IT'S OKAY...

The Lakers aren't the champions this year? Really? Yeah, no parade in downtown LA this year. No shot of Kobe and the trophy in a loving embrace. No Phil Jackson getting doused with champagne in the locker room. No Lakers jumping up and down in the hallways. Tonight (okay fine the whole series), Detroit outplayed our boys and for some reason, as crushed as I am, it's okay. And I'm only okay with this for one reason and one reason only: Coach Larry Brown finally got his ring and I think it's about time. He deserves it.

Sorry Karl and Gary. Your plan was unsuccessful and I guess you'll have to retire without that ring on your hand. Now the Lakers can try to get it together this summer. Shape up the shapeless, enhance the bench's reliability, shoot a hundred freethrows daily, get rid of the oldies and bring in the youth...and resign Kobe. There's the plan. We'll see what happens...next season...