Purple Reign

PROLOGUE

Lee Evans dropped the ball that would've
sent the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVI.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Rob Carr/Getty Images)

A little over a year ago, the Baltimore Ravens were seconds away from going to the Super Bowl. Joe Flacco played arguably the best game of his career. He outplayed Tom Brady on his own field in a game to go to the Super Bowl. However, it didn't matter. With 27 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Flacco put the game winning touchdown right on the hands of Lee Evans, and he dropped it. Billy Cundiff then missed a 32 yard chip-shot field goal that would've sent the game to overtime. And thus began months of questions and heartache. What could've been? What should've been? [If not for a soft-minded receiver and a "Goat" named Billy]. After that happened, I didn't watch ESPN, NFL Network, or any other football related program for two weeks. This was the worst thing that I had ever experienced in my life as a sports fan. [Worse than Mariano Rivera blowing a save in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Worse than the Yankees blowing a 3-0 series lead to Boston in 2004. Worse than Chelsea in 2008 Champions League Final. Worse than Chelsea getting completely screwed over by the ref against Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League Semifinal. Worse than the Ravens blowing a 21-7 lead against Pittsburgh in the 2010 Playoffs]. You name it, nothing was worse than this. This was a game where everything was on-the-line. Many people [including myself] thought that this may have been our last chance for a while. It might have been it for us, that's why it was so devastating. Ed Reed on the other hand, did not upset at all. After the game, he was singing in the locker room, celebrating, because he knew it was this team's destiny to go to New Orleans the next year. Ray Lewis addressed the team: "It ain't about one play, it ain't about nothing. This year, we did what we were supposed to do. We fought as a team. We gotta come back and go to work to make sure we finish it next time. That's all we gotta do."

CHAPTER I: THE BEGINNING

Former owner, Art Modell passed away before the season.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Larry French/Getty Images)

The 2012 season started off with more relief than excitement [it was more about getting the season started and moving past what happened in January, rather than the excitement of potentially having a great season]. The Ravens released Lee Evans in the offseason, and brought-in receiver Jacoby Jones [Who ironically got ran out of Houston for fumbling a punt return in the 2011 AFC Divisional against the Ravens]. Corey Graham, a special teams player was also brought in, as well as safety James Ihedigbo. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw, o-lineman Kelechi Osemele, and running back Bernard Pierce [a controversial pick] were all drafted by the Ravens. In typical Ravens fashion, the front office didn't make a knee-jerk decision regarding Cundiff. They decided to bring Cundiff back, but he would have competition. Undrafted rookie free agent kicker Justin Tucker was brought in to compete with him. [Surely, Cundiff couldn't get beat out by a rookie. Right?] Thankfully, Tucker won the job. Right before the season former owner Art Modell passed away. [The man that brought football back to Baltimore]. The team dedicated the season to him, as they should have. There's no Ravens without Art Modell. His name was seen  clearly all year long with a patch on the Ravens, just simply "Art". In Week 1, Baltimore destroyed Cincinnati 44-13, with Ed Reed scoring a touchdown on a pick six. The NFL was going through a lockout with its referees, so we were subjected to complete and utter ineptitude, confusion, embarrassment, and just plain ole bulls***. In Week 2 we got a taste of that when Jacoby Jones was called for offensive pass interference [when it was pretty clear that it wasn't]. Jones' touchdown was taken off the board and the Ravens ended up losing to the Eagles. Tragedy hit in Week 3. Receiver Torrey Smith's brother died in a

Torrey Smith played with a heavy heart in Week 3.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Rob Carr/Getty Images)

 motorcycle accident, hours later Smith was playing a football game. And not only did he play in the game, he caught six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. For Torrey to play in that game after everything he had been through, it took amazing courage and resolve [something I probably would not have been able to do]. This was the first time the Ravens played the Patriots since the AFC Championship Game, but unfortunately for New England Billy Cundiff wasn't kicking for Baltimore. Justin Tucker hit the game winning field goal. That was a big win for this team, although it could not be labeled as "revenge" because it was a regular season game in Week 3. After beating the Browns and Chiefs in consecutive weeks, the Ravens faced the Cowboys at home in Week 6. It was game where the defense gave up 227 yards [the most in franchise history]. It was the worst that defense had played in a while, but thanks to Jacoby Jones 108 yard kickoff return and a missed field goal by Cowboys kicker, Dan Bailey in the final seconds the Ravens escaped with a win. However, they did not escape injury. Injuries to very important players. Season-ending injuries, at that. Cornerback Lardarius Webb tore his ACL and linebacker Ray Lewis tore his triceps. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata also sustained a knee injury in the game. [Great, just great. A defense that already was porous just lost two of their best players]. The Ravens would put Webb and Lewis on injured reserve later that week. Lewis however, was placed on IR with the designated to return label. [But we couldn't possibly see him again this season? Nah]. The next week in Houston we witnessed a bloodbath. A game where offensive ineptitude reigned, but a game where Terrell Suggs made his first start of the season after tearing his achilles in the offseason. Sizzle was the only bright spot for the team. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's terrible playcalling had the Texans defense licking their chops. Flacco had the worst game of his career statistically [21-43, 2 picks, 0.3 QBR]. It appeared that Cameron was allergic to running the ball, and almost every short yardage situation was a throw. The game would end in a 30 point loss [and after that game, I was just thinking: "Thank God it's the bye week].

