This isn't supposed to head you into a center ice trap of public ridicule. It's more an exercise into what the h-e-double-hockey sticks is going on between your heart and wallet.

Please finish the sentence:

I'm still a Kings' season-seat holder because ...

C'mon. There must be a good reason. The water container in that Zamboni machine circling around down there is half full, right?

The pucks gods must give extra blessings to Kings fans, still the most optimistic, and least realistic, in Southern California, decked out in black and white sweaters on a warm October evening, taking in the season opener against Phoenix.

If the Kings' faithful followers are by nature kind-hearted souls committed to community service projects, then it's the blind admirably leading the blind.

They know full well going into this 2009-10 NHL exercise that the Kings of Leon have a better chance of repeating as a Grammy Awards winner at Staples Center in a couple of months than these Kings of Los Angeles have of bringing home their first Stanley Cup to Staples Center this summer.

So what?

There's no doubting Drew Doughty. They realize Jonathan Quick isn't a quick fix. They sing the praises of Jack Johnson.

They know the only guarantee is the team won't lose a game between Feb. 15 and 28 - the two-week break for the Winter Olympics.

Heck, five minutes into the season, they're already trailing 1-0. Right before first

intermission, it's a 2-0 deficit. It's Coyote ugly, but it beats a high stick in the eye.

This Phoenix club is bankrupt and Wayne Gretzky is jobless, but these Kings fans have never cashed in anything. And now they are actually buzzing about getting Gretzky back - if only to assist Luc Robitaille in the front office. How poetic.

Ryan Smyth, thanks for sucking it up and coming West. Rob Scuderi, let's see that cool ring. Now get out there and don't be distracted by the strobe lights and blaring music.

They're the latest moves in the Kings' offseason that play into the Dean Lombardi "culture of winning" plan - do just enough to move forward, perhaps make the playoffs in the No. 8 slot, but don't put too many expectations on anyone to succeed.

Factor in the team's latest marketing slogan - a push for pride, passion and power. It fits well on a billboard or a $25.99 T-shirt at the Team LA Store.

It probably fits the fans as well. Although, some we've encountered over the years seem to be more problematic, placated and have a high threshold of pain.

Pathetic? Perhaps. But not to be pitied.

If Saturday's opener was like an annual gathering back under the tent for more evangelization, the real salvation was that this game wasn't moved to the Simi Valley Iceoplex because of a Britney Spears "Circus" concert.

There were 11,000 who ventured to Vegas last weekend for another practice game. They know these Kings went 4-3-1 leading into the season opener. For the record, that's 21 times in a row they've finished above .500 in the exhibition play. Over that stretch they've made the playoffs only nine times and haven't seen the postseason since 2002.

And your point is ... ?

There's a saying: When you try to bend life to your will, it is always costly, but when you subscribe to life on life's terms, the subscription is free.

These fans of the Kings willing to bend over backwards have paid a price. Nothing has come free, or easy.

But they also set an example to others in L.A. who are easily diverted by the Dodgers' slopping playoff preparation or wounded by USC's latest failure to finish 13-0.

Kings fans aren't goal-driven, just goal-entertained.

Consider these responses from individual Kings who've commented to our inquiry above at www.insidesocal.com/kings as a reflection of the collective mind-set:

From Cynic: "It's hard to break a 30-year-old habit. . . . There have been a lot of great moments, but the greatest one hasn't arrived yet. The longer it takes, the sweeter it will be when it gets here."

From Naturallawyer: "I have season tickets for the first time because it's the first time that both of the following simultaneously occurred: a) I can afford season tickets (die hards), and b) there is actually a remote chance of the Kings squeaking into the playoffs. Everyone loves (and will pay for) a winner."?

From LB: "I can't afford either (season seats or season-opening seats), but I'll still watch ... because I love the Kings, I love hockey and I love watching them play. I've been a fan for 20 years and plan on being a fan for the rest of my life. ... I wonder if you'd ever ask such a question to Dodgers fans or USC football fans? Not sure why being a Kings fan is so much different."?

There again, a demonstration of gloriously blissful, blessed way Kings fans function among the rest of L.A. sports fan base.

They don't even realize how cool they are.

Everyone else runs up front. You hang back, and have your team's back.

Now, back to reality.