So Shaqs Jersey is going up in Staples

[ambchang]

& once again Kobe was proven right. It was Phil who came back, hat-in-hand, beggin' for his job back. & Kobe signed off on his return, quietly, unobtrusively. It was very gracious of Kobe. Phil learned his lessons there. Kobe the teacher.

Phil Jackson begged for his job back with the Lakers after the Lakers were kicked out of the 1st round?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...son/index.html

Sounds like the Lakers fans and management begged him back.

"One of the reasons why I've returned is the support has been so tremendous in this city," he said. "It is a town that truly supports its team and has a tremendous amount of affection for it."

Jeanie Buss, the owner's daughter and the Lakers' executive vice president of business operations, publicly lobbied for months for the return of Jackson, her longtime boyfriend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/14/sp...ackson.html?hp

The biggest exception was Jeanie Buss, a Lakers vice president, the daughter of the team owner and Jackson's girlfriend of five years. Although she does not work on the basketball side of team operations, Buss played a central role in Jackson's return, lobbying both Jackson and her father for the last few months.

The Lakers just completed their worst season in 11 years, going 34-48 and missing the playoffs. In two weeks, they will participate in their first draft lottery since 1994.

I mean, what's up with Laker fans and revisionist history?

[Giuseppe]

Phil Jackson begged for his job back with the Lakers after the Lakers were kicked out of the 1st round?

Yes, and Kobe was magnanimous to grant him absolution.

[Ashy Larry]

people like to think Kobe got Shaquille ran but when you run up and down the court screaming at Doc Buss, chance are, you're done. Let one of us roll into our boss's office and say "Pay Me My Money, Muthafukka" and see what happens.

[TheMACHINE]

They would have won atleast 2 together. It's why I don't understand why Laker fans get bitter at Phil's feelings towards Kobe. In Phil's perspective he didn't nor should he care about Kobe's legacy. He'll never view Kobe in the same light since he cost him 2 les (04 & 08) AND who knows how many if he accepted Pippen role for another 2 seasons

Really? They got beat be the Spurs in 03, then got assraped in the Finals in 04. Yet people still think "ohhh if they stuck together, they would have had more les"...bull ...based on the past 2 years they played, it was clear one had to go.

[BlackSwordsMan]

This is typical for kids daddy brings hope the food and yet he gets on when he leaves mommy because shes too old and es a lot and doesn't stick her pinky in daddy's asshole when she blows him anymore. Get over it laker s.

[Giuseppe]

Daddy wanted Kobe to be "Gilligan" to Daddy's "Skipper." Kobe was going to have none of it. Phil was "The Professor." Kori would be of course "Ginger." I would take the part of Thurston Howell, III. "Lovey" will be played by Swords in drag. "Maryann" will be played by Tiny.

[Giuseppe]

This is typical for kids daddy brings hope the food and yet he gets on when he leaves mommy because shes too old and es a lot and doesn't stick her pinky in daddy's asshole when she blows him anymore.

Gulp.

[Killakobe81]

They would have won atleast 2 together. It's why I don't understand why Laker fans get bitter at Phil's feelings towards Kobe. In Phil's perspective he didn't nor should he care about Kobe's legacy. He'll never view Kobe in the same light since he cost him 2 les (04 & 08) AND who knows how many if he accepted Pippen role for another 2 seasons

Talk about revisionist history, how in the world were the Lakers going to win in 2008? Odom and Pau got punked and we were mossing two vital role players. Celts played some of the best defense of the past 20 years but Kobe could of magically won the le in 2008 by passing more? GTFO!

As for 2004 a case can be made we were the more talented team, but the Pistons played harder, played better defense and were better coached.
2004 was one of the most dysfunctional teams EVER assembled maybe on ly the Jailblazers and some of Karl's early flameout Sonics were teams of equal talent that could not put it all together ...I lived in L.A. the national media just focused on Kobe/shaq that team dealt with:

1. the Kobe shaq feud at it's worst
2. Colorado
3. Karl malone allegedly hitting on Kobe's wife
4. Payton feuding with Phil about the triangle
5. fisher being demoted ...

I could go on, but that group had more talent but Pistons were a better "team". they out played us ...period. Kobe was a stubborn ass that Finals but i was not surprised when we flamed out ... that team. that and the 2002-2003 squad (that actually won) were my LEAST favorite Lakers teams. Watching Kobe chuck, Smush run point and Luke as a starter were better than either year tbh ...only saving grace is we completed the 3 peat but that team needed to be reconstructed if they could not mend fences, but whoo breaks up a potential dynasty. Magic, west etc hoped they could kiss and makeup but the media fed the beats and it spun way out of control. Some laker fans are still divided along pro-Kobe/Shaq supporter party lines ...

[TheNextGen]

"Is Shaq a Hall-of-Famer? Of course. Should the Lakers retire his #? , no!"

"With all the terrible things Shaq said about Dr. Buss, the Lakers and Los Angeles when he left, let the Heat retire his jersey."

"The Lakers will cowtow to Shaq and retire his jersey, but I'd tell him to go f*** himself if I were Dr. Buss."

"You yell "Pay me, mother****** at me during a game?" Enjoy your jersey ceremony in Miami, Shaq."

"Shaq sacrificed all post-career honors after ripping into everyone with the Lakers and Los Angeles."

"Would your boss give you a big severance package and retirement ceremony if you behaved like Shaq? No."