CHAPTER II: THE STRUGGLE

John Harbaugh nearly lost his team after the Houston game.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

During the next practice coach John Harbaugh announced to his team that there would be a full-padded practice. That decision nearly led to revolt against Harbaugh. The veterans weren't too happy about it, and feelings were made known in a team meeting. Many coaches would've taken the "my way or the highway" approach to a situation like that, but not John Harbaugh. He basically made it an open forum for players to get across what they wanted, what he wanted, and they ended up meeting halfway. After that meeting, Harbaugh earned the respect of his veteran leaders [some would argue that he never fully had it before this point]. That probably was the turning point for the Ravens in terms of off-the-field. After the loss against the Texans, many "experts" proclaimed the Ravens as "done". Even though this was a 5-2 team with games upcoming against the Browns, Raiders, and Chargers. After the bye week, Baltimore won three games in a row. They defeated Cleveland 25-15, destroyed Oakland 55-20, and took care of the hated Steelers 13-10. A trip out to San Diego [a place where they've struggled historically] was looming. This was a different Chargers team though, this was a baaddd Chargers team. The Ravens offense was pretty much ineffective until the 4th quarter. Down 13-3

"4th & 29" is a play that will never be forgotten.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Donald Mirlle/Getty Images

with 7:51 left Flacco lead his team downfield in a drive that ended with a Dennis Pitta touchdown. Now down 13-10, Baltimore then would get the stop it needed by their defense. On the next drive the game came down to a 4th and 29 with 1:59 left. Flacco got the snap and nobody was open downfield, so he checked down to Ray Rice. [At this point I'm thinking: "Game Over"]. Then Rice cut back across the field escaping 8 Chargers defenders, with an incredible block from Anquan Boldin to get the first down. ["DID THAT JUST HAPPEN???? OH MY GOD"]. Yep, it happened. The Ravens tied the game with a Justin Tucker field goal, sending it to overtime and won it. That was a critical game in the season, because they had five potential playoff teams left on their schedule [in other words: losing that game probably would've caused us to miss the playoffs]. A lot of credit should've went to Boldin. Rice doesn't get that first down without that spectacular block. That play embodied what this team was all about [belief, grit, desire, toughness, clutchness, any other adjective you can come up with]. It was nothing short of miraculous, even if it was against a bum team, it was a game they absolutely had to have. So came December, and with that the Ravens problems didn't go away. The Ravens lost at home to the Charlie Batch-led Steelers. [A loss that snapped a 15-game home winning streak]. In Week 14, the Ravens faced Robert Griffin III and the Redskins. They knocked RG3 out of the game [but it didn't matter, Chris Johnson was playing in the secondary]. Kirk Cousins came in the game and hit Pierre Garcon for a TD. [Chris Johnson's fault]. Then he run for a two-point conversion. Ed Reed said "We knew it was coming" [-_____-]. The Ravens lost the game in overtime, and the next morning Cam

Cam Cameron's firing made everyone breathe a little easier.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Cameron was fired ["O HAPPY DAY!!!!!"]. The firing had very little to do with what happened in that game, it was something that had been building for years. Even this season. [Remember that October meeting between Harbaugh and the players?] Cameron's name was brought up by players in that meeting. The topic of the no-huddle offense came up. Why didn't we see more of it? Why can't he free Joe Flacco? Why was Ray Rice constantly being underutilized? [Why does this dumbass think it's a good idea to always throw in short yardage situations?]. It's hard to imagine Cam being fired if we won that game, so in a way Chris Johnson playing that day probably wasn't a bad thing. Jim Caldwell was named Cameron's replacement. His first assignment was against an all too familiar guy. The Ravens played Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Week 15. Caldwell really didn't have a lot of time to implement what he wanted to do after just receiving the news on that Monday. [And it showed in the game Sunday]. The defense played pretty well considering they were missing Bernard Pollard. Joe Flacco turned the ball over twice [including throwing the worst interception I've ever seen in my life]. In the redzone with a chance to make it 10-7 game, Joe completely misread and Chris Harris returned it 98 yards the other way ["YOU IDIOT!!!"]. At that point, it's 17-0, say goodnight this game is over. However, the Ravens would clinch a playoff berth later in the day thanks to the Cowboys beating the Steelers. [Only time I ever rooted for the Cowboys. Thanks for coming through]. The next week, the Ravens faced the Giants. This game was the complete opposite. [It was everything that we expected and more].  Flacco

Bernard Pierce really flourished for the Ravens.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

had plenty of time, he was comfortable in the pocket, and more importantly he was comfortable with Caldwell. Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce both had over 100 yards rushing. Pierce had a 78 yard run [and this was widely regarded as his coming out party]. Baltimore cruised to a 33-14 win, clinching the AFC North Division title for the second year in a row. The final game of the regular season was a meaningless game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens were locked into the 4 seed, so they essentially had nothing to play for. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice only played one series. Then it was the Tyrod Taylor show [15-25, 149 yds and a rushing td. Not bad for the former Hokie]. It wild regular season, but the Ravens ultimately finished with a 10-6 record, and a division title.

CHAPTER III: THE MIRACULOUS POSTSEASON RUN

Ray Lewis announced that this would be his "last ride".
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Ravens first opponent in the playoffs was a team they'd never beaten in the postseason [the Colts]. They had rookie Andrew Luck, who had a remarkable season. But the Ravens had Ray Lewis coming back, and on that Wednesday he dropped a bombshell on the football world. "I talked to my team today" Lewis said, "Everything that starts has an end. For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride." Ray Lewis [my favorite athlete of all time] was retiring. Not only was Ray ready to go, but he knew that this team needed a spark. This team lacked a killer instinct too many times during the season. There's no doubt that Lewis' announcement saddened every Ravens fan [there could only be one happy ending to this story. Only one: Unless Ray Lewis was holding that Lombardi Trophy up on February 3rd in New Orleans. That was the only way this story could end well]. That Sunday against the Colts would be Ray Lewis' last game in Baltimore [and it was an emotional one]. Ray came out of the tunnel for the final time at M&T Bank Stadium, and did his signature squirrel dance. With all the emotion in that stadium, and all the fan support, there was no way the Ravens would be denied that day. Joe Flacco was phenomenal, 12-23 throwing for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. Anquan Boldin caught one of those touchdowns and set a franchise record 145 receiving yards. The Ravens offensive line was so inconsistent all season, but because of a toe injury to guard Jah Reid, the o-line got shuffled before the game. Kelechi Osemele was moved to that guard spot [where he felt more comfortable at]. Michael Oher was moved to right tackle [which is his natural position], and Bryant McKinnie [who had been in Harbaugh's doghouse all season] was inserted into the starting lineup at left tackle. That toe injury by Reid would prove

