The Things You Consider When Traveling

Traveling for work can be either a perk or a hassle—depending on your job and where you have to go.  For me, traveling with professional sports teams is definitely a perk.  Flying charter is one of life’s cool little luxuries, especially when someone else is paying for it.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks to staying on the go. For one, my wife misses me while I’m gone--at least that’s what she tells me.  And even if she’s only saying that to stroke my ego, who am I to stop her?

Another issue with constant travel is losing track of the days of the week and dates of the month.  I don’t know about you, but when I travel, I have a hard time keeping up with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I’m much more in touch with yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

And don’t even think about trying to ask me for the date.  If it’s not my birthday or a major holiday (my wife’s birthday falls into this category, by the way), I would have a better shot of telling you the numeric value for pi than the day’s date.  Thankfully, for me however, my iPhone has a handy dandy calendar feature.  So I may not know the answer, but I can quickly look it up.

I raise this last issue with work travel because I recently realized I haven’t posted a blog lately.  When you can’t keep up with the days of the week, it’s a lot harder to realize how much time has gone by from one moment to the next.

So to make up for lost time, I thought it might be best to share some of my random thoughts, questions and musings from the past several days. 

*    Did you know that no Phil Jackson-coached championship team has ever lost 4 games in a row?

*    Following the Clippers win over San Antonio Wednesday, LA held a 3-9 record over teams currently sporting a record over .500.  While Miami carried only a 1-7 mark over winning teams.

*    With players such as Blake Griffin, Shannon Brown, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Derrick Rose roaming the court today, I believe we are witnessing the most athletic era the NBA has ever seen.

*    Speaking of Blake Griffin, can you ever remember someone getting so many standing ovations on missed dunks and shots?
 

*    You have to give Dodgers owner Frank McCourt credit for staying true to his word.  He has said throughout his divorce proceedings, that his personal matters would not affect the team’s willingness and desire to bolster the roster.  And the recent off-season acquisitions definitely support his earlier statement.

  

*    I realize the BCS is a crock and bowl games are only concerned about selling the most tickets, but if Stanford doesn’t get to play in the Rose Bowl, it would be nothing short of a travesty.

*    Karl Dorrell’s record after his third season at UCLA was 22-15 overall and 14-10 in the PAC-10. Rick Neuheisel currently stands at 15-21 overall and 8-18 in conference.  So does that mean next season will be Neuheisel’s last if he doesn’t rally for double-digits wins?

*    I heard that some USC fans are a bit upset because the NCAA didn’t punish Auburn and Cam Newton after discovering that Newton’s father soliciting money from schools trying to sign this year’s Heisman Trophy front-runner.  But remember this, Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo knowingly accepted cash and other benefits directly.  There’s no evidence that Newton has done the same or even knew about his father’s attempts to secure money.  It may not be apples and oranges, but it’s definitely apples and pears.
 

*    And finally, I heard that Dancing With The Stars is considering adding Todd Palin to the show’s next lineup of contestants.  No offense to Sarah Palin’s husband or her daughter, Bristol, for that matter, but if they are going to continue to feature such “stars” (and that goes for “The Situation” too), then they should change the name of the show to Dancing With People Who Aren’t Really Stars But Can Still Bring In Big Ratings.

Coach K On Kobe: A Unique Competitor

I remember the first time I interviewed Kobe on live television following a Lakers game. I had just started at FOX Sports West, and I was reporting from the Lakers locker room following a win.

Kobe was wearing a blue and white Nike sweat suit, which I referenced at the end of the interview. I said something to the effect of "If you had gone to college, those Kentucky colors would have looked great on you." It was, of course, a direct reference to my alma mater.

Without hesitation Kobe responds, "Yeah, these Duke colors are nice."

Even in jest, Kobe hit me with the harshest of stingers on live tv. Welcome to LA, Michael.

I recall that story because I recently read some excerpts from Mike Krzyzewski's new book, "The Gold Standard," which is set to hit stores on May 4th.

If he had not decided to enter the NBA Draft following his senior season at Lower Merion High School, Kobe planned to take his talents to Duke and play for Coach K.

Their paths almost crossed again in 2004, after the Lakers did not renew Phil Jackson's contract. Kobe made it clear to Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak that he favored Krzyzewski to be the Lakers next coach. It turned out, however, that Coach K was not ready to leave Duke.

It wasn't until last year's Olympics that Kobe could finally see what it was like to play for Krzyzewski, but it may have been Coach K who was most looking forward to this union made in basketball.

"In finally getting my opportunity to coach Kobe Bryant, I found that he is who I thought he was," Krzyzewski writes in his new memoir.

