Why hate the Lakers? They are an organization of tradition and relish time of success. History makes up the Lakers to be the team they are now. Every other team, fans, cities are jealous of the Lakers and maybe Celtics because of their constant winning and being on top. Go Lakers!

Hey im in this series deep. I am a die hard Jazz fan always have been. I took a jump this summer and I am now living in Southern California for work. It's terrible being in the land of the enemy. Not to mention both of my roommates are lakers fans. I here people talk bad about the Jazz all the time down here and it makes my blood boil. HELP ME!!!!

i can't believe Rock hasn't seen Laker fans in salt lake. watch a Lakers at Jazz game. gold jerseys are everywhere. i heard that many Los Angeles native college students who attend BYU and Utah drive all the way to Salt Lake to root for their Lakers. i bet, outside of jazz fans, there are more lakers fans than any other team.

hey rock, i dont know anyone who is upset about shaq slapping ostertag. it was hilarious actually.

LA going down. Jazz in 6. -roll one for the jazz-

I hate the Lakers for two reasons. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. Both are arrogant punks who disgrace the game of basketball. They represent, more than anyone else in the league, past or present, what is wrong with the NBA. Their emphasis is on individual performance and obscene, (see your new Catholic seven deadly sins list, by the way) financial reward. Coach Sloan is the antithesis of those things. He tries every year to build a great TEAM with whatever players he has. He doesn't whine to Larry Miller or Kevin O'Connor about not having superstars. He works hard and teaches his players to win. I know Sloan is one of highest paid coaches in the league, but look at his demeanor. He'd fit right in at the dinner table of any working class family. Phil Jackson would scoff at such a thought. I say, knock him and his Lakers of their high horse, once and for all. Jazz in 6. I hope Phil brings his earplugs.

You have to read the article to find that he says Utahns hate the Lakers, not L.A. itself. Half of us either come from southern California or have parents or grandparents from there. Plus, we spend most of our vacation money there. Most of us don't hate the city of L.A. by any means.

Finally, there are significant reasons to intensely dislike the Lakers, but anyone who truly *hates* a SPORTS TEAM needs to come back and join reality. And I'd say it's very few Jazz fans who actually hate the Lakers. We just dislike them. A lot.

GO JAZZ!

It's Phil Jackson. I can't stand the sanctimonious pompous zenmeister. It would be profoundly satisfactory to send him and the Lakers packing. However the Jazz will definitely need their A+ game. The article is right; nothing worse then a arrogant blowhard that is able to back it up.

Whey hate the Lakers. You guys embaressed us in 1997 and 1998 in the playoffs. I still remember. Hopefully its payback time. Go Lakers

I love it that you guys hate us. It means we've gotten under your skin, are wrankling your nerves. It means you understand that we're a great franchise, with the best player in the league. It means you're jealous. Muahahahahahh!!!!!!!

On the other hand - as a fan of just the game and not purely a Laker fan - Williams is a phenomenal player. We recognize Utah and their skills, their coach. So as a fan of the game, let me say I'm really looking forward to some great basketball. It could be really, really close, this series.

Hey, Help me!, take solace in the fact that all the talk and fame and national TV time mean nothing. What matters is what happens on the court. The Jazz might not win this series because they don't have home court advantage, but they will certainly give a good accounting of themselves. And if Utah wins, the Lakers will hate Utah, too, just as they did when the Jazz used to beat the Lakers during the Stockton/Malone era. Didn't Utah sweep the Lakers one year?

By the way, some of the ladies I know hate Kobe because he cheated on his wife. And that is something that they don't forget. Every time they see his mug on TV, they see a cheater.

kobe pure plain and simple

After this series, Uthans will have more reasons to hate the Lakers, they are the gift that keeps on giving for your fans.

Lakers in 4.

1988 Bobby Hansen...living in CA and being a Jazz fan is tough, but I cheer for Jazz regardless. It should be noted that we are 2-1 historically in the playoffs against the Lakers...

LAKER HATER!!!

Thats not true I live in utah and i love the lakers. The MVP is on this team. They don't even have their full power on this team. Andrew Bynum will be back next season and the lakers will be even better. This lineup gives me chills- Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom,
Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. But i love the jazz too. So it will be an interesting series

The reason most people dislike LA & Boston is because of envy. My reason is somewhat different because I do appreciate good basketball and talent, but I can't absolutely stand whinners and crybabys that think the world owes them something. Kobe cried all off-season and pre-season about wanting to be traded to a contender or insisted the Lakers immediately get some new players to satisfy his need for the limelight. All the web sites, print and broadcast media just dwelled on this crap daily. Its like the Knicks have been all season- nothing but ink and exposure all year. Who cares? Certainly not this blogger. And people wonder why we hate these prima-donnas? Give me a break.

