Where Amazing Happens Sometimes: Lose Like A Winner

By virtue of the fact that as a child, I was obsessed with the Chicago Bulls, I have long been an admirer of Lakers coach Phil Jackson and the calm demeanour with which he encounters issues from men who often behave like children.

Last night's game 4 blow-out at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks was difficult to watch as a Kobe guy, Phil fan and otherwise neutral observer.

Something has to be said about a franchise of perennial winners that loses with such immaturity and lack of class as the Lakers did last night. In what was Phil Jackson's final game as a coach, the Lakers disgusted fans and rivals alike with a display of antics that epitomize the concept of being a 'sore loser'.

First there was Lamar Odom's unnecessary foul against Dirk that rightly merited an ejection;



Then there was this absolutely unacceptable display from centre Andrew Bynum that was rightly called 'Bush League' by ESPN analyst Mike Tirico. Both J.J. Barea, and Bynum for that matter, are fortunate that he wasn't seriously injured on the play;



And to pout an exclamation point on the whole fiasco, Barea scored on the play. If there has ever been a moment to scream-out "AND 1" in a player's grill, that was it.

Kudos to the Mavs for their non-reaction and for the players who did not leave the bench causing an automatic 1 games suspension a la Amare Stoudemire following Robert Horry's tackling of Steve Nash a few years past.

In the end, I'm pleases the Mavs won and that this year's installment of the NBA playoffs features a few clubs that typically have not made it to this stage. I'm wholeheartedly behind Dirk in hopes he can win a ring before his time is done, as well as the likes of Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry and my cousin Tyson Chandler.

It's just sad that a coach and star player like Phil and Kobe will forever have a blotch on their legacies as some of the game's greats because of the actions of two teammates.

Disgusting.

Here's hoping Kobe ripped into those two in the dressing room and that dog Odom married has him on the couch for a few nights.

Bye Phil - you were the best.