03.8 Phil Jackson Basketball: Christian Zen `}

[Disgorging Zen Stories]

Toxic Zen Story #3.8: Christian Zen: Phil Jackson, the Bulls, and now
the Lakers.

So, it's just about basketball, right? Not really.

So now, we have Shaq, who was beloved by everyone, starting to tear
down his image like Rodman did. ``Tell Yao Ming,
`Ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-so,' '' O'Neal said, during an interview on
Fox television. The song goes: "Ching-chong chinaman sittin' on a
fence, tryin' to make a dollar out of 99 cents." That song, and now
Shaq's racist uttering, are on the collective minds of the asian
community, forever. Another gaping hole in the works?

What about Kobe Bryant? He's innocent until proven guilty, right? The
media don't seem to provide that separation ...

____ Preface: Zen Founder _________________________________

Zen is the snake that bites it's own tail. If you embrace the void and
acausality, you will find yourself later in the midst of catastrophic
emptiness saying "how'd that happen?".

Under Prajnatara (Perfect Wisdom Shining Star) of India, there was a
disciple named Bodhidharma (Buddha Law). Under these grandiose names,
they studied the Buddha's teachings, after Buddhism had traveled East
to China. The Buddha foretold that Buddhism would fall into a Hellish
path in India, after the Buddha's highest teachings had moved on.

Bodhidharma was a native of Conjeeveram, near Madras in India. He
traveled from India and arrived at Ching-Ling (now Nanking), or
perhaps at Guangzhou (Canton), perhaps both. There, Bodhidharma met
with the Emperor's emissary (some say Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty,
see footnote), where they discussed the Sutras.

As Bodhidharma (also called Da Mo, or Ta Mo in China, and Daruma in
Japan) believed in dhyana or meditation upon the nothingness at the
heart of life, and as the Lotus Sutra had been translated into
Chinese by Kumarajiva who traveled from India a century earlier and
had served the Liang Dynasty well, the lesser and distorted teaching
of dhyana/ch'an/zen was rejected by practitioners of the highest
teaching, and Bodhidharma was banished from Imperial territory.

As an icchantika, or incorrigible disbeliever in the Lotus Sutra, he
could not be allowed to spread his teachings in the Emperor's domain
(they wished to live happily, you see). But by banishing him, they
did not act as bodhisattvas, to thoroughly correct his errors and not
let him slip away to corrupt others, and thusly fall into the hell of
incessant sufferings (Aviichi Hell) for countless lifetimes. Out of
this single uncompassionate act, much of the suffering of the world
has come.

After he was banished, Bodhidharma went to the Shaolin Monastery at
Loyang, West of Kaifeng in the Henan (Honan) Province of Western
China, where the Huang He (Yangtze or Yellow River) tumbles out of the
break between Zhongtiao Shan (2367m) on the North and Quanbao Shan
(2094m) on the South, to flood the rest of China. At the Shaolin
Monastery, he widely disseminated his distorted views of Buddhism,
corrupting first the Shaolin Monks and ultimately the rest of the
world.

Bodhidharma's school was known as Dhyana (from the Mahayana source),
or as Ch'an in China, and eventually as Zen in Japan. It comes to
flower in many different forms, in many different places down through
the ages.

Bodhidharma's very existence is denied by the Zen community,
rendering the life of their founder as itself a void. This allows no
one to be responsible, and the Zen community to walk away from the
train wreck. So let's assume that the history is true, and hold
Bodhidharma and Zen accountable, just this once. There was surely a
founder who brought Dhyana from India, however many names he is
called.

Footnotes on Wu-Ti:

Concerning Emperor Wu: from "The Selection of the Time - Nichiren,
disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha", Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p.
544:

'Those concerned about their next life would do better to be common
people in this, the Latter Day of the Law, than be mighty rulers
during the two thousand years of the Former and Middle Days of the
Law. Why won't people believe this? Rather than be the chief priest of
the Tendai school, it is better to be a leper who chants
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! As Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty said in his
vow, "I would rather be Devadatta and sink into the hell of incessant
suffering than be the non-Buddhist sage Udraka Ramaputra."'

This reference is to a document in which Emperor Wu (464--549), the
first ruler of the Liang dynasty, pledged not to follow the way of
Taoism. It actually says that he would rather sink into the evil paths
for a long period of time for going against Buddhism (yet nevertheless
forming a bond with it) than be reborn in heaven by embracing the
non-Buddhist teachings. This story appears in The Annotations on
"Great Concentration and Insight." Udraka Ramaputra was a hermit and
master of yogic meditation, the second teacher under whom Shakyamuni
practiced. He is said to have been reborn in the highest of the four
realms in the world of formlessness.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica:

Wu-Ti: Born 464 , China. Died 549 , China

Pinyin Wudi (posthumous name, or shih), personal name (hsing-ming)
Hsiao Yen , temple name (miao-hao) (nan-liang) Kao-tsu founder and
first emperor of the Southern Liang dynasty (502–557), which briefly
held sway over South China. A great patron of Buddhism , he helped
establish that religion in the south of China.

