What The Public Wants
It seems as though my point of view on Phil Jackson going back to LA has been solicited - and who am I to deny such a request? So, speaking of eating crow...
It is difficult for me to believe that, after saying so many derisive things about Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson can go running back to Los Angeles to coach the Lakers. What happened, Phil? I thought there were so many differences between you and Kobe that you wouldn't go back. Were there no other good job offers? Did Jeannie Buss threaten to wear a chastity belt unless you came back? It's too bad the news of this broke during the playoffs because there should have been a bigger deal made about Phil's change of heart. The supposed "Zenmaster" trashed Bryant in his book and all of the sudden decides (seemingly) that he was wrong all the while and that Staples Center is big enough for both he and Kobe's ego -- and we're supposed to just accept it? I hope the Lakers go 32-50 next season. I hope Kobe scores 40 points a game and the Lakers lose at least 15 games by that many points or more.
When Michael Jordan came here to Washington there was much talk about him sullying his legacy and that his career would lose its luster. I think there is a decent chance that, if the Lakers tank, Jackson's coaching career will lose some luster itself. Critics already point out that he only goes where there are already stars, and that they think he can't win a title without them. What we have in LA now is a star player who has proven already in one season that he cannot carry a team with mediocre players to the playoffs. Let's not forget that, even with the added fire power of Gary Payton and Karl Malone (both aging, but still quality players), Jackson could not get the Lakers back over the hump - instead they just looked over the hill. Now Shaq's gone to Miami, Gary Payton's out east, and Malone's looking for little Mexican girls. All that's left is Bryant, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler and a bunch of Chris Mihms and Chucky Atkinses... not exactly the stuff that championships are made of - a "me first" player and a bunch of "you first" players. Phil Jackson has a commercial for Toyota in which he tells a couple of guys that (paraphrasing) "he who crows loudest eats the most crow." How ironic.
It is difficult for me to believe that, after saying so many derisive things about Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson can go running back to Los Angeles to coach the Lakers. What happened, Phil? I thought there were so many differences between you and Kobe that you wouldn't go back. Were there no other good job offers? Did Jeannie Buss threaten to wear a chastity belt unless you came back? It's too bad the news of this broke during the playoffs because there should have been a bigger deal made about Phil's change of heart. The supposed "Zenmaster" trashed Bryant in his book and all of the sudden decides (seemingly) that he was wrong all the while and that Staples Center is big enough for both he and Kobe's ego -- and we're supposed to just accept it? I hope the Lakers go 32-50 next season. I hope Kobe scores 40 points a game and the Lakers lose at least 15 games by that many points or more.
When Michael Jordan came here to Washington there was much talk about him sullying his legacy and that his career would lose its luster. I think there is a decent chance that, if the Lakers tank, Jackson's coaching career will lose some luster itself. Critics already point out that he only goes where there are already stars, and that they think he can't win a title without them. What we have in LA now is a star player who has proven already in one season that he cannot carry a team with mediocre players to the playoffs. Let's not forget that, even with the added fire power of Gary Payton and Karl Malone (both aging, but still quality players), Jackson could not get the Lakers back over the hump - instead they just looked over the hill. Now Shaq's gone to Miami, Gary Payton's out east, and Malone's looking for little Mexican girls. All that's left is Bryant, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler and a bunch of Chris Mihms and Chucky Atkinses... not exactly the stuff that championships are made of - a "me first" player and a bunch of "you first" players. Phil Jackson has a commercial for Toyota in which he tells a couple of guys that (paraphrasing) "he who crows loudest eats the most crow." How ironic.
posted by I-66 at 10:40 PM
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