“Ommmmmm”. Phil was in back of the bus trying to get the players to meditate. Only Jordan Farmar was joining in. He switched to the Buddhist chant “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” but it came out sounding like “Oh Money Pad Me Wallet”. That caught the players attention. Soon, the whole lot of them were shouting “Oh Money Pad Me Wallet, Oh Money Pad Me Wallet”. I don’t think I’ve ever seen our team so unified. Phil Jackson really is a genius.
A loud crash interrupted the din. “Ah shit” shouted Kobe, “Nicholson fell asleep at the wheel. We just ran over a big dude in a lion costume - looks like a cross between Shaq and The Lion King”.
Fisher took charge immediately. “Drew, come with me. Let’s see if the guy’s ok.” I opened my window so I could hear what was happening.
D.Fish: “Hey, buddy, are you ok?”
The Lion: “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just a little stunned.”
D. Fish: “We’re really sorry about hitting you. What are you doing out here anyway?”
The Lion: “I’m off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz! He’s going to give me courage.”
D. Fish: “Courage? But you’re a lion. Don’t you already have courage?”
The Lion: “I’m big. I’m strong. Getting hit by a bus didn’t hurt me. But I’m timid. Heck, I’m not even mad that you guys hit me with your bus. The wizard’s going to teach me to be aggressive, to live with fire in my belly!”
D. Fish: “You know, that sounds like my young friend here - Andrew Bynum. Do you think the wizard could help him too?”
The Lion: “I suppose so.”
D. Fish: “Why don’t you join us? We’ll all go see the wizard together!”
