Divac

Never doubt the Big Prognosticator. When the Lakers were playing badly, Shaq said, "We'll be OK." And by Dirk, Duncan and Divac, I think he might be right. Tim Gaul Laguna Beach

Basketball, camaraderie, war and loss are intertwined in the hauntingly sad yet worthwhile documentary "Once Brothers," which premieres Tuesday on ESPN. The 90-minute film, written and directed by Michael Tolajian and produced by NBA Entertainment, is part of ESPN's "30 for 30" film series. It tells the story of the Yugoslavian basketball team when it was an international powerhouse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and how the civil war in Yugoslavia undermined its efforts on the court and drove a wedge between its players from Serbia and Croatia.

The demise of the Lakers can be easily explained by a simple mathematical equation: Thompson plus Divac does not equal Abdul-Jabbar. LYLE J. RICKERT Visalia

Stop flopping, Shaquille O'Neal used to yell while he stood over a prone Vlade Divac. You're a flopper, O'Neal would scream after another of his massive elbows to Divac's face had the former Sacramento Kings center sprawling on the floor. Over a 16-year NBA career that spanned time with the Lakers (twice), Kings and Charlotte Hornets, Divac earned a reputation for flopping. So, was Divac a flopper like O'Neal maintained or did he play good defense? "Well, I tried to play defense," Divac said.

The Lakers need more hair. They haven't won a championship since Magic shaved his beard and mustache. Look at how well Divac played. LYNDON J. TORRES, Los Angeles

So Vlade Divac retired. Hey, didn't he retire two years ago? Wasn't it a telling sign in the playoffs in 2004 that Sacramento benched him against Minnesota? Somehow that didn't stop Mitch Kupchak from signing him to a $5.5-million contract. But how about those 15 games he played last year? Remember the time he bearhugged Devean George on the bench, or the time he lit a cigarette in the locker room, or the time he sat on the bench in a suit. I have it all on my Vlade Divac 2004-05 highlight DVD that came with a carton of Marlboro Reds.

And just what could A.C. Green, a born-again Christian who neither drinks nor curses, have possibly uttered to referee Joe Borgia to merit an ejection during the third quarter of the Lakers' 111-102 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday? Byron Scott's version of the event, which occurred with 4:39 remaining in the quarter and the Lakers ahead, 74-69, was: "Gosh darn it. That was a terrible call, you boo-boo." He probably wasn't far off.

The too few, the proud, the Kings. Seven little Kings went out to shock the world Sunday and came within :00.1, which is the official time in the fourth quarter that Robert Horry's three-pointer came crashing down on their day and their dream. That was one of the Kings' problems Sunday and throughout this series.

Vlade Divac ("A Sensation in Serbo-Croatian," Oct. 14) does have a song named after him, but Bob Baker is wrong in implying that Magic Johnson does not. A glance at the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Mother's Milk" album will reveal a song titled "Magic Johnson." TOM VASICH Newport Beach

Acme-Divac Industries Inc. in Newport Beach won a $224.371 contract from the Defense Electronics Supply Center to supply a sensitive switch.

So Vlade Divac retired. Hey, didn't he retire two years ago? Wasn't it a telling sign in the playoffs in 2004 that Sacramento benched him against Minnesota? Somehow that didn't stop Mitch Kupchak from signing him to a $5.5-million contract. But how about those 15 games he played last year? Remember the time he bearhugged Devean George on the bench, or the time he lit a cigarette in the locker room, or the time he sat on the bench in a suit. I have it all on my Vlade Divac 2004-05 highlight DVD that came with a carton of Marlboro Reds.

Vlade Divac, who rose to fame by high-fiving Jack Nicholson, then, later, irritating Laker fans with his flopping antics, officially announced his retirement Tuesday. Considered one of the top passing centers of all time, the flamboyant Divac will remain with the Lakers in a to-be-defined position that will primarily involve scouting. "I never thought this day was going to come," Divac, 37, said at a news conference at the team's El Segundo training facility.

Vlade Divac has blown his last kiss to Laker crowds. The gregarious but injured center was waived Thursday, ending a reunion that didn't fare so well the second time around. Divac played only 15 games last season because of back problems. The Lakers had the option of paying Divac $5.4 million for one more season but instead bought him out for $2 million and waived him, leading to his likely retirement. "It's all my about my health," said Divac, 37.

Center Vlade Divac remains an unknown in Laker plans, although a decision on his status could be extended beyond a Friday deadline, Divac's agent said Wednesday. Divac, 37, was recently quoted by a Serbian newspaper as saying he would retire, but agent Marc Fleisher said Divac had been fluctuating on the topic almost daily. The Lakers have until Friday to exercise a one-year, $5.

The Lakers have added youth and size over the last three weeks, but aging center Vlade Divac said he is not yet ready to be nudged out of the low-post picture. Divac, who played only 15 games last season because of back problems, contested a report from a Belgrade news agency that said he had decided to retire. "Sept. 30, that's when I'm going to decide what I'm going to do," Divac said Friday.

The Lakers and Vlade Divac agreed to postpone a decision on the aging center's contract status until Sept. 30, giving the team an additional three months to decide whether to bring him back. The Lakers can pick up a one-year, $5.4-million option or buy him out for $2 million, a decision originally due today. With the revised deadline, the Lakers can better judge the condition of Divac's back a few days before training camp begins in early October.

Vlade Divac unofficially becomes the starting center today as the Lakers open training camp. Coach Mike Dunleavy says he will begin with a tentative lineup of Divac, replacing Mychal Thompson at center, plus four holdover starters: Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott and A.C. Green. Thompson will come off the bench with Sam Perkins, Terry Teagle and Larry Drew.

As the Laker off-season draws nearer with each loss, decision-making time moves closer to reality. Among other issues, the Lakers must figure out whether they want to re-sign forward Luke Walton, 25, a restricted free agent who is making $620,000 this season, and whether they want to pay Vlade Divac $5.4 million next season or buy out the final year of his contract for $2 million.

As the Laker off-season draws nearer with each loss, decision-making time moves closer to reality. Among other issues, the Lakers must figure out whether they want to re-sign forward Luke Walton, 25, a restricted free agent who is making $620,000 this season, and whether they want to pay Vlade Divac $5.4 million next season or buy out the final year of his contract for $2 million.

There have been no farewell speeches, no Harley-Davidson motorcycles bestowed on him, not even the gently mocking gift of a rocking chair. If this turns out to be Vlade Divac's last season, it will have come and gone quietly. Divac, 37, could be down to a handful of games in a career that included 16 seasons and an indeterminable number of kisses blown to Laker crowds.