Power balance bracelets

Power balance bracelets in the New Year? Well, many swear by them and even our Laker star, Kobe Bryant is wearing one. No, it is no gimmick and the wearer believes that their strength, flexibility and balance is enhanced by wearing one of these. Shaquille O'Neal wears one. Soccer pro David Beckham wears one. Even Laker Lamar Odom is sporting one on his wrist too. Athletic trainers are skeptical but think that if a person believes enough, just their belief alone ought to help them. Having declared all of this, maybe it is working since we now have won the last two games played. Losing 4 out of 6 past games, winning over Detroit 108-83 was the boost the fans and our team really needed.Playing with the Detroit Pistons seemed like a new beginning in this brand new year. Our players showed renewed vigor and an offensive flow. After taking a 45-42 lead at halftime they opened up leads of 18 points twice in the third quarter behind Pau Gasol's (21) points. Kobe Bryant had 17 points even with some of his fingers bandaged still. Coach Phil Jackson and player Ron Artest had a very 'special conversation that led the media to begin asking questions that Ron decided did not need addressing and told them as much. It was a private conversation and one that has taken place at other times often with other players too when practice days seem bent to need some advice given or to bring out a point or 2 to drive home with the team. Phoenix was the host for our players this last Wednesday and we once again showed our power on the courts. There in the desert we won 99-95. It was a very good game to watch with tie scores even at times and at seasons midway point drawing near, Lakers do want their games elevated sooner rather than later. A victory over the Suns wouldn't have exactly heralded a new beginning for the two time defending Lakers, but it very well may be a step in the right direction..having perhaps spent far too much time meandering on their quest for a three-peat. All in all however Wednesday's game was perhaps their sharpest start to a game in recent memory. And an interesting side note is regarding Lamar Odom. His wife, Khloe Kardashian (star in T.V. show "Keeping up") and Lamar will be together on the air with an eight episode series tentatively titled "Khloe and Lamar" for E! This show will focus solely on their life together having been married to each other since September 2009. When the Lakers did not object, Lamar decided to go ahead and do it. And so with this to look forward to as well as two home games coming up, (one this Friday with New Orleans and one on Sunday with New York), New Years' best is wished one and all. Babs Wells