NBA
My Favorite ARCO Moment: Scott Marsh
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.
Scott Marsh – Kings Game Night Host & UC Davis Aggies Play-By-Play broadcaster
- What is your favorite ARCO Arena moment?
I have two.
First: Pregame, Game 3 of the playoffs between the Kings and Sonics in 1996. It was the first time the Kings had made the playoffs in the new Arco Arena, they were coming off their first playoff win in team history.
Everyone was in the building an hour prior to the game. They gave the Kings a thunderous standing ovation for the entire time… it was the best scene I have ever been a part of at a sporting event, whether at ARCO or anywhere else.
It was an amazing tribute and was totally organic – the excitement at being in the playoffs and being tied with the mighty Sonics with GP and Shawn Kemp swept over the frenzied crowd.
Second: Getting to do a solo interview with Michael Jordan his prime, during the 1996 season when the Bulls won 72 games. I got a chance to cover their shoot-around prior to their game at ARCO.
After they were done, I was able to get a five-minute solo interview with MJ. He was fantastic with me and at that new point in my career, I was beyond excited to get that exclusive conversation.
- What will you miss most about ARCO Arena?
How loud it got.
No place in the NBA got any louder–because of the wooden aisles, you could pound your feet and really make it rock…you were right on top of the action.
- HBO’s “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?
Have to be the glory years starting with the draft pick of J-Will, free-agent signing of Vlade, and trade for C-Webb… and of course the Maloofs buying the team… it would be a tremendous series – just as good as winning time!
