Why I Hate The Lakers

Let me first say that it is difficult for me to even address them as "The Lakers," without having an expletive included in the name.

I have hated the Lakers for as long as I can remember. They are in my top 3 most hated teams of all time, ranking just behind FSU and just ahead of the Yankees. And if you're wondering where this lifelong hatred stems from, well here you are:

• The Sacramento Kings. I was a huge, HUGE Kings fan in the early 2000's. I started following them because I loved the style of basketball they played, and I loved the players they had. I still feel to this day that the core team of Bibby, Christie/Jackson, Stojakovic, Webber and Divac should have won a title. And the only thing that ever prevented it was...you guessed it. The Lakers. It wouldn't have been so bad were it not for the gut-wrenching ways the Kings consistently managed to lose to them. Horry's three point dagger to win game 4 in 2002 ranks as quite possibly the worst NBA-related moment of my life. Later in this column, I will elaborate more on my bitterness from the 2002 playoffs.


• They were the team that stole Shaq from the Magic, in an era when Orlando was awful for such a long time, then became good briefly with Shaq and Penny Hardaway. They immediately went back to obscurity when Shaq left--who immediately won 3 titles in LA.


• I absolutely hate Kobe Bryant. I mean, this is the guy who forced out Shaq at a time when he was poised to win at least a few more titles. Just because he wanted it to be exclusively "his team." I think it's part of his ongoing quest to be the next Jordan. But no one could replace Jordan, and I bristle when a player like Kobe tries--right down to the Jordan fist pump. I don't think I need to go over his character issues, since it's been pretty well publicized in the media for the last, oh, seven years or so. Likable players are never associated with the words "rape trial." Doesn't happen.


• Phil Jackson annoys me. It's impossible to truly assess his coaching ability, because when he hasn't had stars on his team, they've missed the playoffs a number of times, but when he does have stars he wins titles. Nine of them. And his legacy is forever intertwined with Jordan. I just don't like the man and his whole "Zen Master" schtick. I liked him better with the mustache anyway.


• Back to the 2002 playoffs-- Game 6 was the most atrociously officiated game I have ever witnessed. It was actually fixed--Tim Donaghy admits as much. It doesn't mean much for vindication, but the fact remains that the Lakers should have lost that game. The refs handed it to them. Don't believe me? During the first five games of the series, LA averaged 22 free throws a game. Then, come game 6, when the Kings are about to eliminate them-- they attempted 27 free throws IN THE FOURTH QUARTER ALONE. The Kings would have gone on to face the Nets in the Finals and undoubtedly won a title. I am still angry about this.


• They just keep winning... historically, all the best teams are the most hated. Because they crush everyone else's dreams. No exception here.

So there you have it. And really, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I could have included more--like how I hate their colors, I hate their fans (except Jack Nicholson, who is beyond reproach), I just can't stand that team. I root for them to lose every game they play.

And now I spend another postseason watching each Lakers game with baited breath, praying for them to lose even though I know in my heart they'll probably win it all this year. The funny thing is I don't even really like the Nuggets. In Chris Anderson's words, they: "May not lead the league in stats, but we lead the league in tats." I don't view this as a good thing. That said, GO NUGGETS!!!