The Lakers have made it official; Rudy Tomjanovich is the new head coach of the team; even got the blessings of Kobe Bryant, though Rudy T. says he has yet to speak directly with Shaquille O'Neal, who is avoiding all contact with the organization he calls "cancerous"--and who can blame him?

My favorite aspect of the Bryant sweepstakes is that teams are granted one-hour visitations at Bryant's home as he interviews them for their qualifications for his services. I have images of Don Corleone granting and denying favors to his suppliants!

~Adam

It's being reported by the LA Times that Kobe Bryant has asked the Clippers to rearrange their home schedule to play 10-12 home games at the Anaheim Pond (in order to reduce his commute) and that if they do this--and the Clippers are looking into it--he will be more open to their offer.

Fortunately, his flirtation with the Nuggets seems to have ended--especially glad the theory he was talking to them only as a way of influencing possible jurors has been thrown aside.

~Adam

I'm not sure what to think about this latest Kobe drama ... Either

a) Kobe is the creepiest, most self-centered athlete/celebrity in the history of mankind;

or

the LA media are the sleaziest, rumor-mongoring lot in the US.

Ok, Rudy T to LA... ( So much for the "I am too sick to coach" bull crap.) We will miss him in Houston, but what is he inheriting?

Shaq... Gone.
Kobe... Soon to be gone.

Not much left. But Rudy T might be just the guy to turn it around, he did ok in Houston, and I hope for the best for LA's future.

UH Coog

Rudy did not do it alone ... there was this guy called Hakeem. He was unstoppable. And he made Kenny Smith, Robert Horry and Vernon Maxwell look like superstars.

W/o Kobe, Rudy T is just another coach.

I vote "a," especially after Kobe Bryant asked his neighbor to stop taking her infant to her own backyard because he didn't like the songs she sang to the baby!! He was--by his own admission--surprised the woman didn't acquiesce to his request, but kept taking her baby outside----to her own home's yard! To even ask a neighbor to keep indoors is about as arrogant as can be.

~Adam

In announcing the official trade of Shaq to the Heat, one of the local sports guys said: "Now the Lakers have to turn their attention to signing Kobe-it's-all-about-me-me-me-Bryant, who has said he'll have an official announcement by noon Thursday."

Much as I like that epithet (maybe we could shoten it to the Big MeMeMe?,) I doubt it'll catch on here in LA where Kobe has long been the beloved member of the Lakers, taken to the city's collective bosom, while Shaq was admired but disdained for poor work habits.

~Adam

I think Rudy T is going to be good for The Lakers, he is sort of a calming force. He calmed Vernon Maxwell down long enough to win a championship.

And Hakeem was a very good player before Rudy T. Rudy T turned him into a great player. Hakeem was also a selfish player on the court, but Rudy T showed him that if he trusts his teammates, good things will happen.

Besides they were a 7th seed the year they went back to back. That would take some coaching in the playoffs to turn something around that quickly.