Hopeless In Seattle?

Grant M. Haller / Seattle P-I Archives

Now that Steve Ballmer has won the bidding war and is the new, sole owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, what does that mean for Seattle?

It is said that the reason Ballmer won the bidding war was because he promised to pay his bid of $2 billion dollars in cold hard CASH! 

This purchase puts Ballmer above his former boss at Microsoft, Paul Allen, as the richest owner in all major US sports. Allen is worth $16 billion and Ballmer is worth $20.3 billion, well $18.3 billion with his latest acquisition.

This purchase is now the richest ever for a North American professional sports franchise. The Los Angeles Dodgers that were purchased for a record $2.1 billion a couple years back included their stadium; the Clippers purchase contains only a practice facility as real estate.

Ballmer had already declared that he has no intention of moving Clippers if he was to buy the team while he was talking with The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. Ballmer said, "Moving them anywhere else would be value destructive,”

If you can remember back in 2006 when a guy named Clay Bennett purchased the Seattle SuperSonics he had similar intentions as Ballmer, and said he had no intentions of moving the franchise.

One of the members of Bennett's ownership group would later come out to say that the plan was never to purchase the team to keep them in Seattle. The city of Seattle went through ups and downs as the process played out with the legislators, David Stern, Clay Bennett, Howard Schultz, and Greg Nickels all playing a pivotal role in the move to Oklahoma City.

It's highly unlikely that Ballmer would still look to relocate the team but when you're an NBA fan in Seattle you keep the hope in the back of your mind that you will get your team back. I mean if I was to buy a team for $2 billion there is not one person who is stopping me from doing whatever I please with the team, including bringing them to Seattle.

It was just last month that Steve Ballmer and Chris Hansen made a bid for the Milwaukee Bucks, for relocation to Seattle, but former owner Herb Kohl insisted on selling to a group that would keep the team in Milwaukee. 

So you can see why I still keep that little shining light of hope even though people thinking logically about this situation have already concluded that their is no chance of the Clippers making the move to Seattle.

Chris Hansen, Ballmer's former partner in trying to bring a team back to Seattle, released a statement on Friday congratulating Ballmer’s purchase of the Clippers as well as saying, "I would also like to assure Seattle fans that my remaining partners and I remain committed to bringing the NBA back to Seattle."  However, without the deep pockets of a person like Ballmer around it makes the uphill battle even harder.

Maybe Hansen can contact another former Microsoft employee and Seattle-area native, Bill Gates, to help the cause (Wishful thinking, but could you imagine the number he could throw at the NBA!).

Of all the scenarios to bring a team back to Seattle, it looks like the only real hope lies in Ballmer bringing the Clippers to Seattle once their contract with the Staples Center expires, but that won't be until the 2023-24 season.

So don't hold your breath Seattle, we still have a long way to go before we get our Sonics back.

The Clippers Bidding War Is On!

*UPDATE - 5/29/14 4:45pm - Steve Ballmer, the only investor not to seek out other partners, is reported to have placed the highest bid at $2 billion dollars. Reported to have bought the team but awaiting confirmation.
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The Los Angeles Clippers bidding war is in full effect with some of the biggest heavyweights in the business world all throwing their money in the ring.

Shelly Sterling is receiving bids from some of the deepest pockets in the world and the numbers being thrown her way are astounding. The sale is expected to break the $1 billion dollar mark, which would make this the biggest sale of an NBA franchise.

The franchise was initially purchase by Donald Sterling in 1981 for roughly $13 million dollars. The Sterling’s may be getting the boot from the NBA but it sure looks like its one of the plushest boots of all time.

No matter who buys the team Donald and Shelly will still have quadrupled their money a few times over. It's strange that a guy like Donald Sterling can run a franchise into the ground for the majority of his ownership but because of the location he is still going to leave like a bandit.

One of the groups that are attempting to purchase the franchise is led by music mogul David Geffen and also includes Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs widow Laurene Jobs, and Beats by Dre co-founder Jimmy Iovine. That group, as you would assume, will make a healthy bid but may not be the highest bid.

