Pfunk 36,

Don't ever say I never did anything for you. Here's your article. Stop bothering me. haha

AK

I can't believe you caved AK...I've lost all respect for you!

(sarcasm/joking alert) lol.

Faith,

Yeah. I also just let a cool teenage kid peer pressure me into smoking pot a minute ago. haha

Honestly, I thought this article was a little more interesting than just a straight NBA LIVE announcement because it included an interview. But either way, everyone's happy.

AK

Does anyone have the box score for that game?

Kobe Bryant quote:

"The second half of the season, I think if you look at the last 23 games of the season, we only lost three. We went to the playoffs with a lot of momentum and played extremely well, and I think we're going to carry that momentum into next season."

More reason to believe the Lakers are going to start this year's regular season with the same strong performance that they finished last year's regular season.

Go, Lakers. Go, Kobe.

Tom

Sonny Belfast,

You will just give yourself cancer or high blood pressure for nothing. The kind of bile you are carrying around is not good for you nor your system. While you stew in your own cesspool, the (Kobe) is out and about having a blast. I suggest you let go of your obsession before it consumes you. If you don't like the Lakers why are you here? if you don't like Kobe, then you most be a masochist if this where you come to derive pleasure.

Cher Badslow,

Are the cow bells that ring in your ears being misdiagnosed as tinnitas? I hope it improves, so you can stop this crazy talk. It must drive you crazy, (along with your jealousy of the Purple and Gold).

Best wishes.

Here's an article on Brian Cook for all of those looking for ANYTHING Laker related this offseason that doesn't include the words "Al Harrington".

'Cook'ing up improvement
Former Railer readying for fourth year in the NBA
BY BRIAN LONGLY
THE COURIER
Published Saturday, August 19, 2006

After two years in the NBA, Lincoln native Brian Cook finally got some consistent playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers in his third season, and took advantage. He posted career highs in every statistical category, and that success has made him thirsty for more. "I've worked hard and last year I finally got some playing time to prove what I can do," Cook said. "This year we have a young team and I'm going to go out there and compete and play hard like I've always done. I think I just need time to do what I can do, and I feel like I can shoot the ball and play with anybody."

Cook played in 81 games last season, averaging 7.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.0 minutes of action. He started 46 games, shot 51.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from the 3-point line. He also set a career high in points with 28 against Dallas in February.

"I've always thought of myself as an opportunist," he said. "I just try to do what I can in a given situation. Whether it was while I was in Illinois or in the NBA, I try to make the best of what I can do. That's just the key to life, flipping negatives into positives. Things might not always happen how you want them, so you just work hard to get to where you want to be." Though it is the off-season, it has been an eventful time for Cook. He hurt his right thumb in a pickup game in mid-July and required surgery. He is well on the way to recovery though, and should be ready for training camp.

"It's getting better day-by-day," he said. "I'm doing rehab on it, getting flexibility and mobility in it. I can pick up a basketball now. If I had to play with it now, I'd play with it. "I'm just trying to get as much rest as possible, while making sure my shot and handle is up to point."

The big happening, though, was his first basketball camp. He teamed up with Jerrance Howard, a teammate and former roommate from Illinois, to put on the Basketball Camp 4 Champs Aug. 7-11 in Champaign. "We always talked about doing a camp together when we got out of school," Cook said. "Basically it came together by us thinking of some things to do to give back to the community and the university. And we wanted to make it a reunion week for former Illini to come back. We had a lot of guys come back and some young guys helped out, too.

"It was a really good week, we had about 200 kids attend camp. We taught them the fundamentals - but taught them life skills more than anything. A lot of kids said it was the best camp they'd ever been to.

"We're going to try to make it bigger and better for next year and get some coaches involved. We want to make it a big central Illinois event." It should come as no surprise to those who know Cook that he wanted to do a camp. He frequently visits the Lincoln Railer basketball camp and took several college classes geared toward things like this.

"I love working with younger kids. I've always enjoyed that," he said. "My major was business and sports management, and a lot of my classes were how to run programs for kids. It's all paying off now with my first year of doing camps.

"It's a learning process, whenever you do a business or working with kids, with things you think you can do better. But everything went good this past year. So we have a starting point." Cook will be a free agent at the end of the season, so where he'll be in the future is up in the air. He doesn't feel any pressure, though.

"Tell you the truth, it was basically the same thing as last year because I didn't know if (the Lakers) were going to pick up my option before the season," he said. "I think I proved that I can play and put up points in the NBA. I think I can be a steady force in the NBA, and this year is just proving that again. Like I've always told everybody, if I get time, I'll produce.

"It's my contract year and I'm playing for a job, and I'm talking with the Lakers now about an extension. They said they want to go through camp and see how I've improved in the summer before we do anything."

Despite the injury to his hand, Cook has worked on several different areas of his game since the end of last season. "I've been watching a lot of game tape and working out, trying to make my body stronger and quicker. I've lost a lot of weight and am down to about 242 or 243 (pounds) right now," said Cook, who was listed at 258 pounds last season. "I've learned I have to be able to run with these quicker guys.

