I grew up in the era of the great rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. I suffered through Final after Final of Boston trouncing the Lakers, and I reveled in the Lakers first triumph which led to their dynastic ascendancy and the fading into obscurity and (deserved) shame of the Celtics. Thus, it is with great shock and heavy heart that I say…

Go, Boston!!!!

 
I can’t believe I said that. I hope all my friends still back in L.A. don’t disown me for it. But I have reasons. Yes, I do.

I hate Kobe Bryant. I don’t want the punk to ever get another championship ring, but especially not with the Lakers. For all the talk of how much he has “changed” this year and become a team player, he is still a petulant, self-important brat who thinks the team he plays for is the L.A. Kobes. I will never understand why the team owner and management thought him so important they shuddered at his every threat and kowtowed to his every whim. Sure, he is a fine individual player, but this ain’t tiddly-winks!

Since dumping Shaq by Bryant royal decree, the Lakers have been nowhere near the championship. That’s the way it should be. I hate that they’ve gotten this far. I hate they are close enough for Kobe to be out getting his ring finger sized. (When he walked into the jewelry store, the owner said, “Oooo, another affair, Mr. Bryant?”) I hate that they ended up playing Boston. And for all the myriad reasons I hate Kobe Bryant I think the most damning and egregious of all is that the bastard made me root for the Boston Celtics.

First I move from Los Angeles. Then I cheer on the Celtics to defeat the Lakers. What’s next, buying a skybox at Yankee Stadium?

Damn you, Kobe. Damn you and the spineless corporate honchos you rode in on.

Posted: June 9th, 2008 under Basketball, Sports.
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