Human Interest column

Well, European hoops fans seem drawn to

Kobe when Americans go overseas. They carry cameras

and microphones, sprinting toward our Lakers star.

Their questions come quickly, some in English

but many in Spanish and Kobe gives the perfect

answer every time. Our Pau Gasol seems safe

for now without getting traded too. Kobe claims

to really not understand just why he seems

to be so popular either. Apparantly due to his

All Star appearances and obtaining 5 NBA

Championships has a great deal for seeing this

popularity. It appears also, that he has become

somewhat of a team spokesman as well. Yes, he does

try often to soften some of his remarks with humor.

The Lakers added yet another piece in their efforts

to get back to the pinnacle of the NBA, signing forward

Antawn Jamison to a one year contract. With Jamison

joining Kobe and Steve Nash, the Lakers will now

have a formidable trio. There seems to still be some rumor

that a trade may take place with Andrew Bynum and

in the fray perhaps we can obtain Dwight Howard?

Getting Nash was a really great move as we so needed

a good point guard on our team. He is one of the very

best passing point guards ever since John Stockton

hung up his sneakers 9 years ago.Then we had Derek

Fisher and to be honest, he is really still much missed.

Having Bryant, Nash and Gasol, there is little doubt

we have a winning trio to play upcoming games on the court.

Metta World Peace is a lot of things but a consistently

prolific scorer? Not so much. Barnes? Devin Ebanks? Josh

McRoberts? Troy Murphy? Not exactly names that would

strike fear in our opponents, it would seem.

Orlando center and perennial NBA Defensive player of the

year, Dwight Howard, who is in L.A. right now recovering

from back surgery, is at the center of trade talks even as

I am writing my column today. Lakers perhaps? Would be

just great. We can only watch and see.

Losses, I spoke about in two different articles..the latest about

my middle daughter leaving us Thursday afternoon, June

21st. and now in a Colorado movie theatre, 12 lives have

been taken away and the victims families are dealing

with their own losses. So as we close for right now,

please take a minute to reflect upon your dear loved ones.

When did you maybe let them know how very 'special

they are to you? Consideration and loving is easy to do.

Babs Wells