[外電] On the Kings, ticket sales, Monarchs …

看板Kings (沙加緬度國王)作者eliczone (C'est la vie)時間15年前 (2010/07/29 00:02)推噓6(6推 0噓 3→)

留言9則, 7人參與討論串1/1

http://0rz.tw/Ss0E9 http://bbs.hoopchina.com/1440138.html -------------------------此篇是直接貼上hoopchina的翻譯，因太長了-------------- While in Las Vegas recently to attend the NBA Summer League and Team USA tryouts at UNLV, Bee sports columnist Ailene Voisin spent two hours conversing with Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof at the coffee shop in the Palms. In a free-flowing chat, topics included the state of the franchise, the league's labor outlook, the loss of the WNBA Monarchs and the Kings' roster rebuilding process. Midway into the interview, matriarch Colleen Maloof came downstairs and joined the discussion. 當最近去拉斯維加斯夏季聯賽和美國國家隊在UNLV的訓練探營後，Bee Sports的專欄作家 Ailene Voisin用了大概2小時的時間在Palms的咖啡店對國王的老闆馬魯夫兄弟做了一次訪談。在這個很隨意的談話中，大家談論了球隊的狀態，聯盟的勞資狀況，失去WNBA球隊君主隊的情況以及國王的重建過程。在這個採訪的中段，女主人Colleen Maloof也下樓加入了我們的討論。 The national economy is in shambles, your young stars aren't old enough to drink or gamble, yet the two of you seem more upbeat than you've been in years. So how many lumps of sugar did you toss into your coffee cup anyway? 目前美國的經濟仍然步履蹣跚，而你們球隊的年輕球星們年輕的都沒有飲酒和賭博的權力，然而你們兩位卻比過去的那些年都看起來積極樂觀。所以你向你們的咖啡杯里加了多少塊方糖？ Gavin Maloof: (Laugh) We just love the team, love the direction. It's not only in Sac. People in New York are talking about Tyreke (Evans) and (DeMarcus) Cousins. People kept coming up to us at the summer league, telling us how much they like our young players. Word's getting out big time. Now we have a little bit of a swagger. We're still in the tunnel, but we can see the light. Gavin Maloof: （笑）我們很喜歡這個球隊，喜歡球隊現在發展的方向。這不只是在薩克拉門托。紐約的人們也在談論著TE和Boggie。人們在夏季聯賽期間一直來看我們的比賽，他們告訴我們他們有多麼喜歡我們的年輕球員。在這種偉大的時刻總是會有些言論。我們看起來有些昂首闊步。但是我們仍然在重建的征途中，希望就在眼前。 Is the offseason momentum reflected in season-ticket sales for 2010-11? My understanding is that the number is inching toward 5,000. 是不是你們在休賽期不錯的勢頭也反映出你們在2010-2011賽季的季票銷售狀況？就我個人的理解來看這個數字很接近5000了。 Joe Maloof: We're selling, we're selling. It's definitely better than it was (at) this time last year. We've gotten back to something we knew as kids, and that's "guerrilla marketing." One ticket at a time. My mom always said, "People are flattered when you ask for their business." Sac wants us to win. The businesses want to get this going again. You have to have a better product, but we're doing things differently. Gavin and I are much more proactive. Joe Maloof: 我們正在不斷不斷的賣出季票。毫無疑問今年比去年同期的銷售狀況好了很多。我們正試圖回歸我們作為孩子的時候就知道的事情，也就是“遊擊營銷”的策略。一次賣出一張票就足夠了。我們的媽媽總是說，“當你問起人們的生意時他總是會很慌張。”沙加緬度希望我們贏得勝利。而作為我們的生意來說也需要國王取得勝利。你不得不尋找更好的產出，但是我們也在做一些不同的事情。Gavin和我現在更加積極主動。 Does that explain the lateseason turnover in your business operations? Longtime team president John Thomas out, Matina Kolokotronis and consultant Kevin Kaplan in? 你能給我們解釋下上個賽季你們在人事上的變動麼？