Sunday night at 9:30est the Lakers and the Celtics will face off in a highly entertaining match up at the Staples Center. The teams are relevant again, it's going to be a whole lot of fun, but this isn’t the playoffs. It’ll be sports entertainment at its pinnacle. Expect brilliant emotion rousing montages of Bird and Magic and the good ‘ole days, followed up by the new look Celtics and reemerging Lakers storming onto the court with the fervor of a German Blitzkrieg through Poland.
Like I said entertaining yes, but just how relevant is it? A rivalry rekindled by two playoff bound teams in December on national television. It’s not relevant to the grand scheme of things at all. It could be though.
I’ve voiced my ire of Kobe before. My gripe is with his off the field antics and the way he allows the media to portray him. Don’t get me wrong though he’s the best scorer in the NBA. He selfishly made demands of the Laker organization, which to their credit didn’t pull the trigger, but now that the pieces he wanted to throw away are working he’s suddenly happy. His cast is lead by Andrew Bynum the 20 year old center, who’s shooting .625 from the floor, averaging a double double, and just rocked Laker nemesis Phoenix for 28 points and 12 rebounds. He has a healthy Lamar Odom and an inspired Derek Fisher, and the team is encompassed by a sturdy bench. All this has lead to a Laker resurgence in the West, which has made Kobe “happy.” That’s great and all, and will provide added entertainment Sunday night, but it still doesn’t make the game relevant.
Kobe has the ability to make it relevant though. He can use the entertainment value of this game, its prime time spotlight, its high ratings, and playoff atmosphere to make a statement. He can grab a mic before introductions and deliver a speech to the crowd that’s impact could rival Lou Gehrig’s. I’ll set the scene and even write his rough draft for him…
The lights dim and a hush falls over the crowd as the PA announces Kobe Bryant would like to make a statement. A lone light engulfs Kobe at center court as he becomes the focus of everyone’s attention. His mood and appearance lack the uproar and raw emotion the hype surrounding the game has infused in everyone else. He seems stoic as if in a state of total clarity. Flash bulbs are popping, the cameras are rolling, and just about everyone is into the suspense of the moment. The mic slowly rises to his lips he looks out amongst the vast darkness of the arena, and addresses the audience…
“Ladies and Gentlemen…fans…team mates…. Laker family. I have something I want you to know, something I want to tell you from the heart. I didn’t want you hearing it through the radio or an interview or any other median, but straight from me. I made some mistakes, in my haste I allowed my competitive behavior and compulsion to win and be the best, overcome my better judgment. I allowed my strengths to become my weaknesses.” He solemnly faces the Laker bench and says, “I complicated matters for Phil, I insulted my team mates, and I undoubtedly estranged my fans….for this I’m sorry.” His eyes widen and his tone changes from sincere to determined, “Now it’s time for me to lead the Lakers as a team unified for one ultimate goal.” The passion in his voice leads to a rising intensity within the crowd as he continues. “We will play aggressive, smart, and above all together and we will strive to return the championship to LA and the entire Laker family!” The crowd cheers the lights come on and the speakers erupt with Sister Sledge’s “We are Family” the crowd erupts into the chorus as the teams meet in center court for the jump ball.
I bet every single person in the audience wakes up the next morning with a hoarse voice. The Lakers lead by Kobe will win a close battle against a road weary C’s team who are playing a back to back. He’ll give himself to his team, incite the Laker faithful, and put to rest all the naysayer’s who claim he’s selfish. He’ll drop the Big Me label and emerge as the Alpha Dog amongst a pack of rabid wolves hungry to win.
Unfortunately for Lakers fans this’ll never happen. Kobe will do nothing to shed the media’s portrayal of him as selfish. He’ll give haphazard interviews and bad locker room sound bytes, and the Celtics will win an over hyped irrelevant game. The Lakers will go on to be bounced early from the playoffs, and rumors and grumblings will emerge from La La land for another year.
Fortunately I’m a Celtics fan….enjoy the game.
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4jwqdH The topic is pretty complicated for a beginner!....