Anquan Boldin put the game away with this touchdown.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

 to be another crucial moment for this team, as this was undoubtedly the Ravens best offensive line. Bernard Pierce ended up rushing for over 100 yards. The defense balled out as well. Paul Kruger had a sack-fumble, Cary Williams had an interception, and Ray Lewis led the team with 13 tackles. John Harbaugh sent Lewis back on the field for the final play at fullback, and he did his dance for the last time. It was an unforgettable day in the history of Baltimore sports. [It was Charm City's last time to say goodbye to their hero]. Next up, was a trip to Denver. A place that was "impossible" for them to win at. The whole week leading up to game, we had to hear all about how we had no chance [we were 9 point underdogs]. The game still had to be played on the field though. It would be one of the coldest games in the history of the league. Baltimore's special teams [which had been so great all year] had their worst game all season, allowing a punt return and a kickoff return for a touchdown, both from Trindon Holliday. The Ravens defense was solid, Corey Graham got a pick-six and a game-clinching interception later, Cary Williams was great in coverage for most of the game, and Manning never threw in Ed Reed's direction [Scared hahaha]. The offense was pretty good too,  the offensive line held off the number two ranked defense in the league [and only allowed 1 sack]. Torrey Smith burned Champ Bailey all game long, catching three passes for 98 yards and two td's [should've been four, Joe missed him for two more]. Ray Rice rushed for 131 yards

What Torrey Smith did to Champ Bailey in this game should be illegal.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

on 30 carries, and had a touchdown. The game went back and forth, and in the 4th quarter the Ravens were down by seven points with seven minutes left in the game. The offensive line committed it's first penalty of the game, a false start [and it wasn't on Michael Oher. Unbelievable]. Kelechi Osemele costed the Ravens five yards. With a little over three minutes left and facing a 3rd & 5, Flacco threw to Jacoby Jones for the first down, and he dropped it. [This was all too familiar. I was thinking "It was happening again". Flacco was doing everything right but his receivers were letting him down.] 4th & 5, perfect throw to Dennis Pitta, drops it, turnover on downs ["it happened again. His guys let him down. He outplayed Peyton Manning in a game that nobody said they even had a chance in, and his receivers folded. AGAIN."] Surely the game was over at that point, one first down from Denver was going to end our season, and Ray Lewis' career. After Denver converted a third down, the Ravens were out of timeouts. However, they got got three stops thanks to Ray Lewis and Ma'ake Kemoeatu. ["We got a second chance. We're still in it"]. Joe Flacco and the offense got the ball back with 1:09 left, and what happened on this drive would truly turn out to be legendary. Flacco's first throw to Pitta was incomplete, stopping the clock. Flacco would scramble on the next play for 7 yards ["Ok, that's the best you can do? The clock's still running!!"]. It was 3rd & 3, and there was 43 seconds on the clock from their own 30 yard line. Flacco stepped up in the pocket and launched a 50 yard bomb on a rope to Jacoby Jones. ["UNBEF******LIEVABLE!!!! IT'S A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN'T SCRIPT THIS S***!!!!!!!!!!!!].

Jacoby Jones will forever be a legend in Baltimore for this play.
(Photo Credit: ESPN.com/Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)

Jacoby then ran 20 yards, and as he crossed the goaline he blew a kiss to the Denver fans. It was a 70 yard miracle. I was running through my house literally in excitement and shock at the same time. Unlike anything I had ever witnessed or experienced as a fan before. This team was done, [literally] and they found a way to overcome adversity again. Jacoby Jones made up for his drop earlier, he went from goat to legend in just minutes. Broncos safety, Rahim Moore let Jones [the fastest guy on the field] get behind him. It appeared that he underestimated Joe Flacco [like everybody does]. Moore didn't expected Flacco to get the ball behind him, it's pretty obvious because he was trying to intercept it. Joe had silenced his doubters once again. The Broncos got the ball back, took a knee and we went to overtime. Jim Caldwell's playcalling in the overtime period was very vanilla [too vanilla], it actually ended up putting the Ravens in terrible field position. Another great moment from Joe Flacco came though, after a delay of game penalty it was 3rd & 13 from the shadow of his own goaline. He stepped up and delivered a 24 yard ball to Dennis Pitta for a first down. You could argue that it was the play of the game. [If the Ravens don't get that first down, they're punting from their own 3 yard line and Denver's winning that game]. The field position was flipped when Sam Koch boomed a 52-yard punt to the Denver 7 yard line, and Jimmy Smith [Yes, Jimmy Smith] made a huge tackle to keep Holliday from picking up any yards. On that drive [as mentioned earlier], Corey Graham picked off Peyton Manning, and it led to Justin Tucker's game winning field goal from 47 yards in double overtime. The Ravens had just pulled off one of the most improbable victories in NFL History. Nobody gave them a shot, and after this game it was plain as day: [This was a team of destiny]. There was no doubt about it. The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans to set up a rematch of the AFC Championship Game from last year. [Now when that happened, you couldn't help but think: "It has to be this way". The Ravens have to go back to Foxborough, they have to take this road. It's only appropriate]. In sports, rarely do you get a chance at redemption, a second chance, a chance to right a wrong, it just doesn't happen often. The same place where they endured so much heartbreak a year

The Ravens believed it was their destiny to go back to Foxborough.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

earlier? Baltimore was nine point underdogs once again [yes, even after the beat the highly regarded best team in the playoffs], but this Ravens team thrived under that role. They reveled in it. The questions were obvious: Could Joe Flacco really outplay Tom Brady on that stage again? Could the o-line contain Vince Wilfork? Could the defense come up big again? The answer to all of those questions was Yes. The Ravens handled New England, and pulled away in the second half. The defense shutout the Patriots, Bernard Pollard forced a fumble of Patriots running back Stevan Ridley. Dannell Ellerbe and Cary Williams capped off the game with interceptions. Behind Jim Caldwell's outstanding playcalling, Joe Flacco moved the ball downfield with relative ease, and the offensive line was stunning once again. Vince Wilfork's name was not called one time during that game, he only had one tackle. Anquan Boldin came up huge once again with two highlight touchdown catches. The Ravens finished. They did exactly what Ray Lewis said after last year's championship game. Ed Reed's belief came to fruition, he was going to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. Joe Flacco was spectacular again against Tom Brady.

