Classy

Now was that any way to end a marvelous career? Was that any way for a Champion to behave? You know you're going to lose, is there any reason to take away from your legacy as well? I am of course speaking about the horrendous yet wonderful game between the Dallas Mavericks and the L.A. Lakers this past Sunday.

Now, before we go on, I have to confess something, I don't like, nay, I hate the Lakers. I loathe them and just about everyone on that team, with the exception of Pau Gasol. I was happy to see them lose, happy that it happened on the road so that everyone could rightfully boo them. There was nothing good about the game if you were an L.A. fan, and everything right if you were hoping to see them get swept.

However, what you didn't want to see was the reigning champions behaving like little kids on the playground who were mad that their team lost the kickball game at lunch. You expect professionals to be classy in both winning and losing. That was not the case on Sunday. First, cheap shot by Odom on Dirk, nothing major here, just a cheap shot that didn't need to happen. Then came the jerk of the year moment when Andrew Bynum elbowed J.J. Barea in the ribs while Barea was attempting a layup. The two actions happened in about 45 seconds from each other, and both resulted in ejections for the two Laker stars.

Odom went quietly and without incident, but Bynum felt it necessary to remove his jersey and leave the court half naked. Why? Why was that necessary? No one wanted to see that, and all it did was make you look like a little child upset that he was going home a loser.

In Game 2 of the series, Ron Artest took a similar cheap shot to Barea which resulted in his ejection and suspension from Game 3. Now for those of you who don't know who J.J. Barea is let me tell you. He is a backup point guard for the Dallas team and hails from Puerto Rico. He stands about 5 foot 6 and weighs about 160 pounds when fully dressed in a suit of armor.

He's good, but he's not the kind of player that should have caused this much frustration to the Lakers. Their actions towards him weren't because of anything dirty or cheap Barea was doing but rather because they were mad they couldn't stop him. So that's how you deal with a situation that becomes difficult for you to handle like a man, you behave like a child? Wow, that's class, real class.

I am so glad this happened. Happy that Barea is all right and is able to continue the post season, but also happy that this happened to the team I despised. I mean you Magic Johnson, Mr. Los Angeles Laker himself, talking bad about the Lakers at half time. He was disgusted by their lack of heart and their inability to play to their potential in a must win game. I have been telling people that the Lakers are a joke for years, and this Sunday they validated my point.

All they do is whine and complain and show what little class they truly have. Good riddance to them and to their attempt at another championship this post-season. I m happy, more than you can know, that this is over and I don't have to watch them make a mockery of the game I love anymore.

I feel bad for Phil Jackson, who ended a stellar career as player and coach. His legacy will not be tarnished because of this one game, but will be remembered for the championships, the winning seasons, and the class that he had in the league. This game was bad, and it wasn't his fault, he didn't go out there and not play well, his team did. He called timeouts, he got in faces, he did what you're supposed to do, his players didn't.

I am a fan who appreciates class in the players and the organization. Sunday, The Lakers proved they have none. They are not who said they were, and the world now sees that.

Go away, and never come back, you all have no class.

Until next time
P