My Favorite ARCO Moment: Justin “JayMarzz” Marshall

Over the next two weeks, Sports 1140 KHTK will be sharing some stories from a variety of personalities that have experienced Sacramento Kings basketball at ARCO Arena.

After a 33-year run–28 years as the home of the Kings–ARCO will be demolished in the coming months to make way for a new California Northstate University medical school and teaching hospital.

The Kings will be holding a farewell event for the arena on Saturday, March 19th. You can find more info here.

Justin “JayMarzz” Marshall – Producer & Co-Host, The Carmichael Dave Show

• What is your favorite ARCO Arena moment?

While there are so many to choose from, I’m going to reach back deep in the nostalgia bag and say Kings vs Jazz from March 28, 1991.

This was my very first Kings game.

As a 5-year-old, I watched Jim Les come off the bench for the Kings and hit four threes. In today’s NBA, hitting four threes in a game is routine, however, 31 years ago that was an insane statistic. Jim Les became my favorite player and the Kings became my favorite team on that night, in that arena.

Sidenote: The Kings mascot at the time was “The Gorilla,” and he wanted me to dance with him during a timeout. I was terrified and refused. 

• What will you miss most about ARCO Arena? 

The vibe.

ARCO lacked a lot of amenities – none more obvious than the lack of quality chicken tenders – but it had soul. By its later years, the arena was the NBA equivalent of a dump, but it was our dump, and we were happy to be as loud as possible in it.

I grew up in that arena, and a little part of me will go when it does. 

• HBO’s new show “Winning Time” chronicles the rise of Lakers basketball in the 1980s. Which era of Kings basketball would you choose to see re-created on TV or film? 

The last season in Kansas City from 1985 up until the early 90’s.

I think the political maneuvering coupled with the rabid passion for Kings basketball during that time period would make for great TV! 

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