It Had to Be Done

The Los Angeles Lakers fired Mike Brown after a 1-4 start to the season.
(Photo Credit: ESPN.com)

On Thursday Lakers Executive VP, Jim Buss gave Head Coach, Mike Brown a "vote of confidence". Hours later Brown was fired. [Now if that's not a sign that the "vote of confidence" is the kiss of death, I don't know what is]. But let's explore this. Was this was the right move? Yes. Was it done at the right time? Absolutely. Yes, it was only after five games, but a five game stretch that saw the Lakers fall to the worst record in the Western Conference. With or without Steve Nash, a team that has Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol shouldn't be losing by double digits to teams like Dallas, Portland, and Utah. It was pretty clear that the team was thinking too much, they weren't adjusting to this new system. Why? Maybe because it was never an ideal fit for them in the first place. Mike Brown's installment of the Princeton offense made no real sense to begin with. [An offense not tailor made for the Lakers personnel. An offense that took the ball out of one the Lakers most crucial assets. An offense that only made the Lakers look old and boring]. Instead of just deciding to run a traditional pick and roll offense where your point guard can do his thing, he wanted to make things harder than they needed to be. The Princeton offense was essentially created for teams with little talent, no athletes, and guys that can't create their own shot. [We all know that doesn't describe the Lakers]. The Lakers upgraded the reserve unit in the offseason by adding Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks. Both very good players. Add them to Jordan Hill and Chris Duhon, who they also acquired in the Dwight Howard trade, this is a solid NBA bench. Now is it a great bench? [Hell no] But it's not one of the worst in the league. [However, Mike Brown sure made it look that way]. Refusing to play Jodie Meeks and playing Darius Morris instead. Playing Antawn Jamison at the three instead of the four [allowing for further defensive ineptitude]. This bench doesn't have a bunch of world beaters on it, but I refuse to believe it's that bad. [It's not last year's bench, that's for damn sure]. Mike Brown is the kind of person that you want to root for. He's extremely kind and works very hard, but in this business too much of either can lead to your demise. Known for his long practices and his overcautiousness. Brown was not dealt the easiest hand when he first took the job. [Following Phil Jackson. Going into a lockout shortened season. Not having a training camp. Getting the CP3 deal killed and losing Pau Gasol emotionally pretty much for an entire season]. In his first year Brown wanted to make it a point that he would keep Kobe Bryant's minutes down. [Did he? No]. He appeared never to have the respect of his players. The players respected his work ethic and his dedication, they just never respected his basketball intelligence. They laughed at the notion of him putting starters back on the floor in a game that was clearly never in danger

Mike Brown never really gained the respect of his players.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

of being lost. Brown had assistant coaches drawing up plays in huddles, he continued to foul around with his rotations, constantly changing his mind. But most importantly, he was a defensive guru whose defense never came through. The Lakers were middle of the pack in defense in Brown's first season, despite dedicating most of the little practice time they had to defense. This season the Lakers ranked bottom ten in the league in four crucial areas including turnovers. [Which is also a product of the team struggling offensively]. Jim Buss hired Brown because of his defensive prowess, which quite frankly never lived up to the hype. Heat Forward, LeBron James was asked about Brown's firing and said: "I don't think he got a fair shake." I found his comments quite comical considering he's basically the reason why Mike Brown was available for the Lakers to hire in the first place. He's the one that got Brown fired from his job in Cleveland before stabbing the Cavaliers organization and millions of their fans in the heart. It was pretty obvious that they let Brown go because they thought that would give them a better hope of retaining James. Mike had a lot of issues with the Cavs. [No offensive imagination, long practices, spotty defense, inability to draw up plays]. Those issues that Brown had in Cleveland were a warning sign to every Laker fan from the day that he was hired in LA. [Pretty much why the hiring of Brown was rebuked by many]. And not surprisingly, those issues pretty much came to fruition at one point or another with the Lakers. You can't look at Brown's tenure in LA as just five games. This was a season plus five games. The team's struggles in the 2012 postseason [where Mike Brown was conceivably minutes away from losing his job in Game 7 of the 1st round vs. Denver], combined with how horrific the team performed in this preseason against the likes of the Sacramento Kings. It might not have been "fair" to fire Brown after five games with new roster additions that were still getting acclimated, but would it have been "fair" to let this team continue to spiral downward when it was obvious that the plan wasn't working? [When would have been an appropriate time to make a change? When the team is 10 or 15 games under .500?]. Nah, that's not how the Lakers operate. This wasn't a panic move by the Lakers, it was just the opposite. It was a proactive move. Like Mitch Kupchak said, could Mike have turned it around? Maybe. But could you really afford to throw away multiple games to find out if that was going to happen or not? Mike Brown will get another head coaching job in the NBA, because he is a very smart guy and he does his homework. However, gone are the days of him leading a team with any real expectations. Brown is not capable of leading a team with a superstar on it. He'll never get a job for a team that has a superstar or is in championship contention. Whether it's deemed "fair" or not, his legacy will always be remembered as the guy that had two of the best players ever and couldn't win a championship with either of them. He's Del Harris [couldn't win with Kobe and Shaq]. That's just what he is. A tailor made assistant, a video coordinator, a perfect head coach for a small market team with no great talent or expectations. Now the Lakers must move on. The post Mike Brown era started off pretty well with a 101-77 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Bernie Bickerstaff was named the interim head coach. The bench scored 37 points after just scoring a season high of 17 [not counting the Detroit game]. There wasn't any bit of Princeton being run on Friday night and guess what? The Lakers weren't thinking, they weren't turning the ball over, they weren't boring and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. They were just playing basketball. Now obviously that was a game that the Lakers didn't really plan for, but you get the point. At the end of the day basketball is a very simple game, and because Mike Brown over thought and tried to make things more complex, it costed him his job. Who is going to be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers? Ideally it

