The Money Behind The Announcement

The announcement from Jason Collins that he is the first active, openly gay professional athlete has caused a media circus.  Some people have voiced their opposition (like the vile comments from ESPN's Chris Broussard), but most, especially those in the sporting community, have expressed support and gratitude for this brave admission.  It must be an awful feeling to hide who you are for 30+ years, and an exhilarating feeling to finally be free from this burden.  Collins deserves all the praise that is being given.  To come out in a society where homosexuality is still being discriminated against, and to become the face of a movement that hopefully many will follow, is a type of courage that I'll never know.

That being said, there is another angle to look at this historic announcement, that being from the business side.  Because after all, basketball is a business.  There are three entities that have a business interest in this decision: The NBA, one of the 30 NBA teams, and Collins himself.

JASON COLLINS

Collins is a 34 year old center, who has played 12 years in the NBA and is without a team.  He began last year with the Boston Celtics, but was traded as an expiring contract to the Washington Wizards (an expiring contract is a player who is obtained because their contact is about to expire, thus wiping their salary off the obtaining teams books) and is now a free agent.  Collins has never been a great player in the NBA.  He had a wonderful high school career, and was one of the best in the nation in college.  But he came into the league when the center position was going out of style.  He's never averaged more than 7 points in a season, and at 34, is seen as a senior citizen as far as the NBA is concerned.

All of that has now changed with his coming out.  He has put the NBA in an odd position where a team may feel it a necessity to give him a contract despite his age and lack of ability, just to appease the public and support his decision.  While he most likely would have been out of a job a few days ago, Collins may find himself in a bidding war for his services.  This is not to say that his announcement was meant to prolong his career, but it may be a byproduct, and certainly debated by him and his inner circle.  And if so, good for him.  If he can manipulate the system to his benefit that would be wonderful.  After all, the system uses players year in and year out.  Plus, it would be an amazing thing for Collins to serve as a role model on the court for other athletes who are struggling with their identity.

NBA TEAMS

As stated above, most teams didn't have Jason Collins on their radar before Monday.  But now Collins his a massive blip on that radar.  He has become a figure who's reach goes far beyond the sports world.  And with this it opens the league, and more specifically a team, to an entirely new fan base.  This can be immensely lucrative for a team taking a flyer on Collins.  We only need to look back a few years with Tim Tebow to see the effects one transcendent player can have on a team.  Tebow, despite his lack of ability, became a national figure due to his fierce religious beliefs, bringing devout religious individuals to the game of football and his team, the Denver Broncos.  He and the Broncos prospered  due to media attention and memorabilia sales.  There is no question this same thing will happen if a team decides to sign Collins.  And I see no reason why a team wouldn't.  There are 30 teams in the league, and despite what they may say, many know they have no chance to compete for a championship next season.  Because of this there is no question one of these lesser teams will attempt to sign Collins to reap the financial windfall that will come with him.  The endorsements, the jersey sales, and the love of the LGBT community will all come along with Collins.  Many will come to basketball for the first time, and will root for whatever team Collins belongs to.

NBA

The NBA has developed a reputation for inclusion.  They employ every type of athlete: tall, short, white, black, American, foreign, etc.  They even employ female officials, the first professional league to allow this.  But on recent social issues they have a history of being at the forefront.  When Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive in 1991, the NBA stood by him.  Despite questions and criticism by some of their stars, the NBA never wavered, even allowing Johnson to play in that years all star game.  They helped humanize the disease, that up to that point was stigmatized and widely misunderstood.  The NBA backed Johnson through some comeback attempts and helped to educate not only their players, but the public.

Now they are taking on another polarizing social issue, and so far, have been amazing.  They have expressed inclusion in the past when it comes to homosexuality and a zero tolerance when it comes to discrimination, just recently fined superstar Kobe Bryant for using a gay slur directed at an official.  The league has praised Collins for his bravery and I have no doubt they will continue to support him through this process.  They know that they are building a reputation of diversity and acceptance, and with that reputation comes publicity and revenue.  This is not to imply that the league is doing this just for financial gain, but the Collins announcement does benefit their pocketbooks.

From any angle it's viewed, Collins' announcement benefits everyone except for those close minded, intolerant individuals who can't accept change.  And I'm sure there will be whimpering from these people in the days and weeks to come.  But this is an historic event, and I hope that Collins will be allowed to continue this journey next season on an NBA court.  That way he can feel the love and respect from NBA fans around the country every game.  Which is all any person, gay or straight, would want.

Back To The Future?

After a handful of games into the new season, and hoping to keep a star player from leaving, the Lakers decided it was time for a coaching change.  The ownership had a coach in mind, but after that choice balked, they settled on a run and gun coach who hadn't won anything in the NBA.

The year wasn't 2012, but 1981.  The Lakers had had enough of Paul Westhead, and six games into the season, fired him to appease Magic Johnson.  They attempted to bring in Jerry West as coach, but after he refused, hired Pat Riley, who took the team to 4 titles in 7 years.

Sounds familiar, right?

It remains to be seen if the newly hired Mike D'Antoni can recreate the magic that Riley brought to L.A.  But that is what the Buss family is hoping for after negotiations with Phil Jackson broke down over the weekend.

Information continues to trickle out as to what exactly happened over these crazy 3 days, and I'm sure we will never know the whole story.  Here's what we do know:  After 5 games, the Mike Brown experiment was a neon sign of failure.  The Lakers, realizing they needed to change, fired Brown early Friday and immediately began discussions with Phil Jackson to come back (again!) as head coach.  From literally every news source it wasn't an "if" but "when" Jackson would return to the sidelines.  That was until late Sunday, when after winning their third game of the season, the Lakers announced they had hired D'Antoni.

Will this hire usher in "Showtime 2.0"?

So what went wrong?

From what we're hearing Jackson's demands were more than the Lakers were willing to stomach.  He wanted his previous salary (10-15 million a year), say so in personnel decisions, the opportunity to groom his successor (paying forward the triangle offense), travel restrictions for his ailing body, and an ownership stake in the team.  Just looking at this on its face these demands seem beyond outrageous, until you realize IT'S PHIL JACKSON!!!  He is the greatest coach of all time, and last I checked, the Lakers haven't sniffed the finals without him since they magically made the finals in 1991.  Sure he was asking for a lot, but with 11 titles, 5 of those coming in L.A. over the last 12 years, he sure had leverage.  TWICE the Lakers have not only kicked him hard to the curb, but tried to erase all existence of him within the organization.  So who can blame him for wanting some job security, and security after his coaching days are over?  The Lakers willingly gave Magic Johnson a piece of the team after bringing 5 titles to Los Angeles, why not provide that to Phil after his 5 titles?

