RONNY TURIAF'S HAIR

I admit that I've soured on the Lakers in recent years. Once a season ticket holder (during the Sedale Threat years), I finally gave up on the Lakes during the abortion that was the Rudy Tomjanavich era. The penetrate-and-kick-it-out-for-the-three offense was painful to watch, and made one long for the thrill of Phil's triangle. Besides, any team that started less-than-mediocre Chucky Atkins as a point guard deserved to rot in hell.

And it wasn't like I hated the Shaq trade. I liked Lamar Odom from his Clips days, and thought Caron Butler played with heart. This season, however, there's little not to like. Kobe's really become a beautiful thing to watch. The gunner has given way to a guy who understands how to make his "teammates better" (a sportstalk radio cliche, sorry). Tonight in their win over Golden State, I decided that this is a team of destiny. All because of Ronny Turiaf's hair. The dreads were cool, but now that he's returned to a style he was frontin' in his Gonzaga glory days, the Lakers will not be denied.