球隊長期以來的主席John Thomas被解雇，而取而代之的是Matina Kolokotronis和顧問Kevin Kaplan？ Joe Maloof: Everything started to change last September, when we heard we were on pace to draw 5,000 or 6,000 fans to the home opener. That would have been disastrous. We had a meeting with John (Thomas) and just didn't get the answers we wanted. Then, we started 0-3. That's rougher than a night in jail. So Gavin says, "We've got to call Kevin Kaplan to the rescue." Joe Maloof: 在去年的9月份，當我們聽到我們的主場揭幕戰只能吸引5000或者6000名球迷的時候，一切發生了變化。這對於我們來說無疑是災難。我們和John開了一次會，結果沒有得到我們想要的答案。然後，我們又以0勝3負開局。這比在監獄中度過一晚更加的折磨人。所以Gavin說，“我們需要讓Kevin Kaplan來拯救我們。” Your backgrounds are in sales. What took so long to grasp the severity of the situation? 你的學術背景是營銷方面的。這花費了你多長時間意識到上述情況的嚴重性？ Gavin Maloof: It really goes back to when Chris (Webber) blew out his knee in 2003. That was the Titanic. We never recovered. We went down with him. We didn't want to face the fact that maybe we should start over. We wanted to try and bring in players, midlevel type players that could give us immediate help. But they didn't help us win. The midlevel is what it is. It will help you if you need another piece for a championship, but for the rest of us … Gavin Maloof: 這需要回溯到2003年Chris（Webber）弄傷了他的膝蓋。這就像泰坦尼克號沉沒一樣。我們從來就沒有從中恢復過來。隨著他的受傷我們開始沉淪。我們不想去面對這樣的現實就是我們需要重新開始這一切。我們想嘗試去尋找新的球員，那種中產級別合同的球員來立刻給球隊提供幫助。但是他們並不能幫助我們取得勝利。中產球員的能力也局限於此。他們會幫助你們如果你們只是需要總冠軍的一小塊拼圖的話，但是對於我們球隊而言…… At this point, family matriarch Colleen Maloof enters the restaurant. 在這個時候家族的女主人Colleen Maloof進入了餐廳。 Joe Maloof continues: Probably, we could have made a bigger adjustment a couple years earlier. It's a Catch-22. You want to stay competitive because you want to see your attendance stabilize. Joe Maloof繼續說: 可能，我們本可以在更早的幾年做出較為大的調整。但是這是一個 Catch-22（因為天生不合邏輯的規則或條件導致的，所希望得到的願望和解釋不可能達到的狀況）。你想要保持你球隊的競爭力因為你想看到球場穩定的觀眾人數。 Gavin Maloof: And it was new for us, because we had never not been in the playoffs. Fast-forwarding to today, we appreciate where we are now, to finally have some exciting young talent. Gavin Maloof: 這對於我們來說一切都是新的，因為我們從來沒有錯失過季後賽。如果快速回看現在的國王隊的話，我很滿意我們現在的狀況，因為我們最終得到了一些激動人心的年輕的天賦球員。 Is there a three-year plan? A five-year plan? Joe Maloof: There's one grand plan, and that's getting the team better and getting people back in the arena. That's all that matters right now. That's what we're concentrating on. We have a lot of great ideas. We are going to have theme nights, holiday game promotions. We're going to have caravans to small cities outside Sac, like Chico and Placerville, then start going back to Rotary clubs and Lions clubs. See, I think the fans are going to come back. Joe Maloof: 這是一個偉大的計畫，讓球隊更加的強大，吸引更多的球迷來球場看比賽。這些都關乎現在球隊的狀況。這也是我們全身心投入的事情。我們有很多偉大的主意。我們會有很多主題晚會，假日比賽的促銷推廣活動。我們會在薩克拉門托之外的小城市例如 Chico和Placerville排除大篷車宣稱，然後回到Rotary 俱樂部and Lions 俱樂部。我想球迷們會重新回歸的。 