Wu-ti was a relative of the emperor of the Southern Ch'i dynasty
(479–502), one of the numerous dynasties that existed in South China
in the turbulent period between the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and T'ang
(618–907) dynasties. He led a successful revolt against the Southern
Ch'i after his elder brother was put to death by the emperor. He
proclaimed himself first emperor of the Liang dynasty in 502, and his
reign proved to be longer and more stable than that of any other
southern emperor in this period.

A devout believer, Wu-ti diligently promoted Buddhism, preparing the
first Chinese Tripitaka, or collection of all Buddhist scripts. In 527
and again in 529 he renounced the world and entered a monastery. He
was persuaded to reassume office only with great difficulty. In 549
the capital was captured by a "barbarian" general, and Wu-ti died of
starvation in a monastery.

____ Preface: Types of Zen _______________________________

There is a hierarchy of Zen, in power and toxicity. The lesser forms
of Zen pave the way in societies and cultures for the more powerful
forms. Once a society or culture is corrupted, in even the tiniest
way, by any form of Zen, the tendency will be to move inevitably
towards greater corruption by the more powerful and toxic variants. In
this way, Zen undermines everything that can be undermined in the
world, leaving only that which is incorruptible (the correct practice
of the Lotus Sutra). The hierarchy of Zen is as follows, in general
terms:

Physical Zen: All of the martial arts are based on Zen, starting
with Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Karate, Aikido, JiuJitsu,
Judo, Kendo, Bushido, Ninjitsu, etc. Tai Chi came from
Shaolin Qigong, which also led to Acupuncture,
Acupressure and Falun Gong. As the chaos in society
grows, people need to feel they can protect themselves and
their loved ones, and in this way they are corrupted further.

Christian Zen, Jewish Zen, Hindu Zen, Islamic Zen: These are
basically mixtures, wherein the monotheist believer in a
deity, feels they can practice Zen meditation without a
problem, since it is not theistic. While this reasoning is true,
it ignores the absolutely overwhelming corruption produced
by Zen, which will ultimately undermine their belief system
and every facet of their life, by bringing all of the negatives
in the Zen adherent's's daily life and environment to the
forefront, with increasing amplification and psychotic
effect.

Nuremberg Zen: The widespread belief by a population, that
the purpose of the Buddha's advent in the world was to
teach Zen: that Zen is Buddhism. This is, of course, an
absolutely distorted view of the Buddha's life and teachings.
Shakyamuni made it transparently clear, at the very end of
his life in the Nirvana Sutra, wherein he states that the Lotus
Sutra is his highest teaching in the past, present and future,
and is the purpose of his advent on this Earth, and that his
followers should honestly discard provisional teachings
(teachings other than the Lotus Sutra).

Nuremberg Zen was promulgated first by D.T. Suzuki's
work with Paul Carus, then by Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the
Art of Archery (and the many who copies: Zen in the Art
of Marketing, Sales, Bakery, etc.) and finally by Alan Watts,
the Norman Vincent Peale of Zen. Nuremberg Zen creates
the environment of chaos and widespread misery that are
the preconditions for the spread of more toxic forms of
Zen.

Stanford Zen: This is the Lay organization of Zen. It was
developed in conjunction with the activities of Frederic
Spiegelberg, a Lutheran who taught theology at the
University of Dresden, and fleeing the effects of Nuremberg
Zen in Germany, came to teach at Stanford, and founded
the American Academy of Asian Studies with Alan Watts
and others, which became the California Institute of Integral
Studies, after it spawned Esalen with Richard Price and
Michael Murphy. Esalen was the proving ground for the
Large Group Awareness Therapy organizations, of which
Werner Erhard's EST was most prominent. EST morphed
into a business school executive training seminar
organization called the Landmark Forum, or Landmark
Education, which has now become the de facto Lay
organization for Zen, projecting itself onto Wall Street and
the Fortune 500.

Green Dragon Zen: In this category I place Soto, which is the
parent of the Green Dragon Society, Rinzai, Fuke, Northern
and Southern Chinese Ch'an sects, Vietnamese and Korean
sects, and all the variant sects which practice the most toxic
forms of Zen: those which actually use the Lotus Sutra as a
means to promulgate their distorted views of Buddhism.
This is the greatest slander of the Lotus Sutra which is
possible. I lump them all under the Green Dragon banner
(I'm sure they do not appreciate this, but that is not a
concern), because Green Dragon has had a tradition of
secret propagation, and penetration of new areas with the
most aggressive intent to build a lasting foothold in every
society it touches. All of the other sects in any locale, will
orient themselves to the Green Dragon.