The highest reported bid so far has already exceeded the $1 billion dollar mark. It is rumored that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has made an initial bid of $1.8 billion dollars.

If you remember Steve Ballmer was part of the group led by Chris Hansen that was attempting to bring the NBA back to Seattle. Some believe that Ballmer making the bid for the Clippers is an indication that he may have been told that bringing the NBA back to Seattle will not be happening anytime soon. 

He has already stated he has no plans on moving the Clippers if he is able to buy the franchise because of the hot Los Angeles market and TV revenue.

Another group in the run for the Clippers is led by former NBA All-Star Grant Hill and billionaire investors Tony Ressler and Bruce Karsh.

The NBA had a conference call to further discuss the Sterling situation and will hold their vote to remove Donald Sterling from the NBA on Tuesday.

Donald Sterling is making things as difficult as he possibly can for the NBA and has sent letters to the NBA saying he plans on fighting this "To the bloody end". It is looking more and more like it may not just be a racist running the Clippers, but also a man who is just plain out losing it all together. 

After sending a SIGNED letter to his wife Shelly, as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, saying that he gives Shelly permission to sell the team, he has gone back and said she is not allowed and that he never signed any such letter. 

Well unfortunately for Donald, he in fact not only signed the letter but his lawyer has as well. Next to his signature Sterling also wrote "read and approved".

Donald Sterling will still put up a fight since he is an attorney himself, the type of attorney who loves debating in the courtroom.

As much as he tries to fight the ousting from the NBA he will still be selling the team, and if it goes the way commissioner Silver hopes than it should be done quick.

One anonymous bidder said that the process is moving quickly and we could know who the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers will be by Friday. The fact that the bidders consist of multiple billionaires, this deal could potentially be sold 80% cash and less than 20% financed, which will make it easier to evaluate each groups bid.

Now we sit back and relax and let the Los Angeles Clippers bidding war unfold.

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Lottery Luck Continues...

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The Cleveland Cavaliers luck doesn't seem to be running out in the NBA Draft Lottery and have once again won the top overall pick in this year's draft.

This is the second straight year that the Cavaliers have won the top overall pick after selecting Anthony Bennett out of UNLV last year. I'm still scratching my head with that decision.

The Anthony Bennett pick may be one of the biggest NBA Draft busts of the modern era. Bennett was a surprise when the Cavs decided to grab him over the likes of rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo. Bennett went on to average 4.2 ppg and 3.0 rbg while playing just over 12 mpg in his first season in the NBA.

Hopefully the Cavaliers make better decisions this time around. They say experience is everything and when you're picking the #1 overall pick for the third time in four years you better know what your doing by now.

The last time a team won back-to-back #1 picks was the Orlando Magic in 1992-1993. The Magic picked up a guy buy the name of Shaquille O'Neill in '93. They snagged Chris Webber the following year, but immediately traded him to Golden State for Anfernee Hardaway and three future first round picks.

This is now the fourth #1 pick for the Cavs since 2003 (LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett) and maybe the deepest draft to choose from. The last team to win four top overall picks in as many years was the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals, now the Sacramento Kings, who had the top pick in four out of five years from 1956-1960.

The Cavaliers are back in the driver seat after winning the NBA Draft lottery and are receiving calls from around the league for teams looking to make a trade.

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin has been listening to all the offers coming his way, but he still has some time to make a decision before the June 26th NBA Draft.

The top prospect according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman is Kansas Jayhawks big man Joel Embiid, as long as his back is OK. Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker are both looked at as top prospects that will also be given heavy consideration before the Cavaliers turn in their draft card, should they keep the top pick.

Some are even speculating that the with Cavs garnering another top pick they will be able to make a heavy push to get their hometown kid, LeBron James, to recommit to his hometown team.

