The Royal Rapscallion Responds


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The Rapscallion File:
Age: ??
Hometown: Sacramento, CA Experience: 21 seasons with the Kings
Bio: As the resident know-it-all, The Royal Rapscallion lurks in the rafters of ARCO Arena and the Kings Practice Facility, watching and soaking in Kings Basketball 24 hours-a-day. Occasionally sharing his thoughts though writing, R2 or R-squared (as he's affectionately called), has decided to branch off into the Q&A business.
Related Links:
Read R2's first column three years ago.

Throughout the 2005-06 season, The Royal Rapscallion will be taking your questions and finding the answers. No matter how small or how difficult it may be to find, the Kings secretive insider has the the answer for you. Click here to submit your query.

June 19, 2006
  • The best offensive basketball I saw the Kings play was in the playoffs, when they tried to penetrate first, then dish off if the shot wasn't there. I'm a big fan of that approach because the inside shot is a higher percentage shot and if you collapse the defense and dish off, the perimeter shot is usually an open look. They have the players to play this style of game now. Do you have any insight into the type of offensive scheme the Kings and Musselman want to take the Kings?
    -Fighter
    Royal Rapscallion: “That’s a good question, and one that not many people have been asking. Most of the questions post- Muss’s hiring have regarded which defense the team will employ, because that’s been the Kings biggest issue in the past. Now that Rick Adelman is gone though, the Kings offense could change as well—Musselman has favored an up-tempo attack, but he has also tends to call more plays, which is different from Adelman’s more laid-back approach. It’s definitely going to be an interesting training camp and preseason for sure.”

    June 10, 2006
  • Have read all the recent questions and your answers and find not one references to the "grunt" man on the Kings. I refer ,of course, to Kenny Thomas. Kenny sets the hard picks so that others(namely, Bibby) can score, plays smart defense(look at the steals) and has double/double also every games where he gets the minutes. He goes up with the big boys and invariably comes down with the rebounds. Solid ballplayer who gets no press at all. Wonder if the average Kings' fan realizes his importance to this team. Wonder if you do.
    -Frank Ready
    Royal Rapscallion: “There is a reason that Kenny Thomas was signed to a long-multiyear contract a few seasons ago, because of all of his hard work. So somebody is appreciating him! Thomas plays the game hard, hates to be taken out, and wants to contribute as much as possible. The only downsize to K-9 is that he is a bit undersized at the power forward spot—making it harder for him to score down low and use low post moves that most power forwards have in their arsenal. Because of that, he sometimes gets taken out of games in favor of a more well-rounded offensive player, which has happened in Houston and Philly, and now in Sacramento. Kenny’s biggest challenge is not letting playing time affect him. Trust me, Kings fans are well aware of what he has to bring to the table and are thankful. But you're probably right, Kenny is underrated sometimes.”

    May 26, 2006
  • What is Brad Miller like off the court? I know he likes to hunt and stuff like that but what else does he do?
    -Carissa Bach, Eau Claire, WI
    Royal Rapscallion: “Imagine your 15 year-old brother who is seven feet tall and weighs 260 pounds—that’s basically Brad Miller. The guy is just a fun-loving dude with one of the most laid back personalities you will ever meet—he’s a big kid. If you had to pick which one of the Kings players was most likely to play on a beer-league softball team, Brad would be the one. In fact, I think he’s actually playing on one in Kendallville as we speak.”

    May 12, 2006
  • Which direction do you think the Kings will go in their attempt to find a new head coach? Will defense be a priority?
    -Timmy Chang, SF, Ca

    Royal Rapscallion: "From everything that the organization has been saying, they will look at coaches who emphasize a defense-first philosophy. Now, that can change as they look through the prospective candidates--perhaps they will find a leader who doesn't necessarily preach total 'D' but fits the team better. I believe that the Kings will end up hiring a coach from outside the box--someone who Kings fans might not immediately think of. That's just a gut feeling. Of course, I do lurk in the shadows at the practice facility, living off of Gatorade, Juicy Fruit gum and power bars, so I may not be the most sane person to be taking advice from...hahaha."