Personally, I believe the bigger problem is Jackson's relationship with the Buss family (excluding his girlfriend Jeanie, of course).  There is clearly no trust there, and why would Jackson go back to a situation that has ended horribly twice before without having security?  The Buss', not wanting to completely capitulate to Jackson, turned away and immediately hired D'Antoni, which came as a shock to everyone, including Jackson.  This isn't the way you conduct negotiations with a party you truly respect.

The other issue, and one that Los Angeles, and Lakers fans as a whole need to come to terms with, is that this is Jimmy Buss' team now.  I believe that Jerry Buss isn't doing well healthwise, and that is the reason we haven't heard from him in years.  Hearing Jerry sound off on his teams situation, gambling at Hollywood Park or Commerce Casino, or parading around town with his army of 20 year olds has become commonplace around L.A.  But that has been missing lately.  The last I heard anything relating to Jerry Buss he was experience blood clots in his legs.  And that was about 3 years ago.  It seems to me complete control has already been given to Jimmy, and the organization isn't saying anything regarding Jerry purely for public relations purposes.  The name Jerry Buss carries a lot of weight in the city, and if a decision is seen as having his blessing it usually isn't second guessed.  This allows Jimmy to ease into the ownership roll permanently without the foreseeable blowback from the public.  Jimmy doesn't get along with Phil, and the noticeable absence of Jeanie around the team speaks volumes to this.  It's a new ear in Lakerland.  It's time we accept it.

The new boss.  It remains to be seen if he'll be more Jerry Buss than Jerry Jones

But what does all of this mean for the Lakers moving forward?

Of course the main goal is to win, and win now.  But above that their main objective this season is to resign Dwight Howard.  Howard has had well documented feuds with coaches in the past, and like most players in his generation, seems entitled and wants to win right away no matter what.  He publicly endorsed bringing in Jackson, and it remains to be seen how D'Antoni and his philosophy will mesh with Howard's strengths.  D'Antoni will have to alter his run and gun style, as the Lakers don't have young legs or any semblance of a bench to achieve his "7 seconds or less" offense.  He's also not a defensive coach at all, but maybe bringing in Nate McMillan will help with that.  The wild card in this is Steve Nash.  He has a history with D'Antoni, and he will clearly be initiating the offense now that the Princeton offense has mercifully been put to bed.  Will he be able to get everyone the ball, and keep egos happy and in check?  Can he stay healthy once he returns from a broken leg?  Will D'Antoni be able to limit his minutes so he's fresh for the playoffs?

I feel that the D'Antoni decision was a knee jerk hire after walking away from the Jackson negotiations.  The Lakers wanted to appease the fans and contain blowback from failing to hire the one coach that made sense and everyone wanted.  They will try to sell the D'Antoni hire as "Showtime 2.0", waxing nostalgic of the glory days of the 80's.  And maybe they're right.  Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise.  Maybe D'Antoni will break through and have the success Pat Riley did 30 years ago.  But for a franchise starving for a title, things better turn around quick or else Jimmy Buss will be completely exposed.

Jimmy fooled us once with his Mike Brown hire.  But if bypassing the greatest coach in NBA history for another gut hire does not work out, Lakers fans will be much less forgiving.

About Time The Lakers Hit The Panic Button

After winning 1 game in almost 6 months, the Lakers (finally!) fired Mike Brown this morning.  After an 0-8 preseason, a 1-4 start to the regular season, and a mountain of criticism from fans and media alike, the Lakers felt that something needed to change. The backlash from this decision has already begun, with many questioning why the Lakers would hit the "panic" button only 5 games into the season.  With so many new players and a new system, why didn't they give Brown a chance to direct the team and allow them to mesh?  The answer is clear to anyone who has followed this team since the Brown hire.

Let me start by saying that Mike Brown should have never been hired in the first place.  His only previous head coaching stint was with Cleveland, where he became the only person who could actually stop LeBron James.  The amount of minutes he played James was a joke, and it was no wonder that after burning out James on the way to the 2007 finals, they were swept by the more experienced, and better coached, Spurs team.  He was eventually fired by Cleveland in an attempt to appease and keep James in a Cavs uniform (which we all know how that turned out).  Why would the Lakers, the greatest organization in NBA history, take a flyer on such an unimpressive, remedial coach?  We can thank Jimmy Buss for that, as Brown was hand selected by him after his interview supposedly blew Buss away.  He also never consulted the face of the franchise, Kobe Bryant.

This is a sight Lakers fans should have never been exposed to

While not exactly happy, especially with the wealth of coaching talent available, Lakers fans gave him the benefit of the doubt, and waited to see how the season would progress.  It proceeded to go right down the shitter.  The Lakers underachieved all year, failing to come together as a unit, and clearly had no respect for Brown.  Brown seemed content to run the offense and would never make adjustments at any point in a game.  They had no consistent defensive scheme, despite his reputation as a defensive coach.  This became crystal clear after Denver came back to force a game 7 in the opening round of last years playoffs after a REAL coach (George Karl) adjusted to what the Lakers where (or weren't) doing after game 4.  After barely surviving, the Lakers were embarrassed by the Thunder and sent home for the summer.

So why fire him now and not at the end of last season?

The simple reason is money.  The Lakers signed Brown to a 4 year, 18 million dollar deal.  That's a lot of dough.  And with a hall of fame starting lineup coming in with the additions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, the organization wanted to see what he could do with this group.  He was essentially given a stay, but was on a short leash.  And how did Brown respond?  By instituting the Princeton offense (because why would you want one of the greatest PG ever to actually run your offense?), failing to come up with a viable rotation during the preseason, and burying guys like Chris Duhon and Jody Meeks on the bench for no apparent reason.  This would be fine if they were winning, but they weren't.  The Lakers not only have lost 4 of 5, but their offense is atrocious, with guys standing around, no movement, and not running a play until 8 seconds left in the shot clock.  The poor shooting leads to break outs the other way and easy hoops, with absolutely no adjustments.  And the disrespect the players showed Brown was beyond evident.  He had completely lost this team.

But the way they've been playing so far this year is just an extension of how they finished last year; lost.  Lost on offense and defense.  Lost in who is supposed to do what.  Lost in a constantly changing rotation that added no stability to the team.  The Lakers were hoping for something different.  They got more of the same.  And since this was Brown's offense, it put even more of the blame on his shoulders.  Something clearly needed to be done.

