic reason for the squads to hate each other, but the fans can draw Maginot Lines to draw distinctions between the fanbases
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Wasn’t Penner wearing a Ducks jersey during the lockout?
Didn’t Doughty and Ryan go to the Twilight premier together?
Don’t the the players from the two teams all practice together during the summer? Oh, and golf together.
It is a manufactured rivalry by the teams used to promote the games. Did the teams have a contest where the fans name the rivalry? Must face in the playoffs before we have a real one here.
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@Osaka, I agree, we need to face them in the playoffs first.
I went to a Kings game in San Jose several years ago wearing my Kings jersey. The Shark’s fans sitting in front of us were real nice and talked with us. Kings won 2-1.
The Sharks mascot got a roll of toilet paper and a hair blower and dumped a whole bunch of toilet papaer on some Kings fans to the crowd’s delite.
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The Ducks were lucky in that they got Paul Kariya and another player who’s name escapes me. Right out the gate they brought a lot of excitement early in the teams existence. New Arena, New Team, Disney ownership, there was a lot of interest and it gave the team a lot of credibility early.
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For me it was the way the Ducks came into existence. They were based on a Disney movie & they took fans away from the Kings. It was also the time when the Kings were having ownership & financial troubles and fans were jumping off the Kings bandwagon and becoming Ducks fans. Then there is Wild Wing and Brian Hayward.
The only thing this rivalry doesn’t have is a playoff history. So maybe you can say now that the Canucks or Coyotes are bigger rivals. But if it ever happens that the Kings & Ducks face off in the playoffs, it’s going tp blow the others right out of the water. And as much as I hated Detroit & Colorado in the early 2000′s and still do to some degree, I don’t consider them rivals since they didn’t hate us as much as we hated them.
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My personal dislike for the Ducks comes due to the fact that this franchise was named after a really sappy, crappy Disney movie and then they won a cup first. The only good Duck is a roasted Duck although both teams have signed the former teams players from time to time. IMO, our current biggest rivalries are those rabid dawgs in Phoenix, the cupless sisters in Vancouver & them cheatin [Sharks] in San Jose. Pick your order.
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I’ve never felt like I HAD to hate the ducks just because I’m a King fan, and I will freely admit that in 94 I got caught up in the “bandwagonning” or whatever you want to call it and went to quite a few games. And in 03 I followed them really closely and was disappointed they lost the SCF.
At that time I felt like I had 2 teams to root for and didnt need to hate them just because I was a Kings fan. I still went to plenty of Kings games but you have to remember the Kings weren’t doing well at all. I felt like rooting for the Ducks would simply double my odds as a fan.
But you know what? I thought I’d be happy in 07. I wasn’t. For some reason it felt like a kick in the teeth, I’d been waiting 30 years and these guys do it in just over 10. I didn’t hate them but I wasn’t happy for them either.
These days I’m not crazy about them. Nothing against the team and organization but those announcers of theirs are so obnoxious. And (to be fair I can point the finger at myself too) their fans…. are there really Duck fans? If they are in the “in thing” everyone shows up. If they aren’t, the seats are half empty. The novelty has worn over. I’d still pay to see them, even root for them (if they aren’t playing the Kings) but I don’t really care one way or the other how they do. And I don’t think most of OC does either.
I know some of this may come across as blasphemy but I’m being completely honest here. I rooted for them in the past. Today I don’t care for them not because I feel that as a lifelong Kings fan it’s a REQUIREMENT but because they seem to have this phony stuck up attitude. Not the organization per se but the people surrounding them.
OK. You want to know who I really HATE? Phoenix and San Jose. Clowe, Thorton, Doan, Smith…. Their behavior was classless and disgraceful. And it gave Hockey a horrible image. I’d secretly like to see San Jose eliminated from the playoffs and someone blow kisses at THEIR fans or Mike Smith get slashed. And if that happens to be the Ducks that do that, I’ll be perfectly happy with it.
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My distaste is for Duck FANS and not really the team itself (although I cant seem to bring myself to like the team either)…Generally speaking they are the worst bunch of SOB’s out there and have no loyalty when they are not doing well. Most are uneducated and couldnt talk hockey if there life depended on it and when push came to shove all they could do is pull the Cup card (not anymore though thankfully). As far as the rivalry on ice I would say SJ takes the cake for me…with PHX as a very close second. They have some loathsome players (Ryan Clowne, Lame Moan, Tomohawk Smith to name a few ) and we have recent playoff battles to pull from.
