Empires in Decline: Henry Kissinger on the Los Angeles Lakers

The following three paragraphs were adapted from an adaptation, in "The Wall Street Journal", of Henry Kissinger's "On China", to be published Tuesday by the Penguin Press (we made them about basketball):

Faith renewed

On Saturday night in the LCG's living room, I was basking in the recent throttling of the Florida Gators by my beloved Vols. As I was finally getting hope in a disappointing season for UT, a special break from the highlights came on ESPN. That break was to let me know Andrew Bynum had injured his knee. That disheartening news was followed yesterday with more bad news came as they announced he would miss 8-12 weeks. So later in the day I decided to post on the breaking situation, I tried to play coy and act unattached or unmoved by the story. But in reality, I saw another Laker season being thrown to the wayside. When I heard the injury news I realized I was no longer the typical optimistic fan, but more of the annoying fan who moans and drones about the bad luck of his team. I had become a fanatical-pessimist. So at 7:30 p.m. est when I tuned in to the Laker-Knicks game I was anything but the typical barrel of fun I see myself as; instead I was about as upbeat as a Thomas Hardy novel. I was so dejected that I wrote a poem, something I hadn't done since 8th grade English class with Mrs. Willis.

The colorless thoughts engulfing me
the thoughts of another banner quickly drifting from my senses
the thought of another manhandling on the parquet floors
the thoughts had me sinking in despair
the thoughts had me sinking in my chair
Yet I could do nothing
but hope and cheer from afar

Shameful I know, but what was I to do? Join the others on message boards and talk trash because the future of the organization was out for a couple of months. I was embarrassed. How could I be woeful about a basketball team, when there is a lot more going on in the world that holds actual importance. With the economy, the war('s), families struggling to pay their bills, cities struggling to survive the harsh winter, and the all-around despair of the Motor City. How, with all that, could I possibly be down about a GAME? I was, and there is no excuse other than I have an irrational love for sports and it will not leave me. Despite the real world issues and the negativity those issues bring, I will always have an irrational love for American sport. I could say sorry, but what would be the point. This irrational obsession is what makes me, me. But I digress.

Once I saw that forum blue and gold take the court at MSG, I couldn't help but smile. Kobe quickly vanquished any negative thoughts still lingering, and the fanatical-pessimist swiftly vanished thanks to the show he was putting on for the New York crowd. Scoring 13 of the teams first 16, teeming with Gasol to score 30 and the teams 31 first quarter points. The two ended up combining for 92 of the Lakers 126 points (with 31 for Pau and 61 for Kobe), in the win over the home-town Knickerbockers.

This was not a team that will fall to the wayside, not with two four and one six taking the court. This is not a team to be worrisome for; not tonight, not with Kobe taking center-stage, not with Phil pulling the strings. This is a team that has more reason to come and play every night. This is a team that needs to prove day-in and day-out, they are still a force. It is a night like last night, that reminds us all of his greatness. It is a night like last night that Laker fans realize how much they take that greatness for granted. It is a night like last night where faith is renewed.

The number of the day is:

8-12, as in Andrew Bynum will miss eight to twelve weeks with a torn MCL. Its so fitting that this news comes on groundhog day, considering this is exactly what happened last year. This leaves the Lakers with basically two options; Sit and hope for his return, which the best case scenario is somewhere between the end of the regular season and the second round of the playoffs. Forcing them to move Gasol to center and Odom to the four, a starting lineup that helped propel them to the NBA finals. But we all remember how they were manhandled in the finals. So if the haunting memories of last years finals creep into Dr. Buss' and Phil's head, GM Mitch Kupchak will have to do his best Monty Hall impression. The best option here would be moving Odom and his expiring contract for a true big man, allowing Gasol to stay at his position of power forward. One of the more intriguing options here would be Brad Miller. A true center who can pass the ball and score when needed making him a great fit for Phil's triangle offense. Whatever the Lakers decide to do, it becomes more and more apparent that while Bynum is one of the more promising and talented players in the game he is one of the most injury prone centers in the game.

The Lakers and Andrew Bynum

The Lakers are in the midst of the playoffs with game 2 happening tonight against the Utah Jazz. The game starts at 10:30 and it is safe to say I cannot wait for the tip. Lets take it back a couple of months though, when Andrew Bynum and the Lakers(pre-pau) were dominate, fast, and absolutely fun to watch. Then Andrew ends up injuring his knee cap, at first it was an 8 week injury and looked like the end for the Lakers this season. That was until Mitch Kupchak was given a gift in Pau Gasol for a couple picks, Javaris Crittendon, Kwame Brown, and Pau's 20 y/o brother. This turned the hopes and sights back to a possible championship, Laker fans have been dreaming of the possibilities of the Lakers with Kobe, D-fish, Pau, Lamar, and Bynum on the court at the same time. Without Andrew, the Lakers have continued to flourish with fantastic passing and great defense. I, myself, have been waiting for the day he could come back. First it was 8 weeks, then it was the first round of the playoffs, then it was next year, then it was the second-round, then next year again, and now as reported by ESPN Andrew is seeking a second opinion hoping to come back on the court. I thought he was working and rehabbing not taking any chance on reinjury, but I was naive. While trolling on The Dirty.com (the website famous for putting Matt Leinart and his beer bong everywhere, fabulous site if you ask me) I find these pictures from a Sigma Nu party at UCLA from a couple weeks ago.

This is what the submitter and fellow partier of Andrew Bynum had to say

“Bynum walked out of the hall, down a flight of stairs, and into the
center of the dance floor, where he danced with the two girls. I don’t
know what this means about the state of his knee, or if he’ll be able
to play for the Lakers this post-season. But I do know that he can walk
down stairs and dance to fast paced hip hop.”

As a Laker fan this does not surprise me but it does disturb me. I am not attacking the guy for having a good time, yet when you are getting paid first pick money you can wait until your knee is better or the season is over to go pick up chicks. With or without Bynum the Lakers look the part of a championship team. Hopefully they can continue to play at a high level and maybe learn to rebound in the process.

Update: The Lakers looked smooth and still dangerous last night going up 2-0 with the series heading back to Utah. The third game is on Friday at 9 on Espn. No new information on Bynum.

Update: Lakers lost 104-99, in Utah bringing the series to 2-1. The Lakers played sloppy and it showed in the final results. The series continues this Sunday at 3:30 on ABC.