This brings me back to the hitting the "panic" button issue.  Like I stated earlier, the Lakers are the greatest organization in NBA history.  Their goal year after year is winning.  The Lakers do not hang banners for winning their division or conference, only championships go to the rafters.  It's this commitment to excellence that has allowed them to reload for generations.  And fans have come to expect nothing less.  If a season ends without a title, that season was failure.  This is that standard the team has set, and this is the standard that us fans hold them to.

The goal each and every year.  Anything less is failure

So when the Lakers are underachieving, have clearly quit on their coach and no progress has been made at all in over a year, are they supposed to cross their fingers and hope for something to magically change?  When the head coach actually says that it'll take until the beginning of the calendar year to "get it together", are Lakers fans supposed to remain patient and content?  You can blame injuries, or new teammates, or a new system, but the same problems that plagued the team last year are still visible this year.  To salvage the season and keep the team together mentally and emotionally, a change had to be made.

Yes, the Lakers hit the "panic" button.  But in doing so they also hit the "reset" button.  And they should be applauded accordingly.

The Lakers Are Ready. But Will Los Angeles Get To See Them Play?

There is a lot to be happy about in Lakerland.  After 2 disappointing playoff exits in a row, Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers front office did what they do best; reload.  They acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash via trade, managed to hold on to Pau Gasol, and bolstered their God awful bench (they still have Mike Brown calling the shots, but I digress).  They have immediately gone from an old, washed up group to a title favorite.  All of this has created an anxious fan base here in Southern California that is foaming at the mouth for the season to start.  The unfortunate thing is the majority of Los Angeles residents may not get to see them play.

For years the Lakers games have been broadcasted on KCAL channel 9 and Fox Sports (or some variation of the channel as it's changed names over the years).  This was advantageous for the Lakers, as they were getting $30 million annually from Fox Sports for the rights to home games, and those fans that did not have a pay television subscription could still see their team play on KCAL.  But like what happens more and more these days, teams are leaving the good of the fans behind and following the big bucks.

As the contract with Fox Sports and KCAL expired at the end of last year, the Lakers were looking at their options.  They flirted with the idea of starting their own Lakers channel, as the Yankees have with YES, and the Dodgers have talk about creating in the past.  Instead, Time Warner Cable swooped in after the exclusive negotiation window had expired with Fox Sports and scooped up the broadcasting rights.  The figures have not been released, but it is rumored to be a 20 year contract valued at $3 billion.

When will Southern California get to see this lineup play?

So what does this mean for the common Lakers fan?

First off, if you are a Time Warner Cable subscriber, nothing will change.  Depending on your package you will get to see every Lakers game just like the past years.  It becomes tricky for the millions of Southern California residents that do not have Time Warner Cable.

For those that do not subscribe to a television provider you are out of luck.  The Lakers will no longer be broadcast on basic cable stations, unless it is a nationally televised game on ABC.  This alienates many low income residents who are no less of Lakers fans then everyone else.  They will either have to subscribe for television services, or take trips to a friends place or local bar in order to watch their team.

For those that do subscribe to a television provider, such as Directv or Dish Network, things become a little more complicated.  These providers are charged a per subscriber fee in order to carry local programing.  Regional sports networks are among the most expensive, averaging about $2.50 a month per subscriber.  These are all negotiable, but there has been no agreement between these providers and Time Warner Cable.

What this means is that unless an agreement can be reached between these providers and Time Warner Cable, Southern California residents will not be able to see their Lakers.  While this seems like a small issue, it is far from it.  Earlier this year in a negotiation standoff, Directv stopped broadcasting Viacom programming until a new agreement was reached.  That meant that Directv subscribers could not see programming from MTV, Comedy Central, BET, etc. for a few weeks (luckily this was not during South Park's season).  Dish Network still has not come to an agreement with AMC, which broadcasts such amazing shows as "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men", denying their subscribers access to this channel.  Even if you subscribe to a package such as "full court" to try to skirt the issue all together, you will still not get to see the Lakers due to local blackout restrictions.

What complicates this even further is that since an agreement was not reached before the summer, it is likely that Time Warner Cable will be looking for a massive payday due to the amazing offseason that was just put together by the Lakers.  They are well aware of the hype, and the backlash that may come if fans are denied access to watch their team.  It is said Time Warner Cable will be looking for $3.50 or more per subscriber, an astronomical figure.  But Dish and Directv may be pushed into a corner, knowing their subscribers, which are over a million in the area, will punish them for not carrying the games, which is exactly what Time Warner is banking on.

Can't we all just get along?

There hasn't been much written about these negotiations, which is somewhat troubling.  There are just 2 months left until the start of the season, and if games begin without a deal, the blowback will be immense.  This is a Lakers town, and life revolves around our team.  If you subscribe to Directv, Dish, Charter Communications or Cox Cable, call them.  Let them know you want a deal done so you can see your Lakers once the season gets underway.

It will be an amazing season no matter what happens on the floor.  I just hope we will all be able to see it.

Kentucky Wins While Basketball Loses

Last night the NCAA men's basketball season came to an end, with the Kentucky Wildcats winning their 8th national championship.  This isn't surprising to anyone who's followed college basketball, as the team Kentucky put together was truly better than any other team this year.  Nor is it surprising, in today's NCAA, that you will never see this specific team again.  That is because the Wildcats will lose 3-5 players to the NBA before graduating in what has become an annual springtime tradition like warmer weather and daylight savings.  This is not a new phenomenon, as players have been leaving early for quite some time.  But what the NCAA and NBA have created is a minor league system that masquerades as college athletics and these players as "student-athletes".  This is a ridiculous setup that belittles educational institutions, alienates fans and prevents young adults from earning a living.

There was a time when very few players chose to leave college after one year, instead choosing to stay, mature, and receive an education.  This all changed in the mid 90's when high school players started skipping college all together to go straight to the NBA.  The success of such players as Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant increased those electing to go straight to the league.  However, the majority of these players faltered greatly under the NBA spotlight, and in response the NBA instituted a rule stating that only a player who had been out of high school for one year and 19 years of age could enter the league.  It is this rule that has created the current atmosphere of college basketball.

