FanPost

03 'Til Infinity

Here's an article I wrote for my town's news site. I wanted to share it with my Laker fam:

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2019/8/31/395498/Pat-Benson-03-Til-Infinity.aspx

This week Shaq and Kobe were trading barbs through the media. Kobe blamed Shaq’s work ethic for costing him rings, and Shaq pinned the 2004 Finals loss on Kobe for not passing the ball. Stop me if you have heard this storyline before. All the fuss was quickly quelled when Kobe tweeted Shaq was the most dominant player ever and they were too old to beef, then Shaq jokingly agreed by saying he thought Kobe was talking about Dwight Howard.

The acrimony made me reminiscent about the good ole days of Laker dominance. Phil Jackson coming out retirement straight from a fishing trip in Alaska. The Game 7 comeback of the 2000 WCF against Pippen and the Portland Trailblazers. Big Shot Robert Horry’s buzzer beater against the Kings. Back to back to back titles against Pacers, 76ers, and Nets. In the early 2000’s Staples Center was where future hall of famers legacies came to die.

This incarnation of the Lakers dynasty would eventually falter in late 2003 to a young and hungry San Antonio Spurs team. The following year the Lakers would add Karl Malone and Gary Payton before losing to the Detroit Pistons and their title window finally slamming shut.

The rest was history. Shaq wins 1 with the Heat, Kobe 2 more with the Lakers. The tension between the dynamic duo eventually cooled but the petty shots at each other through the media never ended. Even after a contrived sit-down interview between the two airing during the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Of course, with everything in life we are left to wonder on what could have been. What if Shaq had stayed in shape and remained healthy? What if Kobe grew up faster? Would Phil have still needed the sabbatical before a future run with Kobe later in the decade?

It’s funny the flareup happened this week because I’ve been listening to a lot of early 90’s hip-hop lately. Especially the Souls of Mischief song "93 ‘Til Infinity". A song that means something different to everybody from that time, but certainly capsulizes a moment in rap and pop culture history.

The generation before me hears that song and probably thinks Air Jordan’s, Walkman’s, and Jurassic Park. A time long before internet prevalence and social media addiction. "93’Til Infinity" is as much an ideal as it is a song at this point. A moment in time cemented for eternity.

Well the Shaq and Kobe Lakers hold that same place in my generation’s memory bank. The fights, the makeups, the championships, and the eventual dissolution. There have been a handful of NBA dynasties since them: the Kobe/Gasol Lakers, the big 3 in Miami, and most recently the super team in Golden State. Despite all those squad’s achievements, the last team to win 3 straight championships was the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. 2003 ‘Til Infinity.

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Addendum: After the spat seemingly ended, Shaq posted a picture on Instagram which was a not so subtle jab at Kobe. May this cold war last forever.