B has it right. I loved the Lakers when they had Magic. There was a fantastic tradition. I still love the Celtics.

Sadly, that tradition is gone. And it has nothing to do with envy, it has everything to do with money.

Now with Kobe and Jackson, foul.

And all the bragging this year about how they were able to pull it off when no one expected them to. Ummm, that would be because of a ridiculous fire sale of Gasol. Rather than thanking the Grizzlies, they take the credit (How ever did we do it, we even amaze ourselves).

When there was tradition, I loved the Lakers. Now it is a money thing, and L.A. has the money. Part of why I love the Jazz is because they do what they do without spending money for huge name players. They are number 26 out of 30 for salaries, yet they ended the season with the league's 8th best percentage (and the league's best since getting rid of that guy that no one even remembers for Korver).

Thank you, Jerry Sloan, for consistent class and instilling that within the players.

What a surprise that the petty envious Jazz fans hate another team especially one that is rich in tradition. Stop your crying and start winning championships. Maybe the problem is that many of the great athletes do not want to play for the Jazz because of the people in Utah who are haters. Stop your hating and maybe more players will want to play and live in Utah. Good luck in the playoffs and may the better team win.

Jazz fan or not, Kobe just isn't a likable person. Up until this year, he has been a horrible teammate as well. Just last summer, the guy is trashing up and coming Laker center Andrew Bynum & GM Mitch Kupchak to anyone in the greater LA area that cared to listen to him.

Why? Because Kobe was so selfish while Shaq was there that he forced the organization's hand just so he could try to show the world that he could win by himself. When things didn't go well the first few years, Kobe starts whining and lashing out at management, teammates, etc. instead of looking at himself in them mirror.

He is the epitome of the self centered, egotistical, and arrogant player that has made the NBA distasteful to so many fans over the past decade.

If the guy had any character or decency, he would have made a public apology for his words and actions over the past several years to him teammates and Mitch Kupchak. Of course, Kobe is to self absorbed and arrogant to every humble himself to the ponit where he could admit he is wrong and apologize. He just isn't a good human being.

Ya like Karl Malone didn't cry every season he didn't get a raise and like John Stockton wasn't a complete jerk when asked for a simple autograph. You hate the Lakers because they win period. That's why all teams in every sport are hated. No one hates a loser except their own fans. "Reason" get a clue.

Hate! That's down right scary. To feel such animonsity for anyone or anything is pathetic to say the least. I would put individuals with such deep emotional hatred as the same people you see in road rage or getting in someones faces and threatening physical harm. What is it with people today who harvest such anger that they detach themselves from any compassion or empathy. Ok, there are sports teams who obviously have great fans and who support them and cheer them on, but to HATE another team is a deterioration as human beings. Common people, what happen to sportsmanship. No wander our youngins are learning that hatred and violence is the norm. Ya know usually when a team wins or is ahead in the finals it's because they are the better players at the present and it's up to the other team to step it up a notch. Negetive feelings and ranting and raving only hurts the individual. Take control of your emotions people. HATE?

I understand that people in Salt Lake hate the Lakers. All the reasons have been given. But the fact is you guys have so many things L.A. does not have. For one, I came skiing here a few years ago and the snow was incredible, best ever! Second of all, in the winter, you have great snow, great to ski on, not so good to make snowballs. Other things you have, that L.A. does not, is lots of incredible, all different, snow flakes. In the winter you can drive twenty minutes to great skiing, in Los Angeles, in the winter, the drive is forty minutes. So you have snow and an extra twenty minutes to ski on it. You also have a great young point guard, a solid power forward and lots of snow.

Love the Jazz and I love Kobe Bryant he's got insane skills and he is a joy to watch play the game...the great entertainer--freaking Mamba!! But I love the Jazz and when the two teams face off I detest the Lakers but when the series is over I'll be rooting for the Lakers to win the championship

LA in 4--But really this series will be over after game two

I hate to say it and I'd love to see the Jazz take it but I'm no fool!

