Show k 0 f jf YI rye j L Laker ker Hater r Jeff Dixon The Globe Ive I've grown accustomed to peoples people's criticism of my favorite sports teams over the years Over time Ive I've realized that folks hate certain teams because either they win whine or cheat in excess sometimes all three In last Wednesdays Wednesday's edition of The Globe Peter Busch contributed a apiece apiece apiece piece that forecasted the now underway underway underway under under- way season As I read his piece I began to dread the upcoming drivel I knew would be his review of the Los Angeles Lakers Even to put quote marks around the word review is quite a stretch as anybody anybody anybody any any- body who read the piece knows Rather than mention relevant factors such as the return of Phil Jackson or acquisitions such as Kwame Brown and 17 year-old year Andrew Bynum Busch's sole focus was on Kobe Bryants Bryant's personal life which was never a a factor in the teams team's for for- tunes Kobe was in the thick of his Colorado sex scandal as the Lakers were on their way to and in the 2003 Finals Talk about tasking multi-tasking My point here is not to condone justify or trivialize infidelity Its It's just obvious that Busch saw the incident as asan asan asan an opportunity to make an ad attack on a successful professional professional professional pro pro- athlete Moreover his tirade reeks of bitterness towards winners in general so much in fact that his deep anger towards them actually stifled stifled stifled sti sti- sti- sti fled his ability to articulate anything beyond Lakers suck A And because because- ers suck J rv 1 I. I apparently as result of Kobes Kobe's off- off court troubles they'll not reach the playoffs this year Like the he Lakers or not this argument is post hoc and insults both the readers and this news news- paper The worst impression it gives though is that Peters Peter's basketball acumen acumen acumen acu acu- men is not quite what he claims Busch's article also serves as a prime example of a pathetic trend among people as they view not only sports but society as whole the politics politics politics poli poli- tics of resentment For example who hates the Milwaukee Brewers Does anyone hold a grudge towards the Arizona Cardinals Have the Golden State Warriors spoiled any teams team's playoff run Sympathy would seldom be found In fact were we're more likely to pity those teams and the fans that keep them afloat Now recall some feelings weve we've all heard expressed towards championship championship championship champi champi- franchises like the Lakers or orthe orthe orthe the Yankees Why do people loathe these beacons of human achievement Dont Don't they know that lifes life's not fair and that only the best will survive Rather than emulating them or even appreciating appreciating appreciating their accomplishments they wish to see them fall In observing the lives of those who are at an advantage a lot of people have a hard time facing the harsh realities that are their own shortcomings And instead of being inspired by success they're repulsed not because being rich beautiful o or r powerful is wrong but because they envy those that are Such destructive e thoughts only serve to perpetuate their the misery Ive I've little money and am limited i imy in n I my influence But if I wish to have e them I must respect those who do an and d recognize the patterns that got the them m there Most athletes dont don't come fro from m old money They got where they ar aron are e on their own accord through har hard d 1 work dedication and the earnest earner t application and realization of their tal tat Kobe Bryants Bryant's attitude may no nobe not t but it certainly certain certain- be necessary or mature ly is justified as all of his success i is s earned y America is for winners Peter The Th The e f. f antithesis of our guiding premise e t treads the tainted waters of religion n 11 i and communism You see there wi will willbe willbe 11 II 1 be no inheritance for the meek onla only y a raid by the resourceful the intelligent intelli intelli- i ii i- i l I gent and the mighty And in the NB i h t that could only describe one team the me e Los Angeles Lakers t l E |