Kentucky's coach John Calapari has mastered this "one and done" system.  He has realized that to win now with these parameters in place, it is to his benefit to recruit players who are using college as a stop over to NBA stardom.  He has always been a coach to walk right up to the line (and sometimes crossing it, as this was technically his first final four after his two previous trips, one with UMass in 1996, one with Memphis in 2008, were vacated due to rules violations) but he is honest about his recruiting strategy.  While some may see this as a coach using players to achieve his goal of a national championship, these players are also using him.  Since they can not enter the NBA they use the college forum as a way to gain notoriety and fame, boosting their draft stock and potential for a financial windfall.  While I don't like Calapari in any regard, I find it silly that this past week he has been criticized for his recruiting philosophy while the players and the league that created it get a free pass.  And let's not forget these academic institutions who make millions off of these young men, not giving them a cent, while turing a blind eye to their academics.  They are fully aware of the agreement they enter into with these athletes when they are given scholarships.  You go on the court, perform and bring us money and publicity, and we'll excuse your poor academic performance.  After all, most of these players stop going to class after the basketball season since eligibility isn't an issue, and if you were guaranteed millions in a few months, would you waste your time going to class?

Celebrating the end of college basketball as we know it

Unfortunately this isn't an isolated issue with Calapari and Kentucky, as much as the media would have you believe.  Other storied programs are dealing with this same problem and big name coaches who have been on the job for decades are forced to adjust their recruiting strategies accordingly.  Just this past week we learned that 3 players from North Carolina are leaving early, along with players from Duke, and I'm sure many more in the weeks to come.  While coaches used to recruit for the future, taking players they could develop and build a team they could mold and gel together after numerous seasons, they now have to constantly be looking for the next freshman to step in.  It makes their jobs tremendously more difficult, especially since they never know what player will decide to make the jump, and when.

There is no clearer example than what is happening at UCLA.  UCLA is one of the most storied programs in college athletics, and the most successful mens basketball program in history.  They own 11 national championships, 10 led by the legendary John Wooden, who preached togetherness and build not only strong players, but strong men over the years they played for him.  Ben Howland, the current UCLA head coach, revered Wooden, and matched his style of recruiting and coaching.  In his 8 years as coach he has taken the Bruins to the Tournament 6 times, reaching the Final Four 3 straight years from 2006-2008.  But since then he program has fallen on hard times.  A few months ago Sports Illustrated has a cover story on the problems plaguing the team under Howland.  Certain players were allowed to party, skip practice, injure teammates, and even piss on others clothing while not being held accountable by Howland.  Growing up in Los Angeles and growing up a huge Bruins fan, this clearly is not UCLA basketball.  But what this is is a microcosm of college basketball in the "one and done" era.  In order to compete Howland is forced to recruit knuckleheads like Reeves Nelson and tolerate their bullshit in order to win games.  And in college sports you keep your job by winning games.  He is not able to build a team for the future because the coaches who embrace the one and doners are running ruff-shot over everyone else.  You can't compete in the NCAA these days without recruiting the best players, and in some instances kowtowing to their wants in order to either get them to your school or keep them in your program.  It is a double edged sword; take on these players who are using you as a stepping stone and win, or reject them, try to build a strong team for years and a top notch program of student athletes and lose your job.

Coaches are now forced to recruit thugs like Reeves Nelson in order to stay competitive

The NBA is not fault free in this current situation.  Instituting this rule of being out of high school for a year is a knee jerk reaction and one that is utterly ridiculous.  Putting aside what it does to the college game, they are willfully preventing these adults, and these kids are adults at 18, from earning a living.  If an NBA team wants to take a chance on a high schooler and pay him millions they should be allowed to do so.  These athletes have every right to pursue a living with basketball if they are offered the chance, and for the NBA to prevent and essentially force them into college is absurd.  Does David Stern actually believe that these players are going to embrace the college experience and go to class to further their education?  While some might, the majority are just trying to pass the time before draft day and could care less about class other than doing the minimum to stay eligible.  If a team takes a flyer on a young player and it doesn't work out it's the teams fault.  If a player enters the draft out of high school forgoing collegiate eligibility and isn't drafted, the fault lies with them.  But for an entire league to regulate entry of adults is just wrong.

So what's the solution?  It's actually quite simple, as a system is already in place that has been working just fine, so much so that you may not even realize it exists.  In baseball a player can come right out of high school and declare for the MLB draft.  If they are selected they may have to work their way up through the minor leagues and if everything goes right eventually get to the majors.  However, if a player decides to enter college, they are making a three year commitment to that program and will not be eligible for the MLB draft until after that third year.  This not only gives these athletes the freedom to decide their future, but gives security to a college program that they will have this player to build around for at least three years.  It also gives players that are on the border time to mature and hone their skills to eventually make that jump to the majors, rather than going straight to the draft and fizzle out in the minors.  The NBA does have a minor league, the D-League, so there is really no reason why they couldn't implement the same system.  It's a win-win-win for all parties involved, however the likelihood of the NCAA and NBA coming to an agreement similar to this are next to nothing.  Money drives everything in college athletics, and the millions that are raked in by the NCAA, universities, and the NBA due to the existing system are not going to be rejected for a more logical and moral setup.

It took the likes of Kwame Brown and others to come to the NBA from high school and fail so enormously that caused the NBA to institute it's current rule.  It most likely will take a number of one and doners to fail just as grandly before this rule is altered.  Until that time we are forced to deal and adjust to what we have; a broken system that uses academic institutions as a glorified AAU league and a season long pro day.

The pyramid of success is going the route of the ancient pyramids

So congratulations Kentucky.  You not only won the national championship but have ushered in and solidified the current state of college basketball for years to come.  I'm just glad John Wooden isn't around to see it.

Why We Hate LeBron

Lebron James is in the midst of one of his best statistical years to date.  He is averaging nearly a triple double this season (28-7-9), has his team among the league leaders and are a favorite to win the championship.  Despite this he remains one of the most polarizing figures in sports.  This is somewhat surprising when you consider other athletes become polarizing due to their off court issues (Michael Vick, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant), or because of their athletic ability, or lack thereof (Tim Tebow).  So why is LeBron James so hated when he is seemingly an upstanding citizen who is putting up numbers that we haven't seen in generations?  The answer says a lot about not only who he is but who we, as a sports nation, are as well.

