After Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections, a survey indicated that 32% of Californians supported Calexit, secession from the United States. Nothing like Brexit, or the support for independence in Catalonia and Scotland, but still a lot of people, almost a third of the 40 million inhabitants of the fifth largest economy in the world, ahead of those of France and the United Kingdom , with a GDP of three and a half billion euros. Reasons? That it is a “different society” like Quebec, that pays more taxes and subsidizes the rest of the country, that in this way it would control its natural resources and immigration, it could have universal medicine and modern public education, it would be more committed to the cause environment and the reduction of carbon emissions… And that since 1876 the vote of its citizens has had no impact on who is elected president. That is decided in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
There are various theories as to whether or not the United States Constitution would allow secession, and one current of opinion holds that the Supreme Court would accept an amendment to that effect if it has the support of at least 55% of the population, is approved by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and 38 of the 50 states ratify it. Later, in that fictional political scenario (possible but extremely unlikely), the governor would ask to join the UN.
California was a republic for 25 days in June 1846, when it was part of Mexico. A group of thirty-three American immigrants seized military control of an area north of San Francisco (what is now Sonoma) and raised the flag with the silhouette of a grizzly bear. It is part of the mystique, so much so that the capital’s soccer team is called the Sacramento Republic. It plays in the United Soccer League (USL), MLS’s younger sister, and last season it reached the cup final.
Sacramento (two and a half million inhabitants) would be the most important city in many states, but in California it lives in the shadow of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland and San José. It is a small television market, and this translates into the power of its sports franchises. MLS is reluctant to admit the Republic to its ranks, and instead of playing against the Galaxy they have to play against the Birmingham Legion, New Mexico United and El Paso Locomotive. And what to say about the Sacramento Kings, sixteen years without reaching the NBA playoffs, a drought that not even that of the Sau swamp!
But droughts end the same as they begin and the Kings (Kings), with a record of 40 wins for 27 losses a month after the end of the regular season, are third in the Western Conference, almost tied with the Memphis Grizzlies and behind the Denver Nuggets. The Golden 1 Center will surely see matches in the month of May, something unusual. Point guards De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, forwards Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes, and center Domantas Sabonis are well-known NBA figures.
The Kings haven’t shined like this since the days of Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic. But Mike Brown, the seventh coach in nine seasons, with experience in the Lakers and who led LeBron James in Cleveland, has assembled a team that prevails over the collective, without a superstar like Durant, Jokic, Doncic, Leonard or Antetokounmpo, entertains , scores a lot and plays at a great pace.
California is a non-independent republic where the Kings rule.
