Sports Views

I totally agree. Jackson has the track record to make this work. I just don't think he'll pull it off this time.

Not only has Jackson established himself as one of the most successful coaches in professional sports, but he has done so with stars. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant are undoubtedly headed to the Hall of Fame one day. And some are prematurely preparing a bust in Springfield for LeBron James. Nevertheless, the young superstar offers Jackson a gold mine of opportunities. New Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert must know this, and its one reason why the Cavaliers have been regarded as the perfect opportunity for Jackson almost immediately following Silas’ termination. Jackson’s name has been linked to openings in Minnesota, Portland, Los Angeles, New York, and even Dallas. Jackson spent his playing days in New York, winning a ring with the 1973 Knicks. The desire to return there as a coach and break Auerbach’s record as a Knickerbocker would, indeed, be a storybook ending for one of sports’ most successful coaches. With the Lakers, he obviously has a compelling history, leading the franchise back to glory and its status as the NBA’s flagship franchise. However, a return to Hollywood would defy all logic if what has been documented in the past is true. In Jackson’s latest book, entitled The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul in which he archives the 2003-04 Laker season, the coach is anything but enthusiastic of Laker superstar Kobe Bryant. Jackson, who had been known to become fed up with Bryant’s antics, writes in his book, “I do know that there were many occasions this year when I felt like there was a psychological war going on between us. Amazingly, we came to a truce, even to a higher level of trust. Ultimately, though, I don’t believe we developed enough trust between us to win a championship.” In addition to his ambiguous views on Bryant, Jackson was, according to an October edition of the Los Angeles Times, seeking help from a hired therapist to help cope with the struggles caused by Bryant.

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