Now don't go buying your "King Returns" shirts just yet, because the likely hood of James returning is slimmer than you would think. James would be returning to a team without any playoff experience, a new head coach, an owner who attempted to rub his face in the mud when he left, and a group of players who haven't spent more than a week above .500 in their professional career.

The hype will continue to gain steam and lead us right into draft night as we all think of different scenarios for what the Cleveland Cavaliers should do with their top pick (I believe their is a player in Minnesota who is looking to make a change in scenery).

The Cavaliers may not have the richest history but they are certainly working on that with the plethora of #1 picks that are coming their way, and with the talent available in this years draft they could be in for a lot more luck to follow behind.

Kevin Love To Test Free Agent Market Next Summer

Minnesota Timberwolves three-time all star power forward Kevin Love has informed the team that does not plan on signing an extension and that he plans on testing the market when he becomes a free agent at the end of next season.

It was pretty obvious that Love was going to take this route since the Timberwolves have failed to make the playoffs since Kevin Garnett's MVP run in the 2003-04 season; Kevin Love wasn't drafted until 2008.

The Timberwolves were initially not planning on trading Love and were hoping to show their all star forward why he should stay in Minnesota. Since the news broke of Love not wanting to sign an extension the Wolves have softened their stance and are now listening to offers.

The 10 year hiatus from the playoffs is the main reason Love is looking to switch allegiances and move to a team that is an immediate contender.

Not surprisingly the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks are at the top of the list of teams to try and make a move for Love. It is expected that just about every team in the NBA will come calling for a chance to snag Love and add them to their rosters. 

The Timberwolves will be looking to get a high first round pick in this years talented draft, as well as some experience players that can keep the team relevant until they are done rebuilding, as they have for the last 10 years.

I found an interesting article on ESPN.com showing different scenarios for a Kevin Love trade if the Timberwolves decide to go that route, "Wolves' menu of options for Love". Check out some of the scenarios ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst laid out because it would make sense for Minnesota to go one of those routes.

Kevin Love has not formally asked for a trade but his representatives at Excel Sports are reportedly pushing the Minnesota Timberwolves president Flip Saunders to find a suitable deal by the time free agency opens up in July; preferably by the NBA Draft on June 26.

The Timberwolves are still holding on to the chance that they can get Kevin Love to stay in Minnesota. They will be able to offer Love a contract worth about $26.5 million more than any other team can offer. I doubt that Kevin Love is going to be looking for a major payday, and instead could be on a quest for a ring.

The Wolves are currently on the hunt for a coach as well and until Kevin Love's situation is taken care coaches will be reluctant to take the job.

Love's decision to opt out of the final year of his contract adds him to pretty good list of players who will be free agents next summer including Kyrie Irving, Rajon Rondo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Manu Ginobli, Marc Gasol, and Deandre Jordan to name a few.

Aaron Hernandez Saga Continues...

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Former Florida Gator and New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez' saga continues after he was indicted for a double homicide from 2012.

Hernandez was first indicted for the murder of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd last August. Hernandez was arrested shortly after Lloyd's body was found a few miles from Hernandez' home and his story has exploded thru the media since.

After being incarcerated his story slowly unfolded showing a side of him that nobody expected. That side of his life involves the killing of three people within a year and a half span.

He was linked to a double homicide that took place in 2012 in which the victims Daniel De Abreu and Safiro Furtado were shot to death in their car after leaving a nightclub in Boston.

Hernandez was still playing for the New England Patriots at that point in time and had signed a 5-year $40 million extension just weeks after the murder.

District Attorney Daniel Conley said the investigation of the Boston killings moved forward after the Lloyd case, which will be tried separately. Conley said the case blew itself open after the discovery of the car used during the night of the murders and the recovery of the alleged murder weapon from an anonymous person with ties to Hernandez.

The entire Hernandez story is almost too hard to believe, but the more information that comes from the investigation, the more it sheds a light on the real person Aaron Hernandez could possibly be, if he is found guilty.

