[Rausch]

Has Malone lost his temper and acted like a fool?

Yep. Its a shame, but he has. I can't argue that, and it's a big black mark on an otherwise solid personal accomplishment career.

The great thing about Stockton is that he's like an offensive lineman, you know he's doing his job because you don't hear about him. Shooting the three and passing off to the main threat don't pull the media away from physically dominant guys like Kobe/Shaq...Won't happen.

Shaq has impressed me. He's acted as much a jerk as Malone at times, especially in Orlando. But he does seem to have matured greatly since the coach of the century arrived. Kobe has been labeled as immature by teammates and media both. His talent probably is the best in the game, but his ego might be holding him back. He has done an admirable job of keeping composure through this whole magnified media escipade, but I just can't fight the feeling this guy is biding time until Shaq either leaves or allows the young stud his limelight.


It's hard to argue with success, I just don't get the "feeling" from this team that the old Lakers or the earlier Bulls put off...Those at least felt like true teams in every way...