Living in L.A., I’m one of the few who don’t consider myself a Lakers fan. It’s painfully obvious that this city is in need of a complete sports-culture overhaul. When the Clippers are the class act of your city’s sports franchises…c’mon.
I’ve let the dust settle a bit from the embarrassment that took place yesterday in Dallas. So. A prediction. You’re gonna see a long championship drought in this city. I just don’t see teams competing, except for perhaps the Kings, for years to come. The Dodgers? That’s not a stretch. The Dodgers lone golden-boy, Andre Ethier, won’t even be wearing Dodger blue the next time we’re chatting about opening day. The Lakers? What happened on May 8, 2011, was damaging beyond being swept in the Conference Semifinals.
You can lose, and maintain your dignity and respect. You can lose big, and walk off the floor with your head held high. However, you cannot lose like the Lakers did yesterday, and take anything positive from it. It was an embarrassment. If you’re a fan, you don’t even want to talk about it. You can’t place blame–who would you blame? That series was a sunset with storm clouds on the horizon–the introduction to the twilight of Kobe Bryant.
The only thing highlighted within the Lakers play were cheap fouls, and in-fighting. Phil Jackson going chest to chest with Pau Gasol–the post-game announcement that he was more than likely retiring for good from coaching. Those are my memories of this debacle.
Lakers fans–I’ve been kind in listening to the recent rhetoric. You’re not going to score Dwight Howard. Orlando doesn’t want a big money guy in return for Howard. They’ll keep Howard, or they’ll take the cap space. They want young talent that is affordable, not a Gasol, or a Bynum with a Shannon Brown. While I can see Chris Paul interested in playing for the franchise, how many years would he have Kobe at his back? Don’t see CP3 in Los Angeles, either. At least…not in a Lakers uniform.
To add insult to injury–to pour salt in the wound…as other teams are continuing to play, the next thing Lakers fans will have a chance to talk about is Andrew Bynum being fined for his decision to turn his brain off in the 4th quarter of yesterday’s game. Peeling off the jersey? Acting the fool? If you didn’t see it, enjoy the video.
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