10 years ago I had a press pass to the 2000 NBA Finals, and got to watch my favorite sports team the Indiana Pacers miss out on their only chance (so far) at an NBA championship. Who did they lose to? Some young punk Kobe Bryant (before his rape charges) and his then friend Shaq (I actually like Shaq).

Well skip ahead a decade to tonight and the Lakers just won their 5th title since then. Meanwhile the promising Pacers franchise was devastated mostly by the insanity of one guy – Ron Artest (of Malice in the Palace fame). So nevermind the Lakers dynasty adding another chapter and beating their rival Celtics for the first time in a game 7, way worse is the fact that Artest now has a frigging ring. The same nutball that used to drink Hennessy at halftime of games, now has a championship title and Reggie Miller doesn’t. And just to rub salt in my wounds he played a great game and is a big reason they won tonight and several other times this postseason. Ugh.

And who do they interview after the confetti fell? Ron Ron. Of course, he didn’t answer any questions because he was too busy shouting out to his hood and thanking his psychiatrist before plugging his newest single that’s coming out. Ugh ugh ugh.

And then they give the MVP to Kobe when it should have gone to Pau Gasol – one of the only players on the Lakers I actually like. Ugh, so depressing.

… When does next season start?

UPDATE: Ok, so today I watched Ron Artest press conference and was thrilled to hear him open his conference by basically apologizing to the Pacers – crazy. I loved Ron when he was a Pacer and I am big enough to forgive him and be happy for him. He’s still as nutty as a Chinese salad, but he seems sincere and his interview is hilarious: “Kobe passed me the ball. Kobe never passes me the ball. … Phil didn’t want me to shoot the 3, but I was like whatever, boom.”