As for his charges in the double homicide case, Hernandez is being charged with two counts of first degree murder and three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, oh and a little unlawful possession of a firearm just to top it off.

That list doesn't even include his charges for the Lloyd murder!

Both of Hernandez murder cases will be tried separately although it is believed that Lloyd's murder stemmed from the double homicide that took place a year earlier.

Odin Lloyd, who was dating Hernandez wife's sister at the time, reportedly was talking with people Hernandez was not on good terms with at a nightclub. It was said that the people Lloyd was associating with had connections to the victims of the double homicide and that he was possibly spilling the beans on Hernandez and his involvement.

That is what caused Hernandez to retaliate. Hernandez then called two of his friends from his hometown in Connecticut and asked that they come right away to Hernandez' home in North Attleborough, a suburb outside of Boston.

After Hernandez friends arrived they went to pick up Lloyd, who was texting his sister and informing her who he was with. Lloyd supposedly sent his sister the messages because he knew Hernandez was upset about who Lloyd was associating with at the nightclub earlier that evening and wasn't feeling completely safe about the situation.

After Lloyd got in Hernandez vehicle they drove off to a construction site only a couple miles from Hernandez' home. That is where Odin Lloyd was shot to death. His body left at the construction site.

This is still the United States of America and all inmates are innocent until proven guilty but the legal system is so bad off right now that this case could honestly swing either way.

Aaron Hernandez being a minority with a slew of tattoos may work against him in this case, as it does in most cases, and they could end up throwing the book at him and lock him away for a very long time. Or he could be acquitted of the murder and carry on with his life, outside of the NFL of course.

I have seen crazier situations where someone is guilty and set free anyway (Casey Anthony, George Zimmerman, OJ) so I won't be surprised with either scenario.

Aaron Hernandez saga continues throughout the summer and you can be sure you will hear about it again.

Shelly Sterling Not Willing To Part Ways With Clippers

Donald Sterling may be on his way out of the NBA, but Sterling's estranged wife Shelly is not so willing to party ways with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Shelly Sterling has decided that she is not willing to give up her portion of the Clippers ownership and has already hired an attorney to fight for her stake in the organization.

Shelly has been co-owner of the Clippers since Donald first purchased the franchise in 1981 and is one of two alternate governors of the franchise. The other would be team president Andy Roeser who began his indefinite leave of absence earlier this week.

Shelly has hired attorney Pierce O'Donnell to represent her in this case and O'Donell has already come out to say his client, Shelly Sterling, will fight to retain her ownership stake in the Los Angeles Clippers.

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was asked how he felt about Shelly retaining her ownership of the franchise. Rivers said that "I think it would be a very hard situation, I'll say that much. I think it would be very difficult. I guarantee you every person wouldn't be on board with it. Whether I would or not, I'm not going to say, I just know that would be a very difficult situation for everybody."

Rivers said that allowing Shelly to retain her ownership would be difficult because of her relationship with Donald "because we wouldn't know who was really in charge."

Rivers wouldn't elaborate too much further than that since he is in the middle of a playoff series against NBA MVP Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This has the possibility of turning into an even uglier situation than it has already been for the NBA. The commissioner and the rest of the owners need to settle this problem fast.

The NBA players were already planning a walk-out on the NBA's biggest stage, the playoffs, but didn't feel the need to after Sterling was banned for life. However, if a Sterling family member is still the owner once this is all said and done then it would still be a possibility that the players fulfill their previous plan.

The NBA reportedly believes that they have enough legal ground to force Donald Sterling to sell his franchise based on multiple contracts Sterling made with the NBA, including agreeing that an owner will not take any position or action that will materially and adversely affect a team or the league, and clearly he broke that contract.

Sterling also signed moral clauses, which state that each owner will be held to the highest standards of ethical and moral behavior.

As long as the board of governors can influence 75% of the owners in the NBA that Sterling broke these contracts then the NBA will be getting rid of such a black eye to the league. That should be the easy part since all of the owners across the NBA have already come out to support NBA commissioner Adam Silver's decision to force Sterling out of the ownership group.

