I don’t particularly buy into the Phil Jackson-as-Coaching-God theory — when you’re blessed with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and a young Shaquille O’Neal, probably the top three players of this generation, you had better win 10 NBA titles. So whether or not he stays with the Lakers holds no special interest for me. Others, as I understand it, care a whole lot.

That would include Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss, who happens to be Jackson’s longtime girlfriend. With former Lakers assistant and Jackson protege Kurt Rambis headed to the Timberwolves, Buss made a somewhat surprising observation recently on ESPN Radio in Los Angeles: Rambis’ departure could mean that Jackson could stick around in LA longer than anticipated. Read more…

Kids these days. The newer generations of NBA fans probably only know Kevin McHale, if they know him at all, as either the general manager/coach who spent the past few years running the Minnesota Timberwolves into the ground before being shown the door in June. Older fans, however, probably remember McHale best as the Celtics forward who clotheslined the bespectacled, bemulleted Lakers forward Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals.

Now, 25 years later, REVENGE! Rambis has been hired away from the Lakers to replace  the deposed McHale as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sadly, it appears that the 80s mullet and black specs were casualties of his quest for revenge and were left somewhere on the Boston Garden floor.

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As election season heats up, all of the powerful celebrities are coming out of the woodwork to offer their assistance to one candidate or another. And it appears as if Barack Obama is finally breaking out the big guns. That’s right, Derek Fisher is on the campaign trail!

The Laker guard volunteered to help out the Obama camp, and instead of being sent to local events in Southern California, they dispatched him to where he’s needed most: the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. This was big news in Big Sky country. The last Laker to visit the reservation was the incomparable Kurt Rambis.

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Who wears short shorts?

Kobe wears short shorts.

In an attempt to bring back the glory days of their ’80s rivalry with Boston, the Lakers donned tiny trousers during Sunday night’s game against the Celtics. The shorts were on display through the first half.

Even Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis broke out the glasses & mustache that made him such a memorable member of L.A.’s heyday.

Did it work? Well, the Lakers scored the first basket…and that was their only lead of the night, as L.A. came up short in a 110-91 loss.

If the shorts scheme didn’t work, maybe the Lakers should try returning to the Forum. But they’ll have to wait until after “Praise Party 07“.