I don't know that I despise the Lakers or even there fans. There fans have as much passion about there team as we Jazz fans do for the Jazz. I think its the sense of entitlement that Kobe, Phil Jackson and the media give them. The same for the Celtics. I think the NBA Commissioner is to blame as well. All year long we are force fed media crap about the Lakers and Celtics and Commissioner preferred teams. During the regular season the Jazz could be playing the Spurs and the Lakers playing the Heat and which game are they going to Broadcast? Thats right a boring Lakers,Heat game. This is the first year since Shack left that the Lakers deserve Media attention But good, bad or mediocre the NBA will force the Lakers down your throat and that gets hard for most people to swallow.

Okay, Jazz. Let's eat some purple people!

If the Jazz can get one of the first two down there, they might have a chance in 7. I say 7 because I doubt Utah can win all of it's home games against L.A. because of Kobe's distaste for the distasteful Utah fans that boo Fisher. It motivates him, and I doubt D-Will can nullify that in each of hour home games.

We'll need to win two down there to take the series. One of the first two, and then game 7.

Let's hope this long layoff for the Lakers has them just off enough that we can get a quick start.

BTW, all you need to watch in the first quarter of any Jazz game to see whether the players have their heads into the game is how well or bad they shoot foul shots. When their heads aren't in the game, they do poorly.

It's a lack of concentration that causes Jazz losses. Let's hope they're motivated enough to keep their heads into every game against the Lakers (at least all home games and one on the road).

The three things that do it for me are: first, Kobe is a complete jerk and every way that pro athletes can be. Phil Jackson is extremely overated as a coach and has mostly just gotten lucky in his career. Hollywood celebrities are mostly idiots, and any that are Laker fans are even bigger idiots.

I dislike the Lakers because of the arrogance of their fans. I don't envy the Lakers. I respect their accomplishments but I certainly wouldn't be a bandwagon Laker fan. I lived in So. CA for years and there are many fans who only cheer for the Lakers when they win. They could care less about them when they aren't winning. Phil Jackson and Kobe are both reflections of the arrogance of the organization. They can't even be graceful winners.

LA hates you, but so a lot of midwestern states hates calfiornia and imitate their fashion, style, talk, and just about everything else. I attended BYU a couple of years ago and I saw so many california wannabees there. The best is when half the people from Utah don't even wanna claim Utah as their home even though they lived 90% of their lives there or more. Even the california mormons think you guys are weird up there.

We have banners that read World Champions in our arena. How many do you have again?

champmionships and hated every minute of it. Why?... because he didn't get ALL of the glory.

Kobe has to have ALL of the glory. That's why he forced Buss to trade Shaq. Kobe cried, "It's either him or me".

After Shaq left we all learned who was the main reason for the Laker championships, it wasn't Kobe and it wasn't Phil.

Kobe and Phil languished without Shaq. Kobe cried again, "Get me some superstars or trade me". He complained about everyone and everything and like a spoiled brat, blamed everyone but himself.

Now he likes the Lakers. Gasol better be careful and not score too many points. Bynum better not get too good too soon or Kobe will turn on them.

Remember, Kobe has to have ALL the glory.

memories are the Jazz sweeping the Lakers out of the playoffs 2 years in a row, with Kobe hoisting up 3 point airballs down the stretch.

3 rings, but his wife got THE ring.

Make sure if you attack the lakers that you not include the whole state of california.You should probaalby check your geography. We have several NBA teams. And you(UTAH) guys are a bunch of califonria wannabees anyways. I thought I would include every utahn since it's the Salt lake jazz I hate.

Often immitated, but never duplicted"

SO you lived in Socal and the people only cheer when they win. Ken, did you sell pest control one summer and now you are claiming Socal as where you lived or from? We have several teams and there are a lot of Laker fans. There about 12 million people living in LA alone so you can do the math. Talk about how you JAzz fans are a bunch of sellouts and Liars considering you have only 1 NBA team. Enough said and stop lying about your californioa roots. It serves no purpose in your point.

Brad, I guess you don't go out much or you are a liar. I believe the second part is true. I have been to S.L. many times to visit my kid there and meet and spoke with many locals and the talk always turn to the Lakers. Again, and again, I was told they respect the Lakers for their rich history and all that they have accomplish. They also told me they like to boo to go along with the crowd. Except for one old lady, they also respected Kobe and recognised he is one of the best players in the NBA. That is why I strongly believe you lie when you wrote that poor piece. You also don't know M.J. When you talk about arrogance and self centered and talking into the camera when the game was on, nobody beats M.J. and he does not walk on water.

