With time running out in the 4th quarter and the Lakers safely in front, I couldn’t help but think about two summers ago; when a Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant demanded a trade and all hell seemed to be breaking loose….
Kobe wanted out, the franchise was in disarray, Mitch Kupchak was being ridiculed and people wondered about the mental health of Dr. Jerry Buss….
Had anyone told me the Lakers would make the finals that same season and then win the NBA championship the following year, I would have called for the guys in the white coats and butterfly nets….
Many also ripped the franchise for the trade of Shaquille O’Neal, which at the time seemed catastrophic….
Since that point, however, the Lakers have pulled one of the biggest turnarounds in sports history and, in my opinion, won the sweetest title in franchise history….
Sure, you could make a great case for the first title, won by the Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich 1971-72 team, because it ended more than a decade of near misses and heartbreak….
And how could we ever forget the 1984-85 team, which closed out the hated Celtics in Boston Garden? As Red Auerbach sat with his arms folded, furious at the thought of losing to the hated Lakers, the purple and gold danced on top of the leprechaun at mid court….
Yes, those were great wins, but last night’s title tops them all. Those other teams were expected to either win or contend for the championship; but considering where this franchise was two summers ago, this is unbelievable….
Maybe the best part of all this is thinking about the Big Moses. He was probably sittting on his couch in Miami, cheering his heart out for Orlando, and most likely devastated….
Nobody, including the Celtics fans and players, were happier to see the Lakers lose last season, so this must rip his heart out….
He was so elated by last season’s Lakers finals loss that he traveled to Los Angeles, leaped onto a nightclub stage and sang “Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.” Some of the verses were “Kobe couldn’t do it without me” and how ridiculous it would be for “Kareem to think he’s better than me.”….
Question: “Shaq, tell me how Kobe’s ass tastes.”….
I got a kick of how gracious the Big Ingrate was when Kobe pointed out that “Shaq would never have won those three titles without me.” You know the Big Krispy wanted to lash out and make a vicious, personal attack; but his desire to return to the Lakers forced him to swallow his pride and not respond….
So the “fake city of L.A,” the “senile motherf*****” Jerry Buss, the “incompetent fool” Mitch Kupchak and all of his “teammates who let me down” can also ask the Big Moses “Shaq, tell me how my ass tastes.”….
And as for him returning to the team? Who the hell needs him?
As for Kobe, he now knocks on the door of some elite company; one of the Top-5 players of all time….
He’d never admit it, but this title without the Big Whiner has to be the sweetest thing he’s ever experienced. As great as he’s been, this validates his career….
This one is his, with him clearly being the best player and leader….
As for the rest of the team, they are young, talented, unselfish, deep, big and set for another two or three titles, at least, over the next five years….
After watching this finals, I think Dr. Buss needs to dig deep and bring back both Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza….
Ariza is a no-brainer, considering his youth and upside, but Odom was a question mark; because he turns 30 next season and has been a career tease….
But he played so well in the playoffs that both of them need to be resigned. Of course, that’s easy for me to say, because it’s not my money. But sign them both, Doc….
And Phil Jackson? He now has to be considered the greatest coach in NBA history. Winning his 10th title surpasses the hated Auerbach and now the Zenmaster stands alone….
Say what you will about having great talent, but he is th ebest I’ve ever seen at getting teams with great talent to buy into his system and play unselfishly….
Oh, what a sweet win and I’m breaking out the bubbly as we speak….
