Now He Has a Comeback for Comeback

For years, I’ve taken abuse about the “Miracle on Manchester.”

From my son, Alan.

Didn’t matter that I was there for Wayne Gretzky’s record-setting 802nd goal, that I covered the Kings’ only trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Didn’t even get any credit for writing about Marty McSorley’s illegal stick.

All I ever heard was, “You walked out on the greatest comeback in Kings history? And you call yourself a sportswriter?”

Well, yes. And yes.

In the spring of 1982, while covering the Lakers, I found myself at the Forum for hours following an afternoon practice, finishing a feature story. As I emerged into the bright lights of the arena, I discovered a hockey game had broken out.

Asked by a King publicist if I wanted to take an empty seat, I looked up at the scoreboard, saw the team far behind the Edmonton Oilers and declined.

The Kings, of course, came back from a 5-0 deficit to win, 6-5.

Alan was only 4 that year, but when he became a devoted King fan, I casually mentioned I had left before the Miracle.

Should have kept my mouth shut.

It was a generational thing, but every generation has its moments. One of mine came Wednesday night.

Alan, now a sports producer at KCBS, was at Staples Center for the Kings’ playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Or so I thought.

I was surprised when he walked in before 10 p.m.

“What was I going to stay around there for?” he said, pointing to the 3-0 score on the television screen. “Do you really think they are going to come back from that?”

I don’t plan to needle Alan about the Kings’ 4-3 victory. It will be better to wait until he marries someday and has a son.

Then, I’ll tell my grandson.