CRICKETS AND KETTLE DRUMS

The bpisports.com column WHERE THE GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF-EMPTY

#8 - BUILD-A-DYNASTY WORKSHOP

BY TREVOR W. RILEY

JUNE 18, 2010

Though CNKD is supposed to be the negatively slanted column that finds something wrong with everything...or where the glass is always half-empty...or where the percussion chirps, I also created it to tell a good story. So please allow me to cheekily tell you how and why I am the reason for the success of the Los Angeles Lakers over the last three seasons. Well actually, I own a timely good luck charm per se.

It all began on July 22, 2007. I took a trip to Bakersfield, California to see my Elaine Benes ID of sorts (we dated, but now we're just good friends) as a college graduation gift from my parents. The weather and company were great, and before I headed home, "Elaine" wanted to get me a little memento of my time in the Bake.

The day before I flew back, she took me to a Build-A-Bear Workshop to get/make a stuffed animal. I narrowed my choices down to a black bear or a turtle, and ultimately decided on the black bear. "Elaine" called him Blackie and laughed at my choice because she could barely see his beady eyes. I officially named him Agent X because "Elaine" had decided to purchase a Nissan Xterra during my time there. Then it was time to choose the clothing.

It was always going to be sports related, the big question was, "Clippers or Lakers"? I've always enjoyed the Los Angeles Clippers' "lovable losers" aura and to this day I root for their relative success. The Lakers are almost on another plane with me. I was born and raised in southeastern Michigan, yet I've never been that ultimate "home team" guy. Moreover, I've always had a certain fascination with the Los Angeles Lakers. I don't know if it was the colors, the success, or what have you, but I vaguely recall rooting for the Lakers to beat the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals at the age of 4. A couple years later, while at the Palace of Auburn Hills for a Pistons game, I asked my dad to buy me a corduroy Lakers hat and he obliged...I still have it somewhere. In the end it was a rather hands-down decision; a Lakers get-up for Agent X.

Little did I know that I was making a history-influencing decision.

In the three seasons (2004-05 to 2006-07) preceding Agent X's creation, the Los Angeles Lakers were 125-133 (48.5%) including their 4-8 playoff record in two appearances. Not only did that team not win any division titles or playoff series, they had internal chaos in the form of Kobe Bryant trade rumors/demands, Rudy Tomjanovich's health issues, and the general aftermath of being Shaq-less.

In the three seasons (2007-08 to 2009-10) since Agent X's creation, the Los Angeles Lakers are 225-88 (71.9%) including their 46-21 playoff record in three trips. During this stretch, they won three Pacific Division titles and 11 playoff series, culminating in two NBA Championships in three NBA Finals appearances. Kobe and Phil Jackson recommitted to their winning ways, the Lakers made key acquisitions in the form of Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and Trevor Ariza, and players like Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher maximized their abilities in the purple and gold.

And to think that this was all because of a SoCal stuffed animal...amazing! Hopefully for all Lakers fans out there, Agent X grants more wishes and good fortune than a three-wish genie does. Is 2010-11 the continuation or the ending? Only X will tell.

Well that's a wrap for column 7, episode 8 of CNKD. If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or other feedback, feel free to send them along via email to cnkd2010@aol.com. There's 8 down and 999,992 to go. Peace.