But barring the addition of an impact player, your current squad is still a long shot for the final Western Conference playoff berth. 但是你們阻止了向球隊陣容中增加一名影響力的球員，你們目前的陣容離西部決賽的席位還有很長的路要走。 Gavin Maloof: That's true. But now we have hope. We've been patient. We still have cap space and even more available next year if we want. Are we going to spend it this year? Probably not, but we could. We're going to strike. We're just going to be disciplined and wait for the right time and the right player. Gavin Maloof: 確實是這樣。但是現在我們有了希望。我們需要耐心。我們仍然有薪金空間，而且在來年如果我們願意的話會有更大的操作空間。我們會在今年用掉這些空間麼？可能不會，但是我們其實也可以。我們仍然會繼續努力工作。我們要遵守紀律然後等待正確的時候拿下正確的球員。 The vast majority of teams report that they lost money last season. How deep was the Kings' cut? 大多數球隊都報導說他們上個賽季盈利減少了。國王的利潤縮水了多少？ Gavin Maloof: We came close to breaking even, and we might even make a small profit this year. It all depends on attendance. Gavin Maloof: 我們甚至一度接近破產，我們可能今年只有很少的利潤。但是，這和球場的上座率密切相關。 Speaking of salaries, luxury taxes and assorted fiscal matters, do you anticipate a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires next summer? I keep hearing that your fellow NBA owners insist on imposing a hard salary cap and shorter-term guaranteed contracts. 給我們談談薪金，奢侈稅和各種各樣的失敗吧，你預期到下個夏天現行的勞資協議到期之後聯盟會出現停擺麼？我聽說其他球隊的老闆堅持執行硬性工資帽和更短期限保障合同的政策。 Joe Maloof: We can't talk about that. We'd get fined $1 million. But we all know something has be done. Joe Maloof: 我們不能談論這些話題。我們已經被罰款100萬美元了。但是我們知道一些事情已經有定論了。 Colleen Maloof joins the conversation. Colleen Maloof加入了談話。 Since this was a first up-close experience of NBA draft proceedings, Colleen, what are your impressions after being in the Kings' "war room" last month? 鑒於這是你第一次近距離的接觸NBA選秀全過程，Collen，在上個月體驗過國王的“作戰室”之後給你留下了什麼印象？ Colleen Maloof: It was crazy. The coaches went insane. I swear. I've never seen (Geoff) Petrie excited. He was pacing before the announcement (Wesley Johnson going to Minnesota at No. 4, leaving Cousins for the Kings). He was so nervous. I said, "Well, gosh, it's not the end of the world. I mean, whatever happens, happens." Colleen Maloof: 這太瘋狂了。教練們看起來都像瘋了一樣。我發誓。我從來沒有看到 Petrie這麼興奮過。他在斯特恩先生宣佈4號簽的選擇時在辦公室踱步（木狼用4號簽挑選了Wesley Johnson，而把表妹留給了我們）。他很緊張。我說，“好吧，這不是世界末日。我想，無論什麼發生。。。” Joe Maloof: Also, we hired one of the all-time greats, Bill Walton. He can work with DeMarcus, teach him things no one else can teach. The second thing is, Bill's enthusiasm will help the kid. The more involved Bill can be, we're all for it. Joe Maloof: 而且，我們聘請了史上最強的中鋒之一，Bill Walton。他可以和表妹一起訓練，教會他別人不可能傳授的東西。其次，Bill的工作激情會幫助這個孩子。我們在力爭讓Bill更多的參與我們的訓練。 Colleen Maloof (laughing): I hate saying anything good about the Lakers, but they really develop their big guys. … But it's hard. Remember, they took a title (2002) away from us. Colleen Maloof (大笑):我討厭任何關於湖人的好的言論，但是他們的大個子確實發展的非常出色。。。但是這很困難。記住，他們在2002年從我們手中拿走了西部冠軍頭銜。 Were there mixed emotions when Ron Artest won a championship? Or did Lakers loathing overwhelm any favorable sentiment toward the one-time King? 