He Tries, but Jackson Just Can't Take a Compliment

I know some people in town who would make a big deal out of the Lakers choking, gagging and collapsing against hapless Atlanta on Wednesday night, but my inclination here is to not even mention it.

That's why I'm not sure where Phil is coming from these days. I would think a guy who begins every day chanting and getting in touch with his inner whatever would roll with things better, but I got to thinking that maybe it's my fault, standing next to Vic the Brick at every news conference and coming off sounding negative by way of comparison.

So before Wednesday night's choking, gagging and collapsing pratfall against Atlanta, there was no sign of Brick, giving me the chance to cozy up to Phil.

"You've won more than 800 games in your career," I said. "You're brilliant, on top of the game like no one else," and Phil interrupted me.

"See," he said to the other reporters at the pregame gathering, "he has to throw out insults like that. Now, T.J., don't be starting that (bad stuff)."

"Just trying to be positive," I said.

"That's not positive," Phil said. "That's insulting."

Apparently I can't win, and who knew I might have something in common with the Lakers. (Sorry, an old negative habit.)

I told Phil, "I'm giving you credit, you've got the best record in postseason play," and he interrupted again.

"And as a prolific writer and a guy with an urbane kind of wit that loves to pen things that are so scintillating in the paper," he said, and I think he was mocking me, "what do you have to say?"

I wanted to know how he knew I was a prolific writer, because, "you said you don't read (Page 2)."

"You're right," Phil said, and he laughed and so did all the other reporters, and it's a good thing I'm not bothered by people who go out of their way to make others feel badly.

*

THE PLAYERS, as I read in the paper, told Phil they are underachieving -- then prove it against Atlanta. Most fans, though, contend it's Kobe Bryant playing with a bunch of stiffs. So given Phil's experience, I wanted to know if he thought the fans were right, or this team was better?

"If we take advantage of our homestand, we could be a surprising team at the end of the year," he said, which was before the Underachievers' choking, gasping, collapsing performance against Atlanta.