So getting rid of Donald should be the easy part, barring any judicial setbacks since he is an attorney that loves courtroom debates. Shelly Sterling on the other hand, may be the real thorn in the NBA's side when it comes to getting new ownership for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Legion Of Boom Here To Stay With Sherman Extension

Richard Sherman has signed a 4-year contract extension with the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks with $40 million guaranteed.

Sherman signed his 4-year contract extension on Wednesday that is worth $57.4 million with $40 million guaranteed. This extension makes Richard Sherman the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. He is set to make roughly $14 million a year on this contract which puts him $2 million more than Darrelle Revis, who is now the second highest paid corner in the game.

Sherman first began to make headlines around the league when he posted a picture of himself yelling at Tom Brady with the now famous quote, “U Mad Bro?” on his Twitter account. 

He also made a memorable appearance during Super Bowl week in New Orleans last season when he was asking random people whether they thought Darrelle Revis or Richard Sherman was the best corner in the league. Most fans went with Revis although none of them were aware it was the All-Pro corner Richard Sherman asking them the questions. 

Of course his most memorable media moment came after his unforgettable tipped pass in the NFC Championship game where his post-game tirade turned him into a household name across the nation, football fans or not.

However none of those moments played a role in why Sherman is the highest paid cornerback in the league. Sherman earned every single dollar he will make over those four years, thanks to dedication and hard work. This extension only makes sense since Sherman is easily one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, if not THE BEST. 

He has had 20 interceptions since coming into the NFL as a 5^th round pick out of Stanford. That is five more interceptions than anybody else in the NFL during that span. Sherman has had two back-to-back eight interception seasons including four in his rookie season. 

Richard Sherman may have a 6'3 frame and some great athletic abilites but his football IQ is the real difference maker. So don't be surprised when Sherman is able to improve his game even further to clearly put himself ahead of the pack as the best cornerback in the NFL, because believe me that is his plan

This signing also comes less than two weeks after the Seahawks signed another key member of their defense, Earl Thomas III, to a 4-year extension worth about $40 million, or $10 million per year (Another Legion of Boom member, Kam Chancellor signed a 5-year extension last summer worth $35 million) locking in the Legion of Boom for the next half of a decade.

They Seahawks have now made Thomas III and Sherman the highest paid players at their positions with both making double digits in the millions category.

The Seahawks have now invested just over $132 million over the next five seasons, and that’s just in their secondary alone. That's a lot of money back there, however I doubt anybody in Seattle’s front office is opposed to the deals.

The Seattle Seahawks are coming out of the offseason as a clear winner after a shaky start. If you remember the Seahawks had yet to know where Michael Bennett and Golden Tate's futures would sign and negotiations for extensions with Thomas III and Sherman didn't seem to be going anywhere.

The Seahawks have secured the core of their secondary and locked in a great piece on their defensive line with Bennett's contract. They still have Cliff Avril locked up through the end of this upcoming season. With the draft coming today I expect the Seahawks to focus more on the offensive line since that is really their only major area of concern going into it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a wide receiver or free safety early on.

As far as the future is concerned the Seahawks only have to secure a couple more positions within these next couple seasons including Doug Baldwin, Russell Wilson, and Bobby Wagner. If they can get all of their core guys secured within these next few seasons we could very well be witnessing the beginning of the next dynasty in the NFL, but that's still a long road ahead.

They were able to take care of what they needed to this offseason with extensions for Earl Thomas III and Richard Sherman and it looks like its bright days ahead for the Seattle Seahawks.

Anderson Silva Is Cleared To Resume MMA Training

After snapping his leg in half during a title rematch with Chris Weidman in late December, Anderson "The Spider" Silva has been cleared to resume his regular MMA training.

It hasn't even been six months since we witnessed Silva's heel touch the back of his calf on a short kick that connected with Weidman's leg.