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@JonRosen,
Watch Kopi chatting and smiling with the Ducks before the shootout at the last shootout game at Anaheim (last year sometime).
To me, if the players are together, we’re fools for having a fan rivalry.
Instead of Fox Sports hyping the rivalry, someone needs to give a cheapshot in a tight game. Then it will heat up.
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Although there have been players that wore that sweater that I appreciated as Hockey Players and and genuinely liked. My distaste is for everything else that is associated with that sweater. That Pond they waddle in, that logo (UGH), that mascot, previous ownership/coaches, that color commentator, etc, etc. Heck I live in Orange County and cringe when I see that Orange! I root for them to lose everything single game.
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Why the distaste? No big deal, not difficult to understand. Anaheim sucks.
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
@Robert R, Ohhhhhhh, okay, now I get it. You made it so clear.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
@Robert R, Ummm, not so far they don’t. Check the records.
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Robert R Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
I thought that you jokers would get a rise outta that
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
@Robert R, It worked for me
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It’s funny how so many people are calling the Ducks fans bandwagonners.
I remember this past summer how someone on the news mentioned that after the Ducks won the Cup, there seemed to be a kind of “Now what?” feeling and their parade was really lame. So I guess there is truth to the rumor that many of them are just bandwagonners.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@Shiny,
They had their stanley cup “celebration” in the parking lot.
15,000 was the estimated total
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for me, growing up in orange county, i became a kings fan before the ducks were in existence. they represented the bandwagon fans, those who followed success first and then hockey.
the day the ducks won the cup before the kings, i was mad at the world. i reside in the bay area now, and my biggest nightmare was thinking the sharks would hoist the cup before the kings too (which they really should have the past few years).
yet last year i felt vindicated and all was right with the universe again, that faith eventually would be rewarded.
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I think a number a penalty minutes could be a useful measuring stick… Especially, if you use weighted averages – i.e. make fighting majors worth more than regular minor penalties, do not count delay of game, too many men on ice, covering the puck, etc. where there is no physicality involved.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@mask0425x,
And I’ll be the first to point out that teams like PHX will benefit and DET will drop due to their style of play….
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I dislike the Sharks more than the Ducks. I think they’re is our biggest rival. Ducks and Kings players hang out together. Ryan skated with the Kopitars in Sweden. Doughty and his buddies went to see a movie premier with Bobby Ryan. Until you see an all donnybrook this will only be a contrive rivalry to stir up casual fans in the So Cal market. End of story.
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Bonvivant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
@Bonvivant, Bad grammar. They are.
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Personally, I don’t feel the Kings’ biggest rival to presently be the Ducks (there is NOW a much deeper and apparent disdain for the ‘Nucks and ‘Yotes, that’s clear). However, I do conider the Ducks a big rival because of geography. I’m a life-long Kings fan and an LA native (born-and-bred in the 90035), which I think amplifies the Ducks rivalry for me, personally. I definitely draw battle-lines based on territory. If you’re not in LA, you suck, and if you’re in a bordering territory, game-on. I’m strict Dodgers/Lakers/Kings….I HATE the Angels and Ducks (the OC is NOT LA), and the Clippers will always feel like “little-brother”…I’m glad to see them not be a doormat anymore, but I don’t like ‘em and I take issue with all who hopped on the bandwagon. If you’re a Laker fan, you’re a Laker fan and should hate the Clippers as such…in my opinion, there should be no in between.
That, and the Kings have been around forever and had the greatest player to ever play the game, and the Ducks were still first to win a Cup…that bad taste, unfortunately, will never go away – we may now have bragging-rights, they still did it first.
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Another point that a few of you have touched on: I think just about everyone WANTS a rivalry. It’s good for Hockey, good for both organizations, good for the media. Unfortunately until these teams meet in the playoffs it’s hard to take that kind of talk seriously.
Incidentally also what’s different about the Dodgers and Angels is that they play in different leagues. While they DO play each other that’s still relatively pretty recent. And one of them making the playoffs doesn’t “take” that playoff spot from the other one.