    May 5, 2006
  • How soon will the Kings start working on the draft?
    -Karl Millen, Seattle, Wa

    Royal Rapscallion: "To be honest, the Kings scouts are going full throttle as we speak, lining up visits from players around the country. A handful of local products from Stanford, UCLA, and Sacramento State have been in for workouts in front of the front office. The pace will pick up considerably as the next month progresses and the draft starts to take shape, as far as which players fall where."

    April 26, 2006
  • There's a gentleman that usually wears a tan overcot that is at every Kings game. Is he the team's security guard? I'm his biggest fan!.
    -Battleslave

    Royal Rapscallion: "Why, you speak of none other than 'Big Buddy', aka Joe Nolan, the team's security guard. Joe is a former collegiate football player who is in his ninth year working for the Kings, his fifth season as the team's security guard. Joe is famous for being in the middle of the Doug Christie-Rick Fox preseason clash in 2002 that spilled into the STAPLES Center tunnel and had Joe face-to-face with The Big Daddy, Shaquille O'Neal."

    April 20, 2006
  • Dear R2, I am not asking for this question to be posted. But i think you are the only one I can trust to answer my question. My question is if this is the true profile of Kevin Martin. I am sure you are familiar with the site- myspace.com. And you can never be certain if it is the real person, or an imposter. So if you have enough connections to ask Kevin Martin if this is actual site.
    -Brianne Chapman, Elverta California

    Royal Rapscallion: "It's funny that you ask that question Brianne, because this was a recent topic of conversation in the Kings locker room. I was curious of the same thing, so I asked Kevin and Shareef to check out their prospective sites on MySpace, and let me tell you, all they could do was laugh. Most of these sites that claim to be players' are actually false. For one, why would an NBA player, who usually craves privacy, post a site for everyone to check out the inner details of their lives? The other thing to look for is personal pictures. If the pics are ones that anyone can get off the internet, it's most likely false. Real players would put their own personal shots in there."

    April 12, 2006
  • why did mike bibby stop wearing his head bands?
    -Eva Hutchinson

    Royal Rapscallion: "Another Mike Bibby question...he's quite the popular fellow with you Kings fans! Anyways, as with many players, superstitions can play a huge part in their game, and Mike is no different. It's believed that Mike was struggling in the first half of a game against the Hawks in Atlanta on March 3rd, and came out in the second half without his black headband on to try and reverse his shooting. Bibby followed it up the next game against the Wizards by putting the headband back on, but hit only 5-of-16 shots against Washington. The following game against New Jersey, Mike left it off for good and and ended up scoring 29 points-which explains why he decided to play sans headband the rest of the year."

    April 3, 2006
  • My question was regarding Mike Bibby I've always been a huge Bibby fan. He's great when he penetrates and passes for the assists. He's still a assisting and doing great at it but He hasn't been driving it doesn't seem like this year. Is it part of the offense or do they want him catching and shooting more? thanks for taking the time
    -Andy Manley, Montana

    Royal Rapscallion: "Good question...The Kings offense is not like a normal basketball offense, where the point guard always brings the ball down the court and sets up teammates. Mike does do that from time-to-time, but mostly he is utilized in this offense coming off screens and picks to shoot his deadly jumper. The onus for the pass comes from the Kings' big men to find the wing players. That's why you used to see Doug Christie bring the ball down the court instead of Mike...Francisco Garcia kind of fills that role now when he is in the game. I think Mike is driving as much as he has in past seasons, he now is much more the focal point of the offense and gets more shots, generally from the perimeter."

    March 29, 2006
  • Is Ron Artest really as tough as people say he is, or has his reputation just grown out of control over the years?
    -Brittney, Eugene, Or

    Royal Rapscallion: "I will tell you this about Ron...he is already one of the hardest working players on the team. He stays, sometimes for hours, long after practice to work on his jumpshot or listen to Coach Carril. He even comes in after games some times to workout--his desire to win and get better is second to none. I think you can see how tough Ron is just by how he has affected his teammates and made them a more hard-nosed ballclub. Away from basketball, Ron is a giant teddy bear though, exceptionally accomodating to the media and even more so to fans who just want to shake his hand or ask for an autograph."

