So We Meet Again

The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed the Phoenix Suns to town on Wednesday night. Of course, this was not just any game. This was Shaquille O'Neal's debut with the Suns, and Shaq/Kobe Bryant head-to-head. Kobe got the best of him this night, as he has in their previous head-to-heads since they parted ways in L.A. Speaking of heads, Shaq went completely bare on the head and the face in his debut, perhaps symbolizing his fresh start.

It's funny that Shaq has bounced around and Kobe has stayed with the Lakers for almost 12 years. Man, I am getting old.

Kobe had 41 points and one NASTY dunk. Even Bill Walton had to admit he is looking like the MVP. Obviously, he is proving what I and others have said all along - there is no such thing as a fair trade for him. Pau Gasol is looking like a terrific fit, and might end up being one of the smartest trades made all season when it's all said and done.

Shaq threw in 15 points, 9 in the last quarter, 9 boards, and apparently even surprised himself with his stamina at the end of the game. Amare Stoudemire had 37 points and 15 rebounds(!), Steve Nash did his usual, and even Grant Hill threw in 17 points.

So don't count out this Suns team because this was their first game with a new team and they still only lost by six to a very solid Lakers team. Again, looks like it is going to be an exciting finish in the Western Conference. As for the East? We'll just have to wait and see . . .

Rundown from the Run-Down - 2008

Happy 2008!!

Pleats 'n Cleats took a much needed vacation, and I could still use another one. I will be back in the full swing of things next week but instead of leaving you for a full two weeks, I thought I'd give you the first rundown from the run down for 2008.

So without further ado:

1. So the Boston Celtics went 4-0 on their west coast trip. Yeah, yeah. Whoop-dee-do. They also lost to the Detroit Pistons - placing them second in ESPN's power rankings for the week. Get back to me come playoff time.

2. The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Celtics on Sunday, in a game featuring a montage of the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry and in which the Lakers donned short shorts in true throwback fashion. Said Kobe Bryant:

"I don't know what it feels like to wear a thong, but I imagine it feels something like what we had on in the first half," he said with a grin. "I felt violated. I felt naked. It's one thing to see films with guys wearing those things. ... I'd rather stay warm, man."

Um. I believe you, Kobe.

3. By now you are fully aware that the New England Patriots went 16-0. Their final game against the New York Giants was kind of close but not they-might-not-make-it close. Pretty anticlimactic if you ask me. Way to go, Pats.

4. The Georgia Bulldogs put a beating on the Hawaii Warriors football team in Tuesday night's Sugar Bowl, 41-10. It was sad hearing the commentators say they had no business being in the bowl game, but it was even sadder to see all the fans who traveled from Hawaii and got all dressed up just to see their team score when the game was pretty much over. But they still get to go back to school in Hawaii. Don't feel too bad.

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.)

Buss Stopped

I hesitate to even make light of this because he obviously has a problem. NBA Commissioner David Stern fined L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss, the man who has been fueling the Kobe-watch, $25,000 and suspended for 2 games after a misdemeanor drunk-driving conviction over the summer.

First, Jerry Buss is 74 years old. That's all I'll say about that.

Second, what is a 2-game suspension and $25,000 going to do? If anything, he's probably looking forward to having an excuse to not go to a game. And $25,000 is a drop in the bucket for this guy. If Stern really wanted to penalize him, then he would have fined him more and dropped that suspension stuff.

I can't wait to see what Stern comes up with after Zeke, James Dolan and the Knicks lose their appeal!

Westside Story

I was excited to see that basketball returned tonight. I've missed Ernie, Chuck, and Kenny - and Cheryl (the TNT Inside the NBA team).

Tonight, we visit the land of the Western Conference, where temperatures are only exceeded by the scores in their games, and defense can't be found even on the back of a milk carton (unless you won the championship last year).

The first game up featured the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Portland Trailblazers. The Spurs received their rings (zzzzz) and this game was just "eh" in my book. Of course, it was intended to be the debut of Greg Oden, but alas, no Oden all season, so this was just the rather boring game that I expected it to be. Actually, with players like Lamarcus Aldridge, the Blazers look like they'll be a good team, and when Oden comes back next year, they could definitely be one to watch.

Then the second game. I almost went to bed, but I'm glad I stayed up. On the marquee: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets. Yes, Kobe Bryant's long awaited debut . . . and he got booed by the fans! Not a total surprise, but for a second I thought this was Philadelphia. I think Kobe has the distinction of being booed by his hometown (Philly) and by his home crowd (L.A.).

Just when it looked like the Lakers were out of it, Kobe (and friends) made a run, down by two with under 15 seconds to go. On the next play, Kobe passes it to Derek Fisher for two . . . it's good, and we're tied. The same boo-birds suddenly loved him again.

And then in an instant, the homecoming was spoiled At the other end, with 4.5 seconds left on the clock, former Naismith Player of the Year and Duke alum Shane Battier hit a three-pointer to put the Rockets up by 3. The silence was deafening. 2.5 seconds to go. The Lakers had one good play left, and Battier fouled Kobe, apparently right before the act of shooting, but they were still in the penalty. Kobe went to the line and made the first, purposely missed the second, came up with the ball, and had it knocked away as time expired. Of course he screamed and cursed that he was fouled, but the game ended nonetheless. Life did not, despite his ranting.

Kobe had 45 points, as usual, but it's apparent that he and this team are not going to be making a deep run in the playoffs. I still don't see him going anywhere in a trade, and I was happy to see Chuck and Magic (Johnson) agree with what I said about him earlier.

East coast is up tonight . . . which should mean more interesting games, if you ask me!