There has never been a more hyped athlete coming into the league quite like LeBron James.  When he was in high school his games were televised nationally by ESPN.  He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.  He received a 9 figure endorsement deal from Nike.  All before ever being drafted. When he was finally selected by his hometown Cavaliers it seemed to play like a Hollywood script; the hometown kid taking the perennial cellar dwellers to the mountain top.  And LeBron and his posse were  well aware of this.  LeBron entered the league at a time when social media was taking off, and was aware from a young age of his image and need to cultivate that image worldwide.  He embraced the attention, making commercial after commercial, and playing up his image as the "next Jordan".  A massive banner was even erected in Cleveland of James in a Christ-like pose with the saying "we are all witnesses".  And for the most part he delivered on the hype.  Cleveland jumped to contender status immediately.  The Cavs made the finals in his third year (getting swept by the Spurs) and he won consecutive MVP awards from 2008-2010.  The team was winning, they were having fun, and the carefully structured image he had created was in top form.  People not only were enamored with his play, but truly liked him as a person. He brought joy and excitement to a city in desperate need of it.  It seemed only a matter of time before he gained the success that seemed ordained to him coming out of high school.  Even with enormous expectations, LeBron seemed to be not only embracing them, but living up to them.  But in the summer of 2010 things took a turn that LeBron and his people should have seen coming, but didn't.

Witnesses to untapped potential

It is well publicized that LeBron has a close knit group that he travels with.  These are not only his friends but his business associates.  They are the ones that advice him and "look out" for him and his interests.  When you are massively successful like LeBron, it is hard to take a step back and look at the big picture and see the ramifications of your actions.  You feel invincible; like everything you touch will turn to gold.  When you have close friends around you at all times advising you, it is also hard to get good, honest direction.  They tend to become "yes men", agreeing with you, scared to go against the grain for fear or being alienated.  When you factor in that all of these guys are in their mid 20's with no real business experience, it is a recipe for disaster.

When ESPN and LeBron's team put together "The Decision" it was doomed to fail.  Using a nationally televised special to announce where you would be signing as a free agent clearly rubbed people the wrong way.  It takes a massive ego to do such a thing, and while the public was aware of LeBron's ego before this, "The Decision" took it to another level.  But he and his advisors saw this as great publicity, and justified it as a charity event benefiting the Boys & Girls Club (how many even remember this?).  How LeBron could not see the perfect storm brewing is a mystery.  Only signing with one place could justify such a classless publicity stunt like this, and that would be resigning with Cleveland.  Instead, he chose Miami.  The entire nation saw Cleveland's favorite son deliver a nut punch to the city of epic proportion.  Fans couldn't understand how he could do such a thing to a city decimated by recession and unemployment in front of a nationally televised audience.  But the NBA is a business, and LeBron had every right to choose where he played.  He was not bound to Cleveland in any way, and the whole point of free agency is to weigh your options and play where you want.  But the way he went about it destroyed his image.  After the backlash of this ridiculous special, LeBron responded like a spoiled kid, playing the victim, not understanding why there was such an outcry.  The arrogance that he showed spoke volumes to the fans who had fell in love with him.  And in acting like an entitled child he pushed many more fans away.  What he didn't realize was all he had to do was apologize for the way he announced his choice, that he should have notified the Cavs prior to his announcement to give them time to rebuild, and show them the respect that they and the fans deserved by thanking them for their love and support while a Cavilier.  But for someone who had been coddled through high school and the pros he hadn't dealt with anything like this before.  He was being criticized for the first time and couldn't cope with the ramifications of his poor decision and became defensive, failing to see how he had harmed so many that believed in him as a player and a person.

Clearly LeBron's actions during his free agency alienated him from many fans.  No matter what he did on the basketball floor could rebuild what he had done in their eyes, as he was now seen as a spoiled brat with an ego as big as his potential.  "The Decision" itself was the first chink in his carefully cultivated persona, but it also transformed the spotlight shown on him into a microscope.  Everything he would do from then on both on and off the court would be scrutinized, and how he responded would shape his legacy and status with fans.

We as sports fans, when we see a specimen like LeBron, understand the potential they possess.  And with that understanding we expect them to excel.  Sometimes they meet our ridiculous expectations and have successful careers.  Others don't and fade away into obscurity or live on as a trivia question.  Whether this is fair or not it is the way sports work.  Athletes understand this, and either embrace it or run from it.  LeBron embraced this fully.  He wanted to be the next great NBA star.  He wanted the attention and to be the "King".  And America, seeing the potential and freakish nature of LeBron's ability, bought into it.  Which is why choosing to play in Miami, with his closest rival Dwayne Wade, didn't make sense to the true NBA fan.  NBA history is filled with rivalries; Russell vs. Chamberlain, Magic vs. Bird, Jordan vs. whomever he thought was slighting him.  None of these players would ever dream of playing with each other.  In fact, all they wanted to do was BEAT the shit out of the other.  Why did LeBron not want to beat Wade instead of joining him?  Wade had already lead the Heat to a title, and the Heat was clearly Wade's team.  Why would LeBron want to be second banana at the prime of his career?  Wasn't he aware that no matter how many titles they won he would never surpass Wade?  But LeBron seemed to be content to playing Robin to Wade's Batman, which baffled everyone outside of South Beach.

Again, the public hoped, and LeBron led us to believe, he was the chosen one, coming to take the NBA to new heights.  But truly great players are great when it is needed most.  They not only want the ball, they NEED the ball when the game is on the line.  They lead their team to victory any way they can, and if they don't, it kills them inside.  They want to win so badly it physically hurts them when they don't that memory drives them to be better.  There are many great players, but few elite players who live up to this status.  LeBron is a great player, one that we may never see again, but despite this massive potential he is not an elite player.  We only need to look to look to this past week as evidence of what kind of player LeBron James truly is.

During the All-Star game last Sunday LeBron was a beast.  He had a mind boggling stat line and led the East back from an enormous deficit to have a chance to win the game.  With seconds left, LeBron had the ball in his hands.  It is situations like this that make great players elite.  What did LeBron do?  He passed to Deron Williams.  When the East got the rebound and the ball made it back to LeBron with the chance at one more shot, he made an awful cross court pass that was intercepted by the West, securing the victory.  There are two things that can be taken away from this.  First off, LeBron did not want to take the shot.  Whether he was shying away from the pressure of the situation, or he was trying to do too much, he was looking to pass and not shoot.  This is not how an elite player acts.  But he has a history of shying away from the pressure, as his no-show performance in last years finals indicate.  He will dominate up until it matters most, at which time he shrinks from the moment.  But what can also be taken away from this situation is the scene of Kobe Bryant barking at LeBron for not taking the last shot.  It was assumed Kobe was talking trash to him for again shying away from taking over.  But Kobe later confirmed that the reason for him taunting LeBron was that Kobe himself, who was guarding LeBron, wanted the challenge of defending the potential game winning shot.  He knew the game was on the line and wanted to influence the outcome himself.  THIS is what an elite player does.  He wants the ball in his hands at the end of games.  He wants to guard the best player on the opposing team.  He does not back down from a challenge, but steps up, regardless of the circumstances.  It is this reason that Kobe is on a whole other level than LeBron, and why Kobe, despite his own issues in the past, is more respected by fans and peers alike for his play.