    March 20, 2006
  • Who do you think is the funniest guy in the Kings locker room now that Vlade and Chris have left?
    -Carl Townsend, Manteca, Ca

    Royal Rapscallion: "That title, without a doubt in my mind, falls on the shoulder of the irreverant, some would say loquacious, Bonzi Wells. The man is a walking quip, quick to make everyone around him bust out laughing. Bonzi has a nickname for everyone around the team, from the coaches all the way down to Media Relations interns--sometimes they're funny, sometimes they are unmentionable. Either way, Bonzi is one of the reasons the Kings locker room has remained tight knit this season. "

    March 13, 2006
  • I just wanted to ask your thoughts on next years draft. I just had some input on it, and I thought that It would be a great move to draft a versatile and another defensive stopper in Karl Crauser of the Pittsburgh Panthers. What do you think?
    -Matt Meyer

    Royal Rapscallion: "The one thing about the Kings is that Geoff Petrie always seems to find gems in the draft, no matter where the Kings are located (see Francisco Garcia and Kevin Martin). The reason? Sacramento usually takes the best available player that will work in its system, regardless of whether or not that position is already filled. It ends up building depth and keeps the talent of the team up. The Kings will probably have a higher pick this year than in past drafts, so the chances of getting a solid player are higher. With all the being said, the team's front office usually doesn't finalize the players it wants to target until usually a few days before the draft...So basically, what I'm trying to say is, I have no idea who the Kings will be looking at in June. "

    March 7, 2006
  • I am one of the few Kings fan in Salinas,CA. Our local paper has really poor NBA coverage except when Shaq and Kobe were together. My question. What is Doug Christie doing? I think he would make a great defensive coach. Also, has anyone beside me noticed the resemblance between Kevin and a young Doug? Thanks
    -Dale Beagley Salinas, CA

    Royal Rapscallion: "Doug has retired back to his home in Seattle with his family to enjoy life after basketball. Doug battled problems with his foot towards the end of his career with Sac, and then in Orlando and Dallas, that really never allowed him to get going in those two cities. I could definitely see Doug get back into coaching if he has that desire, just because he has so much that he can teach today's players about defending. But Doug puts his family first, and right now I think he's just enjoying watching his kids grow up."

    February 27, 2006
  • Hey Rap, I like what I'm seeing in regards to team chemistry. The only question I have at this time is "When are we getting Bonzi back?" We need him to click with the team. He's the piece we're gonna need to get to the playoffs. To all my KingsNation brothers and sisters "I love ya and on to the playoffs!!". Thanks for you're time, Rap
    -Tony Lucero, Chowchilla, Ca.

    Royal Rapscallion: "Yeah, gotta love reppin' the KingsNation down in the Central Valley! Good job Tony, we know it must be hard, living in the land of the-team-that-we-do-not-speak-of. Anyways, to answer your question....soon, we hope. Bonzi feels like his groin has healed to the point where he can get back on the court after suffering a setback a few weeks ago, he just wants to make sure he is in shape. The Kings offer a much different look with Bonzi and Ron on the court at the same time, and it could be exactly the spark the team needs to get some road wins...I wouldn't be surprised if Bonzi shows up at some point on this East Coast road trip."

    February 20, 2006
  • Living here in Oklahoma, I never hear of any Kings news around here. Its Hornets this and Hornets that. The only way I can keep up is Jerry and Grant on the NBALP on satelite. I was just wondering why in the heck Kevin Martin did not make the sophmore team in the all-star rookie/sophmore game?
    -Jason/OKC Ok.

    Royal Rapscallion: "That is a great question Jason, and one that many in the Kings' front office wondered about Kevin. The only explanation can be that he started playing well too close to the All-Star break, and the league decided to reward those who had been consistent throughout the season. If that's the case though, then Francisco Garcia probably should have made the rookie squad. Oh well, using plain logic doesn't always seem to be the modus operandi of the league. To be honest, Kevin probably had a much better time back in his hometown of Zanesville, Oh, relaxing with his family."

