Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook"

Neil Cerutti <neil.cerutti.TakeThisOut@tds.net> wrote in message news:<2r89gaF173qdeU1.TakeThisOut@uni-berlin.de>...
> In article <cimo9e$3mi@dispatch.concentric.net>, s_knight8 wrote:
> > http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3020800
> >
> > By the way, here's a playbook anecdote from Dunleavy's first season as a
> > head coach-1990-91 with the L.A. Lakers. The story goes that before the
> > season began, Dunleavy sought to make a personal connection with the Lakers'
> > resident superstar and future Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson. The venue was a
> > private stretch of beach, and Dunleavy asked Magic's opinion of what was
> > right and what was wrong with the team.
> >
> > Near the end of their tete-a-tete, Dunleavy handed a thick package to Magic,
> > saying, "This is our playbook." Whereupon, Magic accepted the package,
> > hurled it into the ocean, pointed at his own head, and said this: "I'm the
> > playbook."
> >
> > Whichever playbook eventually became the team's required study, the Lakers
> > advanced into the finals, before becoming the first victim in the initiation
> > of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty.
>
> They were victims of mistimed injuries, actually.

The injuries certainly didn't help, but even if James Worthy and Byron
Scott had been sound throughout the series, it's not certain that the
Lakers could have pulled that one out. The Bulls were just too
overpowering at that point. If James and Byron were at 100%, however,
the series probably could have gone to 3-4, or just *maybe* the Lakers
could have won.

It's too bad, really. A fully-charged Showtime Lakers team vs. the
Jordan Bulls would have been a match for the ages.
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

"s_knight8" <s_knight8nospam.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cimo9e$3mi@dispatch.concentric.net...
> http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3020800
>
> By the way, here's a playbook anecdote from Dunleavy's first season as a
> head coach-1990-91 with the L.A. Lakers. The story goes that before the
> season began, Dunleavy sought to make a personal connection with the Lakers'
> resident superstar and future Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson. The venue was a
> private stretch of beach, and Dunleavy asked Magic's opinion of what was
> right and what was wrong with the team.
>
> Near the end of their tete-a-tete, Dunleavy handed a thick package to Magic,
> saying, "This is our playbook." Whereupon, Magic accepted the package,
> hurled it into the ocean, pointed at his own head, and said this: "I'm the
> playbook."

The way I heard it is, the conversation actually took place while Magic and
Dunleavy were walking along the rim of an active volcano. Dunleavy's foot
slipped on some loose pebbles, and he fell into the crater -- Magic grabbed him
with one arm, and the playbook landed on a ledge a few feet away. Dunleavy
screamed, "Magic! Forget about me! Save the package!" --"I'm not going to let
you die, Coach. Whatever's in that package, it's not worth letting you
ie." --"Magic! It's the playbook! Let me go!"

So Magic held onto Dunleavy with his right arm, and inched toward the playbook.
But he nudged it with the tips of his fingers, and it teetered on the edge --
just as Dunleavy's grip on Magic's wrist began to slip -- "Magic!" Dunleavy
shrieked! "I can't hold on any longer!" Sensing doom, Magic made a last lunge
at the playbook as it fell off the ledge, but lost his hold on Dunleavy -- and
Magic grabbed him with his left hand, as the playbook splashed into the lava
below. "Nooo!" Dunleavy cried, and then Magic yanked him up, just as the
volcano erupted.

I think Charley Rosen's conflating two stories. The thing Magic hurled into the
ocean was Paul Westhead.

--
Jeremey
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

Neil Cerutti <neil.cerutti.TakeThisOut@tds.net> wrote in message news:<2r89gaF173qdeU1.TakeThisOut@uni-berlin.de>...
> In article <cimo9e$3mi@dispatch.concentric.net>, s_knight8 wrote:
> > http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3020800
> >
> > By the way, here's a playbook anecdote from Dunleavy's first season as a
> > head coach-1990-91 with the L.A. Lakers. The story goes that before the
> > season began, Dunleavy sought to make a personal connection with the Lakers'
> > resident superstar and future Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson. The venue was a
> > private stretch of beach, and Dunleavy asked Magic's opinion of what was
> > right and what was wrong with the team.
> >
> > Near the end of their tete-a-tete, Dunleavy handed a thick package to Magic,
> > saying, "This is our playbook." Whereupon, Magic accepted the package,
> > hurled it into the ocean, pointed at his own head, and said this: "I'm the
> > playbook."
> >
> > Whichever playbook eventually became the team's required study, the Lakers
> > advanced into the finals, before becoming the first victim in the initiation
> > of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty.
>
> They were victims of mistimed injuries, actually.

Those are my sentiments exactly. The Bulls had their decade. Now,
they are back to being the low quality team that they usually are. In
contrast, the Lakers have been nearly wire-to-wire winners. We've
pretty much been at or near the top since the inception of the league,
and Kobe will have us back to the Championship level soon.
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

"LucasWhiteBackAgainAndReadyForChampionshipNumber15"
<LucasWhite DeleteThis @mosszone.com> wrote in message
news:74f9ab24.0409201609.593a7759@posting.google.com...
> Neil Cerutti <neil.cerutti DeleteThis @tds.net> wrote in message
> news:<2r89gaF173qdeU1 DeleteThis @uni-berlin.de>...

>
> Those are my sentiments exactly. The Bulls had their decade. Now,
> they are back to being the low quality team that they usually are. In
> contrast, the Lakers have been nearly wire-to-wire winners. We've
> pretty much been at or near the top since the inception of the league,
> and Kobe will have us back to the Championship level soon.

The Lakers had an incredible run. They are destined to be the 3rd or 4th in
the new Pacific Division, and will be lucky to be in the top ten in the
Western conference.
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

"LucasWhiteBackAgainAndReadyForChampionshipNumber15"
<LucasWhite DeleteThis @mosszone.com> wrote in message
news:74f9ab24.0409201609.593a7759@posting.google.com...
> Neil Cerutti <neil.cerutti DeleteThis @tds.net> wrote in message
news:<2r89gaF173qdeU1 DeleteThis @uni-berlin.de>...
> > In article <cimo9e$3mi@dispatch.concentric.net>, s_knight8 wrote:
> > > http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3020800
> > >
> > > By the way, here's a playbook anecdote from Dunleavy's first season as
a
> > > head coach-1990-91 with the L.A. Lakers. The story goes that before
the
> > > season began, Dunleavy sought to make a personal connection with the
Lakers'
> > > resident superstar and future Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson. The venue
was a
> > > private stretch of beach, and Dunleavy asked Magic's opinion of what
was
> > > right and what was wrong with the team.
> > >
> > > Near the end of their tete-a-tete, Dunleavy handed a thick package to
Magic,
> > > saying, "This is our playbook." Whereupon, Magic accepted the package,
> > > hurled it into the ocean, pointed at his own head, and said this: "I'm
the
> > > playbook."
> > >
> > > Whichever playbook eventually became the team's required study, the
Lakers
> > > advanced into the finals, before becoming the first victim in the
initiation
> > > of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty.
> >
> > They were victims of mistimed injuries, actually.
>
> Those are my sentiments exactly. The Bulls had their decade. Now,
> they are back to being the low quality team that they usually are. In
> contrast, the Lakers have been nearly wire-to-wire winners. We've
> pretty much been at or near the top since the inception of the league,
> and Kobe will have us back to the Championship level soon.

Hey, thanks, I needed a good laugh today.

--
C The Shocker
Hit Pay Dirt with K-Dirt!
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook" 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Magic told Dunleavy "I'm the playbook"