To Kobe Bryant and Mitch Kupchak

At the close of last season's Laker run, I returned to my "Laker Hater" ways. The dismantling of the team by Mitch Kupchak (who should be revising his reume after this season) to please their spoiled all-star brat, Kobe Bryant, was the most dumbest move in sports management since putting Kupchak in charge. They went from a team that won the Western Conference to a team that will only see playoff action from the sofa in their living rooms. Now their only hope is getting a decent pick in the draft, since they will be among those getting first dibbs on the new high school /college draft. Note to Kupchak: No more spoiled brats. The house of Magic and Kareem can not afford another. Try actually rebuilding the team instead of trying to pacify the Kobe brat. You need to look no further than the '85 team to see how a unified team can defy all. Also a nice coach will do, but small chance of getting Phil Jackson back.

... Now some words of wisdom for Ervin "Magic" Johnson ...

"There's nothing in the world like seeing all these guys again," said Johnson, a
Lakers vice president and part-owner. "It's too bad we couldn't line them up for
this Laker team. We'd probably take them out, anyway — at this age."

I would pay to see that match-up ...