Re: Laker Haters: Best of

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 14:08:21 -0800, "brink" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

>
>"igor eduardo küpfer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Hater? Where have I ever said that I hated the Lakers? Believe it or not,
>some
>> of us are able to form opinions without reference to emotions.
>>
>> >From: igor eduardo küpfer ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
>> >Subject: Re: Quasi OT: Shaq vs. Kobe
>> >Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.seattle-sonics
>> >Date: 2003-10-28 09:35:39 PST
>> >
>>
>> >Yes, I said it: I don't think the Lakers have much chance to win more
>than
>> >50,
>> >or excel in the playoffs -- with or without Kobe.
>> >
>>
>> I can't see where I've said anything incorrect: the Lakers haven't won 50,
>and
>> they haven't advanced in the playoffs. QED. I anxiously await your
>apology.
>
>you said they don't have much *chance* to win more than 50 with or without
>kobe.  which was a bold predicition to make, but obviously at this point
>pretty much dead wrong.
>
>but since you still stand by that statement, i'll take some of that action.
>
>how much do you want to bet?  ;-)
>

Bet that the Lakers haven't won 50 games? Twelve gazzilion dollars. Make that
cheque payable to ed küpfer, c/o Bad Bets Anonymous, Toronto Ontario.

But seriously, I never understood why people think that betting lends some
kind of authority to their predictions. If I predict something, it means I
look at the circumstances and make a reasoned extrapolation as to how things
will go in the future. If someone makes a contrary prediction, they feel that
I've inferred incorrectly from the present. In neither case is anyone "right"
or "wrong". The person who won the bet didn't know how things would turn out
any better than the loser did, they just guessed better. Maybe it's just me,
but a good guess is nothing to be proud of. It's certainly nothing to gloat
about.

>> (Hater? Really, I must protest. I have but two NBA hatreds, neither of
>them
>> Laker-related: Keon and tmoc. I am emotionally indifferent to the rest --
>> including your precious team, around which the world apparently revolves.)
>
>you haven't heard?  the axis of planet earth intersects shaquille o'neal's
>locker at staples center.  ;-)
>

A good example of what I mean. I think Shaq is a total asshole. I've thought
that for years. I think he is, as a person, a discredit to the human race.

But so what? He is a great basketball player, perhaps one of the half-dozen
best of all time. A versatile and exceptionally talented athlete. My contempt
for him personally shouldn't affect my appraisal of him as a player -- and I
don't think it does.

Accordingly, whatever I happen to think of the Lakers as a whole (which is not
much) shouldn't affect my appraisal of their ability. If I predict doom for
the franchise, believe me, it's not based on emotions. To call me a hater
ignores my reasoning.

--

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| best,     |   Sticking it to   |
| ed        | The Man since 1971 |
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