Phil Jackson on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 5/16/2013

Phil Jackson appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night to promote his latest book, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success". 

Leno wasted no time addressing what every Laker fan still wants to know - Why D'Antoni and not him?

Phil summarized the episode by saying (and I paraphrase) that he was asked by now fiancee Jeanie Buss to talk to her brother Jim about possibly coaching the Lakers again and he said okay. Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak then show up to Phil's house that night and had an hour and a half discussion (Phil skipped the details of that convo).

Phil then told Jim and Mitch that he would have an answer for them by the following Monday. That Sunday night at midnight Mitch called Phil to tell him that they've hired former New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni because they felt he was a better fit for the team.

Bad decision Mitch. Nash, yes. Howard, yes. Choosing D'Antoni over PJ because of your boss's personal vendetta against him? D'oh!

Phil also addressed why D'Antoni wasn't the better fit after all and talked about his Kobe/Jordan comparison from the book.   

Video link provided by site contributor Loit Kaskla

STAPLES Center now has free Wi-Fi thanks to Verizon Wireless partnership

Fans at STAPLES Center can now stream video, send pictures and post to social media sites on their wireless devices, using a fast and free Wi-Fi service. “STAPLES Center Wi-Fi powered by Verizon” is available throughout the arena, giving guests another option to wirelessly share the excitement during STAPLES Center’s more than 250 annual games, concerts, shows and special events.  Additionally, Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE and Verizon Wireless will provide guests access to the free Wi-Fi service beginning May 21^st, 2013.

“We are incredibly excited to launch our own Wi-Fi network designed and powered by our partners at Verizon and that we are able to provide our guests with a high quality connectivity Wi-Fi experience,” Lee Zeidman, STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre and L.A. LIVE Sr. Vice President and General Manager. “Additionally the reliability and access will encourage our fans to use popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Foursquare to share their experiences while at STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE.”

“Providing a world class customer experience is our top priority at Verizon Wireless and that includes giving customers options” said Luis Cruz, region president of Verizon Wireless.  “Our partnership with STAPLES Center delivers a powerful solution to our customers, allowing them to better manage their wireless data usage by choosing WiFi for video streaming and other services. They’ll be able switch back and forth between WiFi and our award-winning 4G LTE network.”

“STAPLES Center Wi-Fi powered by Verizon” provides full coverage throughout the arena, including the seating bowl, inside all 166 suites and on the suite levels, the upper and main concourse areas and in all back of house areas which include the locker rooms, dressing rooms, press rooms and production offices.

Guests can connect to the new service by turning on Wi-Fi on their wireless devices and selecting “VerizonWiFi” from the list of available networks.

Betting for bigger playoffs payoffs

 

What a season it has been. The Lakers showed serious promise just eight months ago but just as the season flew, so did the expectations out the window for their jam-packed superstar roster. While the Lakers quickly exited the post season, the rest of the remaining teams moved forward. Who will reach the Finals and be crowned 2012-13 NBA champions? Whichever direction the playoffs leads us in its closing stages, there is still plenty of speculation and betting going on as to which team will be favored to advance.

The clear favorites and best betting odds to ride on are clearly the defending champs, the Miami [C]Heat. You can currently ride the Heat train to back-to-back championship-ville with 4/7 odds. However they are certainly not the only team to spread your greenery on, both the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are considered realistic bets to win the title as well. The odds for San Antonio are 9/2 and 12/1 for Oklahoma City – not bad but still considerably behind Miami in the books. Trying your luck in the Western Conference is the riskier move but with risk comes reward, and your bet in the west could potentially be the bigger playoff payoff.

Regardless, whether you win or lose, this crazy injury-inflicted asterisk season will inevitably be forever in the history books come next month. So in spirit of yet another busy Kupchak off season full of roster moves, quench your basketball fix by playing really cool Basketball slots games at online casino sites, such as the Dennis Rodman game and Slam Dunk. These basketball slots have plenty to offer from both a basketball and betting perspective, combining real player icons, cheerleaders, jerseys, basketball arenas, and nine pay lines with a wild symbol (the 23 jersey) to increase your odds of winning. Throw in cheap play and it’s a perfect way to spend the summer while you wait for a healthier 2013-14 NBA season to begin.

@Sportiqe Lakers Tee Giveaway

Our good friends over at Sportiqe Apparel Co. are sponsoring our latest giveaway. Despite the early post-season exit, Laker fans shouldn't ponder on what could have been. In times like these, it's time for us to unite and support our team proudly.

