<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Phil Jackson, who led Los Angeles to three NBA titles in five years, has turned down a job as vice president of the Lakers, the Los Angeles media reported. The NBA coaching guru also said he intentionally sabotaged contract talks with owner Jerry Buss by demanding 10 million dollars more per season. "I am happy I left," Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. "It looks like the right time to leave. "I felt I was indifferent diametrically opposed to the direction they were going, so I thought taking that position (vice-president) wasn't forthright and honest." Speaking in a wide-ranging interview Jackson also touched on the blockbuster issues of Bryant's free agency, Shaquille O'Neal's likely trade to Miami, an interfering owner and the infighting that tore the team apart. The Lakers hired Rudy Tomjanovich on Sunday to replace Jackson who was not asked back after Los Angeles lost to Detroit in the NBA finals last month. Jackson knew he wouldn't be returning when owner Jerry Buss suspended contract extension talks in February.</div> <div align="center">Link</div>
I read the article and after reading that he left on his own terms to accomodate Kobe, he already knew something drastic was going to happen and that he wouldn't be able to coach the team anymore which I felt was very sad. He also pointed out the way it was handled made the organization look fumbling. I did sense some bitterness saying that we can say goodbye to multiple championships without a big man in the middle. Even though he is correct about that, I felt he tried to stick that quote into the Laker organization a tad bit. But this was the quote that really opened my eyes: Jackson described Bryant as a difficult player to please. Bryant once sobbed in the bathroom while his teammates celebrated a championship with champagne in the dressing room. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"A championship wasn't enough to make Kobe happy," Jackson said. "I noticed it wasn't enough. It was OK. It was a notch in his belt. But it wasn't his end result."</div> In regards to Kobe, if a championship, let alone three championships doesn't make you happy, and you'd rather be an outkast sobbing by yourself in a bathroom, what'll make you happy?? I don't understand that type of behavior.
this was the part that really got my attention on that article <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The NBA coaching guru also said he intentionally sabotaged contract talks with owner Jerry Buss by demanding 10 million dollars more per season.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post"> In regards to Kobe, if a championship, let alone three championships doesn't make you happy, and you'd rather be an outkast sobbing by yourself in a bathroom, what'll make you happy?? I don't understand that type of behavior.</div> and thats exactly why no matter how good he is, I cant see him carrying a team on his shoulders by himself to the finals. Put some solid role players around him and maybe. but the Lakers as is with only Bryant? I dont think he can do it. and those of you who want to blast me for what I said... keep in mind that I have said nothing about him lacking talent, he has that in spades, but he has an "all or nothing" attitude about himself... its all for him or you get nothing.
This should silence the Laker haters who were calling Laker fans "ignorant" for not believing that Jackson was forced out of the Lakers' organization. Its interesting to get Jackson's perspective on Bryant. It reaffirms his loner mentality and the fact that he is an odd person.
Phil wants to take some time off and clear his mind and meditate. He will go back to his home in Montana. I wonder if his declining the VP job will end his relationship with Jeannie Buss for good...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post">This should silence the Laker haters who were calling Laker fans "ignorant" for not believing that Jackson was forced out of the Lakers' organization. Its interesting to get Jackson's perspective on Bryant. It reaffirms his loner mentality and the fact that he is an odd person.</div> the article means nothing of the sort. im not saying that anyone that doesnt believe it is ignorant, they just have their own viewpoint. Being the coach of the team I cant really find any way to say he didnt know what was on the horizon when it comes to Bryant especially with some of the other comments he made about Bryants character.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post">This should silence the Laker haters who were calling Laker fans "ignorant" for not believing that Jackson was forced out of the Lakers' organization. Its interesting to get Jackson's perspective on Bryant. It reaffirms his loner mentality and the fact that he is an odd person.</div> originally i was going to say the article means nothing of the sort but realized that i needed to be a bit more specific than that. what it doesnt say anything about is wether Jackson was forced out by Bryant or not. what i should have said was it doesnt say either way really im not saying that anyone that does or doesnt believe it is ignorant, they just have their own viewpoint. But being the coach of the team I cant really find any way to say he didnt know what was on the horizon when it comes to Bryant especially with some of the other comments he made about Bryants character.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting harbingerofdoom:</div><div class="quote_post">and thats exactly why no matter how good he is, I cant see him carrying a team on his shoulders by himself to the finals. Put some solid role players around him and maybe. but the Lakers as is with only Bryant? I dont think he can do it.</div> I disagree. Kobe Bryant has the athletic ability to be a leader on a basketball team. He's that great of a player. But whenever he wants to showcase his talent, he gets overshadowed completely by Shaq. Now that Kobe forced the Laker organization to get Shaq out of the picture, Kobe wants to prove something to the management, us fans, and the doubting critics that he has all the tools neccessary to get the job done.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting harbingerofdoom:</div><div class="quote_post">originally i was going to say the article means nothing of the sort but realized that i needed to be a bit more specific than that. what it doesnt say anything about is wether Jackson was forced out by Bryant or not. what i should have said was it doesnt say either way really im not saying that anyone that does or doesnt believe it is ignorant, they just have their own viewpoint. But being the coach of the team I cant really find any way to say he didnt know what was on the horizon when it comes to Bryant especially with some of the other comments he made about Bryants character.</div> "The NBA coaching guru also said he intentionally sabotaged contract talks with owner Jerry Buss by demanding 10 million dollars more per season." Did you read this part?^ He put the Lakers into a position of not bringing him back.
let the captain leave but don't sink the ship I CAN LIVE WITH PHIL LEAVING, I THINK HE WAS BURNED OUT, HE NEVER GOT TOSSED IN A SINGLE GAME OF THE FINALS, THAT IS NO WAY TO PROTECT YOUR PLAYERS. BUT SPLITTING UP SHAQ AND KOBE IS A FOOLISH MISTAKE THAT OUR FRANCHISE MAY NEVER RECOVER FROM(SEE ORLANDO, CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE). WHERE IS JACK NICHOLSON TO SHOUT IN JERRY'S EAR----WAKE UP!
It was a good read, I found some of Phil Jackson's statements interesting. Sabotaging the Lakers by asking for a $10M salary was the eye opener. If he didn't want to be back, why not just retire instead of twisting the media into thinking the Lakers ran him out of town. Also he said the Lakers cannot win without a force in the middle. I don't remember the Bulls team he coached having a force in the middle. The three headed monster they used in Chicago hardly dominated the competition. Also the Pistons winning the championship last season didn't rely on a dominant big man. They do have Ben Wallace, but he's an undersized center in the league. If anything, the Pistons showed the rest of the league, you don't necessarily need a Shaq or Duncan to win titles. You need teamwork and team chemistry and a deep bench. Besides in 2 years, Shaq is going to be gone anyways, so it makes sense for the Lakers to see what they can get NOW for Shaq, instead of getting nothing in return for him down the line. I don't agree with the Miami deal, but I did agree with the Lakers shopping Shaq around to get a feel of what other teams think he's still worth. I think the comment about Kobe crying alone in the shower is also taken out of context. I saw Kobe jumping around the court celebrating with teammates after they won the title. Maybe he just wanted some alone time to reflect the accomplishment of winning a title. There's nothing wrong with that, and PJ correlated this incident with a championship not being enough and Kobe is not happy. Kobe sure looked happy during the Laker parade, he looks happy on the court when a teammate makes a good play, or he makes one. PJ sounds very bitter in this article and he's taking a lot of cheap shots all around. This entire Laker situation reminds me of how the Bulls dismantled their championship team. Maybe PJ is the real catalyst behind both of these franchises having to deal with superstars feuding.
