Phil Jackson: Hall of Famer, Badass?
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by LASportsblog
By: Jeff Girouard
Congratulations go out to Phil Jackson. Today Jackson, former Houston Comets head coach Van Chancellor, former NBA official Mendy Rudolph, North Carolina coach Roy Williams, European coaches Pedro Ferrandiz and Mirko Novosel, and the 1966 Texas Western team were all enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Much respect to all the inductees, but in a year absent any player inductions, this is Phil’s show. Sure Roy Williams has an NCAA Championship and this awkward youtube moment, under his belt, but even he’s gotta kneel and kiss one of Phil’s (Championship) pinky rings.
Its amazing to think Phil has coached 9 title teams, and yet has only received Coach of the Year honors one time (1996). I think that says all you need to know about NBA awards.
Admittedly his Zen teachings and bohemian motivational tactics, such as assigning players books to read or showing a team movie clips before Finals Games, have been labeled unorthodox by a few of his constituents. But you can’t really argue with success. Seriously, do you see Randy Wittman trying to get Ricky Davis to read a book this season? He'd be ripping out pages from the appendix for zig-zags by Thanksgiving.
With the Lakers knee deep in turmoil the timing of his enshrinement only serves to remind fans how impotent the organization has become. His contract is up after this year and he and the team are still undecided on an extension (which ultimately is up to Phil not the Lakers). His tenuous contract situation is one of many subplots heading into the 07-08 campaign.
Jackson made some pretty candid comments on K-LAC's "Petros and Money" on Wednesday. Whether it’s the incessant "Doyer" sound bite or Petros' nasally rambling something tells me you local fans missed the show so here you go.
He made waves when he pretty much called out jimmy Buss, “We were promised by Jim Buss we'd have big changes. We've yet to see that...We're still looking for that."
FINALLY! I knew it was only a matter of time before he said something. Can you imagine the frustration? You are a Hall of Famer in your sport and you are answering to the owner’s clueless son.
Winning is the ultimate opiate, but the odds that the Lakers will somehow piece things together for a legitimate title run aren't great. Let's face it there’s a better chance Dr. Buss and Ruben Patterson share the same Parole Officer this season.
