Supporting the Kings, Despite the Staples Center

Yes, Crappy Team Plus Even Crappier Venue Can Still Equal Love

Two weeks ago, after a second straight third-period collapse, I muttered to Steve, a fellow long-suffering Los Angeles Kings fan, “Rooting for the Kings is like rooting for the Cubs–only without the charm of Wrigley.”

That was probably an overstatement: After all, the Cubs have a title to their name. Not the Kings: Since entering the National Hockey League in 1967, they’ve made exactly one Stanley Cup finals appearance, losing to the Montreal Canadiens in five games in 1993. They’ve won their division once. And, until this week’s upset of the …