"One of the most talented basketball players in the history of the game and the unique kind of competitor that may come around only once in a leader's lifetime."

To read more of Krzyzewski's takes on Kobe before the book comes out, check out Ramona Shelburne's article in the LA Daily News.

LAKERS HEAD COACH PHIL JACKSON WILL NOT ACCOMPANY TEAM TO PORTLAND

EL SEGUNDO--Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson will remain in Los Angeles instead of accompanying the team on its road trip to Portland, due to pain and swelling in his lower right leg caused by plantar fasciitis, it was announced today.

The Lakers will fly to Portland following tonight's game against the Denver Nuggets, and will play the Trail Blazers in Portland tomorrow night. The team will be coached by assistant coach Kurt Rambis in Jackson's absence.

Jackson missed the Lakers' first preseason game back on October 7 in Anaheim versus the Utah Jazz. He will rejoin the team for Saturday's practice and is not expected to miss any additional games.

Lakers Complete Best Road Trip Ever

While the final seconds of the Lakers 101-91 win over Lebron James and the Cavaliers ticked down, I realized that Phil Jackson and company had just completed their best road trip ever.

I don't just mean this season or any season in the PJ era. I mean ever, ever.

The trip gets off to a potentially disastrous start when Andrew Bynum went down with a torn MCL in his good knee.

But just when some thought the pursuit of a championship was doomed, Kobe responds with a record-setting 61-point performance against the Knicks, and then the Lakers cap off the trip with back-to-back wins over the Celtics and the Cavaliers, completing season sweeps of both teams in the process.

As I said, best road trip ever!

Lakers Media Day

I just returned from the Lakers Media Day festivities held at the team's practice facility in El Segundo.

No real earth-shattering news to report, but there were a few things I thought you might be interested to know.

First, this was one of the more civil and drama-free Laker Media Days I can remember for quite sometime. In the past, there was always seemed to be some underlying tension in the room, whether it was Shaq vs. Kobe, Phil vs. the Lakers or Kobe vs. the state of Colorado. But that was definitely not the case today. And to be honest, it was quite refreshing.

I spoke to Kobe for a few minutes. We were just shooting the breeze, as my dad used to say. He asked about my summer. I congratulated him on his gold medal and asked him about the trip to Beijing. He echoed the sentiments that I have heard from so many people who attend this summer's Olympic Games: it was unbelievable. Kobe has obviously been to the city several times before, and because of that he was able to attend more of the other Olympic events since most of his spare time wasn't spent touring the city. I believe the experience really gave him a greater understand of the entire Olympic experience.

I also spoke to Chris Mihm and he seems as anxious as anyone to tip-off the season. Who could blame him, considering how many games he's missed the last couple of years with a bad ankle. He told me that he spent two weeks in Austin rehabbing with the University of Texas athletic training staff. His trip to Austin wasn't so much about getting better care at UT than he could have gotten with the Lakers, as much as it was just to get away from the constant reminders of that dark rehab period he had to endure. He hopes to have a good season coming off the bench to backup Andrew Bynum. If he is indeed healthy, his availability will go a long way in off-setting the loss of Ronny Turiaf.

One other thing I heard that might be worth paying attention to is that Phil Jackson is considering starting Trevor Ariza over Lamar Odom. Now, there are a couple of reasons why that move could be made: 1) L-O may have fallen out of favor with Jackson and/or the front office and 2) coming off the bench would pit him against the opponents second unit with the belief that Odom could dominate those stretches of the game. Plus, if he comes off the bench, he won't be playing directly alongside Kobe all the time.

Again, it's just a rumor and this point, but it's definitely something worth watching as we get closer to the season opener: Tuesday, October 28th at home against Portland.

LAKERS HEAD COACH PHIL JACKSON TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM HIS ALMA MATER – UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Lakers head coach and University of North Dakota alumnus Phil Jackson will add an academic honor to his growing list of career accomplishments Monday, August 25 when he receives an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from his alma mater during a 2 pm (CST) convocation ceremony at the on-campus Chester Fritz Auditorium.

A graduate of UND in 1967 after pursuing studies in religion, philosophy and psychology, Jackson will join the ranks of more than 200 UND honorary degree recipients over the past 99 years, including Crown Prince Olav of Norway in 1939, President John F. Kennedy in 1963, journalist and North Dakota native Eric Sevareid in 1970, philosopher Mortimer Adler in 1983 and famed cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Michael E. DeBakey in 1990. UND presented its first honorary degree in 1909 to Webster Merrifield, who served the University for 25 years, including 18 as its third president.

