WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM?

Phil Jackson intimated he may not return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season as head coach and it’s among sports’ top stories. It should be. He’s a freak as it pertains to completely dominating an entire realm. He’s gotten the greatest players ever to work with colleagues toward common objectives. He’s a battle tested cerebral field general who gets lambasted by fans and critics who think that anyone could win championships with Jordan, Scottie, Shaq and Kobe.

But that’s not why I think this potential coaching vacuum should be A-1 news. A true competitor does not compete to prove anything to anyone or at least he shouldn’t. Yet I’m tempted to speak of Phil and say, “He’s got nothing left to prove and that’s why he should retire.” But even that doesn’t suffice as valid excuse for leaving the Lakers. A valid and more noble reason is simply that he needs to rest and his family could probably stand to have a little more of him. What’s so wrong with those? What’s wrong with a nap in the middle of the day if you’re working hard? Why do we expect movie stars to look as they did in ’85. One left click and I know exactly how old Madonna really is.

We can drop the pretense in Los Angeles and stop letting the looters and superficial fans call the shots on how long an icon remains an icon accessible to the public. Truth told, Phil should bounce. What’s left for him to do?