Of obsessions and irrational traditions

As the Playoffs came around last year, with my Los Angeles Lakers standing atop the Western Conference for the first time since I became a fan, I knew I needed to do something special, to represent on another level. Something to epitomize the deep-seeded obsession I've had since junior high, since Kobe hit those 12 3s against Seattle. An obsession that had spanned, up to that point:

• The Horry miss in Game 5 (2003)
• The Malone and Payton experiment (2003-04)
• The 0.4-second miracle (2004)
• The tragic Pistons series (2004)
• The Shaq trade (2004)
• The Tomjanovich/Hamblen year (2004-05)
• The return of the Zen (2005-06)
• The 62 in three against the Mavs (2005)
• The 81 (2006)
• The "Steve Nash AGAIN? F*CK OUTTA HERE!" fiasco (2006)
• The Suns series/collapse (2006)
• The switch to 24 (2006)
• The 30 in the 3rd against Utah (2006)
• The four straight 50s (2007)
• The Smush Parker experiment (2005-2007)
• The less dramatic, more predictable Suns series (2007)
• The "Ship his ass out!" tirade (2007)
• The return of Fish (2007)
• The emergence of Bynum (2007-08)
• The Gasol steal (2008)
• The MVP season (2007-08)

Since my fandom started after the Lakers kicked off the new millenium with a three-peat, it's been filled more with "Reasons why I drink" rather than "Reasons why I celebrate." So, since the future looked so bright for us that Autumn (Southern Hemisphere, what up!), I decided to start a new tradition for the Playoffs: wearing my old-school white KB8 jersey for every day that the Lakers had a Playoff game. Whether it was under a jacket/hoody, or out for everyone to see, I made sure I had that jersey on me for every single game. It worked, to an extent: we made the Finals. (Then I kinda blacked out, some things happened, and for some reason, the Celtics were celebrating. Those couple of weeks were a blur to me, really. *shrugs*)

Anywho, the whole point of this post is this: tomorrow, at 12PM Sydney time, the Lakers face off against Boston. And I know, it's 'just' a regular-season game. But at the same time, it's not just any game. It's against the Celtics. Those damn Leprechauns. The last time we were in the building, THIS happened (Okay, repressing those memories again in three...). I just hope we beat 'em just like we did on Christmas Day (well, Boxing Day down here. Again, Southern Hemisphere, WHAT UP!). As much as I celebrated that day, I'll be, like, thrice as randy should we pull out a victory at the Gahhhden.

So, tomorrow, at 12PM Sydney time, I'm gonna pull out the jersey. It may not be the Playoffs yet, but it'll damn sure feel like it. If I'm bleeding Forum Blue and Gold tomorrow afternoon, you'll know why.

- marty..

P.S. Totally neglected reading for my Honours project to write this entry. Umm. Priorities FAIL.

END COMMUNICATION.