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Tuesday, September 21, 1999
Kings skate into Forum history
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- This time, Los Angeles fans weren't rushing for the exits.Many in the crowd of 12,559 stood cheering as 32 years of Kings' history flashed on the overhead scoreboard in a final salute to hockey at the Forum.
The Kings closed out their residency in the circular building on Manchester Avenue with an 8-1 victory over the rival Anaheim Mighty Ducks in an exhibition game Monday night. Neither team left without a fight.
"If you're going to end it, end it with a bang," Kings left wing Luc Robitaille said.
There were six separate fights in the third period when referees assessed 149 penalty minutes and coaches Andy Murray of Los Angeles and Craig Hartsburg of Anaheim got into an argument between their benches.
"It was a case of our team being emotionally charged with the last game at the Forum," said Murray, in his first year with the Kings. "I thought the people were into the mood of the last game here and I think that inspired our team. We got off to a good start and everything seemed to click."
The Kings and the Lakers, the Forum's more successful tenant, are moving to the new Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, about 25 miles from their old digs.
The Kings' first game there is against Boston on Oct. 20. The Lakers will play two exhibition games at the Forum next month before the building becomes predominantly a concert venue.
"You're never glad to leave," Kings defenseman Rob Blake said.
Hockey brought unique sights and smells to the venerable arena that Jack Kent Cooke built in 1967. Before each game, sparks flew from skates being sharpened in the hallway outside the visitors' dressing room and the pungent scent of cream used to soothe sore muscles wafted up the narrow stairwell.
Such nostalgia was on the minds of many who paid $15 and $10 for a chance to watch hockey from the orange and gold seats one last time.
Paul Carvo, 28, of Lake Elsinore, wore a black-and-white jersey covered with autographs of current and former Kings.
"That's kind of what I always liked about it. It's in the middle of a workingman's town," he said of the Forum's blue-collar neighborhood. "It's always been kind of a grinding team."
No more so than on April 10, 1982, when the Kings played the famed "Miracle on Manchester" playoff game. Trailing 5-0 in the third period against Edmonton, the Kings went on the attack and tied the game with five seconds remaining. Rookie Daryl Evans scored in overtime to complete an improbable comeback.
Six years later, the Kings pulled off a blockbuster trade, acquiring Wayne Gretzky from Edmonton. Hockey became the toughest ticket in town and soared to new levels of popularity in Southern California.
In 1993, Gretzky led the Kings to their only Stanley Cup finals appearance, where they lost to Montreal 4-1, including three straight overtime defeats -- two in front of roaring Forum crowds.
"It was exciting. The building was really alive," said general manager Dave Taylor, whose No. 18 is one of three retired jerseys in Kings' history. "The Forum is a great building for the fans. The sight lines are good, it's a very loud building when it's full."
Blake has played his entire 10-year NHL career with the Kings in the Forum. He and Robitaille are the only players remaining from the '93 Stanley Cup team.
"Going to the finals and the excitement created around there, I think that'll live in this building for a long time," he said.
The Forum's last big hockey moment occurred March 23, 1994, when Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's record for most career goals with his 802nd against Vancouver.
Gretzky was traded to St. Louis two years later, former owner Bruce McNall went to jail for a scheme to bilk banks and the team out of millions, and the Kings were eventually sold. They've made the playoffs just once in the last six years.
But those troubled times were distant memories Monday night.
Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan joined the rest of the cheering crowd on its feet late in the third period as announcer David Courtney said, "One minute remaining in the fabulous Great Western Forum."
Wearing a jersey autographed by Robitaille, Laura Niznik of Torrance soaked up the atmosphere.
"Kind of sad, because the Forum has so much history to it," she said. "Everybody knows the Forum. I remember when it was the Fabulous Forum years ago. It's a great place to watch a game."
Niznik's favorite moment was watching Robitaille score his 500th goal last season.
"The crowd just went wild. There was so much energy here from all the fans," she said. "It was just a great moment, especially when the Kings don't always do as well as they should."
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