Lakers the biggest, best show in town
Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon no doubt will raise some eyebrows in Boston when he pronounces that the Lakers are the world's most important basketball franchise.
That's sort of the inference we got from NBA Commissioner David Stern a few years ago when asked which teams he would like to see play in the Finals. The Lakers versus the Lakers, he said.
As Wilbon points out, it's difficult for the Celtics to claim the title, despite all the championships they've won, because they're not even the most popular sports team in their city. That would be the Red Sox, by far.
"The most famous names of all here are Laker names: Wilt, West and Baylor," Wilbon writes.
"Kareem and Magic, Shaq and Kobe, Buss and Jackson. The Lakers aren't the only show in town -- but they're the biggest, the best and the most important."
"That's because the Lakers, arguably, are the most important basketball franchise in the world. Yes, the Celtics have won more league championships, 17 to the Lakers' 14. But of the 60 NBA Finals in league history, the Lakers have played in 29. And it's likely that seven of the top 50 players in the history of the game are Lakers.
"It is, simply, the greatest show in American sports, barely interrupted for the past 50 years.''
-- Randy Harvey
Photo: Fans celebrate as the Lakers defeat the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center on Sunday. Credit: Jeff Golden / Getty Images
Could it be the reason are the Lakers are biggest/best show in town is do they're the ONLY show in town?!?!? Boston has the Pats, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, it's the sports capital of America. LA has no NFL team, baseball has been non-existent until last year and hockey is a joke. So there is no surprise that the Lakers are huge in LA due to their success over the years.
Posted by: Thomas | June 08, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Thats right we do have the dodger though, one of the most storied franchises in professional sports which has more Pennants then the Red Sox. You guys only had the Celtics as championship winners in Boston for a long time and didn't even care until the 80's.
Don't whine because your Boston three party had to sit this one out.
Posted by: Mike | June 08, 2009 at 09:01 PM