It ain’t fair, but here we are.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one game away from defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, after a 102-96 victory in game four on Tuesday night to take the series to 3-1.
It will be the fourth championship for LeBron James. The 18th for the Lakers.
And it will be the first championship for former Orlando Magic head coach, Frank Vogel, and former Orlando Magic franchise player, Dwight Howard.
Here in Orlando, we still don’t have any rings.
The basketball gods have a strange sense of humor.
In Dwight Howard’s case, it’s really not fair. While he has humbled himself and tried to walk back his behavior with Orlando after joining LeBron’s team, he still left our club in shambles when he departed for LA the first time. He was a spoiled star and he took his big ego to a few other teams before landing with the Lakers again and finally growing up.
In Frank Vogel’s case, it’s more tolerable. Vogel got a bad shake here in Orlando. His team’s couldn’t stay healthy and he was dealing with the repercussions of bad personnel decisions that were made after Dwight left town. I was worried for Vogel when he took the Lakers gig (post HERE). I can and will be happy for him.
Game 5 is Friday.
In the NBA Bubble. In Orlando.
Both of these men could in deed hold up a championship trophy in the City Beautiful.
And it will be for a Los Angeles Lakers championship.
Sadly, that might be a moment Magic fans might have to hold on to.
Two of their exes getting rings in their house for a celebration that doesn’t belong to them.