North vs. South rivalry heats up as L.A. Lakers take on Kings

By Elizabeth Newman
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]

Of all the issues to split California, basketball has now joined
the list, as those from the north are convinced of a King victory
while those from the south are sure the Lakers will win a third
title.

The NBA playoffs redefine what it means to be a basketball
fan.

The postseason fuels rivalries, as friends take breaks in their
relationships to root for their team. To be on the other side
borders on the unspeakable.

“We’ve got some all-star players ““ the Lakers
don’t stand a chance this year,” first-year student and
Kings fan Nikki Muranaka said.

Second-year Jonathan Hernandez begs to differ: “The fact
that it’s playoff time means the Lakers are going to win, no
question about it.”

The combination of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the
pride and joy of Lakers fans, serve more as thorns in the side of
Kings fans.

“The Kings can sub players if someone gets hurt,”
electrical engineering student Chris Loo said. “If Shaq or
Kobe were out, it’d be over ““ they are the
team.”

“They win don’t they, what does it matter?”
asked Daily Bruin editor in chief Timothy Kudo. “Better to
have two clutch players who dominate the team than no clutch
players who can’t win a championship two years
running.”

“The Daily Bruin officially endorses the Lakers,” he
added, only half-jokingly.

The rivalry, however, extends far beyond campus.

In Sacramento, State Assembly Speaker Herb J. Wesson has brought
the rivalry to the state capitol. Wesson, whose district covers the
UCLA campus, has challenged Sacramento representative Dave Cox to a
bet.

If the Lakers defeat the Kings, Cox will wear a Lakers jersey on
the State Assembly floor and lead the House in a rendition of
“I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman. If, however, the Kings
win the series, Wesson will wear a Kings jersey on the floor and
ring a cow bell.

Both representatives ardently support their respective teams,
and neither plans on losing the bet.

In a press release Wesson said, “We already know that Dave
Cox looks great in a Lakers jersey ““ and I can’t wait
to hear him sing.”

Cox, however, sees the future differently.

“My good friend Herb spends so much time in Sacramento, I
could have sworn he was a Kings fan,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him in
purple.”

But why base a rivalry on the teams’ talents or strategy
when it is so much better rooted in sheer dislike towards
“the other side?” Sometimes it’s the rivalry
itself that keeps fans cheering for their team.

“I really don’t hate the Kings, it’s mostly
the rivalry that I revel in,” said world arts and cultures
student and Los Angeles native Sarri Sanchez. “With the Nor
Cal folks around here it’s all about pride in my home
team.”

Yet the rivalry remains, and always will.

“You know, if the name “˜Laker’ had two
different letters, it’d spell “˜Loser’?”
Muranaka asked.

And for those who are undecided, whose team has been knocked out
of the NBA playoffs already, Lakers fan Kristan Klinghoffer wishes
to direct your attention to Mike Bibby ““ a former Arizona
Wildcat and son of USC men’s basketball head coach Henry
Bibby.

“Any self-respecting Bruin will hate him,”
Klinghoffer said.