當阿泰拿到總冠軍的時候你是不是內心非常複雜？或者是否湖人的憎恨之情壓倒了球迷任何的對國王的喜愛情緒？ Gavin Maloof: No, no, no. We were so happy for Ron. He is such a wonderful person, with such a big heart. We were all so excited for him even though we didn't want the Lakers to win. Gavin Maloof: 不，不，不。我們為阿泰感到高興。他是一個非常棒的球員，而且有一顆大心臟。我們都為他感到高興儘管我們不希望湖人取得總冠軍。 You extended the contracts of Petrie and coach Paul Westphal during the season. The team's poor finish notwithstanding, were you pleased with their contributions? 你在賽季中延長了Petrie 和教練 Paul Westphal的合同。儘管球隊最後的戰績有些糟糕，但是你對他們對球隊的貢獻滿意麼？ Joe Maloof: Geoff takes his time, which is good. My brother and I are too impulsive. He's a good bookend for us. He really, really knows talent. And Paul is a joy to be around. He's a hard worker; he cares. The coaches have a tough job ahead. We need to start getting closer to the playoffs. But as long as we make steady progress and start to win games … taking back the homecourt is where it starts. Joe Maloof: Geoff很好的利用一切時間為球隊工作，這非常棒。我和我的兄弟有些衝動。所以他對於我們來說是一個很好的支援。他對球員天賦非常非常瞭解。而且Paul讓我非常開心。他是一個努力工作的教練；他很關心球隊。眼前教練們有著非常艱巨的工作。我們需要更加的接近季後賽。但是只要我們有穩定的進步而且開始贏得比賽。。。首先贏回主場的比賽是一切的開始 Since you brought up Arco Arena, what's the latest on the arena situation? Your commitment to Sacramento? Because of the arena uncertainty, it's no secret your family routinely is approached by groups attempting to lure franchises to Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas, San Diego. 從你建造阿科球館以來，它目前的最新情況如何？這是你對薩克拉門托的貢獻麼？因為這個場館的不確定性，你們的家族正在嘗試吸引球隊去西雅圖，坎薩斯城，拉斯維加斯或者聖地牙哥的計畫已經不是什麼秘密。 Joe Maloof: We don't want to hear about those people. Who are these people, anyway? I think they just want to get their names in the paper. We want to hear about getting our team better and getting people back in the building. Now, it's a fact of life that cities that don't have NBA teams go after them. There are only 30 franchises; they're jewels. But we're not interested. We have a team and a wonderful community, and we're committed to turning it all around in Sac. Joe Maloof: 我們不想聽到這些人們的言論。他們是誰？我想他們只是想在報紙上出名罷了。我們想聽一些關於如何使我們的球隊更好或者如何讓人們參與到我們的球隊建設中諸如此類的言論。現在是事實是這些城市暫時不會有NBA球隊。我們只有30只球隊；他們都是珍寶。但是我們對在這些城市建立球隊不感興趣。我們有了一隻球隊，一個偉大的集體，我們承諾我們會讓它留在薩克拉門托改變薩克拉門托。 Were you surprised that Peter Gruber's ownership group recently outmaneuvered Larry Ellison for the Warriors? 你是否驚訝Peter Gruber財團以壓過Larry Ellison的報價取得勇士的所有權？ Joe Maloof: No, that was a fair price ($450 million) for both sides. You can't go into these situations looking for bargains. That was the mistake we made before we bought the Kings. Want to hear a story? We tried to buy nine, 10 teams, and we kept looking for a good business deal. And nothing was happening. Our younger brother Phil finally told us, "Pay more than the other guy and get your team." That's what we did when we bought the Kings. And, really, it's so much fun … Joe Maloof: 不，對雙方來說這都是很公平的價格（4億5千萬美元）。