    February 13, 2006
  • Hi R2!! I was just wondering if Joe and Gavin Maloof have any other brothers and/or sisters. I see them on TV and hear about them so much i just wanted to know if anyone else is involved with the Kings. I heard something about a Matt Maloof? Well i hope you answer my question and thanks for your time. GO KINGS!!!
    -Sarah, Gaylord, MI

    Royal Rapscallion: "The Maloof family is a large and close knit group that, besides Joe and Gavin, consists of two other brothers and a sister. Joe is the oldest brother, followed by Gavin. Then comes George Maloof, who runs the Palms Hotel and Casino, followed by brother Phil, a former State Senator who is heavily involved with Maloof TV. The baby in the family is Adrienne who is involved with all aspects of the family business, and recently gave birth to the family's first grandchild. Of course, you can't forget the Matriarch of the family, Colleen, who is the chair of the board of the Maloof companies and trustee for the estate of George J. Maloof. You can click here to read all of their bios.

    There is no Matt Maloof though, as you might have thought, although I am petitioning the family to become the fifth brother, Rapscallion Maloof."

    February 2, 2006
  • Hey, R2, I was just curious: how do you feel about the Sacramento Monarchs winning the WNBA Championship?
    -Kenny from Marysville

    Royal Rapscallion: "The people here at Maloof Sports and Entertainment are one big family, and the Monarchs winning a championship has been the biggest achievement in the organization's history. Rapscallion remembers it like it was yesterday...the champagne in the locker room, the stogies, the pure joy. A big fan of Yolanda Griffin since her days in the ABL with the StingRays, I was so happy for her. That's why I want the Kings to win so badly, so that they can experience what the women were able to accomplish....Plus, I want a ring to match my HUGE Monarchs bling-bling."

    January 21, 2006
  • hello my name is haley im from live oak, california i was wondering what the tattoo that brad miller has on his upperback is? i can see it trying to peek out over the jersey but cant tell what it is of.
    -Haley, Live Oak, CA

    Royal Rapscallion: "Well, being that Brad is an old fashioned farmer-type from Indiana who likes to spend his free time in the summer working and playing on his estate in Kendallville, he has a tattoo a steer head's skull across his shoulder blades to represent the cowboy in him. All I can say is that the pure machismo that this tattoo emits makes up for the little cute Scrappy Doo tattoo he has on his arm. It's just SOOOO cute!"

    January 11, 2006
  • Is Courtney Alexander, Fresno State. still playing in the NBA or NBDL? Last year he was with the Kings, but I have last track of him this year. Thanks,
    -Fred Gleason, Madera, Ca.

    Royal Rapscallion: "For some reason over the holidays, I was actually pondering the same question. What happened to the engima known as Courtney Alexander?...And the answer is: nobody knows. Courtney never actually played a regular season game for the Kings before getting released last season and kind of just fell off the face of the basketball map. Much in the way Keon Clark did as well after playing for the Kings in 2002-03, the two have never played again. Perhaps Courtney and Keon are hanging out somewhere, reminiscing about donning the purple and silver of Sacramento. Courtney, if you're out there, holla..."

    January 5, 2006
  • Hi, I was just wondering why does mike bibby clip his fingernails on the bench just about every game?
    -Sead S., Iowa

    Royal Rapscallion: "This is one of the most common queries of myself. After pondering for days why an NBA player would clip his nails during game action, I decided to go straight to the source. According to MikeBibby.com, Mike had this to say about the obsessive clipping of his cuticles: 'Its superstition. I just find stuff to get at, pick at loose skin. They hand me a clipper when I come off the first timeout.' And there you go...just as former MLB pitcher Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings, Mike Bibby cuts his nails to ward off the evil spirits."

    December 29, 2005
  • Dear R2, My name is Brianne from Elverta,CA and my question is what does that white rubber bracelet mean that Kevin Martin wears constantly...it's been driving me CRAZY!!!
    -Brianne

    Royal Rapscallion: "That's actually a great question Brianne of the Elverta...You are paying attention closely to the finite details of each Kings player, much in the same way the Rapscallion studies game tape, looking for any kind of Kings advantage over an opponent. After infiltrating the Kings Practice Facility under the guise of a watch salesman who happened to run out of gas right in front of the building, I was able to closely scrutinize Kevin Martin's wrist, on which I found the following discovery...Kevin Martin is wearing a Nike wristband with the word 'Team' on it. It's almost a translucent color and very sharp. So much so that the Rapscallion went online and immediately ordered his own...which I am now wearing."

