Confessions of a Laker Fan

I became a die-hard Laker fan in the 1980s.  When I was young, I started following the Lakers back when Pat Riley was the coach and Magic Johnson ran the point guard position.  It was easy to be a fan back then.  Pat Riley left and Mike Dunleavy became the coach - that didn't bother me.  I'll forever remember the day that Magic announced his retirement.  My love for the Lakers never wavered when Sedale Threatt took over the point, followed by Nick Van Exel and Derek Fisher.  Each one of them played the "1" for my team, and I believed in them.  When Mike Dunlevey was replaced by Randy Pfund, who was followed by Magic Johnson and (my favorite) Del Harris, I remained a very, very proud Laker-fan.  I was a die-hard apologist for the Lakers throughout it all.  I have followed the Lakers through thick and thin.  It was fun when we won, but I was just as strong of a fan when we lost.  The Lakers were my team during the eras of Magic, James Worthy, A.C. Green, Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, Eddie Jones, Doug Christie, Shaq and Kobe.  During the Phil Jackson era, we were spoiled with years of consistently having an excellent team.

Unfortunately, my commitment to the Lakers is being challenged during this current dark period for the Lakers.  Frankly, I'm worried my commitment to the Lakers may not survive this storm.  Last season the Lakers were pretty bad.  This season they are terrible.  But it's not the losing that bothers me.  For decades, the one constant with the Lakers was Jerry Buss, the Lakers owner.  I, along with most Laker fans, thought he was a great owner.  I believed in his vision.  I trusted him to make the best decisions for the Lakers.  But then he died, and his children took over.  Jimmy Buss now runs the show.  I wanted to believe in his vision, but I don't.  I wanted to trust that that he would make the best decision for the Lakers, but my trust has been shattered, and, I'm afraid, is beyond repair.  Every time I see Mike D'Antoni walk along the sidelines, I question why I should continue to be a Laker fan.

The Laker foundation has crumbled, and I'm not sure that it can ever be repaired.  The Lakers have a history that is the envy of the sports world.  It appears that in the future, they will be the laughing stock of the sports world.  I really, really hope that I'm wrong.

I'm not demanding that they win now; I just want to see basketball decisions that I can believe in.