Nobody, but nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog anymore! -Harry Callahan 
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Did you see it? Did you see Pau? Kung Pau. Biff boff eee-yow ka-Pau. NBA action. Where amazing happens. Fan-tastic! I love this game!
Let’s get this straight right off the bat. I hate the Lakers. I hated Showtime. I hated Dancing Barry. I hated Magic. I hated Kareem. I never hated Shaq, but I do hate Kobe. But, if I’m a Lakers fan, I love this trade.
Pau can score inside. Pau can score outside. His moves down in the box remind folks of Kevin McHale. He’s ambidextrous. And like my main man Yogi Berra always says: “Boy, I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous.”
In his debut last night, Pau showed why the Lakers were willing to give a right arm to get him. Ok, ok. Maybe not a right arm. Maybe a left pinky toe. But still. The brand spakinest newest Laker looked spec-TAC-ular last night. Marv Albert style. Pau Gasol notched twenty-four points. Pau Gasol reeled in twelve rebounds. Pau Gasol dished out forty cents. Gasol went ten for fifteen from the field. He scored from everywhere. Underneath. Mid-range. Put backs. Off the pick and roll. Here there and everywhere. I want her everywhere, and if she’s beside me I know I need never care.
Kobe now knows if Pau’s beside him, he need never care. Kobe Bean: “He’s an incredible player. He makes everybody’s life easier.” Translation: Now, when they double me, they will pay.
The Nets paid. Sean Williams paid. Paid down on the blocks. Josh Boone paid. Paid around the glass. Yes! And the foul! Made them all pay in the fourth quarter. Up only four to start the fourth quarter. Eleven big points in the big fourth quarter. Five for five from the field in the big fourth quarter. Five big rebounds in the big fourth quarter. One big pass in the big fourth quarter. You saw it.
Saw it on Yes. Saw it on KCAL. Saw it on Sports Center. You saw point guard Derek Fisher leading the break. You saw him get it underneath to Pau. You saw Pau barely touch the rock as he flipped it over his head from his position in the low post. You saw Fish catch it without breaking stride and drop said rock into the basket. Dare I say it? Showtime, baby! Showtime. Wait ’til Kobe’s finger is not so numb. Wait ’til Andrew Bynum gets back. You just wait. You take it on faith, you take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part.
Public Acknowledgements: Batman, Beatles, Elliott Teaford, Mike Bresnahan and Tom Petty
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Pau Gasol
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