I'm Happy To Be Wrong
Yes, I expected the Lakers to take this series in
five games. I didn’t give enough credit to the
amazing transforming men in green and their
astounding bench.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I accepted the Lakers as
the hometown team, but I was always uneasy with the
fanatic and frenetic support they received from the
citizenry. I detested Riley’s Gordon Gekko hair and
demeanor, I admired Magic Johnson, but found his
persona cloying, and the air of entitlement that the
team exhibited was off-putting. And I could never get
tickets. The Forum was routinely sold out, even the
nosebleed seats.
When the Clippers hit town in ’84, I became a fan of
the Worst Franchise In Professional Sports. They put
some truly awful teams on the floor in those days
(and in the years since) but they played in the
decrepit Sports Arena. And they were fun to watch, in
a train wreck sort of way. Because the Sports Arena
never sold out, you could buy cheap tickets and move
down to watch great basketball played by their
opponents. True, you had to put up with Billy
Crystal, but you could get in. Now of course, both LA
teams share the Staples Center (though the Lakers, as
the ‘senior tennant’, have much better locker room
facilities than the Clips.)
The Lakers will be back to the finals soon, I’m sure.
Despite the horrendous series that Bryant had, and
the complete lack of bench support, they will return.
I will hate them still.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Boston over the
past few years, and I’d notice that while you could
buy Patriots gear in any store, and Red Sox gear on
any corner, Celtic hats , sweats, tees, and jerseys
were rare to the point of extinction. Some places did
carry the stuff, but it wasn’t on display. You had to
ask for it, as if you were buying pornography or fire
arms. I’m certain that’s changed this year. Good on
ya, Celtics.
Now, these photos, eerily similar:
