Jeanie's Journal
return to home 5/31/2007Thursday, May 31
I think at the next NBA Board of Governors meetings I am going to
suggest that we change the name of the “off” season because since the
Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs there has not been one day
“off”!
The loss in the playoffs was hugely disappointing but not
completely surprising. The Phoenix Suns were at full strength and
unfortunately the Lakers were never 100% healthy. Injuries kept the
team from playing the way the coaching staff envisioned during training
camp so the Lakers potential was never fully realized.
That, in my opinion, has created the frustration that everyone
feels around here. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my
professional career next to the day Magic had to retire because of HIV,
Shaq was traded and Rudy T. replaced Phil as coach. I have worked in
sports for over 25 years and my experience is that tensions run high
and words are spoken as an outlet for anger and dissatisfaction.
While it is clear that I have no input
into basketball decisions, I have expressed my opinion to everyone I
work with in this organization that Kobe Bryant CANNOT now or EVER be
traded from the Lakers. Even thinking about it distresses me. My
message is simple – he is not going anywhere. How can you trade Kobe
when there is no equal to Kobe?
A few weeks ago my brother was a featured guest on the Loose Cannons
radio show airing on the Lakers home station, KLAC. He said some things
that I didn’t agree with and I should have voiced my feelings to him in
person as soon as I heard his comments. Coincidentally, I had committed
weeks earlier to the same radio station to fill in for TJ Simers on the
Fred Roggin / Simers Squared morning show a couple of days after my
brother Jim’s interview. I was asked about Jim’s comments where he said
the Lakers coaching staff didn’t know how to coach young players and
that Golden State Warriors coach, Don Nelson, was a better defensive
coach than Phil. I was protective of Phil because of my personal
relationship which was not the professional thing to do. We both should
have made our comments in private instead of voicing our opinions on
the air. We have since discussed that very same thing and mutually
decided to meet on a regular basis and not via the airwaves.
The last few hours here in the office have been quiet. I missed my
dad’s telephone call before he got on a plane for China and will be
gone almost a month. I will spend the next few weeks catching up on
things – including reaching out to so many of our Lakers fans who have
emailed and written to me. I want to thank you all for your support and
keep the faith. It is a long “off” season but trust me – Lakers
executives are working aggressively to return the team to championship
form.
Sam 2 Juin - 1:34