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14 SignaL TriBune Tamara’s Sport Lounge
Lakers lose chance in western Conference Finals Tamara Latta Staff Writer
No one would’ve ever believed, even if hearing the news from a psychic, that the two-time defending champs would be swept in a series trying to make it back the Conference finals this year. The Lakers are still the trending
topic of the NBA after losing the series 4-0 to the Dallas Mavericks less than two weeks ago. There is a lot of speculation that the Lakers locker room unraveled between the last two months of the regular season. We still don’t know who to point the finger at, or who to blame for the meltdown. After the team was demolished by Dallas in game four 122-86, it’s hard for Laker fans to appreciate what they have done for the city the last three years. What everyone failed to realize
is that this moment was coming sooner or later. We have to understand that nothing in this world lasts forever, and that includes winning a championship every year. As we would all love to see that happen, it just isn’t reality. If you followed the Lakers at the beginning of the playoffs, when they played the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, you could see that the focus wasn’t there. Sometimes after being a champion for two years you don’t work as hard as you worked to get
May 13, 2011 where you are now. You kind of want things to come easily and not put in the extra work. From the looks of things, other teams came up with a plan to find ways to beat the champs. They knew it would take dedicated, hard work to put out the two-time defending champs. The champs, being the champs, probably just didn’t expect to get beaten. Now all the underdogs in the Western Conference are still fighting, trying to accomplish what the Lakers have. Lakers Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are being called “sore losers” following game 4. After being down by almost 30 points, Bynum and Odom lost their composure and got very physical with Dallas players. It was a “heat of the moment” situation, and there is no excuse for their actions. But it happens in sports all the time, mainly during the playoffs of any sport. If you recall when the Lakers played the Dallas Mavericks at the end of March, and were beating the Mavericks by almost 20 points, Terry took
a cheap shot at Blake. All players get frustrated and, when that happens, they usually take the emotional reaction out on their opponents. The Lakers have made their fans and city elated for over a decade. In 63 NBA seasons the Lakers have advanced to the playoffs 58 times. They have won 16 championships, and I’m almost certain that there will be more in the future, as long as Jerry Buss is affiliated with the organization. There’s no doubt that the Lakers have pampered their fan base, and right now fans are mourning and bashing them for not advancing to the Western Conference Finals. What happened to appreciating and cherishing the happiness they brought to this city for years? They’ve also brought competitiveness just about every season for the last 10 seasons. I know it’s hard to swallow the atrocious loss, but you have to look at the positive to get overcome the negative. It’s not the end of the world, and the Lakers will be back in years to come. ß
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Ron Artest and the Lakers are taking a lot of criticism for their performance in the second round of the playoffs.
Dodgers to provide free tickets to military members during month of May Tommy Lasorda, a Hall of Fame manager and special advisor to Chairman Frank McCourt, has announced that he is offering free tickets at Dodger Stadium to all military members during the month of May. Lasorda, who is an Army veteran, wishes to salute members of the armed forces and thank them for their service to the United States of America. All members of the joint services with a valid military ID, including active, reserve and retired veterans as well as their dependents, may take advantage of this offer by showing their military ID at any Dodger Stadium ticket booth the day of a game. Each military ID will be good for two complimentary tickets, based on availability. More details are available at dodgers.com/military. The Dodgers honor a “Veteran of the Game” at every home game by treating them to field-level tickets and a batting practice experience and recognizing them on the field during pregame ceremonies. This season’s honorees so far have included a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a Navy Seabee combat war specialist, a mili-
tary police officer serving in the “Honor Guard” protecting the President of the United States and a thirdgeneration combat veteran who is currently in his 17th year of military service and who recently returned from Iraq. For the last 12 years, the Dodgers have donated 10 season tickets to a group of military veterans called the California Paralyzed Veterans Association that is based in Long Beach and serves the community of paralyzed veterans by assuring that they have a lifestyle similar to that of an average American citizen. Lasorda has visited more than 40 military bases around the world, including a five-country goodwill tour in 2009 with Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through the Middle East. General Kevin Chilton, Commander, US Strategic Command, threw out the ceremonial first pitch as a part of Lasorda’s birthday celebration last season and Admiral Mullen threw out a ceremonial first pitch in 2009 and enjoyed the game as Lasorda’s guest. ß