re: What would the Lakers future look like if this happened?...........

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The young guys just didn’t get into the fervor of the playoff chase. They were too happy being Lakers. One day while warming up for practice, a couple of guys were talking about drag racing their Porsches around town. Earvin called everyone over and gave the team the lecture about focusing for practice and doing what it takes to make the playoffs. As soon as the meeting broke up the guys went back to stretching and went right back to talking about their cars. The coaches and the vets were just shaking our heads in disbelief.

The next night we played at Phoenix and got embarrassed. We were down early and trailed by 35 in the third quarter. It was so bad that Dan Majerle shot two free throws left handed while laughing. Earvin was so mad that he benched the starters and played the vets so he would have players that would play hard. After the game we flew back to L.A. in silence and Magic called practice for 7 a.m. the next day.

We all sat in the locker room at the Forum waiting for the fun to start. I was particularly looking forward to it. I knew as one of the hard working veterans I had no worry of getting chewed out. I was there 20 minutes early. Luckily everybody showed up on time. Magic and Jerry West entered the room with very long faces and the fireworks started. Jerry started ripping the young guys for their bad attitudes and unprofessional ways. He shared how disgusted he was watching players in Laker uniforms playing with so little heart. He was passionate and cursed up a storm. We deserved every word.

Then Magic started off. He called guys out on how they just wanted to be Lakers for the parties and the girls. He reminded them how nobody at the parties cared about them, just that they were Lakers. Since they didn’t take care of business, next year they would be gone and the girls would be interested in whoever else was wearing the Laker uniforms. Right about then somebody’s beeper went off. It is 7:20 in the morning and a beeper goes off (remember it’s 1994). Magic stiffens up like a hunting dog and starts zooming in on the sound. It’s muffled like its in a gym bag but the room is pretty small and we can all hear what direction it’s coming from.

I’m biting my tongue trying not to laugh. This is going to be great! Luckily I didn’t have a beeper so I can just enjoy the show. The damn beeper won’t stop beeping. Finally Magic focuses in on Vlade Divac, who has his hand in his pocket trying unsuccessfully to turn it off.

“Vlade, hand me the beeper” says Magic. Vlade hands it over sheepishly. Magic holds it up and says, “See this is exactly what I am talking about” and he turns around and throws it like a fastball into the wall, WHAM. It shatters into a million pieces. Vlade looks like a fish on the dock. His gills are moving furiously but no sound is coming out.

At the next game I walked into the training room while Magic is telling the story to the long time trainer, Gary Vitti. He is howling with laughter when he gets to demonstrating Vlade’s expression. We all had a great crack up recounting the story.

Unfortunately, the team never got it and after going 5-1, lost the last 10 games of the season, finishing as the only Laker team to miss the playoffs in 20 years. Magic never did get control of the team and retired from coaching after 16 games. He’d had enough.

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