It's more than likely this man will be coaching the Lakers again.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

would be Phil Jackson. Why not come back and go out the right way? [getting swept in the second round is not the way it was meant for Phil to go out]. Multiple sources indicate that he wants this job. In fact he met with Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss on Saturday. Mike D'Antoni is another option [we'll have to call him 'Antoni tho, because "D" isn't associated with him]. This would certainly be a fun team to watch under him. You've also got a few other
 options [Nate McMillan, Mike Dunleavy, Jerry Sloan], but not likely. This job is going to come down to Jackson and D'Antoni. [Of course I want Phil, because he's Phil]. I'm not a huge fan of Mike D'Antoni because of his allergy to defense. You're not winning a championship playing that kind of basketball. Remember all those great Phoenix Suns teams? [Man were they fun to watch, but they could never get out of the West. Why? Because they couldn't get enough stops]. This current Laker team does not have the shooters that D'Antoni had in Phoenix or New York for that matter. We're familiar with Phil, we know what to expect from him, we know that he'll command respect in the locker room. There have been questions about his desire to coach. [I don't think Phil has to be talked into taking this job]. He's already said that he would love to coach Dwight Howard, and Dwight Howard has said he wants Phil for a coach. We all know how much Kobe wants him back, Pau too. It's a perfect match for everyone involved. Phil is the perfect coach for the win now situation, and the Lakers must win now. They don't have time to waste, that's why they had to let Mike Brown go. They still have to sign Dwight Howard long-term, Kobe Bryant has two years left, Steve Nash will be 39 in February. We don't have time to waste, and deal with complex and head-spinning basketball decisions. I'm going to predict that the Lakers will have a new coach in place by Tuesday and whoever that is, just expect things to come a lot more easier for this team, unlike the Mike Brown era.

Ravens Must Re-establish Their Offensive Identity

Terrell Suggs was the Ravens bright spot on defense.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

5-2. That's the Baltimore Ravens record going into their bye week. Pretty good record. However, they've shown their problems. The Ravens defense has been a shell of its former self, ranking in the bottom five of the league. They have continued to show their inability to get off the field, showing their complete putridness against the run [allowing over 200 yards rushing to Kansas City and Dallas]. Losing Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb certainly didn't help, as evident in their 43-13 [bloodbath] loss to Houston. Terrell Suggs played in his first game of the season after rupturing his achilles [but you would've never known that he was coming back from an injury]. Suggs was the brightest spot on the team, he was all over the field, recorded a sack [and should've had 2 more]. But again, the Ravens inability to hold would prove to be big, despite getting three consecutive three and outs to begin the game. [And now is the part where I destroy the offense]. The Ravens are a terrible defensive football team [we know this]. What is a team supposed to do when their defense is struggling mightily and can't get out of their own way? YOU RUN THE FOOTBALL!!!! It only makes sense, because you have the best running back in the game. Ray Rice had nine carries for 42 yards, while Joe Flacco had maybe the worst performance of his career. Flacco was 21/43 throwing with two picks and a total QBR rating of 0.3. But for as bad as he was, he can't be completely blamed for this performance. The arrogant, stubborn, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is yet again our culprit. Below is a list of the Ravens first quarter possessions against the Texans. These are specific plays that I believe Ray Rice should've had the ball in his hand for:

_________________________________________________________________________________

Ravens First Quarter Offensive Plays [Where Rice Should've Gotten The Call]

1st Possession: 

• 2nd & 5 from HOU 33: Pass to Smith. Incomplete.
• 3rd & 5 from HOU 33: Pass to Pitta. Incomplete. Drive ends in a field goal.

2nd Possession:

•      2nd & 3 from BAL 32: Pass to Pitta. Incomplete. 
•      3rd & 3 from BAL 32: Pass to Dickson. Incomplete. Drive ends in punt.

3rd Possession:

• 2nd & 4 from BAL 9: Flacco drops back to pass. Sacked/fumbles, 4 yard loss.
• 3rd & 6 from BAL 7: Flacco drops back to pass. Sacked in endzone. Drive ends in safety.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Ray Rice has been doing more blocking than running lately.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Ray Rice should've had the ball on every one of those plays. He carried the ball for a grand total of four times in the first quarter. The interesting thing is he actually had a 17-yard run on the Ravens first possession, yet he was only given the ball one more time in the quarter. Why did we pay him all this money if we're not gonna use him? It's time for the Ravens to get back to what's given them so much success over the years [running the football]. That's their identity. I know Cameron wants to establish this no-huddle, and it's been effective at times. When it's been effective, it's been excellent, but when it hasn't [on the road], it's been disastrous. You can't continue to keep throwing, stopping the clock, getting three and outs and putting your tired defense back on the field. This is why the Ravens and Cam Cameron in particular must re-establish Ray Rice [Best running back in the game]. It's why we paid him, and it's a big reason why we're gonna be playing in late January and early February. If John Harbaugh gets in Cameron's face and lets him know the importance of the run game, this team has the ability to win it all, despite their defensive struggles. But if that doesn't happen and Cam's arrogance continues to take the ball out of Rice's hand, and hampers this team. He'll be unemployed and Harbaugh's seat will be hot. It's not panic time, but it is time to get our act together. The Ravens offense was ranked in the top five before Sunday's game, we know that they're capable of being an explosive offense. However, efficiency is more important than explosiveness. By running the ball, you're giving your defense a lot of help. [And the way this defense has been playing, they need all the help they can get].

Since We're Talking Hypotheticals...

