Champyeeens!

Photo: Kobe Bryant holding trophies. Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

I have jinxed the Lakers Championship hopes in the past by writing a blog or two about how deserving they are of the elusive Larry O'Brien Trophy. After last season's painful loss in the finals to the Boston Celtics, I abstained from writing any article that would relate to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in fear of jinxing the Olympic Campaign and the 2009 NBA season as well. Now, I am free to write at last of how genuinely happy and triumphant I feel for the NBA team that I have religiously followed since Philippine Cable TV began. So, without further ado, I present to you o dear Kobe Bryant [slash] Laker haters, the 2009 Larry O'Brien trophy and the Bill Russel Trophy to loathe and cry upon. Yes Kobe, you are VINDICATED! and so am I. =)


(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)


(Getty Images)


(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

What's that? LeBro who? Dwyane who? Shaq who? Pffffft... =P

"Dye-Hard"

A year ago, I wrote something about a new 24/7 adage, that of Kobe (24) and Lamar Odom (7) fusing as a new dynamic duo reminiscent of the Jordan and Pippen era of the 90's. It seemed then that I was talking about was heresy, a false premonition, a crazy notion to think that these two Lakers could even equal or be better than the deux-bulls who combined for a total of 6 NBA championships in a decade. What followed that article was a series of horrible mistakes, mishaps and near-tragedies for the Lakers as a whole. They squandered a 3-1 playoff lead to the Phoenix Suns back in 2006, they got eliminated in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, again by the Suns, injuries seemed to hound each and every player and ultimately, the "Man," Kobe asked to be traded to "Pluto" of all places. No kidding, he did!

So I jinxed them. Fine. I was born with a birthmark in my rear end. Fast forward to 2008, no one, myself included, ever thought that those struggles would have led them this far: Kobe Bryant, the 2008 MVP, his first ever in 12 seasons, playing the best team-ball ever in his life; Lamar Odom, finding himself and his purpose on this team as a very effective "fourth-scoring option;" Los Angeles receiving a donation in the form of Pau! Gasol, the Lakers winning the West; Finally, reaching the NBA Finals after those arduous years of ruin.

Now, call it clairvoyance, a prophecy, or simple luck, but part of it all was that I never lost faith in this team. Despite the jeers and trash-talking of my peers and friends and even my own brothers, all anti-laker minions, I endured and somehow refused to give up on the team I have learned to love as a growing teen. If there's anyone who deserves this success, it won't be Kobe, or Lamar, or the Lakers, but instead it would be the fans. Fans like me, die hard you may say, but also hard to dye with any other color other than Purple and Gold. With that my jinx has finally turned to fortune and there's no turning back for my unlucky rear-end now! Lakers all the way!

It's amazing how this man faces challenges. Here's how he reacts to his latest adversity:

March 07 :: 2007
Kobe reacts to suspension

This is as frustrated as I've been in a long time.
Injuries to our team don't seem to stop.
Now we have to deal with my suspension and another loss to the Bucks.
But life isn't about feeling sorry for yourself or the position you find yourself in.
Its about accepting it and going from there with a determination that we will endure at all cost, no matter what!
So now its off to Philly. Let's see if we can't get the engines revved up again.
Strength and Honor.
- Two4