Laker Soap Opera Never Off the Air

Does Shaquille O’Neal seriously believe that if he can’t come to a contract extension with the Lakers, the fans will accept that his decision is in order to “protect his family,” as he claims?

When one makes $30,000 or even $100,000 a year, one’s career decisions affect his ability to take care of his family. When one has tens of millions of dollars in the bank, mansions in several states, garages full of customized Escalades and is haggling over whether his future salary should be $25 million or $35 million, one’s decisions do not affect his ability to “take care of his family.”

Shaq is just gilding the truffle, and only other mega-wealthy celebrities can possibly have any sympathy for his “stand” against the Lakers. Too bad he doesn’t have the good sense to understand that so he can at least avoid making PR gaffes.

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I don’t doubt that Shaq will get his $36 million or whatever it is he is seeking. But Shaq shouldn’t try to kid us that he is motivated by any principle other than greed.

Richard Kim

Santa Monica

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Dr. Buss,

Just in case you’re wavering at all, get over Kobe and Shaq’s coexisting on the same team. They don’t like each other, they hate pretending they do, so for our sake, stop the madness now. For you to put us (and their teammates) through any more years of this torture isn’t worth it. Life is too short, Doc.

That option hopefully off the table, I see two fairly straightforward choices.

Dump Shaq and Phil and build the team around Kobe (assuming, of course, he’s acquitted). This is the best move you have. Make Kobe the man and he’ll work his butt off for you. Shaq and Phil, they’ll once again go through the same old routine, doing the least amount of work they can to win (“I’ll make free throws when they count.”) Your other option is to overpay Jackson ($9 million) and O’Neal (“Pay me!”), trade Kobe to someplace like Houston, get Francis and Mobley in return, and watch Yao and Kobe sweep the Lakers in four.

Don’t let Plaschke scare you, Doc. And don’t listen to Jeanie, either. She’s got a stake in all this. Listen to me. Shaq’s touch has evaporated and teams just aren’t afraid of him the way they once were. Let Kobe get away? It will haunt all of us the rest of our lives. Your gut has gotten you eight rings, Doc. Use it here and it will pay off for you, just the way it did for those guys in Chicago.

David McKenna

Newport Beach

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OK, Shaq. Now it’s Mitch Kupchak’s fault that there are “problems” with the Laker personalities. I’m sorry, I missed Mitch’s news conference in which he argued about whose team it was. I must have also missed the one in which he said he didn’t like Phil. Hmm, was that Mitch I heard on my TV set using foul language on Super Bowl Sunday?

Look, Shaq, you are one of the most dominating centers of all time, but how many times do you and Kobe need to hear this -- just shut up and play. The Lakers used to represent Los Angeles with class. Stop tainting our reputation with your incessant whining.

Robert B. Cummings

View Park

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With all the speculation of who will stay and who will go, and all the talk about “Kobe having never won a championship without Shaq,” and “Shaq having never won a championship without Kobe,” I would like to remind everybody that neither one of them has ever won a championship without Phil.

P.J. Gendell

Beverly Hills

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Astronomers discovered a diamond in space that’s 10 billion trillion carats and 2,500 miles across. I think the reaction from Kobe Bryant’s wife was, “Now they tell me!”

R.J. Johnson

North Hollywood