Thanks, Kobe: The Curse of the Shaqbino?

So who's to blame for the Lakers demise?

The answer is simple: Kobe Bryant. Yes, Kobe Bryant.

Now, I know Kobe took a beating last season after all the stuff that went down in Colorado. And I commend him for being a man and standing up for what he believed in.

But that's a different column for a different time.

This column is about Mr. Jordan ... I mean Mr. Bryant, and how he single-handily took the Lakers from perennial title contenders to lottery participants in one season. The past nine years must have been like a blur to Kobe. Here he was coming straight out of a Philadelphia high school straight into the league and like many others before him, Kobe had that special tag — "The Next Michael Jordan." Kobe didn't seem to mind, however, and although he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, a draft-day trade involving Vlade Divac quickly sent Kobe packing to the "City of Angels."

This is where our story begins, ladies and gentlemen. Joining then prized free agent Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant instantly became part of the NBA's next "Dynamic Duo." With O'Neal's strength and Bryant speed, the Lakers had assembled two key pieces to future championship teams. But as the Lakers continued to lose in the playoffs, tension between Bryant and O'Neal began to escalate. The two players looked like individuals out on the court instead of part of a team. That all changed in 2000 when Phil Jackson was hired to work his "Zen Master" skills with the troubled team. Well, Jackson proved to be the savior and the Lakers won NBA titles in Jackson's first three seasons as coach.

Although Bryant and O'Neal had their public squabbles, all seemed right in Laker Land because they were winning. But the honeymoon ended during the 2002-2003 season when the Lakers lost to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in six games in the Western Conference semifinals. Earlier that season, Bryant labeled O'Neal "fat and out of shape" and that seemed to be the spark plug for the rekindling of this version of the "West Side Story." The Lakers advanced to the 2004 NBA Finals behind the play of O'Neal, Bryant, and added veterans Karl Malone and Gary Payton. But the Detroit Pistons unceremoniously routed the team of four future Hall of Famers in the unconventional five-game sweep.

As the Lakers entered the offseason, each player vowed to do what was best for themselves and their families. Bryant appeared to be the focal point, as he had stated all season that he would choose to opt out of his current contract with the Lakers and test the free agent market. Bryant did opt out and entertained offers from several teams including the Lakers Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Chicago Bulls.

Behind the scenes, however, there were rumblings that Kobe was giving the Lakers an ultimatum, stating he would only resign with the team if they agreed to trade his 7-1, 300-lb. teammate/nemesis. Well, after all the drama, Kobe decided to sign a seven-year, $136 million dollar contract with the Lakers and Shaq was quickly shipped to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and Caron Butler.

Fast forward to the present, Shaq (although recently injured) is sitting pretty with the top-seeded Heat in the East while Kobe, if he has any conscious at all, is getting his best suit ready so he can represent the Lakers at next month's draft lottery. Kobe has longed for his own team. He has longed for the chance to show the world his entire skills, which he felt were being suppressed while playing sidekick to the Diesel.

Now Kobe got that chance, what is the end result? While Shaq is sunbathing (if you can picture the big man doing that) in Miami as the Heat prepare to breeze to at least the Eastern Conference Finals, the Staples Center is empty during the playoffs for the first time in its history. But Kobe shouldn't be watching the playoffs alone this year.

Here's a thought, maybe Kobe should invite Jack Nicholson, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, and the rest of the star-studded "Laker Fans" to his house to watch the playoffs on television. And maybe then Kobe can finally be a man and take blame for the fall of a dynasty. And who knows, maybe trading Shaq will have the same implications for the Lakers that selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees had for the Boston Red Sox. So if that's the case, Lakers fans don't expect another championship until at least 2088.