    December 19, 2005
  • Dear R2, Where can I find some history on Everns Byrnes or Burns? He was a member of the Sacramento Kings I have been told.
    Thanks,
    -J.C. Moore

    Royal Rapscallion: "Burns...hmmm....let me go back to my archives. Seymore Burns...no...Brooke Burns....no. Ah, here we go, Evers Burns...
    A graduate of Maryland University, Evers Burns was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 1993 NBA Draft as the 31 pick (second round). He played the 1993-94 season with the Kings averaging 2.3 ppg in only 23 games. Burns went on to play in Europe after his short stint in Sacramento, before rejoining the Kings. This time though, it was the Sydney Kings of the Australian league for one season in 1998. Some notable names that were selected after Burns in the 1993 draft? Nick Van Exel (#37) and Bryon Russell (#45).

    December 5, 2005
  • Hi, How can I obtain the 2002 Western Conference Championship series vs. the Lakers on DVD or VHS. I must see it again! Thanks....
    -N. Matthew Ludwig

    Royal Rapscallion: "Hmmm...me thinks you are either a Lakers fan disguised in sheep's clothing or a Kings fan who has a sick and twisted way of getting pleasure from punishment. Anyways, the Rapscallion looked into your query and found the following results: There is no DVD out there in which the entire seven game series is recorded. However, there is (I don't know how I will forgive myself for ever mentioning this) a Lakers Dynasty DVD in which Game Seven is shown. You can purchase it on Amazon.com...Now excuse me, for I must retire to the locker room to take a shower to clean myself of those memories."

    November 21, 2005
  • How does jerry Reynolds get out of the slamson suit and over to the media bench so fast?

    -Landsburg
    Royal Rapscallion: "Hahaha...That one actually made me spit the royal ale I was drinking out of my nose. Jerry Reynolds has indeed taken on a multifacited position with the Sacramento Kings over the years, doing everything from coaching to GM'ing, to working for the Monarchs. In fact, how do you know that I, the Royal Rapscallion, am not in fact Jerry Reynolds?"

    November 15, 2005
  • Hello, I'm from Atlanta Ga, and I wanted to know, What does "Peja" means? . Thank You for responding.

    -pennie
    Royal Rapscallion: "Fair enough question. Peja is actually a nickname for the Serbian name of Predrag. If you look around the rest of the NBA, you need not go any further than your own Atlanta Hawks team of last season to find another Peja--Predrag Drobnjak also goes by the nickname of Peja. A nice little example would be someone with the name Robert who goes by Bob."

    November 9, 2005
  • Hello Your Royalness,
    Although I've been a Kings fan for quite a while and have learned a great deal about NBA basketball (my poor husband becomes a "basketball widower" each season), I've never really understood "The Sixth Man". I know that Bobby Jackson was honored as "Sixth Man of the Year" (I believe in 2003-2004), and now the Kings Fans are being referred to as the "Sixth Man". Please forgive me for asking a probably really dumb question, but what is "The Sixth Man" all about?
    Thanks for the help,

    -Dana I. Garrett (dig)
    Galt, CA
    Royal Rapscallion: "Oh, Dana. Or should I call you Dig? No question is ever too dumb to be asked of myself, the purveyor of all inside knowledge when it comes to the Sacramento Kings. This Sixth Man that you question, has two meanings. First, it can refer to the home fans, in this case those that create the atmosphere at ARCO Arena that makes opposing teams shake in their boots. Since there are only five men out on the court for one team at any given time, the Sixth Man would be the fans screaming and cheering their brains out.

    You might often hear a player say after a game, 'We have to give credit to our Sixth Man, the fans, for really putting us over the top tonight.' In fact, in honor of Kings fans, there is now a Giant Gold SIx on the front lawn of ARCO Arena.

    The other Sixth Man you speak of refers to an actual player. Once again, going back to the fact that only five players can play at one time, a team's Sixth Man is the first player the coach calls for to come off the bench, which is usually the team's best non-starter. They even have an award for the best Sixth Man in the league, which as you mentioned, Bobby Jackson won."

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