Ain't This Some Shit?

January 22nd, Tuesday... I just read a funny basketball article on Yahoo Sports about Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers lost to the Chicago Bulls last night and Kobe (The Black Momba!) was sitting in the lockerroom after the team had left. Oh there were all these words about Kobe playing under the 6 (count 'em) championship banners Michael Jordan won (Yeah, he did it all by himself!) and how Kobe was chasing Jordan's mark. The article talked about how the Lakers are losing, uncharacteristic to them and are out of the playoff picture right now. It also talked about  how D'Antoni's (the coach) system wasn't working and the player's are having a hard time adjusting to it. Waa...waa...waa...
It is funny to me that Kobe is putting all of this on HIS shoulders like he is playing one on five. The problem with that is he, like other "superstars," has taken it upon himself to believe that the Lakers are his team! Truth be told, the Lakers are now Jimmy Buss' team! Jerry Buss passed the torch to his son to run the squad and he has done a F'ed up job! So far, he has hired two wrong coaches and snubbed Phil Jackson, the Moses of pro basketball, who is also engaged to his sister. (How does that work?) What Kobe and any other "superstar" needs to come to terms with is that the Lakers is NOT his team! The only decision that matters to the powers that be is that Kobe is healthy enough to play 82 games and beyond during a season. That whole business about running business matters through "The Man" is bullshit! Business is business and everyone needs to learn how to mind their own business! It's Buss' team to screw up and he has done his job. Kobe and all the other players need to do their job. It about adjusting to the situation and let the scene play out.
Hey, I get it! Kobe makes a crap load of money but the money is incidental in pro basketball. You get paid what they (the powerbase) thinks you are worth; Not what you think you're worth! After you play your 48 minutes a night, you are invisible!
So, boohoo to the Lakers. They are in a real funk and no one seems to have the answer. (Actually, someone does have the answer but he is comunicata-non-grata right now!) Teams function in a cycle and the Lakers are beginning a new one. They probably wouldn't believe this but they are now in the "Season of the Witch!" Ain't that a bitch?

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

December 21st, Wednesday... I just read an article about Kobe Bryant's (Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard) wife Vanessa waited for ten years to pass in their marriage before divorcing him to get a maximum payoff! WOW!
Is it any wonder why the perception of American Society has a bad reputation in other parts of the world? I'm not saying that one society is better or worse than another but... What the hell happened? As far as I can see it, the economy is to blame. If the economy is bad, the move seems to be that some sort of alternative method of creating income has to take place. What better way of earning an income than to sit on your ass and deceptively plot and scheme a plan to systematically embezzle cash from your estranged spouse? That is some cool shit! As far as I can see it, the world hates America because their systems and beliefs will not allow their to consider such a plan and if, by chance one derives such a plan and gets caught, punishment is swift and just.
Of course, in America, you can go to jail but prison may not be so bad. You get three square meals a day. You have a master bedroom with a bathroom. Okay, you do have to do a communal bathing thing but at least you have company. You have exercise privileges and you do get to go outside for a little while. (It seems like it's not long enough but who wants to be out in the sun all day?)Okay, there are gangs and homosexuality and punishments within the confinement of the prison but it's no different than being on the outside. You have a job. You can worship (You can even worship Satan if you prefer!). Come on, I'm talking country club living here!
Maybe it is not worth fixing a bad economy. The alternative looks so much better! (Depending on who you ask!)

A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway

December 17th, Saturday... OMG! As if things were not bad enough, the worse has settled in! The Los Angeles Lakers lost out on Chris Paul (Thank you David Stern), lost their award winning 6th man Lamar Odom and received nothing in return, and now their Michael Jordan clone Kobe Bryant is getting divorced from his wife of 10 1/2 years! I'll tell you, when it rains (in Cali) it pours! Things were looking pretty good when the lockout ended but now dark clouds loom.
How much can the Lakers take? The tried to rid themselves of Pau Gasol, didn't happen. Phil Jackson is gone and so is the infamous Triangle Offense Kobe thrived in. Mike Brown is the new coach (post LeBron James/Cleveland Cavaliers). Who knows what that means? Kobe's pissed off! The Lakers got swept by the Dallas Mavericks and now have sent Odom there...
Truth be told, I was never a fan of the Lakers so it might be fun to watch them sink slowly into the abyss of the NBA. Time for new meat to talk about!
"This gone be good!"