THE SPORT COUNT

If you believe the bookies, this man will soon have a ring.

I don’t even know what to say. When I awoke this morning and logged onto RealGM and saw the news, I was simultaneously annoyed, upset and outraged.

Let me start off by saying that I’m not a Laker fan. But as the lone non-Laker fan on The Sport Count team, I do end up watching a lot of Laker games, talking about the Lakers a lot and all in all, have the same sort of grudging respect for the franchise that the rest of the basketball world has for one of the most storied franchises in professional sports.

The signature jersey. The star studded crowds with the ever present omnipotent Nicholson at the half court. The best player in the game, the favourites for the Western Conference — these guys are the real deal, and even their bit-part bench players have the swagger that wearing the yellow and purple will inevitably bring out.

Now, Laker fans, and justice loving people the world over: this team has been irreparably tarnished by the pestilence that is Adam Morrison.

Let’s just take a moment to clarify: I hate Adam Morrison. I have ever since I saw the idiot treading the hardwood for the ‘Zags; Morrison is the second best player to come out of that school, after the Count’s own Aussie blogger buddy, Mr. John Rillie. The only positive aspect of his being in the NBA up until now was that Charlotte have zero instances of ever playing in nationally televised games, thus making it very easy to avoid the big idiot for an entire 82-game schedule.

Now he’s a Laker, who are on television more than Third Rock From The Sun re-runs. The mere thought of this mustachioed, injury-prone “hussle player” calling the Staples Centre home is causing me reflux. The idea that this undeserving idiot may have a ring, riding on the coattails of Kobe and Pau all the way to owning the most heralded  jewelry in pro-sports… it just makes me angry.

I don’t care if Morrison does nothing but trade street clothes tips with DJ Mbenga for the rest of the season — I don’t want to see him on the bench, in the arena or on my television.

Somewhere Michael Jordan is sparking up a stogie.

Posted by: James