Envy

Reinforcements are here

I envy number two four, Kobe Bryant.

Yes, I would love to have the money, the fame, the hot wife, and the life that comes with being a successful NBA champion but those things are nothing compared to why I truly envy Kobe. Remember when I wrote a post about losing and how it absolutely sucks to be stuck in loserville? This is why I envy Kobe, he is a winner.

This guy has everything in the world that comes with having a fat cheque from an NBA team but what sets him a part from all the ball players is who he goes to battle with on any given night. Every time the trainer tapes his ankles and after he laces up his shoes, he runs down the tunnel with a group of guys that include Gasol, Fish, Bynum, Odom, and the newly added Artest. This is what I envy.

With the entire core of the Lakers under contract for a few years, Kobe has the option of being a part of a team that could potentially bring home the trophy every year for the next 3-5 years. What else could someone ask for in life.

Continuously winning is something only a few will ever experience and for a guy who is suffering through a pretty bad dryspell (Leafs, Raptors, & Jays), it is almost impossible to look at someone as great as Kobe and not truly envy them. Seriously, some people are just blessed with being in the right place at the right time and for Kobe, the time is now.

Hopefully one day soon, the sun will rise again and shine brightly upon my hometown heroes.

Easy Choice

The issue with Odom not signing with the Lakers is starting to get me a little disappointed with the management at the Staples Center. Rumours are swirling that Odom will sign on the dotted line with the Heat and return to the organization that traded him 5 years ago.

Dynasty seems to be a word that is thrown around and the Lakers could be in contention to be a dynasty but they need to resign Odom. His versatility on both ends of the court will add to the naturally gifted players (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, & Artest) they already possess. Why would the Lakers care about having to pay the luxury tax next year. This is a team that produces revenue like no other. Jerseys and memorabilia jump off store shelves.

I completely understand if the Lakers were in a rebuilding phase but they aren't. It is all about winning now and with the group of core players they have, they have an amazing shot at taking the next 2-4 titles. Rebuilding and waiting for the hyped up 2010 bonanza is something most teams seem to be doing but for the Lakers it is a waste of time to be cheap on Odom.

Just for a moment, let's think about 2010. What if the Lakers are trying to keep some cash in their pockets so they could sign a guy like Amare, Wade, or even Bosh. That would be pretty sick to see. Just imagining a team with one of those guys added into the mix. Okay Okay, back to reality. With the way contracts and the economy are in, long term contracts that eat up big portions of the salary cap just aren't going to work with the Lakers.

With the additions that the Cavs, Celtics, and Magic have made in the offseason. The Lakers need to make sure they have Odom dressed in Lakers' colours because if they don't, a repeat doesn't seem like an easy slam dunk as previously thought.