Are the Lakers really targeting LeBron James to be the heir apparent to Kobe Bryant?
(Photo Credit: ESPN.com)

ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote a story on Thursday about how the Lakers may potentially be targeting LeBron James as a free agent in 2014. My first thought when I saw this was [Why is this even a topic? Can we get ready for the 2012-13 season?]. Of course the Lakers front office was thinking long-term, [that's one of the reasons why the decided to trade for Dwight Howard]. However they're also thinking about right now, [that's why they traded for Steve Nash]. But if we must think about the future, lets examine it. In the Summer of 2014 the Lakers will have every single contract off of their books with the exception of two, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard [assuming he signs long-term]. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, and the rest of LA's current roster outside of Nash and Howard will be free agents. The Lakers will have $30 million+ of salary cap space. Which would give them the ability to sign a LeBron type player. Kobe Bryant has said numerous times this preseason that he only intends to play two more years. [And I believe that he will play out his contract, then retire]. At this point the only thing Kobe cares about is winning, if he gets one more championship [preferably two], he'll be satisfied. If you've followed Kobe through his career, you'll know that he's not the kind of player that's going to play second fiddle. He's not the kind of play that's going to ride a bench, in order to rack up more championships, which is why it is totally conceivable that he'll retire when his contract ends in 2014. When that day comes [and it eventually will], the Lakers are going to need to find the next star to help lead this franchise. Put your feelings about LeBron to the side, and think about the future of the franchise. This isn't about Kobe vs. LeBron, it's about the what's best for the Los Angeles Lakers. Remember what happened in 2004 after Shaquille O'Neal was traded? The Lakers were in mediocrity, they went through a three year stretch of missing and barely making the playoffs. Without that second piece, LA was a non-factor. Kobe exits, enter LeBron with Dwight you have a solid foundation. I think this whole speculation will be a mute point. I don't believe it's going to happen. And unless Kobe retires in two years it won't even be realistic a option. [Why not? You ask.] Think about it. If LeBron came to the Lakers while Kobe were still on the team, it would be the worse thing he could ever do. The reason is because he will never be Kobe, he will always be in Kobe's shadow. [I'd equate it to Alex Rodriguez coming to the Yankees while Derek Jeter was still there]. It would be pretty much impossible for him to be a revered figure. Now he comes after Kobe retires, and the story is completely different. It would be his team along with Dwight's. And as long as he didn't choke in the postseason and brought us titles, he would go down in Laker lore as a legend. Like I said, all of this talk will probably be all for not, because I don't see it happening, but it's interesting to talk about. And the way the Busses and Mitch Kupchak work wonders, it can't be completely dismissed. [Now that we've discussed that, let's focus on the present and winning a championship this season. While we still have THE BLACK MAMBA].

Overcoming Injustice

David Stern (right) successfully hurt the Lakers chances of
winning a championship ...for a season.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Remember what happened to us back in December? Remember what they did to us? Remember what we went through? And we're just fans, imagine what Lakers Management dealt with. They had Chris Paul [best point guard in the league], and they saved money by doing it. Lakers GM, Mitch Kupchak worked the phones for three weeks putting the deal together, but that was killed by David Joel Stern [a.k.a. NBA Commissioner, a.k.a. Hornets Owner, a.k.a. Coward A** Motherf***er] for "BASKETBALL REASONS." I remember very well thinking: "this could set us back for years to come." How could they do this? [Commissioner of a league killing a trade that three veteran general managers signed off on]. How could Dan Gilbert be so stuck up? [Continuing to hold the grudge of losing a Superstar player]. How could Mark Cuban be so hypocritical? [At the time defending the league for that move, when everyone knew he was setting up to make a run at Dwight Howard and Deron Williams]. David Stern and the league continued to come up with insufficient claims as the why the trade was nixed. Me, you, and every other Laker fan knows why it was nixed: [because it's the Lakers]. After having CP3 taken away from them, their best bench player: Lamar Odom [who was included in the trade] went off the deep end, then was traded to the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks [who swept them the previous season], for a trade exception. The Lakers used that trade exception at the trade deadline to get Michael Beasley [who was considered to be a much needed piece off their bench], but the Timberwolves owner killed that trade. Derek Fisher was then traded to Houston for forward, Jordan Hill [in what was perceived to be a salary dump for an expiring contract]. They then make a move that's considered to be a much needed upgrade by trading for Ramon Sessions. Problem is, he ended up playing like dog sh*t in the postseason, after that he decided to leave for free agency. At that point there was a lot of doubt in Lakerland. Worst bench in the NBA, coming off a five game sweep to the Thunder [yea, I said five game sweep]. The Lakers appeared to lose their swagger as an organization. It seemed that they were making moves with finances in mind [which is important with the Super Tax coming]. However, with Jim Buss at the helm there were many doubts, and many questions. Jimmy isn't Jerry, and we got a preview of that in the mid-2000's. Known for his pet project of Andrew Bynum, it was a popular belief that Jim wouldn't be willing to trade him [for anyone]. But here we are in August, and it's amazing how much the

The Lakers acquired Steve Nash
via sign-and-trade on July 11th.
(Photo Credit: NBA.com/NBAE/Getty Images)

story has changed. Steve Nash was acquired via sign and trade from Phoenix for two first round picks and two second round [meaningless], and a trade exception. The overwhelmed Ramon Sessions was replaced with Steve Nash [STEVE FREAKING NASH!!!]. Even at the age of 38, Nash brings a level to the position that hasn't existed in well over a decade. Antawn Jamison [averaged over 17 points last season] signs for the veterans minimum, Jordan Hill [added energy, rebounding, and shot blocking off the bench] was re-signed to a two-year deal, then they got Dwight Howard [SUPERMAN] without having to give up Pau Gasol. And by the way, they also signed Jodie Meeks [a solid shooter] for $3 million to backup Kobe. They did all that just eight months after being dealt arguably the worse hand in professional sports history. Jimmy Buss proved all the doubters wrong, he made a move that his father would've made. He proved that he is a worthy successor to the great, Dr. Jerry Buss. Mitch Kupchak [soon to be named Executive of the Year] constantly kept his ear glued to a phone for months to eventually get this deal done. He pulled off the impossible again, [Pau for Kwame in 2008 and now Nash and Dwight in 2012]. All the credit goes to Mitch and Jim. They never lost their cool, even when they had every right to. It feels a lot like the Summer of 1996 in Southern California, when the Lakers acquired Kobe Bryant from the Hornets in the NBA Draft, and then signed Shaquille O'Neal via free agency [which resulted in a dynasty]. The Lakers now have a starting lineup of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace [beautiful, just beautiful]. Dwight Howard is the newest in a storied history of bigs to don the Purple and Gold. Mitch Kupchak said that he hopes his number [12] will eventually grace the wall of retired numbers. At first Howard showed trepidation to coming to LA [following in Shaq's footsteps, living up to the Laker tradition], but that seems to have changed since he's been spending all Summer rehabbing in Los Angeles. Dwight said: "I've always loved the city of LA. I'm young and coming from Orlando I'm gonna have doubts. But just being here and seeing all the love from the fans, it's been great. I'm looking forward to being great here in LA and in the future." That made me feel a lot better considering the past reports. I wasn't too happy with the idea of getting Howard considering reports that he didn't want to be here, but after hearing him I feel that he really does want to be a Laker, and he'll be here for the long-term. In case you were wondering: Dwight's not dropping the nickname "Superman." "The cape

