“Wen Roberts, 70, the longtime official photographer for the Lakers, Kings and Inglewood Forum, died Monday at his El Segundo home of complications from… Lou Gehrig’s disease, his wife, Mary, said.” Coca-Cola, Nike, the NBA logo… “Alan Siegel, who designed the logo to complement the Major League Baseball logo that Jerry Dior had designed in […]
Lakers History
The Flip of a Coin
This story yesterday from True Hoop — how Portland winning a coin flip gave them the top pick this year, had it gone the other way it would have gone to Minnesota and dramatically changed Kevin Garnett’s future — reminded me how the flip of a coin dramatically changed the course of the Lakers franchise. […]
Positives To Look Back On
There’s a long off-season ahead, one that should prove to be interesting. But I’m going to take a few days before delving into it, and writing season wrap-ups, and reflect back on some of the positives from the past season. The things from the Lakers worth remembering and enjoying. The emergence of Ronny Turiaf as […]
Magic, Nash and Some Blog Talk
There is so much great and interesting stuff put out in the basketball blogsphere the last couple days that to just talk about Lakers’ lack of focus on defense last night seems masochistic. So today bask in the sunshine, the darkness may creep back in tomorrow. Let’s start with friend-of-this-site Nate Jones of Jones on […]
His Words Were His Legacy
“The first and only “voice” of the Lakers for more than 40 years, Francis “Chick” Hearn taught the game of NBA basketball to Los Angeles while providing his “word’s eye view” for an unprecedented streak of 3,333 games. His style and innovation will influence every basketball announcer and broadcast forever.” -from the Staples Center plaque […]
88 Lines about 44 Lakers
With apologies to The Nails Cooper was the defensive type Except during the Coop-a-loop Cederic Ceballos liked to drive But to ‘zona, not the hoop Byron Scott’s outside shot Was the key to many wins While any Chuck Nevitt shot Belonged over by the bins Frank Brickowski’s touch was better Than his name would suggest […]
The Twenty-foot Lay-up
The ball would swing back behind his left ear and, in a circular motion, move back behind his head, held high above his wiry 6′ 6″ 190 lb. frame. A slight bend of the knees and, without ever passing the crown of his head, it was gone. Released skyward, still moving, in a slow motion, […]
Big Norman turns 70
This month Wilt Chamberlain would have turned 70. Long after his playing days and his passing, he remains one of the more complex and misunderstood men ever in the game, a giant who could be both intimidating and gentle. A man who never received the universal love of the fans and who, unfairly, was often […]
Lakers I Miss: Cedric Ceballos
I look back on Cedric Ceballos the way I look back on a couple of crazy ex-girlfriends — when it was good it was exciting and wild, when it went bad it crashed and burned spectacularly. There was thee 50-point game against the Timberwolves, the start of the 95/96 when he scored 25 for six […]
Quintessential Jerry West
Not a lot of basketball to watch these days, so why not enjoy maybe the greatest shot in Laker history one more time — Jerry West in the 1970 NBA Finals.