"Shaq told his boss to f*** himself, called L.A. "fake" and ripped the fans and his teammates. No way!"

"As a final "f*** you" to the Lakers and their fans, Shaq signs with the Celtics! Get lost!"

"Agreed, Shaq was a great, though underachieving, player. So let the Heat retire his jersey."

"Shaq was happiest man in America when Lakers lost to Cetics in '08. "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes""

"It would be a joke for the Lakers to retire the Big Ingrate's #."

"Signed with Celtics,danced in celebration when Celtics won in '08. "You couldn't do it w/o me. Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.""

"Shaq didn't bring 3 rings. It was Shaq, Kobe and Phil. Kobe also never called L.A. a "fake city" and faked injuries."

"I can't believe all the ass kissing of Shaq going on all over the country. None of them live in L.A., evidently."

"How can you call yourself the "Most Dominant Ever" when you never led the NBA in rebounding, blocks or been named 1st team all-defense?"

"Remember when Shaq refused to have surgery in summer of '02, because "I'll do it on company time, not my time." Cost them a championship."

"Remember how he began every season, except 1999-00, out-of-shape? $20M salary and he loafed through every season."

"Remember this quote from Shaq? "Jerry West didn't bring me here to play defense and rebound.""

"Remember when Shaq threatened to intentionally let opponents score? "When you don't feed the big dog, the big dog don't guard the yard.""

"Remember this one, when Shaq demanded a trade? "If they don't trade me, I'll go and get surgery and miss the season." Extortion."

"Before the Heat trade, Shaq called Dr. Buss "senile," Kupchak an "idiot," ripped the organization and blamed his teammates for losing."

"When Shaq got to Miami, he said L.A. was "a fake city," Dwyane Wade was "better than Kobe" and Mickey Arison the "best owner in the NBA.""

"At Heat parade, Shaq said "Heat was the best organization I've ever played for and Miami is the best city.""

"Then, as a final "F*** you" to the Lakers and their fans, Shaq signed with the Celtics "Because I want to help them win a championship.""

"Just speaking the truth for all the ass kissers out there lying about Shaq."

"He was a great player here and contributed to championships. But his hatred and vitriole after he left eliminates him."

"Until he apologizes to Dr. Buss, Chick Hearn, Kobe, the fans and his teammates, nothing is resolved."

[djohn2oo8]

lol thinking championships are the only reasons why someone should be on the rafters.

3 Straight les, 3 STRAIGHT finals MVPs, 1 League MVP, and was possibly the most dominant player the league had ever seen during that time. He cemented his hall of fame status in a Lakers uniform

[djohn2oo8]

Since we're gonna go the stats route:


2000 -- Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers
Averaged 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds and 2.67 blocks to lead the Lakers to a 4-2 victory over the Indiana Pacers and the franchise’s first NBA Championship since 1988. O’Neal’s best Finals performances came at the Staples Center with 43 points, 19 rebounds in Game #1, 40 points, 24 rebounds in Game #2 and 41 points, 12 rebounds in Game #6.
2001 -- Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers
Averaged 33.0 points, 15.6 rebounds and 3.40 blocks to lead the Lakers to a 4-1victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and the franchise’s second consecutive NBA Championship. O’Neal’s best Finals performances came at the Staples Center with 44 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in Game #1, 28 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists in Game #2 and 34 points, 14 rebounds in Game #4. 2002 -- Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers
Averaged 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.75 blocks to lead the Lakers to a sweep of the New Jersey Nets and the franchise’s third consecutive NBA Championship. O’Neal’s best Finals performances came at the Staples Center with 36 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in Game #1, 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in Game #2, 35 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in Game #3.

[Giuseppe]

dj, runnin' as fast as he can.

[djohn2oo8]

dj, runnin' as fast as he can.

And threw down a windmill dunk

[The Gemini Method]

Sure he was a prick at times but he does (one day) deserve to have his number retired. He was as feared as they come when his peak happened in L.A. The rapid claim that his number does definitely have the majority of proud Laker fans a bit weary, but there is no denying his importance int he franchises' return to prominence. Let's hope he doesn't turn into another Favre and continuously clamor to return to the game he played professionally for nearly 2 decades.

[Giuseppe]

We skimmed the cream, then dumped him for Odom who then delivered 2 more rings.

Not bad ROI.

[TampaDude]

Shaq is the best player in Lakers history, if you don't put his jersey up, no ones jersey should go up.

Magic Johnson says hi.

Prime Shaq was a beast, no doubt, but better than Magic? Uh...no...

[Giuseppe]

Without Magic there is no breakthru in MA. in '85. And without that breakthru, we're still drifting in the winds the last 25 years.

[TampaDude]

Without Magic there is no breakthru in MA. in '85. And without that breakthru, we're still drifting in the winds the last 25 years.

^ Cully with the goods overnighted to your doorstep.

[kamikazi_player]

i dont like it...

Although i remember the 3 championships he gave us, Ill also remember Shaq...for dissing Dr. Buss...for clowning the Lakers fans....for talking trash about the Lakers and Kobe....for joining our most hated rival, the Celtics, to specifically match up against the Lakers. I'm not as forgiving as you guys. Imo, to be up in the rafters, you need to be a true, respectful "Lakers" player....and Shaq isn't one.

Lakers Front Office are pussies.

lmao ungrateful laker fan