Los Angeles has long been known as the city with the enticing bright lights of Hollywood and its star-studded population, so it’s only natural that we’d be famous for loving winners. This brings us to what’s going on in the City of Angels right now with the LA Lakers holding a commanding 2-0 series lead in this year’s NBA Finals – citywide euphoria and anticipation for another championship parade with streets full of happy Purple and Gold fans.

When it comes to winning traditions, few franchises in sports as a whole – let alone the NBA – have one as longstanding and proud as the Lakers. Their hated rival Boston Celtics are the only team with more titles (17 to LA’s current 14), but the Lakers have the most Finals appearances with 30 and most playoff wins. Given that reputation, there’s not only an expectation of championships, but an almost cocky belief that title 15 is a done deal. Get in your car and drive any part of LA County from the Valley to Long Beach and you’re guaranteed to find hundreds of car flags, jerseys, hats, crazed fans and more, all gearing up for a new banner at the Staples Center.

Trust me when I say this contagious Laker-mania isn’t only affecting common fans. Celebrity fans like Jack Nicholson and Snoop Dogg are just a few of the notable names who root for Kobe and company, and the huge block party has already gotten started. That’s what’s great about Los Angeles, there’s no shortage of places to celebrate, and Snoop’s locale of choice was the Playboy mansion. The Doggfather hit Hef’s spot to perform his catalog of classics and I’m willing to bet that everyone singing along is more than just a little bit happier thanks to the prospects of a new parade in Southern Cali.

Even out of town ballers who’ve already fallen victim to the Lakers this year are in town partying it up, as Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest made clear in a few new videos that hit the net. You know Tinsletown is the new basketball hotspot when even the guy who got up in Kobe’s face and told him he’d “f*&k him up” a few weeks ago is ready to join in on the fun.

Another thing about sports pride in LA (for the Lakers and Dodgers) is that it unites the whole city in ways that most wouldn’t imagine. Everyone from the rich types out in the hills to the diehard fans in all the different neighborhoods can be seen representing for their city and team together. Be honest, what other time would you expect to see a Beverly Hills doctor dancing and screaming alongside a rapper?

Speaking of rappers, this year’s playoff run has inspired quite a few Laker fans with mic skills to show their love and affiliation to the team. Rising signed artists like Watts rapper Jay Rock (Warner Bros Records) and Spider Loc (G Unit) have recorded new anthems praising the team. (Jay Rock Lakers Song | Spider Loc Lakers Song) Others like Carson’s Roccett (Young Jeezy’s CTE West) have filmed themselves enjoying games on YouTube. Internet sensation Twitter has also regularly had keywords like “Kobe, Lakers, Go Lakers!” and more featured as popular trending topics on the site, with thousands of people across the web tweeting about the team every day.

The fanfare has even reached other states, as evidenced by the recent “Kobe Bryant” song by one of today’s most popular rappers and Louisiana native Lil Wayne. The musical ode to Kobe and his skills has garnered hundreds of thousands of combined views since its release last week and has been an instant favorite on LA radio. However, anthems and parade dreams alone don’t bring home titles, as seen by last year, which had a great anthem, but resulted in a humiliating loss against Boston.

And of course this is all happening with the Lakers only halfway toward their goal, and it isn’t completely unprecedented to fathom a Miami basketball team coming back from a 2-0 Finals deficit (Dwyane Wade against the 2006 Mavs ring a bell?), but the people of Los Angeles feel that this team is destined to bring another winner to the city of the stars. If that ends up being the case, get ready for a celebration worthy of LA’s reputation.

- Will.

So here we are in the middle of May, waiting for what most NBA fans figured was a guaranteed Finals showdown between LeBron and Kobe. As much as it seemed like destiny, there are still a few bumps in the road, especially with the way the Los Angeles Lacklusters, scratch that, Lakers have been playing.

If you would have asked most people which Western conference team would have coasted to the Conf. finals with a nearly flawless record behind a dynamic perimeter player and great production from its frontline, I highly doubt anyone would have envisioned someone other than the Lakers. Just look at the criteria: Kobe – great perimeter scorer, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom – great frontcourt.

There’s no doubt as to who would be the easy Western champion right?

Unfortunately for fans of the purple and gold, the answer to that question hasn’t been LA. Not by a long shot. Instead, much to the enjoyment of those in the mile high city, it’s been the Denver Nuggets.

Nene, K-Mart, JR Smith and Chauncey celebrate their run into the Western finals.

Yes, those Denver Nuggets. You know them. I’m sure you’ve heard of their selfish players, their underachieving coach, their “thug” image and their immaturity and lack of defense. If you’ve followed the league at all in the last five years, most likely all you’ve heard about the Denver Nuggets has been bad.

Carmelo Anthony and his coach, fighting or DUI troubles, JR Smith’s me-first attitude, Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s drug troubles, K-Mart’s history of tough hits, and the five consecutive first-round playoff exits all did a number on the Nuggets image. They are also probably the easy winners of Most Tattooed team, with a roster full of guys covered almost head to toe in ink.

In spite of all that criticism and poor reputation, the 2009 Nuggets have bonded around each other, accepted their roles and seemed to thrive in their underdog position. The first-round losing streak? Over.

They’re tough, they’re physical and they love to run. They’re amazing at home and not that far off on the road so far. If they get a chance to step on an opponent’s neck they don’t hesitate to do it. So far they are 8-2 in these playoffs, with both losses coming by only two points each. Only the Cavaliers have been as consistent or better than Denver.