Everyone complains about Kobe whining, that's funny! Kobe's a winner even if he does whine. He wants players that will help him WIN! Ask Karl about that. I would rather have a winner on my team than someone who doesnt want to carry his team on his back or isnt sure if he wants to take the last shot! Kobe wants it and Jazz fans hate him for it!

Laker 4
Jazz 1

for all of you that say you like the lakers. was it before the championships (and when the jazz beat them down 4-1 and 4-0 in the mid 90's) or after? Thats another reason why i hate the lakers. i live in so cal too (my moms side is from slc, so i've been catching games up there since elementary school), and there are so many that hop on that bandwagon. those guys dont desereve the happiness and satisfaction a victory brings.

Go Utah! one team, one dream

To answer your question, Matt, I just love the Lakers when they win. Yay Kobe! Go Lakers!

what kobe said about fisher was absured. Malone got booed, and he played 18 years in utah. If fisher needed to be in LA, why didn't he sign with the clippers?

People seem to be missing a point about the World Championships--it's a natural part of sports, even with sportsmanship, for fans to hold some amount of animosity for the team that consistently wins. It's the prom queen thing. And it's worse when that team seems to win not like San Antonio by building through the draft and signing veteran play-makers, but by making amazingly one-sided trades.

There is also the fact that Rock is wrong, there are a lot of Laker fans in Utah--look in the stands during game 3. And that is frustrating as well.

The Laker contempt isn't a matter of reason. It's just a cultural thing. I swear in LDS scripture it goes, in order of respect and importance:

1) The Lord
2) The Jazz

and most heinous:

1) Satan
2) The Lakers

It's not such a bad thing--it will make the series more intense. Go Jazz.

I'm pretty sure that most if not all the Faker fans in the state of Utah were also Bulls fans in the 90's, before that they were probably Pistons fans, and before that Celtic or Laker fans. Most of them are probably NY Giant fans this year, Indianapolis Colt fans the year before, good chance they all own Red Sox jerseys as well.

SO now you guys are Kobe lovers . . . m mm m SELLOUTS !!

Go back to your hollister wearing fohawk hairdoing, california wannabee shanties.

The fact that he gets out of Utah and goes to LA, yet still travels to New York every other month for his daughter is just part of it all...you can bet I will be booing Fisher when the series moves here to Salt Lake...

This born & bred Utahn has a great deal of respect for the Lakers -- truly, they come after the Jazz in my list of favorites! So if the Jazz don't win, I'll cheer on LA.
I don't hate LA -- just would like to see the Jazz win :-)!

Oh Kobe, you're so good- you're gonna be the MVP. Oh Kobe I love you- wow that shot was amazing- blah blah blah. Shut up.

Oh look- he can pass too, what a saint! Kobe, can I kiss your sweaty feet, oh Kobe... shut up.

Kobe can thank shaq for his 3 rings,
Phil can thank Shaq and Micheal for his 6 rings.

What did Phil do when MJ was playing baseball. 0-3,
What did Phil and Kobe do after Shaq left, 0-3

The prob with Kobe is he thinks he is Jordan, actually tries to talk like Jordan.

Both are pathetic.

Who will he be thanking this year?

But if I had tickets to a Jazz-Lakers game, I'd buy a Jazz shirt and cheer for them. I share the Laker contempt (a lot of my family are Celtics fans). I'd love to hear "Beat L-A" chants in ESA. The Lakers' recent "dynasty" will be known for arrogance and in-fighting. I hope the Jazz beat them and put them in their place. And if any Flaker fans think I'm jealous, I have no reason to be. The Spurs have 4 titles since they entered in the league in 1976, they can catch up. Smack those L-A boys around, Jazz!

There are several things I hate about L. A. Lakers and I live in California. They even tore up their own town after one Laker win for championship.
1. Derek Fisher left Utah supposedly because of his daughter but signed with the Lakers AGAIN.
2. O'neal slapped Ostertag to the floor.
3. Kobe was involved in a court battle with a woman. I'm not caring if he's innocent, I'm caring he let himself get into the situation in the first place. I don't see any Jazz arrested or otherwise doing bad things.
4.You can take Jack and all the stars who show up at the Lakers game combined and they could afford to buy some tickets for some orphans once in awhile, maybe some homeless kids.
5. Kobe struts, he's arrogant, he's opinionated, he gets his way, he stinks he's so angelic.
I hope the Jazz blow them away. Take it to them!!! GO JAZZ!!!!

Let's start with David Stern, that would be a good person to start thanking