Kobe trying to teach LeBron what it means to be "elite"

Sunday's Lakers-Heat game was also very telling about LeBron's mentality.  Dwayne Wade had fouled out with 5 minutes left and the Lakers went on to win a huge nationally televised game.  This was the Heat's second consecutive loss after 9 straight wins.  When the game ended and the cameras panned the players, you could see Wade looking out onto the court, dejected, knowing he could have helped his team win had he not fouled out.  You could see this loss hurt him and it truly effected him.  In contrast, LeBron was running around the court, shaking hands and joking with players, coaches and media, with a huge smile on his face.  We want to see our elite players angry when they lose.  We want them to feed off of that and store it away for later.  We do not want to see them running around like everything is okay.  Fans, reasonably or not, take these games seriously, and allow the outcome to effect them.  A win can make an entire day great.  A loss can cause depression.  And when we see someone seemingly not taking a game seriously, we question their motives and their competitive drive.

But truthfully, this is who LeBron is.  He is not the type of player who is in the gym religiously in the offseason working on his game.  He is content with coasting on his pure unprecedented athletic ability and being the fun loving teammate.  It is a mystery as to what type of player LeBron would be if he had that killer instinct and worked on facets of his game that he doesn't have.  Watching him guard Pau Gasol on Sunday in the post was a thing of beauty.  But it brings the question, why does he refuse to develop a post game?  Is there any small forward in the league who could contain LeBron in the post?  Absolutely not.  Nor is there anyone who can stop him from getting to the basket.  Yet he refuses to take advantage of this, instead deferring to Wade and his teammates when they need him most.  It would make sense for us to just accept him for what he is, a great player with freakish ability.  But it pains us to see such potential go to waste.  LeBron has the potential to be one of the greatest to ever play the game, and the fact that he does not want to meet his full potential turns off many fans.  We can't comprehend how he doesn't possess that drive.  This may not be fair, but this is also the image that he has cultivated for the past 8 years.  And when you build yourself up as something that people believe in, and you fail, there will be a backlash.  He wanted people to believe he could be elite.  We saw that he could be elite.  But he isn't.  And that, along with the arrogance and inability to be accountable for his actions is the true reason why we root against LeBron.

THE LEBRON SYSTEM

Think you've gotten as low as you can go?

WRONG!

 Introducing THE LEBRON SYSTEM!

Step 1: FAILURE

This is reached when you are almost to the pinnacle of your profession, before utterly disappearing in the most inopportune times and/or showing up and completely shitting the bed.

Step 2: ISOLATION

This is reached when you block out all objective criticism and surround yourself with "yes" men and others who constantly tell you how wonderful you are.  (This step also requires traveling around with no less then 6 "friends" at all times).

Step 3: SURRENDER

This is reached when you give up and join forces with your closest competition, agreeing to be second in command because you can't handle the pressure of being number 1.

Step 4: ALIENATION

This is reached when you succeed in pushing all colleagues away to the point they speak out against you and former contemporaries praise your rivals while giving you back handed compliments.

Step 5: WHINING

This is reached when no matter how hard you try nobody accepts you, and instead of looking in the mirror, you passive aggressively make everything "your fault".

Step 6: ACCEPTANCE

This is reached when you realize your place in the world.  That you will be wearing the black hat as long as you live, and no matter what you do or say will change this.

Step 7: FAILURE AT FAILURE

This is reached when despite all other failings, you are still given openings and opportunities for success, but fail miserably at those.  This can usually be seen by repeating step 1 on an even bigger stage or negating any positives that happen to pop up by utilizing one of steps 2-5.

By implementing these 7 steps you too can fail to reach your true potential and skate by in your profession with little to no effort.

You're welcome.

For Your Entertainment: The Lake Show vs. Lob City

It was not my intention for my second blog post to again touch on the sports world.   This is not solely a sports related blog, and I don't want to give that impression.  However, my brother and I had the opportunity last night to attend the Clippers game versus the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center.  For those of you who are unaware, this offseason the Clippers, the perennial laughing stock of the NBA, shocked the league by acquiring arguably the best point guard alive in Chris Paul, stealing him away from their Staples co-tenants, the Lakers.  Coupled with other signings, and pairing Paul with the shooting star that is Blake Griffin, "Lob City" was born and the Clippers have become instant title contenders.  But to me attending this game wasn't purely about basketball. It was about experiencing the new Clippers.  The talk around L.A. since the offseason is that the Clippers have overtaken the Lakers as the "it" team in the city.  Sure watching Blake Griffin soar through the air to throw down an ally-oop with his teeth is breathtaking, but I was more interested in the entertainment factor of attending the game. More specifically, how does attending a Clippers game compare in entertainment value (not related to what is happening on the court) to attending a Lakers game.  The following is a breakdown of what was observed in "Lob City", and how it stands up to being part of the Lakers experience.

(Full disclosure: I am a die hard Lakers fan. I have been for as long as I can remember and always will be. This being said, and I hope my previous post was evidence of this, I have no problem being objective and criticizing the teams I love, in this case, the purple and gold.)


PRE-GAME


As we took our seats during warm-ups we were greeted with the blaring of hip-hop music, as is the case with most NBA games these days.  The only difference is that the Clippers have employed the services of a hype man.  For the uninformed, a hype man's essential purpose is to get the crowed excited, in this case for the upcoming game.  They essentially interrupt the music being played to say things like "get ready", "here we go", and other random quotes that really just annoy those listening.  If you'd like an example, just turn on any hip-hop radio station after 9 p.m.  Anyway, DJ Dense (his actual name) carried on until the buzzer sounded, calling out people in the stands, trying his best to create a buzz.  Unfortunately, people seemed more interested in texting and facebook updating.

