Goodbye Phil

Phil, You have been an exemplary coach and as a remaining
Laker fan I hate to see you depart the role but truly
understand your reasoning. Life takes its' toll on us as
individuals and even as a full working team.
We tried our best and we were defeated.
So as your exit from the team is near,
we wish we could send you off with glee instead
of the type of exit Dallas has placed upon our plate.
Having to be in a losing stretch these last games has
been humbling to say the very least and having some
of our players ejected unceremoniously only adds to
the anger and feelings of loss. Certainly, when Ron Artest
was escorted off the court and later Lamar Odom too,
it hurt our pride and hurt our image but it is all part and
parcel of the game itself. We have met our Waterloo
and the title is Mavericks. More determination, more
drive, more continuity, more complex plays and more
energy displayed as they drove us to the losing corner.
We can hold our heads up high all the same knowing
we have won Championship titles two years in a row
prior to this particular one and Phil has won 11 of them.
He has earned his retirement certainly and we bid him
God Speed with Better health and happier days ahead.
Kobe Bryant has grown up actually underneath the tutoring
of Phil Jackson so it may be difficult for him probably to
entertain thoughts of being coached by another.
Derek Fisher has been with Lakers, Clippers, Utah and
back again with the Lakers team so has accomplished his
goals on the courts and for his family. Andrew Bynum
has undergone pain and surgeries and learned patience
along with it all so to consider now, as a young player still,
being either kept on as a Laker or perhaps even being traded.
We feel so close to each man on the Lakers team that it does
almost seem like family to us who watch with keen interest
to see their accomplishments plus wail at their losses.
We never ever tag them losers though, for in our hearts and our
minds they stand tall and bright and most likely always will.
As assistant, Brian Shaw is one contender that is a consideration
for coach replacement. We will have to wait out during the off season to see what Mitch Kupchak, Lakers General Manager has to say .
When a child of ours errs, we work hard to get him/her back on
track and so it is with our team. We work harder and bring them
back to glory. That is what we all look forward to. Get the rest
you require, work hard on your triangle move. Get this act into
focus so that we are all on the same page. It is what we do.
So long for a little while and keep the faith. Que Sera Sera,
what ever will be, will be. See you next season then?!
Babs Wells