Just like Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq, the best Center found his way to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now it's Dwight Howard.
(Photo Credit: ESPN.com)

has been in the hotel just chillin'" he said, "I'm gonna bring it out, iron it, and get it ready to go." [Why is this important? You ask.] It shows his comfort level. He's not worried about the whole "Shaq" thing, he doesn't wanna change who he is and that's great. Another question was his relationship with Kobe. Howard said that he had spoken to him, and actually gave an imitation of the phone call [It was pretty good haha]. In my opinion, that said a lot. [Why?] Again, it shows a comfort level, in this case with Kobe [enough to crack jokes]. I think that Howard's probably not going to bring out Kobe impressions if things are still heated. Also Dwight was asked about a reported phone call between him and Kobe that didn't go well months ago. "That's behind us now. I have the opportunity to learn from the best, in Kobe. I'm looking forward to following in his steps and how he leads a team. ...I've had a lot of dreams about putting on this Laker jersey and playing with Kobe Bryant, and now I'm here." Howard said. Kobe was ecstatic when he first heard of the trade, and he seems more than willing to share the spotlight with Dwight. Hours before having to play Argentina in the Olympics he said: "I'll play 2-3 more years. Then the franchise is his. I'm excited because they have a player that can carry the franchise well after I'm gone." Andrew Bynum was a great player [2nd best big man in the league, the best offensively], he did a lot of great things for us during his tenure. I'll never forget what he did in 2010, going through a whole playoff run having get his knee drained week after week, and dragging it out on the court to help us repeat [and most importantly, BEAT BOSTON]. For most people though, he'll be remembered as the guy with so much potential, but couldn't consistently show it night-in and night-out. This question will always be asked about him: [What if he played great defense every night, and gave it his all every night?]. We won't have to ask that question about Dwight Howard. "I'm gonna give you guys 100%, that's the way I play, I'm gonna smile, I'm gonna go dunk, block some shots, get some rebounds and have fun." Howard said. For all of the drama he has put the Orlando Magic through, you could never question Howard's commitment to his team on the floor. You could with Andrew Bynum, some nights he just wouldn't show up. Example: Game one of the first round series against Denver, has a triple double with 10 blocks, then has a night like game six, shows a pathetic effort defensively after making the comment "closeout games are easy." Also Bynum showed plenty of immaturity issues, [blowing off meetings with Mitch Kupchak, not taking part in game huddles etc.]. That's something that won't be an issue for the Lakers anymore. Nonetheless, we wish you all the best in Philly, Drew. The biggest question for most fans now is of course, the coach. Mike Brown will be facing tons of pressure, but at this point he should be used to it. He's already spent one year as coach of the biggest basketball brand in the world on top of the experience he had coaching a superstar

Kobe Bryant says he plans to retire in two to three years with
Dwight Howard ready to step in his place.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

prior to coming to LA. I'm not as worried about Mike Brown as others are. [How come?] because he's only coaching defense [his specialty]. The Lakers got pretty good defensively, and I think they'll have the offense down with Nash. [The pick and roll will be deadly]. If Erik Spoelstra can be a championship head coach, no reason why Mike Brown can't. There's more reason to feel great about this offseason: [WE WON, David Stern and Dan Gilbert lost]. It's so amazing, that the nixed trade in December actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Think about it: Kobe, Nash, Dwight, Pau? or Kobe, Dwight, CP3? Sure we probably would've been better set up for the future with Chris Paul running the point, but with Nash [one of the best shooters and passers in league history] running the team and keeping Gasol [the most skilled seven footer in the league] with Howard [best Center in the league, and future of the franchise] and Kobe [Black Mamba], there's no question the team is set to win immediately with the future in place as well. Haha, the league can't stop the Lakers even when the odds are stacked so high against them [CBA targeted at them like a laser beam, no cap space, miles over the luxury tax], they illegally kill a trade and the Lakers still end up better lmao. There may have been a misleading stretch before, but there isn't any doubt now. This is why the Lakers are the Lakers. They always find a way to defy the odds, to make the impossible possible. They love their fans, and they treat them so well. Only thing that matters is championships, and we're well on our way to winning another one. [So thank you David Stern, thank you for your BASKETBALL REASONS]

Celtics Underachieved With "Big Three"

In 2007, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were traded to Boston.
(Photo Credit: ESPN.com/Danielle Levitt/ESPN The Magazine)

They came together in the Summer of 2007. Paul Pierce [who was already a Celtic], Kevin Garnett [who lifetime Celtic, Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale gave to Danny Ainge], and Ray Allen [coming from basketball purgatory Seattle]. Thus began "The Big 3" era in Boston. Garnett was acquired for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, and Sebastian Telfair [yep, it was a gift from Kevin McHale]. Allen was acquired for Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and No. 5 pick that year, Jeff Green. I can remember saying: [Damn, KG, Allen, and Pierce? They could win at least 5 titles]. The East wasn't nearly as tough. Detroit's reign was coming to an end, Cleveland was young and still trying to find themselves, and even when they were making the playoffs, Orlando was in the midst of a rebuilding project. So it was pretty realistic to believe that this Celtics team was going to own the Eastern Conference for years to come. In their first season together, they were the dominant group that we thought they would be. They completed the largest single-season turnaround in NBA History by winning 66 games, it was a 42-game improvement over the previous season. In the playoffs, they struggled a bit. The Atlanta Hawks to them 7 games.The Cleveland Cavaliers took them to 7 games. Then they defeated the Pistons in 6. [The Final nail in the coffin to the Pistons run in the Eastern Conference]. They were in the Finals to face the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Garnett worked Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce had his way with an MVP performance, and they defeated the Lakers in 6 games [still irks me to this day]. It was the first of what was thought to be many championships for the Big 3. The next season, the Celtics started off dominating. They got off to a 27-2 start [best in NBA History]. They had two winning streaks of over 10 games. But Kevin Garnett got