你不可能在這種情況下找到非常便宜的買賣。那是我們之前購買國王時犯下的錯誤。你想聽聽這個故事麼？我們嘗試去購買9只或者10只球隊，我們一直在尋找最好的商業交易。但是，最終無疾而終。我們的弟弟Phil最後告訴我們，“出比別人更高的價格才能得到你自己的球隊。”那便是我們在購買國王時所做的事情。而且，真的非常有趣…… Gavin Maloof: It's the reason for our existence, for my existence. Gavin Maloof: 這就是我們存在的原因，也是我存在的原因。 For your existence? Are you serious? 你存在的原因？你是認真的麼？ Gavin Maloof: If you take the team from me, you might as well bury me six feet under! I would never sell. I might sell a percentage but would never give up controlling interest. We want to leave the team to our nephews. Gavin Maloof: 如果你把球隊從我身邊奪走，你也就像是把我埋葬在了6尺之下。我絕不會出售球隊。我會出售一些股份但是我不會放棄對球隊的控制權。我想把球隊留給我們的外甥。 Joe Maloof: The No. 1 rule of business is, "Never fall in love with your assets." But we did. Joe Maloof: 商場的最高規則是，“絕不要愛上你的財產。”但是，我們卻違背了。 Colleen Maloof: People don't know that about us. When we sold the Houston Rockets (in 1982), so help me, I never watched an NBA game until we bought the Kings – 15 years later! I never saw (Michael) Jordan play. I didn't read about it, didn't want to hear about it. I was in mourning. I knew it was a major mistake the minute we signed the papers. We tried to buy the team right back. But it was right after my husband (George Sr.) died, and my brother-in-law and other relatives wanted it sold. They wanted to keep everything in New Mexico. I wouldn't have listened to that today, I can tell you that. We had such a good organization. I remember Rockets employees calling me and asking, "Is there anything we can do? Please don't sell." It was heartbreaking. Colleen Maloof: 人們並不瞭解我們。當我們在1982年出售休斯頓火箭隊的時候，那幫助了我們，但是那時我從未看過一場NBA的比賽直到我們在15年後買下了國王！我從來沒有看過喬丹的比賽。我也沒有瞭解過這項運動，我也不願意去聽一些關於籃球的消息。我知道當我們簽署那些協議的時候是我們犯的最主要的錯誤。我們試圖買回球隊。但是那是我的丈夫死後(George Sr.)，我的弟弟和其他的親戚希望賣掉球隊。他們希望把一切都留在新墨西哥。但是如果放在今天，我不會去聽取他們的意見，我們有著如此出色的球隊。我依稀記得火箭的員工們打電話質問我，“現在有什麼我們可以幫忙的地方麼？懇請你不要出售球隊。”這確實讓人心碎。 Did you experience similar feelings when the family folded the Monarchs last December? That decision broke more than a few hearts in Sacramento. 在去年12月你們家族放棄君主隊的時候你是否有同樣的感受？這個決定傷透了薩克拉門托人們的心 Colleen Maloof: Please, I can't even talk about the Monarchs. … It's too upsetting. … It's something we had to do, but I still can't talk about it. Please. Colleen Maloof: 好的，我現在沒辦法談論君主隊。……這太令人失望了……但是這是我們不得不做的事情，但是我想我還是不能談論這件事情。 Joe Maloof: Like every other business, we went in and made cuts. We're a very lean machine right now. We have expenses in line in every department, and our full attention is on the Kings. That's why we're encouraged. We finally have some young pieces and, like Gavin says, reasons for hope. Joe Maloof: 就像其他任何所有的生意一樣，我們捲入了交易而且必須有所割捨。我們現在是一部運作非常高效的機器。在每個部門我們的開支都協調有序，而我們的所有注意力都在國王上面。這是因為我們被這一切所激勵。我們最終找到了很多年輕的拼圖，就像 Gavin說的那樣，這也是我們的希望所在。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 219.70.206.103 ※ 編輯: eliczone 來自: 219.70.206.103 (07/29 00:14)