building allegiances...

purple and gold. from the cradle to the casket.

ok, so they didn't win this year. the entire southern half of california is crabby, depressed, and the outlook seems bleak. my friend who hates baseball will be going into hibernation until the first NFL exhibition game. meanwhile Texas is riding high on three teams: Houston, San Antonio...and Dalla..oops, make it two teams.

i will love my son with all my heart, and he will love the lakers. there's just really no getting around this fact. i realize now that I am setting him up for a lifetime of peaks and valleys, with the shadow of death following our playoff hopes as of late. he won't even know why he likes them so much, but he will don the purple-and-gold onesie with pride. he will have a hard time sharing his toys with kids wearing kings or celtics diapers. overall, i am building his object of dejection.

is this like a racist passing on his antiquated beliefs knowingly to the next generation or making sure the kid's values are in line with the GOP by the time he is old enough to know what a teletubby is? i've thought about it and....i say NO its not the same, and at the same time it is, kinda.

sports are great because we can build this competition against each other, but in the end, everything is decided between the lines of the game and people learn just as much after winning as they do losing. there is still a side that we "hate" but its only during gametime, afterwards there is respect and admiration for a game well played. at least the way i look at it. in the "game" of war, which is what most people compare modern sports to, the lines are grayer, and winning or losing is relative.

in sports...winning is the goal. by winning, you can be admired and lauded with praise. it gives you confidence and a sense of accomplishment. in our capitalist society, the top of the pyramid has the best view. but losing, and learning how to lose without losing your head..can teach people a lot..about humility, the need to improve, strength to face adversity and respect for another person's "game". i hope he wins a lot, but i also hope that he can learn to lose like a man.

I honestly hope he loves the lakers, and maybe not HATE a team like the Kings, but definitely get lightheaded when he sees someone with a Webber jersey on. For sure, anytime he sees a Miami Heat logo, it will make him a little irritated.

Mitch, Phil, Jerry..and Kobe...you better get your butts in gear, cuz i'm building you a superfan before he's even born. Don't sleep this offseason! Step it up!!!

laks