Phil Jackson: No 'Brokeback Mountain' On My Team

Again, looooong day at the office, so I'm going to do a little "stick and move" on the posts this evening.

Speaking of which . . . Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, following the Lakers loss to the San Antonio Spurs, was asked "if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters."

Now, in my opinion, this is what one might call a softball. Jackson, apparently desiring to knock it out of the park, took it as one, too, replying:

"We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

I don't think I have to explain what the movie was about since most people are vaguely familiar even if they didn't see it (myself included), but suffice it to say that it involved two homosexual cowboys who do indeed do the deed.

Surprise surprise, Jackson's comments invoked the ire of the NBA:

"The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future," league spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) also gave their official response:

"Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes," the statement read.

I mean, what did they expect with a question like that? I think the reporter was asking for some type of joke to be made, just maybe not the one that Jackson made.

But I think it's accurate. It's not the same if he had said, Debbie Does Dallas or some other pornographic movie. The point is that there's a bunch of men involved.

But maybe GLAAD was on to something. Jackson should be able to talk about the Lakers performance without making any jokes at all, gay or otherwise. But when it looks like a joke and plays like a joke . . . it is what it is. And if you, like me, just saw the Lakers throw a lob pass to no one )except maybe that fan ten rows up) then you, too, get the joke.

(Including that old school pic posted above. Someone ought to bring back that look.)