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Darryl Sutter on the Flames and Oilers: “I don’t think there was a rivalry. I figure they all golfed together.” Sutter’s said more than a couple of bizarre things in his day, but the problem here is mixing the perspective of players and/or coaches, with the views of rank-and-file fans. Sutter’s right, as far as most players and coaches are concerned. Alternate universe when it comes to fans. Players are hired hands, and as noted, may well spend portions of their careers playing for both sides of a set of rivals. Fans are not hired hands, they’re married to their respective teams, and the money is flowing in the opposite direction. Fans pay teams, teams pay players. No need to call professional players mercenaries, but the shoe pretty much fits in most cases.
Why do Kings fans “hate” the Ducks (hating their fans is optional and, for the most part, a bit whacky)? For very much the same reason Ranger fans have “hated” the Islanders and the Beelzebubs. Greater New York is traditionally the Rangers turf. It was their own before the Isles and the Princes of Darkness were a twinkle in the NHL governors’ eye. Same thing in Greater LA/ SoCal. The Disneyland Ducks are the local pimple-faced punks. What’s to like? This is a Kingdom, not a petting zoo.
I personally have no particular distaste for the Canucks or the Sharks (i _don’t_ expect other contributors here to express similar views!). Vancouver and San Jose are indeed rivals, thoroughly worthy rivals, with their _own_ territory. I can respect that.
But Disneyland?
No.
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As a kid who grew up in NoOC and became a Kings & hockey fan with the coming of Gretzky…..there was no other team to root for. My addiction for the Kings & hockey was fed by the excellent, exciting teams of the late 80′s and early 90′s. When the Mighty Ducks came into the league, our allegiance was already given to the Kings…..and who wanted to root for a kid branded team? Then to top things off, fans at Ducks games in the early days were so un-educated to hockey and it seemed to be a pure social event. That being said, my distaste for the Ducks started there and only grew once they won the cup before our beloved Kings. I agree with many of the others in that I think it’s much more of a heated fan rivalry than a player one.
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Hate the ducks? Hell yeah!!!!!!!!!!!
Hate the duck announcers, cant stand to hear them whine during the game and how the fn ducks can do no wrong, like a mom sticking up for their child when the child knows they did wrong, but momma thinks her little precious can do no wrong.
I hate wild wing. Wore my King jersey to the pond, and that prissy duck rubbed his a$$ on me, told him to get the F…K off me before I BBQ him and dip his sorry a$$ in duck sauce. Duck security, another joke, didn’t like how a true king fan dealt with getting harassed by their damn mascot.
Duck fans suck, they go to the game to be seen and have no clue whats going on the ice. They talk too much. They don’t know when to shut up and watch a game. Their Fans arrive sometime between first and second intermission, and leave mid way through the third. A true fan would get there for warmup and leave after the final buzzer.
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Disney has long since sold the Ducks, and they AREN’T called the “Mighty” Ducks any more. Just the Ducks. It is intresting how the facts have changed but the image remains.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:56 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Eisner petitioned the NHL to be able to put the word “mighty” above the players’ name on the jersey. Thankfully, it was rejected.
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vplaza Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Lipstick on a pig….leopard changing its spots…yada yada yada. Still hate them.
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I’m not one of those that has any feelings for the Ducks one way or another. The teams I love to hate are Vancouver and the Sharks. I’d much rather see the Ducks win than Vancouver or the Sharks.
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wes Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
@KC23, yikes, KC23. I cannot begin to agree with any of that. If hockey’s spotlight is shining on western Canada, fine, it’s the Canucks (cut & paste Bay Area and Sharks). But — if hockey’s spotlight is shining on southern California: it’s okay with you if it’s shining on the Disneyland Ducks?!?!?!
Man, that’s wrong!!
As wrong as it could possibly get.
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San Jose is our biggest rival in the division. We simply haven’t had enough meaningful games against them. I remember Ron Wilson and Guy Hebert talking smack about Gretzky trying to drum up an early rivalry, then Gretz had a 5 point night against them and the Ducks just went back to quietly sucking. Then we weren’t any good when the Ducks were.
The Sharks have been a nemesis for years, back Arturs Irbe keeping us out of the playoffs through last year sweeping us at the end of the season.
Plus, we don’t take over HP like we often do the pond.
