THE SUMMER OF CHANGE
July 12, 2004

This summer has completely changed the face of the NBA. The Detroit Pistons win the Championship, and what has followed has simply been the most entertaining offseason in recent history. There just isn't enough time to delve into ALL that's transpired, but here are a few of my favorites......

The Los Angeles Lakers are manhandled in the NBA Finals, four games to one, so Phil Jackson takes his ball and goes home. That's right, after losing the NBA Championship for the first time ever, the "Zenmaster" no longer wants to coach. He just wants to run away. With all respect, Phil, you had Shaq and Kobe, the two most dominating forces in the league, not to mention, two Hall-Of-Famers, in Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Jackson should have been able to win a title with those four and "Chubbs" from Teen Wolf, but he didn't, he was completely out-coached by Larry Brown. This was MY moment of "Zen".

Also, it's time for Karl Malone to "mail" it in. He's the kind of guy you either love or hate. Personally I'd rather watch the painful ending of the U.S. Men's basketball team being robbed of a gold medal by the Soviets in the '72 Olympics, than watch Karl Malone hoist the trophy. That being said, I even felt bad watching him hobble around, worthlessly in the Finals. Time to retire the route, Mailman.

Lastly, what's this about Shaq wanting to be traded, because Laker GM Mitch Kupchak has made Kobe his top priority? Shaq, last I saw, you were going to make $57 million over the next two years...PLAYING BASKETBALL.....NOT splitting atoms, or conducting brain surgery....PLAYING A GAME. My feelings were hurt too, when I was seven and Tommy Porter got picked over me for kickball............but I got over it.

The NBA draft is next on my list. What a fantastic event this is. If you have any sense of humor at ALL you love watching the draft. The parent's reaction when their kid gets chosen, the irrational booing and chanting of the New York fans. The hats that don't fit the players heads. A player saying it's his "dream" to play for team "X", then being traded during the interview, being handed the hat of team "Y" and saying that's where he wanted to be all along. But my favorite HAS to be the seven foot foreigner who speaks no English, and is asked the most difficult question on earth, and can respond with only, "NBA good".

OH, one more thing......every year someone drops out of the lottery, it's inevitable, but Jameer Nelson? The College player of the year, taken nine picks after Andris Biedrins? Hat's Off to Magic brass for pulling off the steal of this draft, no offense to Andris......I'm sure he's one heck of a player.

THIS JUST IN.......... Reports say Mike Woodson to coach the Atlanta Hawks....... Watching that scroll along the bottom of ESPN took ten seconds of my life that I'll never get back. Is there anyone on that team that even remembers Terry Stotts being the coach last year?

The Charlotte Bobcats are here!! They finally have a team....well....sorta. Through the Expansion draft and NBA draft, they've put together a roster that would come in fifth in the NBDL. But it doesnt' matter, it will be great to see fans who love basketball, and they'll fill that house.

FINALLY, one last memory I will forever have of this summer.......Mehmet Okur, (your guess is as good as mine, on the correct pronunciation) who averaged ten points, and six rebounds a game, was offered $50 million over six years by Utah. Money is a TERRIBLE thing to waste.

Dante

Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.

Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons. He also enjoy movies, long strolls on the beach and is a Taurus.