Many thought that Silva's career was coming to an end after he suffered his second straight defeat to Weidman and suffering a gruesome leg injury in a sport where your legs are a part of your weapon. The leg injury looked serious and I know my initial thoughts after seeing the fight was simply, "There is no way anybody can come back to fight after your leg snaps like that." 

Obviously I was wrong and misjudged Anderson "The Spider" Silva's dedication to return to the octagon. Now we sit back and play the waiting game for Silva's return.

Anderson Silva's longtime manager, Ed Soares, told MMAJunkie.com "We’ve talked with the UFC, and we’ll see what they come up with" regarding Silva's return.

UFC President Dana White said that we should expect Anderson Silva to make a return to the octagon by the end of this year, possibly even the first fight of 2015. All that depends on how fast he can return to the proper weight and shape, but Silva is already ahead of schedule and could be ready to go by the end of the year.

Silva has been slowly increasing his activities with his leg and has already begun walking around without assistance as well as working on his boxing and grappling before being cleared to begin his rigorous MMA training.

Anderson Silva is also working on a career outside of the UFC, and has started police training with the LAPD. 

Silva is currently going to the LAPD training program but has said that he does not plan on becoming a cop following completion. He chose to do go through police training because most of his male members of his family are police officers in Brazil. From brothers to uncles including an uncle that helped raise Anderson Silva while he was younger. Silva said, "It’s a personal wish, something that will make my uncle happy," when asked why he chose to pursue police training.

As for now there are currently no opponents lined up for Anderson "The Spider" Silva's return and until he is further into his intensive MMA training we will not know.

Who do you want to see Anderson Silva make his UFC return against? Leave your opponent in the comments section!

Who Will Be The Next Coach Of The Los Angeles Lakers?

(Photo : Reuters)

The Los Angeles Lakers plan on making a splash across the NBA when they choose their 25th coach in franchise history.

There are some big names being thrown around including two NCAA National Championship coaches; John Calipari and former 13-year NBA veteran, who is also the current NCAA Champion coach, Kevin Ollie .

Calipari was rumored to be the next Lakers coach on the night of the National Championship game but denied all rumors, of course. Calipari left a clear message saying he plans on staying with his group of kids at Kentucky, but this wouldn't be the first time a coach talked one way and walked another.

Ollie's name has been included with Calipari's for the Lakers coaching opening but seems more of a stretch of the two because of his lack of experience. Ollie was able to coach the UConn Huskies to a National Championship in his first NCAA Tournament experience as a coach, which sky rocketed his name to the top of a lot of openings across the NBA. His 13-year NBA experience is also a plus and would help him tremendously in understanding the face-paced tempo of the NBA.

Another name being thrown around is actually in the playoffs right now. Former Laker and current Oklahoma City Thunder player Derek Fisher's name has been mentioned since D'Antoni's resigned. Fisher has already said he plans to retire after this season. The Brooklyn Nets took a risk when they hired Jason Kidd the same offseason that he retired and that ended up pretty well after a rough start.

Lionel Hollins and George Karl are both available as well. Both Hollins and Karl coached their teams to the playoffs at the end of the 2013 season but were both also let go. George Karl also won the coach of the year that season with the Denver Nuggets, but oddly enough was still out of a job after his playoff series loss to Golden State. Hollins was out as coach of the Grizzlies after he was swept out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs.

A few other notable names with some buzz around the Lakers coaching search are Steve Kerr, Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis, Mike Dunleavy Sr, as well as the Chicago Bulls current coach Tom Thibodeau. 

Oh and if you thought the Clippers drama was over, Doc Rivers is also on the Lakers radar; sources close to Rivers said he currently has no thoughts about Lakers coach opening at this time.

The Lakers are going to need a coach who can handle the spotlight of the Los Angeles market and the expectations for a Lakers organization that is a regular in the playoffs, including 16 NBA Championships.