"UND is pleased to award the Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree to an outstanding alumnus of the University, Mr. Phil Jackson," said UND President Robert O. Kelley. "Mr. Jackson was nominated for this distinction by the academic faculty and staff of the University. The award acknowledges Mr. Jackson's commitment to scholarship and to the application of philosophical and psychological principles to human performance and excellence in athletic competition."

Jackson will receive his doctorate from UND's College of Arts and Sciences, headed by dean Martha Potvin. Following the convocation at 5 pm on Monday, Jackson will be the featured guest at the latest installment of the University's "Great Conversation" series at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. The event, part of the school's 125th anniversary celebration, is an opportunity for the community to have an informal conversation with Phil Jackson. Public and media questions can be submitted prior to the event by going online at www.125.edu , then click on "Schedule of Events." Some of the questions will be selected for the conversation with Jackson.

Jackson grew up in Williston, N.D., before moving on to take classes and play basketball at UND. Recruited by Bill Fitch, who also would move on to a career in NBA coaching, Jackson earned consecutive All-American honors at UND for his performance on the hardwood. An unorthodox, left-handed hook shot helped him to average nearly 27.5 points per game during his senior year.

Selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 1967 NBA Draft, Jackson went on to be part of two NBA Championship teams in New York as a player.

His coaching career started modestly in the Continental Basketball Association, winning one CBA championship with the Albany (N.Y.) Patroons. He also had a stint with the Puerto Rican national team.

Finally in 1987, he broke into coaching at the NBA level as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls. Two years later, Jackson was named Bulls' head coach. Now after 17 years of coaching in the NBA with both the Bulls and Lakers, Jackson has posted a mark of 976-418 (.700) which currently stands as the best winning percentage of any coach in NBA annals. The fastest coach to 900 career victories, his total of 976 regular season wins ranks him 6th all-time. With a career postseason record of 193-84, Jackson also has the highest playoff winning percentage of any coach in NBA history while his 193 wins are the postseason benchmark for head coaches. His nine NBA Championships as a head coach tie him for the all-time mark with Boston’s Red Auerbach. The 1996 NBA Coach of the Year, Jackson was named one of the 10 greatest head coaches in NBA history on December 7, 1996. A little more than a decade later, Jackson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September of 2007.

In addition to all his great awards and milestones, Jackson was given the state of North Dakota's highest honor -- the Rough Rider Award -- in 1992. His portrait and plaque now hang in the state Capitol in Bismarck with other past Rough Rider Award winners, such as one-time baseball home run king Roger Maris, band leader Lawrence Welk, singer Peggy Lee and UND's eighth president Tom Clifford.

Breaking News: Kings To Trade Artest To Rockets

So much for the Lakers landing Ron Artest for next season. He's reportedly heading to Houston in exchange for former King Bobby Jackson and a number one draft pick.

I was kind of on the fence about what acquiring Artest would do for the Lakers. He would definitely make them tougher both physically and mentally. However, I also wondered how he would mesh with Phil Jackson, but it doesn't really matter now either way.

The question still remains though: is the return of Andrew Bynum simply enough to push the Lakers towards another championship run?

HOUSTON (TICKER) —The Houston Rockets are close to acquiring mercurial forward Ron Artest in a trade with the Sacramento Kings, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle on Tuesday.

Citing an NBA executive with knowledge of the deal, the newspaper reported that the teams reached an agreement that would send Artest to the Rockets for guard Bobby Jackson, a first-round pick next season and “another player that the individual with knowledge of the trade could not name.”

The Chronicle also said that because of contract considerations, the trade would not be announced until August 14, causing the newspaper to speculate that the deal could include Houston’s No. 1 pick, Donte Greene, who cannot be traded until then - one month after he inked a deal with the Rockets.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgOcSPPVuRQt3fEf5DSpGRM5nYcB?slug=txartesttrade&prov=st&type=lgns

Jeanie Buss: I'm The Poster Child For Not Mixing Business With Pleasure

When the Lakers were struggling during the Rudy Tomjanovich era, Jeanie Buss was the biggest advocate, if not cheerleader, for bringing Phil Jackson back to coach the Lakers. Although she has always maintained that she does not have any say in basketball matters, what father doesn't listen to his little girl?

So with that being said, if the Lakers win this year's NBA title shouldn't Jeanie Buss get some credit for making it happen? I mean, Mitch Kupchak gets all the credit for drafting Andrew Bynum and making the trade for Pau Gasol. But where would the Lakers be without the Zen Master?

This is part of an older interview I conducted with Jeanie Buss shortly after Phil Jackson came back to coach the Lakers for a second time. In this clip, Jeanie talks about the delicate balance between her business life and her relationship with the Lakers head coach.