Like the Clippers, you're normally greeted at a Lakers game with an array of hip-hop, but mixed in is the familiar sound of the L.A. Laker Band, a brass band that has been a mainstay at games forever.  No hype man is needed when you hear a live, horn infused version of Cameo's "Word Up".  Live music creates its own buzz, and to the Lakers credit, have stuck with them for years and years.

EDGE: LAKERS

PRE-GAME MONTAGE

The home team introductions usually are preceded by a highlight infused montage on the Jumbotron of the players to excite the home crowd and get them to a fever pitch before the ball is tipped.  The Clippers are no different.  However, their montage consisted of some highlights from preseason games versus the Lakers and the dunkfest put on by Blake Griffin against the Knicks last season.  This is a clear reminder that despite their offseason acquisitions, they are still the Clippers.

                                                        (Blake Griffin's dunking clinic)


The Lakers introduction is a production.  Sheets are draped from the Jumbotron and highlights from previous championship celebrations, former players, along with current player highlights are displayed in a Hollywood type display.  As a casual fan it is quite the production.  As a Laker fan it is chill inducing.

                                      (If you're not excited after watching this, then just go home)


EDGE: LAKERS

PLAYER INTERACTION

It always interests me in attending games to see how the players interact with each other.  Putting together a team of individuals with different backgrounds and personalities is always difficult, as you never know how they will mesh with one another.  In this regard, the Clippers are a joy to watch.  They all seem to be having a great time, laughing and joking with one another.  And why not?  They are playing a game, and keeping it fun and loose is a great way to approach any such contest.  The rituals that they have prior to game time was also very entertaining to watch.  Chris Paul has to fist bump everyone, including coaches and staff, before tipoff.  Reggie Evans goes down the bench slapping palms with every player.  Mo Williams must slap hands with everyone twice (OCD?) before making his way onto the court.  Even during the game they continue on in this same way.  At one point when Chauncey Billups, an excellent free throw shooter, missed the first of two shots, Mo Williams goes up to him, grabs his hand, and slaps it like a mother scolding a toddler.  This was a hilarious moment, and one that is indicative of the true joy they have playing with each other.

The Lakers approach the games more business oriented.  They take on the view of their leader, Kobe Bryant, who, to put it mildly, is not exactly loose to begin a game.  There are no smiles and no laughing during pre-game.  Kobe's teammates seem to be in fear of upsetting him, and lately this carries onto the floor.

EDGE: CLIPPERS

CHEERLEADERS

Every team in the league now a days employs a troupe of dancers to perform at halftime and during timeouts. The Clippers, being no different, have the "Clippers Spirit", which has to be one of the worst names in all of sports.  While I have watch about 15 minutes of "Dancing with the Stars" thanks to my girlfriend, I don't think that makes me an expert on choreography, so I won't touch that.  But in addition to the "Spirit", the Clippers also trot out a group of tumblers to rah it up and make human pyramids.  Because nothing says NBA entertainment like a pudgy 30 something holding up a petite girl with one hand.

The Lakers, on the other hand, have the "Laker Girls".  Enough said.

EDGE: LAKERS

FANS

Celebrities

As with anything in L.A., it's about being seen.  As such, our NBA franchises are judged by the celebrity fans they attract.  Will the Clippers new found relevency draw A listers to a nationally televised game?  The answer is, not so much.  The Clippers biggest fan is probably Billy Crystal.  He showed up late wearing a very douchey beret, and politely watched the game, nodding every so often when the Clippers did something good.  And as my brother pointed out, he's a Clipper fan and a Yankee fan, so his sports loyalty is obviously a bit confusing.  The other "relevant" Clipper fan is Frankie Muniz.  From what I saw he was not in attendance, but lets be honest, who's seen that guy since his shitty TV show went off the air?  It's entirely possible he was there and has just grown into an awkward looking twink like Macaulay Culkin.  I could have walked by him and not even noticed.  Or maybe he was the one who sold me a beer.  I don't know.  Also gracing Staples Center with their presence was part of the Kardashian clan, Kim, Khloe, and their mom, Kris.  It's hard to determine what drove them to attend and sit courtside, the fact that Lamar Odom was playing (so far he's kept his maiden name) or the fact it was a chance to be seen on national television.  Whatever the reason, I do have to give Khloe some credit.  While the other two where gabbing it up the entire game with other people, Khloe was intently watching the game, cheering on her husband.  I will now go punch myself repeatedly in the face for complimenting a Kardashian.

                                                 (Is this Frankie Muniz's doppelganger?)

Notable Laker fans:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Andy Garcia, Diane Cannon, Denzel Washington, and, of course, Jack.

EDGE: LAKERS

Common

This is where I was most curious to see the change in "Clipper Nation" from last year to this one.  It goes without saying that there would be a large crowd as opposed to the half empty stadium they drew last year.  But how would the fans react?  Has their basketball IQ grown higher?  Would the new bandwagon fans change the crowd dynamic?  As the game began the Clipper fans were very subdued.  It remained eerily quiet throughout, reminiscent of previous years, as one person yelling something could be heard throughout Staples.  A fire was finally lit under their asses after Randy Foye threw a beautiful lob to Blake Griffin who nearly hit his elbow on the rim.  They came back to earth until the time that everyone attending a game is eagerly anticipating:  FREE T-SHIRTS!!!  I never understood the lure of obtaining a shirt plastered with a sponsor that's shitty quality at best.  But man the crowds go crazy.  Even Laker fans.  Although glaringly absent was the weapon of choice for this demonstration, the t-shirt cannon.  Did Chris Paul's contract force Donald Sterling to cut back on this?  Or was it the attorney fees for his ever increasing discrimination lawsuits that caused the team to depend on the strength and accuracy of the arms of the "Clipper Spirit" and the drill team?  The fans did finally get woken up as Dallas made a late run and actually took the lead with 5 seconds left.  They stood and cheered and were into it at that point.  This was a pleasant surprise from previous years, and a good sign of things to come in "Clipper Nation".  They also mercilessly booed the Kardashian's when they were shown on the Jumbotron, the ladies facial expressions clearly showing disdain for the fans and their reaction to their presence.  The Clipper fans will have a small place in my heart for this.

