Sunday, October 29, 2006 Sayson: Angry Lakers fans By Homer Sayson Secondovertime
CHICAGO - My Oct. 21 column (“Lakers need a priest and a bible”) elicited 77 e-mails, majority of which were penned by angry fans, who seem eager to commit murder.
But a letter from Nathaniel Smith (nathanielsmith06 @gmail.com) was one of the pleasant exceptions. He argued with objectivity, not rage. And unlike the idiots who clogged my Inbox were their rage-driven gibberish, Smith was civil.
“Care to make a wager? I bet you the Lakers will go to the NBA Finals this year. I also bet that they’ll end up no lower than a 5th seed in the West. You failed to point out in your article that Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, Brian Cook, Shammond Williams and Vladimir Rodmanovic did not play against the Clippers.
“Let’s try to get the facts in perspective before you make outrageous claims. Also, Dwyane Wade is nowhere near Kobe Bryant’s skill level. The guy can’t play defense and can’t shoot, “ Smith wrote.
As a Yale law student I’m sure Nathaniel is full of brilliant ideas, but saying that the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals next June is far from brilliant. To suggest that the LA will somehow top the playoffs over Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix and Denver is simply crazy.
I don’t care if Kobe can walk on water and that the Staples Center is his Sea of Galilee. All I know is that it’s Dwyane Wade who won a ring last June.
In six games of the NBA Finals, Wade torched the Mavs for 34.7 points per while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. I’m sorry Nathaniel but it’s you, not me, who needs to get the facts straight.
Another Laker fan, Juan Cabrera (yahoo.com) said: “Don’t count us out that fast. Don’t forget we do have the greatest coach in the game and the best overall player in the league.”
Wake up, my dear Juan. The “greatest coach in the game” won just 45 of 82 games last season. And he couldn’t hold on to a 3-1 series lead over the Suns. The greatest coach was in Miami, guiding the Heat past the talented Mavs after falling, 0-2.
PACMAN E-MAILS. My twin artcles on Manny Pacquiao this week excited a lot of Pinoy boxing fans, beginning with Kookie Gutierrez (jalen0703@yahoo.com) who wrote: “I would like to thank you for reassuring us, his fans, that Pacman has not allowed fame and glory to change him.”
Yes indeed, and it is that humility that separates Manny from a lot of other superstar athletes who can’t keep their feet on the ground after attaining stardom.
From Troy Sun (ejintroyronin@ yahoo. com.ph):”I hope Manny and the rest of Team Pacquiao will not underestimate the heart of a champion in Erik Morales.”
No, they haven’t. That is why Manny is becoming a glutton for punishment, killing himself in training.
From Rabin Redulla (rabinredula@yahoo. com): “Awesome article: ‘Pacman training camp: Behind the Doors.’ It’s more than just a job well done. Keep it up! By the way, any predicitons?”
Although it’s no secret that I’m pulling for Manny, I’m holding on to my prediction until I see both combatants at the official weigh-in on Nov. 17 in Las Vegas.
P.S. E-mailer Ralph Bacolod who is now based in Florida extends his wishes to his former co-workers at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center laboratory. And lastly, Sun.Star Cebu reader Rommel Mialnes of Surprise, Arizona sends his greetings to to Carl and Lisa Veloso of Labangon, Mark and Pinky Villaera of Banilad, Primo and Ging Carbon of Visitacion and the Malagars from Consolacion.
