Re: Must Read Book For Laker Fans! Laker fans definetly NEED to read/buy this book, "The Show:The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It." It is written by Roland Lazenby and contains inside and behind the scenes information about the Lakers and their history stemming from their days in Minneappolis.It's nearly 500 pages long, but it truly is an awesome read. I only read the chapters from the 88 Lakers (and how the players got fed up with Riley and got his ass fired) to the 2001 Laker championship team (and how Shaq venemously HATED Kobe because he thought the kid was selfish, when actually all Kobe was doing was trying to get better and win games) so far, but I plan on finishing the book this weekend.Here's some excerpts and quotes I found interesting:On Phil Jackson and Jerry Westhil Jackson was basically blackballed from the rest of the league due to jealousy from other coaches and organizations. They thought Phil was lucky to have coached MJ and didnt want to give him any help, meaning that if it weren't for Jerry West, no team wouldve traded with LA because of Phil.Phil and Jerry West did not get along. After Phil divorced his wife(because of marriage infidelities during his days in Chicago), he got romantically involved with Dr Buss' daughter, which angered West. One time, during the 2000 playoff series against Portland, Jackson kicked West out of the locker room (which inevitably led to Jerry West "retiring" from the Lakers organization).Lakers officials begged Tex Winter to stay because he was the only one in the organization who would stand up to Phil Jackson. By forcing West out, Jackson had become too powerful and his ego too big. Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupcheck were intimidated by him.On the Lakers 2001 season:First, O'Neal had celebrated too hard during the offseason and came into training camp way out of shape, a development that deeply disappointed Jackson and his assistants, not to mention the hardworking Bryant. Of course, O'Neal hadn't been alone in his sloth. Jackson said that only forward Rick Fox and Bryant had come into camp in shape and ready to play.With the center struggling, Bryant reasoned that he should take over the offense. It wasnt long before O'Neal and his teammates were grumbling that Kobe was acting selfish.Tex Winter: "Shaq started pouting. In effect he was saying to us, 'If Im not the primary option on offense, don't expect me to work hard on defense.'""Kobe said that he'd spent a lot of time working on his game in the off season, working on his shots, working on his moves, and improving his game so he would have a chance to be the best player that he could possibly be. Then to come back and have people fault the efforts he made through the summer to make himself what he was, that was very discouraging to him. My wife Nancy indicated to me that she thought Kobes heart had been broken at that particular point."Basically, after reading this, it looks like Kobe has been misunderstood and the victim of jealousy. It also opened my eyes to Phil Jackson, Jerry West, and Shaq.There's tons more of great stuff this book has to offer, so u guys should check it out.
Re: Must Read Book For Laker Fans! WOW, I've got to buy this book.They'll have it at Barnes and Noble right?
Re: Must Read Book For Laker Fans! If kobe was exposed for being selfish then it's only fair Shaq recieves the same treatment. Same guy who said in essence " i got injured on company time and i'll get surgery on company time". Hopefully the myth that shaq is a classy guy is being broken.Secondly Roland Lazenby is a loser. I have never seen a reporter write so many negative books/articles about someone. He just can never stop hating on phil, it seems like he's jealous.
