Lakers Leave Him Locked Out

With the recent news of an agreement to end the NBA lockout, while most people in Southern California have reason for joy, I noticed that I have been feeling rather agitated as of late.

So, before we go further in our blogging relationship, Patch, there's something that I need to confess to you.

I am a Laker hater, and I have been one for a long time now.

Now, before I list my explanations as to why, I can already hear what Laker fans are saying.

"You are just jealous, because we are winners, and whatever team you root for probably sucks!"

And you'd be correct. For I am a Golden State Warriors fan.

Whenever I tell someone in Southern California that I am a Warriors fan, I typically receive one of three responses:

1. Uncontrolled laughter.
2. "Oh you poor thing."
3. "Are they still a pro team?"

So to answer your charge of jealousy, of course I am jealous and yes, my team generally does "suck," but the roots of my "haterism" go deeper than that.

First off, we must go back to my childhood. In 1980, I was but a 10 year old lad who absolutely worshipped a basketball player by the name of Julius "Dr. J." Erving. (Look him up and you will find that he was Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan.) When my Dad tuned into the game in the summer of 1980, my hero was getting a severe basketball beat down, by some rookie no less.

"Why is that mean man scoring all those points on Dr. J?"

"That's Magic Johnson son, and he is better than Dr. J."

I was crushed. And the seeds of my hatred were planted.

Growing up in the Bay Area, Magic made my life as a Warriors fan, mostly a living hell. There really was never a time, save for a game or two, that Magic did not have absolute control over our entire team, and in fact seemed to enjoy toying with us.

Magic eventually retired and gave way to other villains with suitably villainous names such as "Shaq" and "Kobe", and the heartache has continued to this day.

Perhaps this hatred of the Lakers speaks to a broader issue of the uneasy relationship between Los Angeles and San Francisco. (For the zillionth time, it's not called "Frisco".) There is a bit of a "Jan Brady" complex in San Francisco, to Los Angeles' Marcia Brady.  L.A gets all the attention, the gorgeous movie stars and the even more gorgeous weather. San Francisco on the other hand, thinks it should be the one getting all the attention, not its daffy sister to the south and can't understand why no one can see its beauty through the fog. Sure we have had our moments of glory, thanks to Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Timmy Lincecum, but we still feel both jealous and at the same time, superior to Los Angeles.

So Patch, as this next season of basketball begins, I hope you can forgive me if I seem a bit grouchy from time to time, as the Lakers rocket up the division, while my Warriors hang out somewhere in the lower end. And when the playoffs begin, and the Lakers and Kobe are off doing wonderful things, while my Warriors are at home watching them on their couch, I hope you can feel a bit of compassion, and perhaps leave the Laker flags off the car this year. We know you are better than us.