To be honest, the Lakers aren’t giving fans a lot to be thankful for. They are in the midst of a second straight awful season. So far this campaign, they are suffering (roughly) four losses for every win and dealing with a myriad of injuries to players who would not only help their win total but provide entertainment during games. If what has transpired to this point holds for the rest of the season, this group of players will have provided what would clearly be the worst year in the history of the franchise.
In saying all that, though, I remain thankful. This sounds strange, I know.
The Lakers have, for better or worse (but mostly better), been an institution in my life for most of the years I have been alive. Some of my earliest memories are of watching games with my dad, listening to Chick Hearn describe the action of some of history’s greatest players. Over time I have seen way more winning than losing, seen every down period turn into a period of sustained excellence.
In a strange way, then, a truly low period like the one the team is going through now makes me thankful because it serves a reminder of all those good times. All of these losses and the commentary and shot taking by pundits they inspire only reinforce the fact that it all only matters because it is so damn rare. And maybe that is grasping at straws and maybe fans of other teams will scoff at the fact that losing could make you feel like anything but, well, a loser. The idea of Lakers’ exceptionalism will get thrown back as some sort of fake superiority complex that makes us the worst.
And maybe there’s some truth in all that.
But, on a day where we are supposed to give thanks, I really am thankful today. Not for the losses or the poor decision making by the players, front office, and coaches that lead to them. All of that sucks. But all of it does serve as a reminder to me that things weren’t always so bad and that, if history holds, they won’t always be either.
So, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from FB&G.
mud says
yeah, things are much better than a kick in the head.
the Lakers will be all right too.
Oldtimer says
Thanks Darius for keeping up the blog comments in good times and in bad. Thank you to all Laker fans who are still watching the Laker games and hoping we win this one that slipped away . We forgive, we forgive, Clark (Kent) is coming or the Clark, the journeyman will join the merry-go-or the next one tomorrow. Happy Turkey Day to the Buss Children, despite all our misgivings, you deserve a little praise for the continuity of the team.
PurpleBlood says
Definitely mud, our Lakers will be alright soon enough; hopefully sooner than later though!
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Needless to say, & i believe most of us mention it every year, i´m thankful for FB&G!! Thank you Darius!
I´m also thankful for having been fortunate enough to have grown up in L.A. & to have become a Purple & Gold fan way back in 1980.
Being a Lakers fan is nothing short of AWESOME!
GO LAKERS!! ALWAYS!!
Have a great holiday everyone – & thanks to you all as well
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`Happy Turkey Day to the Buss Children, despite all our misgivings, you deserve a little praise for the continuity of the team.´
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way to go Oldtimer
Robert says
Yes – many things to be thankful for: 31 Trips to the Finals; 16 Titles, Kobe, the Laker Girls, the Legends, this board, and of course we still wear the most iconic uniforms in the game. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Anonymous says
Sassy
bleedpurplegold says
Happy thanksgiving to u guys, and espacially to darius, who does an exellent job here with his blog and his great analysis for the games and the team we all love
Thanks to the guys still standing behind the lakeshow and discussing theit opinions here, mostly on a really objective note….really enjoy coming here on a daily basis reading and posting here and there….tough times ahead, but we will get that sweet revenge rather sooner than later…after all, this is still the greatest franchise in the history of basketball north american sports 🙂
Cheers to all u guys out there, enjoy the day with your families 🙂
Brian says
Thankful to have heard the greatest radio play-by-play announcer that ever was, or ever will be!!! Happy Birthday, Chick!!!
BigCitySid says
Basketball wise:
-Thankful to be Laker fan. They have delivered 11 titles since I became a fan at the age of 13 in 1965. Believe it or not, some called Baylor & West, “Mr Inside & Mr Outside”…it never caught on.
-Thankful for this site, truly the best Laker site on line
-Thankful Lakers have two very winnable games in their next three vs the T ‘Wolves & Pistons. If Lakers play team ball like they did last game vs Grizz, they’ll win.
Tra says
.. we still wear the most iconic uniforms in the game.
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True indeed .. And hopefully, sooner rather then later, we can get some better players to fill those “iconic uniforms.”
George Best says
The best Thanksgiving present will be when Kobe announces this will be his last year after he passes Jordan on the scoring list.
The Lakers and Kobe did a deal to protect the top 5 pick and make it seem like they weren’t tanking. Kobe gets max money, plays a ton this year trying to score as much as possible knowing he has limited time and the team was not going to contend.
This is a rough year but certain things had to be done and Kobe will get his money and records this year and the team will be much better next year and Kobe will appear like he finally put the team first preserving his legacy.