                       (If the name isn't great enough, he's also "that guy" who wears a jersey over a button up shirt)

Laker fans have often been criticized for a wide variety of reasons.  From arriving to games late, to dressing as if you are going to a club or to an award show, Laker games are seen by outsiders as more events then mere sporting events.  People go to be seen rather than root for the Lakers.  While there are some who this holds true, this is overall a false perception.  Laker fans are very knowledgable about the game, and while they are not wild and crazy throughout like those fans in Portland or Oklahoma City, they know circumstances and respond accordingly.  Whether its to boost the team when they are slumping, or chanting "DEFENSE" at the top of their lungs when an important stop in needed, the Laker crowd responds.  Bucking another myth, they stay until the end of the game, thanks in large part to the greatest closer on the planet, Kobe Bryant.  They are always in the game as long as he is breathing, and Laker fans know this.  They are an underrated bunch, but a group that knows their basketball, timing, and place during the game.

EDGE: LAKERS

Clearly, and not surprisingly, the Clippers have a way to go to match the spectacle and show that is put on game in and game out by the Lakers.  The Buss' know that attending a game isn't just about what is on the court, but the entire experience, and cater to this.  The Clippers are learning, like any younger brother, and may get there with time.  But for my money, nothing compares to witnessing the full pageantry of a Lakers game, unless you like watching repetitive high screen and rolls with Blake Griffin catching the ball too far way from the basket (sorry Clipper fans, I couldn't resist).

The Return Of Kobe 2.0

From an outsiders point of view the beginning of this 2011-12 NBA season is going fantastic in Lakerland.  After starting the year with consecutive losses, the Lakers have gone 10-3 since.  Kobe Bryant has been unconscious, leading the league in scoring at 30.8 ppg and asserting himself as (still) the best player alive.  After the aborted Chris Paul trade before the season began the team is prospering better than anyone could have expected.  However, taking a step back, the Lakers, and more specifically Kobe Bryant, appear to be retreading a path that most Laker fans would like to put behind them.

It was only 6 years ago, during the 2005-06 season, that Kobe decided to reinvent himself.  The drama of coexisting with Shaquille O'Neal was behind him, and the Lakers were undoubtably his team.  Playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown, Kobe 2.0 was the Laker offense, and he tailored his game as such.  He stormed out of the gate, logging a string of 40+ point games that was a thing of beauty (he finished the season with an amazing 27 40+ games!) and averaged 35.4 ppg, shooting the ball a mind numbing 2,173 times in 80 games.  This was also the season he dropped 63 on Dallas after just 3 quarters, outscoring the entire Mavericks team by 1, and in January, exploded for 81 against a hapless Toronto team.  Kobe led the Lakers into the playoffs against Phoenix, and thanks to his play, took a 3-1 series lead.  That's when it all fell apart.  Despite Kobe continuing to put up huge numbers the Lakers lost the next two games forcing a game 7 in Phoenix.  It was in that game 7 that Kobe, and his reputation, took a major blow.  Kobe seemingly checked out of the game, refusing to shoot the ball.  The man who put on a scoring clinic the entire season, the man who put the team on his back and brought them within a win of advancing against a strong Suns team, only took 3 shots the second half, scoring 1 point.  That's right, 1 point.  Kobe was mercilessly skewered by the media and fans as a selfish ball hog who picked the most important game of the year to prove a point; without me scoring, and instead deferring to teammates, we have no chance of winning.

This carried on until 2008 when the Lakers hijacked Pau Gasol from Memphis (after numerous Kobe tantrums and trade demands) and Kobe reinvented himself yet again.  He began to trust his teammates, going inside to the twin towers of Gasol and Andrew Bynum.  He'd penetrate the defense early, kicking out to open shooters, all the while seeing how the opposition would be playing him.  By the second half he had the other team exactly where he wanted them, ready to take over if needed.  He was a triple-double threat that entire season, culminating in his first MVP award.  Even though they lost the championship in 6 games to the Celtics, he continued to play unselfishly, winning the next two titles along with Finals MVP honors.  And lets not forget Kobe dragging USA to the gold in 2008 with a team that included superstars such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.  When the game was on the line, it was Kobe time.  It appeared that Kobe 3.0 had finally matured and discovered what Bill Simmons refers to as "the secret" to winning; trusting your supporting cast.

Or so it seemed...

Fast forward to this season.  Kobe is again leading the league in scoring while shooting the ball 25 times on average a game.  His 373 shot attempts through 15 games is over 100 more than Monta Ellis, who has 253 shots.  He is again consistently putting up 40 point games, and most importantly, the Lakers are winning.  But haven't we seen this before?  Aren't these statistics eerily similar to that 2005-06 season?  The only difference is that the Lakers have a far superior team to that one.  Sure Derek Fisher can only hit game winners and couldn't stay in front of a cripple, and Pau Gasol has completely reverted into a soft, emotional mess on the floor, but there is no reason why Kobe should be shooting the way he is and ignoring his teammates.  When he gets the ball the entire team stands around, watching.  Nobody cuts, nobody sets off screens.  They stand and wait for Kobe to do what Kobe does.  And that's shoot the ball.  And shoot the ball.  And shoot the ball.  Whether he is double teamed, trapped, or contested, that shot is most likely going up one way or another.

The person who is most harmed by Kobe's reversion to Kobe 2.0 is Andrew Bynum.  Bynum has emerged as a top center in the league.  If healthy (and we all know that's a big "if") there is no reason he should not average a double double and dominate inside.  Unfortunately, Bynum is dependent upon his guards to pass him the ball, and more importantly, pass him the ball in position down low.  He does not have the luxury of having the ball in his hands to trigger plays such as Bryant does, and when Bryant is putting up shots, it's Bynum's game that suffers.  He's forced to get his points on rebounds and broken plays rather than being the number one option.  Looking to Bynum first not only gets the opposing team in foul trouble, but it opens up the outside for the Lakers shooters, and takes an immense amount of pressure off of Bryant.  It doesn't help that the offense instituted by new head coach Mike Brown appears to be similar to that employed during his Cleveland tenure, which is "give the ball to Kobe(LeBron) and get out of his way".

Kobe Bryant will have a monstrous statistical year, and most likely win the scoring title.  He may even win his second MVP award.  The Lakers will no doubt make the playoffs in the middle of the pack in the west and draw a competitive first round opponent.  However, in Los Angeles we only hang championship banners, and seasons are measured by those banners.  Kobe knows this better than anyone.  He's been through the ups and down with the Lakers, and seemed to have built himself into a model player, both physically and mentally, deferring to his teammates and taking over when the situation calls for it.  But all those lessons seem to have been forgotten during the lockout.  Whether it's the absence of Phil Jackson on the bench or his perception of his supporting cast, until Kobe Bryant rediscovers "the secret" and begins to be that model player again, this year will end being a season to forget.

Again.