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Gotta agree that there are two types of rivalries: one for fans & one for players. For whatever reason, probably mostly due to history, the eastern conference seems to have the more heated rivalries, both for fans & players.
I think that for the current Kings’ players there really isn’t a feeling of rivalry with another team. Without a doubt there are teams that they get up for a little bit more or add a little extra something to the physical play, but to me a rivalry requires bad blood between the players. I don’t see there being any bad blood between any of the teams the Kings play. That level of intensity isn’t there.
Think about some of the current rivalries out there. Their genius is usually goes back to some questionable hit causing a serious injury, etc. You can expect several fights, line brawls, goalies fights when these teams get together. None of this exists for the Kings.
Presently, there’s no ill humor between the Kings and other team, at least to the level that one finds in the eastern conference. One can develop every easily – a bad hit to a top player, meeting several times in the playoffs – so a rivalry might yet develop for the current players, especially given that there are a number of players with long contracts.
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I think the rivalry is more between fans. As a Kings fan we are spoiled with our announcers both on T.V. and radio. They are like The Great Chick Hearn was, they are reporting the action. The Ducks announcers are rooting so hard for the Ducks, they don’t see the action as it is happening. That is why they complain about every call and non-call during a game that goes against the Ducks. The fans hear this and are trained to do the same thing. Funny how the game a couple weeks ago was 60-40 fans. The Kings fans were just as loud as the Ducks fans, and it was awesome. Too bad the Kings fell short, You won’t be hearing much out of the Ducks fans tonight as there numbers will be very low.
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wes Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
@brian spain, true
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
@brian spain, I’ve very much noticed that when I’ve seen the 2 teams play. At Anaheim about 1/3 or so are King fans. At Staples, practically nobody is. That says a lot.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:57 pm
@HockeyNerd, At Staples when the Ducks play practically nobody is a Ducks fan.
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Because they took a great song from one of my all time favorite bands and ruined it for me by using it as their goal sound. And Pennywise promptly ruined whatever respect I still had for them by performing that song at their championship parade even though all the members are from the South Bay.
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I agree the Kings/Ducks rivalry is between the fans. I don’t know if anyone else saw this, but during the pregame show before the last Kings/Ducks game, they had polled the Kings players and they said their main rival is Vancouver not Anaheim.
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As a lifelong Kings fan from Orange County (yes I stuck with my Kings when the Disney train came to anaheim) I am also a dodgers fan, and I notice the stands of orange county are always *always* empty if their team is doing nothing. With LA teams, there is a fan dedication that I think is unrivaled. That’s my rivalry: the BS fans of anaheim coming out of the woodworks.
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it’s a rival mostly among fans… I would have to say it’s a fun freewy rivalry, but seriously, detroit and chicago hate kings fans more. I’ve been scolded by fans of both teams saying a west coast team has no right winning championships and accused everyone in california of jumping on the bandwagon because according to them, LA is not a hockey town… well, eff them. go kings go!!!!!
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Right now, Vancouver is the rival for the Kings.They’ve had a couple of tough Playoff losses to each other and everytime they play there’s a nastiness in the air. The Ducks “rivalry” is sooo far down the list it’s a non-factor, yet I cringe a bit more everytime they lose to the Ducks than with any other team in the league.
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Teams I dislike:
1. Phoenix Coyotes – Dirty play. Try to injure Brownie several times. Mike Smith is evil. Team is in the desert. Fans don’t care.
2. New Jersey Devils – Similar team to Coyotes in their heyday. And don’t like the name.
3. San Jose Sharks – Have been more of a Calif opposition than Ducks.
I used to hate the Flyers for years, because of how they were as the Broad Street Bullies.
Now I’m okay with them.
Pittsburgh I’ve liked for many years. They came in the league the same year as the Kings and had been underdogs for a long time, but then built up the franchise nicely to win the cup with Lemieux, built hockey popularity there, saved the franchise, and have been a hit with their stars since, winning a cup again over Detroit!
Vancouver not hated by me; they were decent rivals last playoffs. And I like the city.
Ducks generally WERE frustrating because they won the cup first, and Anaheim is a suburb of L.A., not a major city. (That’s why I approve of Los Angeles Angels as a name.)
Now with both SoCal teams playing well, a real rivalry may heat up….
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