If History repeated itself in the NBA Finals.

by Rex Ricks

Last summer the cities of Philadelphia and Los Angeles hosted political conventions for the Republicans and Democrats. This was right in the very arenas that the Sixers and Lakers are now battling in for the 2001 NBA Title. (First Union Center and Staples Center, or a bank versus an office supply store.) Here is how the outcome would be for the NBA Finals would be if this was a parallel universe. Keep in mind, Philly represents the G.O.P, and L.A. would be the Democrats.

The Los Angeles team has tons of playoff experience under their belt. They represent the incumbent NBA Champion. L.A. was 11-0 in the playoffs or the primaries leading up to this series, and was a very feared team. Al Gore himself also had plenty of experience, and was part of an administration that presided over good times. He was also a feared debater who could steamroll opponents and practically went 11-0 in every previous election he has been in. The things that G.O.P. star Bush have is common with 76er Star is they both have rap sheets and were underachievers in college. So obviously the L.A. teams were the heavy favorites who were eventually upset by an upstart Philly teams.

Here is how the basketball series itself pans out. Philadelphia will barely edge Los Angeles 4-3 in the best of 7 games won. Just like Bush barely beats Gore 271-267 in the best of 538 electoral votes cast. However, L.A. will have a significantly higher overall amount of points scored in the seven games then Philly does. This is just like when Gore had more overall popular votes than Bush did. But, is is the most games won or electoral votes won that ultimately determines the winner.

Just like the 2000 Election, this series would not be without it's share of controversy. Game 7 will be the pivotal end all equivalent of a Florida for this series. What happens is Philly launches a game winning shot with 0.5 seconds left on the game clock to "win" 101-100. The referees rule that the shot was taken "before" time expired, thereby giving Philadelphia the victory in this key game and the series itself.

Los Angeles protests vehemently, claiming time had "expired" and thus they had really "won" 100-99. Just like an endless series of courtroom battles before judges throughout Florida, the game tape is reviewed and reviewed over and over again by the refs to an impasse. The NBA commissioner then has to step in, and finally decides that Philadelphia's game winning shot is upheld.

Los Angeles, the incumbent champion then appeals to the Supreme Court only to lose on a 5-4 decision, and therefore fails to defend their NBA Crown. So this time it will be Philly who gets invited to go to the White House and gets to meet the very President who held a convention in their home at First Union Arena last summer. Last year, it was the L.A. team who was welcomed by a Democrat occupant in the White House.

In the meanwhile, L.A. boycotts the NBA awards ceremony just like the U.S. Olympic team did in 1972 when they felt they got a raw deal with the game clock against the Russians. Just like the fiasco in Florida, it does not end there. In L.A. there are protests in the streets against the recount injustice lead by the reverend Jesse Jackson. While out in Philadelphia, the "victorious" city, their crazed fans start a riot that engulfs the city for several days.



Funny thing is those same cities had thousands of protesters in the streets during the political conventions last summer. So they were actually used to this kind of activity. Finally, President Bush then has to call in the National Guard to quell the disturbance in Philadelphia, a place he used as a stepping stone towards his election "victory" in 2000. Philadelphia's "finest" declares martial law, grossly violates the Geneva code of Conduct, and restores "order". Anyone with cornrows, a Sixers jersey or Tatoos is deemed guilty until proven innocent.

On the other hand, in Los Angeles, Bush tells them they are their own and can handle the rolling blackouts and riots by themselves. In the end, he was not too happy that his home state Spurs were humiliated by a California team. Despite, having spent millions of dollars on payroll and making many trips to California during the NBA season.



Rex Ricks was at the NBA finals last year in L.A. against Indiana and narrowly escaped the riots after the game. His train ride out of there was delayed by an hour because of this. Also, he witnessed the protests outside the conventions in Philly and L.A. last summer.