The stars are bright in LA, on your roster and sitting courtside and all of these variables should be consider when the Lakers do decide who will be their 25th coach in Los Angeles Lakers history.

Was It Mike D'Antoni's Fault The Lakers Failed?

Gary A. Vasquez/US PRESSWIRE

Mike D'Antoni has resigned from his position as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

He may have resigned because he coached the Lakers to a 27-55 season, their worst record since moving to Los Angeles. It may also be because he is the only coach in Lakers history that did not get a playoff win in his first two seasons. It may have even been because he has the worst winning percentage by any coach in Los Angeles Lakers history that kept the Lakers from offering D'Antoni his extension, causing him to resign from his position.

So was it Mike D'Antoni's fault the Lakers failed during his tenure as their head coach.

To be fair D'Antoni never had a chance during his time as the Lakers head coach. From the moment the news broke that it was Mike D'Antoni, and not legendary coach Phil Jackson, who would be coaching the Los Angeles Lakers that cold November night the basketball world went insane. The Lakers just fired Mike Brown and seemed that it would only be destiny that the best coach in sports history would come back to coach a remake of the early 2000's.

D'Antoni was given the job after offering the job to the Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson. The backlash followed immediately after the Lakers swept the rug from under Jackson's feet and gave the job to D'Antoni on a late Sunday evening, while Jackson was given until that Monday to make his decision.

The hype for the Lakers was still enormous going into the 2012-13 season, which is exactly what you would expect from the Lakers with a roster led by Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Kobe Bryant.

That hype didn't last long as we watched the Lakers go through hell the rest of that season, going 45-37, and being swept out of the first round of the playoffs.

That's why hiring D'Antoni was a head-scratcher considering the only star on the Lakers who could actually flourish in his system was a 38-year old Steve Nash. Nash's injury plagued season didn't help matters any and the Lakers entered the All Star break with a record of 25-29. They were looking like they would miss the playoffs for only the fifth time in franchise history, even with their All Star laded starting line-up (Nash, Bryant, World Peace, Gasol, and Howard were the starters but because of injury they really didn't get too much playing time together).

Kobe Bryant willed his team to an unbelievable run to the playoffs but unfortunately wouldn't be playing in them. The Lakers were led by Bryant to a 20-8 record after All Star break and snuck into the playoffs as the seventh seed out of the Western Conference.

I was lucky enough to witness one of Kobe's last games that season. Being that I live in a place where the NBA was robbed (Thanks again Clay Bennett) I had to travel down to Rip City, but I was able to catch a glimpse of Kobe's rampage through the end of that season. I watched the Black Mamba and a new rising star in Damian Lillard go back and forth the entire game with the Lakers pulling out a huge win at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

Kobe tore his Achilles the very next game against the Golden State Warriors, he wouldn't make it back to the court until early December the next season.

Mike D'Antoni and the Kobe-less Lakers where swept out in the first round of the playoffs, with the lasting image being Dwight Howard fouling out in the final game as the Lakers get sent home.

Howard left for Houston during the offseason, while the Lakers kind of stood still with not much wiggle room to work with in the free agent market.

D'Antoni was left with a team whose leading scorer in their season opener was Xavier Henry who was only averaging 4.5 points per game in his first three years in the league. The second leading scorer was returning Lakers guard Jordan Farmar.  He did coach them to a 116-103 win over their Staples Center roommate LA Clippers that night but the winning record wouldn't last long.

The Lakers wouldn't make it to above .500 again until one month later while also losing Steve Nash in their first eight games of the season.

Kobe was able to make it back a couple days after that but his season was shot lived when he played in six games in just ten days. The Lakers were then set with their eleventh starting line-up after that injury with Nash in and out of the line-up with injuries as well.

The injury bug rode with the team the entire season as the Lakers would miss the playoffs for only the fifth time in franchise history. 

I mean at one point of the season if you looked at the Lakers bench you would only see one extra man, and he was taking a nap.

So can you really blame Mike D'Antoni's failure as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach?

Of course you can.