"I'm watching film because I want to know how teams are playing me. Since I can shoot, they're going to run at me, so I'm working on being able to put the ball on the floor to be a playmaker, to get the ball to the open man. I'm also working on improving my defense, being a good team defender and drawing charges, grabbing rebounds." The Lakers signed free agent Vladimir Radmanovic, a 6-foot, 10-inch forward who can shoot 3-pointers this summer, but Cook isn't worried about the competition.

"To be honest, I think he's a great asset to the team," Cook said. "We like shooters, and I think I was the only shooter who shot over 50 percent from the floor and over 40 percent from the 3-point line last year. (Radmanovic and I) had about the same numbers last season. I think he took the place of Devin George, who signed with Dallas.

"I think if we can get both of us out there we can spread the defense to give Kobe (Bryant) and Lamar (Odom) space to create and give Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown room to work down low. I think it'll be great for us."

Heading into his fourth season, Cook still has the same goals he had when he entered the league.

"My goals and expectations have been the same," he said. "I want to one day play in the All-Star game, I want to win a championship.

"But it's a team game, and right now my role is to be a role player; rebound, play defense and hit open shots. That's what I've got to do to be on the floor, so that's what I've got to do."

Sonny

Dont Kings have their own blog in their website? A little lost or something? Just wondering what's with all these negative-talk with the Lakers.

I maybe a little late but did anyone see this article in which Shaq states that he made a mistake in the way he handled Penny and Kobe? He admitts it was a mistake? Scroll down until you see Shaqs name at the begining of a paragraph

http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

Hold on Laker Tom,

You know as well as I that a world of personnel and other changes can occur in a heartbeat and without notice.

For example, however unlikely, it is possible that either Bynum, Kwame or Mihm could still become Kings before the season starts. The Brokebacks could still end up with Bonzai!

Lakofan,

Welcome to my world. haha

AK

It's not going to go away either. At least, not until he mans up and takes personal and full responsibility for himself and his team.

I'm afraid there are too many of you who would never let that happen.

Gee, if when as a young kid, Kobes classmates had teased him less about his pointy little head, he would never have committed adultery.

Man, with Cook, Vlad, Sasha, Shammond, and Kobe, we have a bunch of good shooters now. If we rotate the ball well it's going to be on. With those guys, we'll have at least two money shooters on the court at all times. That's an advantage in today's NBA.

Cher Badslow,

Your "jersey" is really a dress, ya big Queen(fan).

mooo.

Wasn't it Kupcake, with his ear bent to the hordes of Saint worshippers, who sent your franchise player to Miami?

And for what? What did you get?

Your former franchise player got another ring.

You're still a few years out, or however long it takes to reload after you dump Kobe.

Anyone knows why Sasha didn't play for Slovenia in the FIBA World Championship??

silverworm,

Sasha was working on his facial hair this summer.

T-Woody

As much as it hurts everyone to admit it, IF Shaq HAD to be traded, and by his attitude, he left little choice, the trade was done at a good time. Shaq was, and still is, on his way down, and Kobe was, and still is, in his prime. Of course I would rather have kept Shaq, no doubt, but he put himself in a situation to fail and be traded. As always, he was pouting, and tried to act tough and make demands of the Lakers. Believe me when I tell you that he himself never expected to be traded, nor did he want to be traded. He wanted the attention. He wanted everyone to come to him and say yes, this is your team. But it didn't happened. He demanded a trade, he got one, and he was too proud and stubborn to take it back, admit he didn't mean it, and just stay. Shaq AND Kobe would still be here. Don't make the mistake of thinking he is happy. Why do you think he still takes shot at Kobe? At the Lakers organization? At the Lakers front office? He's angry they actually traded him. He's mad he's not where he wants to be. He's jealous that Kobe is where he wants to be. He'll deny it, sure. But inside he knows, he wishes he were still here in in L.A., playing and winning and retiring for the Lakers.

B.

Thank you CaliKing. I just had to cut and paste to make sure it is read twice

"As much as it hurts everyone to admit it, IF Shaq HAD to be traded, and by his attitude, he left little choice, the trade was done at a good time. Shaq was, and still is, on his way down, and Kobe was, and still is, in his prime. Of course I would rather have kept Shaq, no doubt, but he put himself in a situation to fail and be traded. As always, he was pouting, and tried to act tough and make demands of the Lakers. Believe me when I tell you that he himself never expected to be traded, nor did he want to be traded. He wanted the attention. He wanted everyone to come to him and say yes, this is your team. But it didn't happened. He demanded a trade, he got one, and he was too proud and stubborn to take it back, admit he didn't mean it, and just stay. Shaq AND Kobe would still be here. Don't make the mistake of thinking he is happy. Why do you think he still takes shot at Kobe? At the Lakers organization? At the Lakers front office? He's angry they actually traded him. He's mad he's not where he wants to be. He's jealous that Kobe is where he wants to be. He'll deny it, sure. But inside he knows, he wishes he were still here in in L.A., playing and winning and retiring for the Lakers."