"The Big Three" won their only championship in 2008.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Elsa/Getty Images)

injured after the all-star break. It resulted in him missing the rest of the games that season, including the playoffs. In the first round, the Chicago Bulls took them to Game 7. [In what was one of the best series in NBA History]. The Orlando magic later defeated them in the second round [on their way to the Finals]. In the 2009-10 season, the Celtics continued to battle injuries. As a result, Head Coach Doc Rivers decided to rest players for the playoffs. During that time the team struggled, finishing the regular season with 27-27 record to finish 50-32. Come playoff time, they beat the Heat in 5, the Cavaliers in 6 [the end of the LBJ era in Cleveland], and the Magic in 6. This was the season where PG, Rajon Rondo finally emerged as an elite superstar in the NBA. They met the Lakers once again in the finals. C, Kendrick Perkins got injured in Game 6, and the Lakers defeated the Celtics in Game 7. [Happier times for me]. Boston blew a 13 point lead, and struggled to find offense down the stretch. Many [including me] thought that Doc Rivers would leave and take a year off to watch his son [Austin Rivers] play college basketball. Instead, he signed an extension. In the 2010-11 season, the Celtics were considered overachievers. They signed Centers, Shaquille O'Neal [old], and Jermaine O'Neal [aging]. They were winning despite that fact that Kendrick Perkins was still out. Paul Pierce was playing out of his mind and he made franchise history by becoming the third player to score 20,000 points. Ray Allen broke the NBA's three point record [previously held by Reggie Miller]. Then on February 17, a move came, that was shocking. The team traded Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City. The guy that was one of their core guys. A guy that was considered the heart and soul of that locker room. A guy that solidified their size upfront. In return they got Jeff Green. Danny Ainge's thought process behind it was that Shaq was going to eventually come back healthy [He Was Wrong]. Perkins would go on to help the Thunder get to the Western Conference Finals.

Will Rajon Rondo be traded?
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Celtics, on the other hand, lost in the second round to "The New Big Three" [LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh], Miami Heat. Shaquille O'Neal was unable to give Boston much of anything because of his injuries [and age]. He retired in the offseason. In the 2012 playoffs Boston beat Atlanta before struggling with a up-and-coming Sixers team [who they beat in 7 games]. Then they would face the Heat once again. They had their moments of cohesion and greatness, but at the end of the day, their age
 caught up to them. This team is now expected to be broken up. By looking at today and 2007 when they first got together, I consider them underachievers. They only won 1 championship. [ONLY 1]. I expected a lot more out of them. Sure Injuries played a part and age played a part, but in the years 2008, 2009, and 2010, everything was really all laid out for them. There were no teams that were that much better than them. If Ray Allen perfected his shot in the 2010 NBA Finals, they would've won it that year. If Danny Ainge hadn't traded Kendrick Perkins away, they could've won the title in 2011. If Paul Pierce had stepped his game up in this year's postseason, they would've beaten the Heat. But it didn't happen, and now we're going to see some changes in Beantown. There have been reports that the Celtics are actively willing to trade Rajon Rondo [Why? I have no idea. He's their best player, and the only reason why they've gotten this far]. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are expected to be let go as unrestricted free agents. [And with that, we Say Goodnight to "The Big Three" Era]. And while they did have a good run in Boston, it was nowhere near the expectations were when they first came together.

What Kind of Laker Fan Are You?

Who you're rooting for in the Celtics-Heat series says a lot about what kind of Laker fan you are.
(Photo Credit: Zimbio.com/Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

There are several different kinds of Lakers fans. But right now I just want to focus on 2 in particular. The first one: [Die-Hard Laker Fan that puts the team over everybody]. Nobody is bigger than the team. No player, no coach, no one. The second one: [Laker "Fan" that puts Kobe Bryant over the team a.k.a. Kobe Fan]. Nothing's more important than Kobe's legacy. If you're the first one [like me], you're rooting against the Celtics. You're fully aware of the history between the Lakers and Celtics, and you know that their our #1 rival. Under no circumstance should you root for that team. If you're in the second classification, you're rooting for the Celtics. You're worried about Kobe's legacy in comparison to LeBron James. [Even though you should know good and well that even if James wins, he can't touch Kobe's legacy]. You're viewing LeBron as your rival. You're scared that if he reels off championships, he'll supplant Kobe. [That's ridiculous]. I'm not a LeBron James fan by any means, but I'll be damn if I root for that team in Green in White. It pains me to see so many of my fellow Laker heads rooting for Boston. How on Earth could you do that? How could you root for that fake ass, overrated drama queen [Paul Pierce]? How could you root for that team that embarrassed us in 2008? How could you root for the team that claims to be the best franchise in NBA History over us? [When they've won 1 title in 26 years]. Like I said, I'm no LBJ fan [even though I do respect his game]. I hate how he was so hyped coming out of high school. I hate how people proclaimed him as the best ever to play the game before he even stepped on an NBA court. I hate how people still make comparisons between him and Michael Jordan [to this day]. I hate how people always proclaim that he's the best in the league, when clearly he hasn't done anything to prove that he is [when it matters most]. I'm not rooting for the Heat. I'm not rooting for the Celtics. As far as I'm concerned, it's a lose-lose situation. What some of you Laker "fans" have to realize is: blood is thicker than water. There will be a day when Kobe Bryant won't play for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his legacy will be set in stone. And nobody, NOBODY [not LeBron James, not Kevin Durant] can surpass what he's done. He's the 2nd best shooting guard ever to play the game. He's my favorite player of all-time. He's never cheated the game, he's done a lot for our franchise, but he's not bigger than the franchise. Ask Dr. Buss who he wants to see win, and he'll say: "Anybody but Boston." LeBron isn't our rival, the Boston Celtics are. [And the true die-hard fans know that]. As a Laker fan, don't let your hate for any player make you sellout and root for Boston.