Unfortunately, LA Lakers' star Kobe Bryant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the course of a game. There was nothing dirty about it, as in foul play, or intent to injure, from the other team. It was just one of those freakish things that happen once in a while.
The Lakers issued a statement earlier today saying Bryant had undergone successful surgery. Well, of COURSE the surgery was successful. In the world of pro sports athletes -- when's the last time you heard of a surgery that was UNSUCCESSFUL? Can you imagine the team statement in such a case?
"We regret to inform you that the surgeons totally botched the operation on Kobe Bryant. Perhaps in the next couple days, we'll assemble another team of sawbones to see if they can get it right. For reasons unknown to us at this time, Kobe currently has his left foot sutured to his right elbow and is experiencing some slight discomfort and loss of mobility".
Please.
Many are already speculating as to what this injury could bode for Bryant's future. There are those that think Kobe, being the never-say-die warrior that he has been over the years, will make an Adrian Petersonesque recovery and be back to his court dominating presence early in 2014. That could very well happen.
Others think his ruptured Achilles may have spelled the end of a glorious career. It could play out that way too.
But other points might bear consideration. First of all, other than Kobe understandably not wanting to "go out like that", what indeed would he have to look forward to by returning to the Lakers?
Another $30 million bucks? He needs that like Bill Gates needs dividends on his Microsoft stock.
He'll be 35 in August, still a young man, but getting a bit long in the tooth by NBA standards. He's been a part of 5 Laker world championship teams, been the league MVP, won Olympic gold medals, and is a shoo-in for the NBA Hall of Fame as soon as he becomes eligible. But the current Lakers look like a team hanging on by its fingernails to respectability, that could lose their grip any second only to plunge into the abyss.
Dwight Howard is an enigma. Some games he'll play like Superman on steroids. A couple nights later, he might turn in a performance like Forrest Gump nursing a bad hangover.
Point guard Steve Nash is 39. Metta World Peace is going on 34. Pao Gasol is approaching 33. Antawn Jamison is closing in on 37. Beyond that, the Lakers have a few young guys that only basketball junkies have heard of. This is not a team looking to trend up. It's a team waiting to crash and burn. And whether he comes back or not, all the Black Mamba's fabled willpower and determination is not going to change that.
To boot, forget NBA domination. The Lakers aren't even the best team in their own building. Last time I looked the Clippers were 11 games ahead of them in the standings. That's a lot.
And what is it with the talking heads and their Laker fetish, anyway? It's like if the Lakers don't make the playoffs, then Armageddon will surely be upon us. Hey, despite all the glitterati fanfare -- they're just another NBA team. They're currently in a battle with Utah for the final playoff spot in the western conference.
So how come Utah never gets any love? I mean, c'mon. Utah has gorgeous Bryce Canyon. California has the La Brea Tar Pits. Utah is home to many Mormons, which have been accused of polygamy. Southern California is home to many morons. This has long been referred to as celebrity marriages. The Great Salt Lake vs Alcatraz. A guy name Brigham Young was once in charge in Utah. A guy named Arnold Schwartzenegger was once in charge of California.
You know why I like Utah so much more than California? At least Brigham never said he'd "be back". Scary thought.
And so is the Lakers' future, with or without Kobe Bryant.
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