When people talk about this trade they fail to mention Shaq acting like a little kid yelling into the camera "Pay me!" One person you don't call out on TV is Jerry Buss. Shaq demands the world from The Lakers but he'll give up 10M a year to go back to Florida. Give me a break. Shaq wanted to dominate a franchise that dominated long before him. We thank him and respect him for his greatest years. However, he did not win his last ring. DWade did. Shaq played second fiddle...something he wouldn't do with Kobe24. They could have had 6 rings together.

Yes, Steven. That's it exactly. Shaq was traded to Miami which is why Kobe was ACCUSED of rape and now plays video games to pass the time. I seem to remember DWade on the cover of a basketball game. Is that all he contributes? Don't give me the "he's on Team USA" rant, either. The Heat walked through an easier conference and found themselves a ring. Another Riley repeat? I think not.

Dude, get off of Shaq's tip. CaliKing already summed it up. Congrats on Miami's FIRST championship. My bet is that Mourning/Wade will win another ring before Shaq since the child doesn't workout until he's on "company time." Teamplayer my a$$.

TheeCaliKing:

Great post about Shaq “secretly” wishing he were still in purple and gold. I am sure down deep that your analysis was probably right on.

I sure don’t want to disrespect Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, or any other great Laker player, but there is something sacred in sports about those players who started and retired wearing the same jersey, especially in these days of rent-a-player free agency. There were no discussions about what jersey Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, or Magic Johnson would wear when they were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, just as there will be none many years from now when Kobe is inducted.

It is something that separates Kobe from Shaq just as it separated Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. It was a shame in my mind to see Gail Goodrich playing for the New Orleans Jazz. And even though I rooted for Karl Malone when he played for the Lakers, it didn’t seem right that he didn’t finish his career with the Utah Jazz. Overall, I guess that is the price we pay today for free agency, but I still love the players who started out as Lakers and ended up as Lakers.

This is the plague that pollutes sports and team loyalty in my mind. Roger Clemmons is not Ron Guidry or Mariano Rivera. Alex Rodriguez is not Derek Jeter or Bernie Williams. Roger Maris was not Mickey Mantle or Joe Dimaggio. And I hated Joe Montana in a Chiefs uniform or Jerry West in a Raiders uniform. And even my beloved New York Yankees of today are not the Bronx Bombers of yesteryear.

Of course, I still wouldn’t mind us signing or trading for stars from other teams. After all, that is how we got Shaq, Kareem, and Wilt and how the Yankees got the Babe and Roger Maris. But, bottom line, home grown is best. Maybe that’s why I am such a big fan of Jordan Farmar and Andrew Bynum, since they both could end up being all-career Lakers.

Tom

until now, i never realized how freaky "24" looks on kobe... that's going to take some getting used to

re: brian cook... for his fourth season, i'd love to see him put the ball on the floor more. he has such a soft body, i'd like for brian to start playing a little bit more like a 6-10 dude.

http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm
they have the Harrington thing at the top. Vlad Rad can sleep easily again

Much has been said about Kobe, good or bad, I think it is just a misunderstanding. I don't know how many of you here in this blog grew-up in another country? Well, Kobe has American parents but practically he assumed the italian heritage during those formative childhood years in Italy. He was not mingling in the international school but with italian kids who were playing soccer with different interests while he added basketball too as one of his sports because of his Dad, Joe "Jellybean". When he came back to Philadelphia, he re-entered the USA athmosphere which reflected different values, different culture, different social outlook. If you ask Kobe about italian opera singers he can name you all, the italian museums in Florence and Rome, the loud italian talk he could tell you more with gusto. Now, how many basketball teens in US today could relate to such comparison? Of course, kids here have their own jig, their own music and fad. Therefore when Kobe was taken by LA in '96 he was total stranger in 96-97 season a minor trying to blend in with American college players who grew from dorm life or fraternity mingling in parties, binch drinking, gambling and girls are just part of the ritual and if you're outside the loop you're a jerk, aloof or nerd. In the case of Kobe, his world was his sisters, Shariya & Shaya as well as his Mom and some infatuations with high school girls. The 96-97 Lakers were both young Shaq, Fisher, T. Knight and veterans or old like Scott, Vanexel, E. jones and Kersey. So during the first three years of Kobe in the NBA, it was an orientation to NBA life at the same time a "culture shock" to American way of life and independence. All he knew in Lower Merion H.S. is play basketball. Now he is being introduced to manhood, so in effect his testosterone was also changing. lol!

Perhaps, this is the reason (@ 28) why he introduced "Traveloque Of American Teenagers", a cultural orientation of italian teenage lifestyle. He wants to send a message that there is also a wonderful teenage life outside of America.