General: Stop the Laker Lovefest! (and other stuff, too)

Recently, the Detroit Pistons pulled off possibly the upset of the year so far, by completing a five-game demolition of the Los Angeles Lakers, picked by many to win the NBA title.

The 100-87 victory completed a big coup to end the 2004 season, as the Pistons dominated every single aspect of the series, winning four of five games from the Lakers by an average of 13 points.

If it wasn't for Kobe Bryant's game-tying three with 2.1 to go in Game 2, it would have been a sweep.

Mind you, this column -- and many other NBA-related columns to follow on this and many other web sites -- will not focus on the Pistons.

It will not focus on Larry Brown finally winning a title.

It won't concentrate on the Pistons combination of suffocation and speed to win four of five.

It won't ponder about Rip Hamilton's mask, Ben Wallace's stylish Afro hair, or Chauncey Billups' shutdown of Kobe Bryant.

Nope. None of that at all.

We're going to talk about the Los Angeles Lakers, the crown jewel of the National Basketball Association and their imminent breakup.

The dominoes started to fall on Tuesday as the Lakers left the court, pondering the future of several of their stars.

It starts with Phil Jackson, who is still looking for his 10th NBA title as a coach.

Late Friday night, he decided he had his share of success with the Lakers and decided not to come back as head coach.

Earlier that day, it was announced that Bryant would become a free agent on July 1st.

To add insult to injury, owner Jerry Buss said that he would make it a priority to build his club around Kobe, not Shaquille O'Neal.

Basketball poobahs, fans, and David Stern are all saying, "Oh my God, the sky is falling."

To which I say, enough already.

Many are acting like the greatest franchise in sports history is in a shakeup.

Yes, the Lakers deserve a lot of attention, considering that they did win three straight titles.

But, my goodness, they don't deserve this much attention.

I'm guessing the next thing we'll hear out of Laker Land is that Jeannie Buss and Jackson are on the outs.

(And if that ever happens, I'm on the first plane to California.)

Anyway, the Los Angeles Lakers have enough on their plate: Shaq's attitude, Kobe's trial, Karl Malones's knee, Phil's departure, Jerry's cashflow.

Just leave them be and give attention to a more deserving story with less shock value.

Here's the other stuff I promised in the teaser:

* I loved it when columnists and super fans pinned the end of the New York Yankees in April. The Yankees are making those authors who wrote them look like fools at the end of this month when the Yankees are in first place in the AL East with the best record in baseball. Of course, I'll probably be playing the same if the Yankees slip to second place at the end of the month. Damn my lousy brain!

* So, J-Lo got married and is pregnant? The girl just can't stand to be alone for two seconds, can't she? * About two weeks ago, Larry Bird said some controversial remarks about the lack of white American superstars in the NBA. Guess who was the interviewer? Jim Gray. Considered what happened with Pete Rose a few years ago with Baseball's 50 Greatest Players and the Chad Curtis Incident of 1999, does anyone else find it odd that these notorious moments always seem to revolve around Jim Gray?

* I'm beginning to think that ESPN Radio host Erik Kuselias is trying very, very hard to sound like Tony Kornheiser. By the way, whatever happened to the other Sports Brother? Did he cross the wrong Sports Godfather and wind up getting fitted cement shoes at the Charles River?

* With the NHL going through labor talks, the way Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow keep talking, fans possibly feel like they're children in the middle of a divorce proceeding.

* Is it just me or do all these nouveau punk bands all sound the same?

* Division I College sports are entering a new age of hypocrisy. Gary Barnett's slap on the wrist set a precedent of light punishments back in May and Bob Huggins' suspension this month is beginning to make me think if I spit in the face of my boss, all I'll get is sent home early without pay. Is everyone untouchable these days?

* My final thought is that of Lance Armstrong and the charges against him in a new book written by (surprise, surprise) a pair of French journalists. It makes me want to scream, "Of course he's on drugs! He's a fricken cancer survivor!"

To coin a phrase, French people piss me off.