Jackson Rehired. Think He Can Succeed?

Frank Costanza Jerry Buss lured Phil Jackson back to the fold with a 3-year, $30 million contract. In return, Jackson will (attempt to) guide the Lakers out of the doldrums and back to the Championship. I didn't like the move. I thought it was time for the Lakers to move in a new direction but maybe Buss' decision will answer some questions for us in the end.

One of the greatest things about sports is that a line exists between the best and the rest. It's a line that defines achievement and greatness. And all of you know that no matter what level you won on last, be it state, conference, NCAA, or world championship, the ring silences debate. Isn't that right, Dave? I was 16 the first time I learned that lesson. Someone came up to me and said, "Girl X is the best 100 m sprinter in the state, not you. You're overrated." At first, I didn't know how to handle it - would I throw out comparative times, placing at head to head meets, and scholarship offers? I was about to until I remembered that I was the state champ, not her; I had the ring on my finger and she didn't because I smoked her head to head when it mattered. That ended the debate. I've encountered many since and save world championships and Olympic medals, I have the ring hardware to shut people up and I was nothing but a punk collegiate athlete. So you'd think that regardless of one's level of achievement, it'd be that simple for everyone, least of all Phil Jackson, a coach that has passed that ultimate line of measure NINE TIMES. Nine World Championships and we debate his greatness.

But perhaps it's not hard. Phil Jackson's no Chuck Daly - he never built a team from the ground up and he never turned a joke into a monster. Further, he's damned lucky to have coached 3 of the greatest players in the modern area. But it seems to me that teams hire the best to coach the best to get the best result. Could anyone have won with those players and their egos? Maybe. Could the Celtics have replaced Red Auerbach with no consequence because they had Bill Russell? Who knows. I suppose that soon enough we'll be knocking Popovich because he had The Admiral, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. But one thing I know is that owners don't hire scrubs to babysit their stars. If babysitting was all it took, the USA Hoops team could have eeked out more than a bronze.

In light of these issues, I hoped Jackson would settle elsewhere - New York, Memphis, Philly (Could he succeed where Larry Brown failed?). But after seeing the news last night, I took a glance at the Laker roster. Forget about Kobe for a minute. You have Chucky Atkins who did zero in Detroit and even less in Boston; Brian Grant's a geezer with bad knees; Caron Butler hasn't been good since he was in the paint with Emeka; and Lamar Odom is often injured and hates Kobe Bryant. What a cast. Worse is that the Lakers must rely on shrewd personnel moves and the good nature of solid players willing to pull a Karl Malone to play alongside Kobe. Think there'll be any takers? Frankly, I'd rather take the paycut and play with Shaq.

I'm glad about this obvious hire. We're about to finally see just how good Jackson really is. What do you think he can do with Kobe Bryant and the others in the Land of Misfit Toys?