What better way to do so than to wear the coolest Laker tees out there. Sportiqe has the hottest sports fashion apparel around. For your chance to win their shirt shown above (Size L) all you'll have to do is follow us and post a comment in reference to this giveaway.

Choose where to follow us: Twitter; Facebook, Instagram; Google +

The winner will be announced in sometime this month. 

About Sportiqe Apparel Co.

Bringing fashion to every fan, Sportiqe Apparel merges casual sportswear with trend-driven designs for licensed apparel in the sports, music, food and corporate markets. Constantly looking towards the most current trends in fashion, Sportiqe has developed a niche in the licensed apparel industry with coveted styles that have been worn on the sidelines by celebrities, athletes, musicians, industry leaders and consumers alike.

Sportiqe was founded in 2006 by Jason Franklin and Matt Altman who wanted to develop a line of sporting wear with a fashionable boutiqe feel that people could connect to and fall in love with. Sportiqe’s apparel lines represent the culmination of intense research of current style trends designed on the most comfortable fabric selections. Thriving to narrow the gap between basics and casual fashion, Franklin and Altman leverage licensors to create more fashion-forward products to provide fans with apparel that they will be as proud to wear as who they root for.

Sportiqe is licensed with:

NBA; ESPN; Hometown Classics; Colleges and Universities; Playboy; Miller Coors; EA Sports; OAR Collection

Be sure to follow Sportiqe Apparel Co: Website; Facebook; Twitter; Youtube

2012-13 Lakers Asterisk Season

2013 NBA Playoffs Electronic Bracket is here!

Hey Laker fans, it's that time of year again!!! The Kobe-less Lakers made true of team captain's guaranteed playoffs and thanks to the great win over the Rockets, the P&G made the 7th spot to play the better matched Spurs rather than the fast-paced Thunder. 

Due to the success of last year's electronic bracket, we've decided not to steer too far from the design so we made just a couple of minor structural tweaks. We hope you enjoy our 2013 NBA Playoffs Electronic Bracket!

Click on the image above or click on the link just below to download.

Download 2013 NBA Playoffs Electronic Bracket Here

Once inside Google Docs choose "File" then "Download".

Its that simple! You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) to read/use the bracket.

Ryan Tang's "Count On Resurrection"

Hey Laker fans, local L.A. based graphic designer Ryan Tang has released this latest illustration titled, "Count On Resurrection". With the same certainty in Kobe's bold guarantee of the playoffs comes the same assurance for his return in '14. 

Artist's Description
No one can beat a torn Achilles better than Kobe Bryant. No one has seen it beat better than Kobe Bryant will beat it. We have yet to see the last of Kobe Bryant. The final chapter is his to write. Kobe Bryant will have his last dance. Count on it.

CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY

Don't Worry Kobe - Mamba Has You Covered

Original Photo Credit - AP

An emotional Kobe uses social media to vent his frustrations about season-ending torn left Achilles

Twitter:

Random tears of devastation and doubt mixed with inner determination and will #countonfamily #countonprayer THANKU #vicodintweets comin ha!
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 13, 2013

Facebook:

This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that
was. Maybe this is how my book
ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what’s the purpose of social media if I won’t bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.
One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.
“If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. Ive always loved that quote. Thats “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.
I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge.
Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always.
Mamba Out

Dirk Nowitzki could’ve been a Laker

It is hard to imagine Dirk Nowitzki no longer wearing a Dallas Mavericks jersey, the only uniform he has donned throughout his 15 NBA seasons. But what is even more bizarre is the possibility of seeing Nowitzki wearing another team’s colors. It only seems right that the face of the Dallas franchise finishes his professional career with the team he led to its only league title. Not a lot of people know but the 7-foot, 34 year old star from Germany almost joined good friend Steve Nash with the Los Angeles Lakers, if the said rumors were to be true. There was supposedly a Nowitzki for Dwight Howard trade in the making before the All Star break, but things just didn't materialize between the two teams. Howard, who is a free agent at the end of the season, is someone the Mavericks are certainly interested in, however, probably not in exchange for Nowitzki. Imagine having a Lakers team with Nowitzki paired with Nash; then add in Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, and you have the kind of perfect combination to fit coach D'Antoni's run and gun system.

Since joining the Mavericks in 1998, Nowitzki has led the Mavericks to 12 consecutive NBA Playoffs (2001–2012), including the Franchise's first Finals appearance in 2006 and only championship in 2011. He is an 11-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA Team member, and first European-born player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He also holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records, such great accomplishments from a kid coming from the quiet city of Wuzburg, Germany.