Most importantly, this team looks like it loves to play with each other, the coach seems like he actually cares about his team’s fate (take note Phil Jackson) and it turns out that so far in these playoffs, Mr.Clutch doesn’t rock a 24 jersey, but rather a 15 or 7 instead.

‘Melo calmly stuck a dagger in the Mavs’ playoff hopes with this game-winning 3.

In what was once again supposed to be “the” year Kobe silenced critics of his leadership abilities and championship mettle, the self-proclaimed Black Mamba has seemed to be slinking away into a corner rather than ferociously disposing of his prey.

In his place we’ve seen ‘Melo light up the Hornets and Mavericks with game-winners and a ton of points night after night and watched Chauncey Billups further polish his “Mr. Big Shot” persona with extremely solid overall play.

Some people have called the Nuggets contending for the championship David Stern’s worst nightmare, and it many ways it is. Not only are they not the Lakers, which ruins the immensely marketable match up with LeBron, but these guys aren’t some soft Hollywood socialites either.

The Dallas series made that clear, with an ugly exchange initiated by Mavs owner Mark Cuban’s lack of class and anger boiling over to the point that he personally insulted Kenyon Martin’s mother. It’s a well-known fact around the NBA that Martin isn’t someone you really want to mess with, much less his mother, and the whole situation grabbed big headlines and didn’t end well at all. From K-Mart unleashing a barrage of insults at Cuban after game 4 in Dallas to several members of the Nuggets family having things thrown at them and being forced to leave, it’s obvious that Denver isn’t afraid of getting itself dirty.

K-Mart is one of many Nuggets who are not afraid of physical play.

To put it simply, they don’t exactly look like a team you want visiting the White House, and like it or not, that matters to the suits up in the NBA offices. Sadly, it also matters to many of the fans, as seen by the constant mention of the word “thugs” to describe the primarily black team full of tattoos and mean mugs. It might not be the easiest subject to talk about, but the very loose manner in which the word is thrown around has a not-so-subtle racist context to it. I’m not the only one that sees it either.

As we’ve seen through the first two rounds though, a bad reputation or checkered past doesn’t always mean you can’t succeed, and that’s something that the NBA should be eager to exploit. These Nuggets are the ultimate success story waiting to happen. A tale of a scrappy group of guys who had an endless supply of heart and a desire to win so strong that they overcame poverty, drugs, alcohol and so much more to being only four wins away from reaching the NBA’s highest stage.

Sure they’ve had their bad moments, both in and out of the public eye. But they’re also an example of maturity and growth, of shedding previous stereotypes and becoming better players, teammates and citizens. From K-Mart’s charity work to Chris Andersen’s great story of redemption and J.R. Smith’s evolution into a reliable sixth man, these Nuggets are worth rooting for.

The team’s resurgence has included a bevy of awards, with Billups winning the 2009 NBA Sportsmanship award and making 3rd-team all-NBA with ‘Melo, plus team VP of basketball operations Mark Warkentien was named the 2009 executive of the year, after trading away Marcus Camby. Let’s not forget they finished with the 2nd best record in the West either. Talk about a turnaround.

So even if they keep getting hated on, underestimated or ignored, I’ll take joy in watching the Nuggets push along their path toward a ring. Tattoos, scowls, Mohawks and all.

And if Kobe is lucky enough to get past Houston in game 7, he’ll yet again have a nightmare awaiting him in Colorado with his entire reputation on the line.

- Will.

Kobe Bryant did a 5 city “Supernatural Tour” through Asia to promote his latest brand of Nikes. Bryant hit Manila, Taipei (where he opened a new Nike store), Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, spreading the love of basketball, holding clinics, and giving interviews:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYut5ySPyk[/youtube]

Can anybody tell me why Kobe felt compelled to take his shirt off at the 2 minute mark? That seemed kinda strange.. Highlights of the interview:

Q: An Olympic gold medal or another NBA championship?

KB: Well fortunately I don’t have to choose one or the other.

Of course he doesn’t have to choose.. The Lakers don’t have a chance at winning the championship.

Q: When you come back to the Lakers do you expect to have new teammates?

KB: You know what, I don’t know. I just train really hard and just get ready. Whatever happens happens. I just try to stay healthy, work hard, and go from there.

Translation: I promised Mitch I wouldn’t rip him or the team anymore but you’re f****** straight I expect something to be done. KG went to Boston. Boston?!? Who the hell would choose Boston over L.A.? That’s how screwed up things are with the Lakers.

Q: With the problems haunting athletes like Michael Vick, Barry Bonds and all that..How do you keep yourself an ideal role model for people like my son who skipped school today to see you?

Kobe gave the cookie cutter answer to the question, but I found it funny that Kobe’s in Manila getting asked about Vick and Barry Bonds… And he’s one helluva role model if kids are skipping school to see him.

Ok this next video is kinda long, and the sound quality is trash, but check out Kobe’s Rockstar status entrance at the beginning.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hCp7_gv1zA[/youtube]

Mamba’s the man in Manila. You can get a full recap of his Asian tour here.

NBA star Kobe Bryant in Taiwan on five-stop Asian Tour. Courtesy of Earth Times

A day with Kobe in Manila. Courtesy of KB24.com

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Nike, You Tube, Video, Asian Tour, Supernatural

Photo Courtesy of KB24.com