Los Angeles Lakers

Arguably the most popular team in Los Angeles, the Lakers have never had problems getting fans or winning championships. They have flair (Kobe Bryant) and they have hair (Sasha Vujacic), the perfect Hollywood combination.

History
In 1960 the Minneapolis Lakers re-located to Los Angeles. With Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as their stars, the Lakers would go on to make the NBA Finals seven times without winning before finally winning their first championship as the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, giving Baylor his first and only championship of his career. The 1980s would be the years of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics. In a classic East vs. West matchup, the Lakers would win the championship 5 times during the 80s, with the Celtics hoisting the trophy 3 times. The Lakers would become a dynasty once more at the turn of the century, winning the championship three times in a row from 2000-2002 behind Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'neal.

Current Situation
The Lakers are currently killing it. No joke. Kobe Bryant is playing out of his mind as is on his way to winning his first MVP Award, and deservedly so. After complaining about lack of quality on the team, his teammates responded by helping Kobe lead the team to a first place seed in the extremely competitive Western Conference. The Lakers got a huge boost when they traded perennial underachiever and butt-of-every-joke d-bag Kwame Brown for all-star center Pau Gasol. How the Memphis Grizzlies ever gave up one of the best big men in the league for one of the dumbest is beyond all comprehension. It's like trading a filet mignon from Hungry Hunter for a McRib from McDonalds.

Fun Fact
Star Kobe Bryant was accused of rape by a hotel worker in Colorado!

Why People Like Them
The Lakers have been around nearly 40 years. They have had some great players and have won the championship 9 times. Because they are in L.A., they have the image of an exciting, fun, lively, and entertaining team. The Lakers have a strong history with some of the best players in the history of the NBA having played for them, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson. They have 14 Hall of Famers, and that's not including Shaquille O'neal and Kobe Bryant, who are shoe-ins for the Hall.

Why People Hate Them
There's more drama on this team than an episode of "Gossip Girl." Between Magic Johnson's HIV contraction, Kobe and Shaq's feuds, and Rick Fox's foray into acting, the Lakers are just as popular off the court as on the court, which turns off a lot of basketball fans. Also, Kobe is the perfect villain - he's selfish, he's greedy, he's outspoken, but most of all, he's an absolute freak on the court. L.A. fans may love him, the but rest of the NBA absolutely hates him. He's the player that you hate to go against, but would love if he was on your team.

#1 Fan
Jack Nicholson. Not really as cool as it sounds considering Nicholson is one-tenth of the actor he used to be. Go watch "Chinatown" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and you'll see how amazing he once was.

Best Player
Kobe Bryant. The 29-year-old Bryant has been dominating the NBA for the past 10 years. With career averages of 25-5-5, Kobe is one of the top-2 best all-around players in the game today (after Lebron). Kobe knows how to work it both on the court and off. His latest controversy - a commercial for Nike where he jumps over a car.

Venue
The Lakers play in the Staples Center, an easy-to-get-to arena located conveniently in Downtown L.A. The Staples Center is fine in guess - IF YOU LIKE $12 BEERS!

Simers Says
Buss knows how to pick them, young girls and superstar players.

Dwyre Says
The whole city is in a tizzy over them and will be distraught if they fall short.

Verdict
If you want to be like everyone else in Los Angeles, you can support the Lakers. Yes, you're jumping on a bandwagon. But you're supporting a winning team with a very strong history and tradition. You are also joining the Lakers at a very exciting time in their organization. Kobe is playing his best basketball, Pau is taking the Lakers to a whole different level, and Andrew Bynum is coming into his own. Did I mention this guy is acutally an athlete, and sometimes he even gets to play?