Does Kobe have a legacy to stand on?

At last, the Age of Kobe.

I know, the Lakers are up only 1-0, but it's OK, we now have daily updates on whose unquestioned dominance makes this "The Age of (Fill in Blank)."

Kobe's legacy is also looking better than before Game 1, when he was getting old, and might be in his last series with Phil Jackson.

Actually, Kobe's 30, Phil isn't going anywhere, and with the Lakers' youth, talent and all the invaluable lessons they learned this season, they could be looking at more titles than this one.

In another new development, a legacy used to be the sum total of a career, placed in historical context.

(In sports, this means people yelling at each other in bars, where it's fun, or on "Around the Horn," where Tony Reali keeps score.)

Now every big event comes with speculation about someone's legacy, like a horse race with the tote board flashing new odds second-by-second.

Here was the all-time list before the playoffs:

1. Michael Jordan. Six titles and five MVPs speak for themselves.

2. LeBron James. His time is at hand.

3. Kobe Bryant. Still great for an old guy.

By the middle of the conference finals, the ground seemed to be shaking under Mt. Olympus:

1. (tie) James. Game-winning three in Game 2 is stuff of legend.

1. (tie) Jordan. His big shot against Cleveland was only a two-pointer.

3. Bryant. Lakers locked in battle with trendy pick

Denver, after debacle vs. post-Yao Ming Rockets.

However, there's no certitude like that that emerges as the postseason nears its end.

This just in:

1. Bryant. Finally getting his due.

2. Jordan. What's he done lately?

3. James. Lowlife watching Finals on TV, assuming he's not such a bad sport he won't even do that.

Of course, if you want to take a long-range view, or wait for the career to end to place it in context, it would be:

1. Jordan, whose six titles haven't stopped speaking for themselves, even if the last one was in 1998.

2. Ask me after Kobe and LeBron retire.

That LeBron-Kobe "debate" is easy, too.

You can argue over who's best now, but a year ago it was Kobe and in a year, it will be LeBron.

Not that it matters. The age will still belong to the player who wins the most titles.

James' Great Snub Controversy for failing to congratulate the Magic, apparently putting an entire generation's sportsmanship at risk, is what happens when you're expected to win a title and fall far short.