Nuremberg Zen, Physical Zen and the monotheist Zen mixtures will all
eventually pave the way for Stanford Zen and the Green Dragon, if they
are not themselves undercut by the king of sutras, the Lotus Sutra.
(Zen believers cannot resist the allure of greater power. When they
try the Lotus Sutra and find that it fills the void inside, they will
find they like it.)

Finally, there is the enabling group for all of the worst religious
and social movements in history:

Fellowship of Evil Friends: This loosely collected group of
Occultists,Theology professors and educators, is at the
branching point for most of corrupt religious movements
of the world. This grandfather of this group is the occultist
Meister Eckart, and it includes: Dietrich Eckart (Thule
Society), Paul Carus (Open Court Publishing), Frederic
Spiegelberg (Stanford, AAAS), Michael Murphy (Esalen),
and a host of powerful media people, pundits, gurus and
self-help authors. They are all quite happy to connect you
up with some form of evil, but step back from
commitment themselves, always stopping at the door, as
you foolishly, trustingly pass through. In this way they
catalyze the evil transformation, but survive its effects to
spread further evil, later on.

____ Preface: Powers of Zen ______________________________

Variations upon Zen which have evolved into new strains and then major
branches of Zen, have increased their toxic power by piling slander
upon slander over hundreds of years. The greatest slanders are
attached to the most powerfully evil forms of Zen, which are those
that have attacked the Lotus Sutra directly or the votaries (devotees)
of the Lotus Sutra, the Sangha, directly. One can think of this with
the mathematical analogy of a powers of a variable, that Zen becomes
exponentially more powerful and evil as slanders are piled upon
slanders ...

[Zen] Bodhidharma discards the Lotus Sutra, seeking wisdom that is
from transmissions outside the sutras, transmitted from person to
person (ishin denshin). The families of Chinese Zen under
Bodhidharma's influence include: Dhyana, Ch'an, Western Ch'an, Qigong,
Tai-Chi, Acupuncture, and the Chinese and Korean Martial Arts up to
1200 CE.

[Zen Squared] Dogen uses the Lotus Sutra as a means to teach and
propagate Zen. The families of Japanese Zen under Dogen's influence
are: Soto Zen, Rinzai Zen, Green Dragon Zen, Bushido and the Japanese
Martial Arts up to 1500 CE.

[Zen Cubed] Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and the Tokugawa Shogunate use various
Samurai and Daimyo tactics, which are based on Zen, to subjugate and
crush Nichiren Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra in the 1500s and 1600s. The
families of Japanese Zen under the Tokugawa influence are: Soto Zen,
Rinzai Zen, Green Dragon Zen, Bushido and the Japanese Martial Arts up
to 1867 CE.

[Zen Squared Squared] After the Meiji regime's overthrow of the
Tokugawa Shogunate, the militarization and buildup of Japanese society
into an armed camp, forces all of Buddhism under Shinto, and Zen
becomes Imperial Way Zen. This ultimately leads to the crushing of the
Lay organization of Nikko's School of Nichiren Buddhism, the Soka
Kyoiku Gakkai and the imprisonment of their leaders during the war,
and the death of their President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi. The families
of Imperial Way Zen are: Soto Zen, Rinzai Zen, Green Dragon Zen,
Bushido and the Japanese Martial Arts up to 1945 CE.

[Zen to the 5th] American Lay Zen from George Leonard's [Esalen]
influence: the Large Group Awareness Therapy or Training sessions,
Werner Erhard's EST, Landmark Forum, Landmark Education Seminars.

____ Preface: Zen Offends the Law ________________________

There is a principle which is central to the Buddhism of the Lotus
Sutra: Oneness of Person and Law, known as Nimpo-ikka in Japanese.

It is eternally true that the Law and the Buddha are fused, to make
life as we know it.

Since, according to Nichiren in the Ongi Kuden (The Oral Teachings, or
class notes from his lectures on the Lotus Sutra, taken by Nikko), one
meaning of "Myoho" is that delusion and enlightenment are fused (this
is also explained in the essential teachings of the Lotus Sutra, in
the Juryo or Life Span chapter) ...

This means that even for deluded mortals, there is always a condition
of oneness of person and Law.

The implication of this, is that wherever there is a slander of the
Law, then nearby and coincident with it, there is a slander of
humanity, by the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect.

Hence, wherever Zen is propagated widely, there will be in each and
every instance, Toxic Zen Stories to tell.

What follows is one of these ...

____ Introduction ________________________________________

Dogen (1200-1253): The founder of the Japanese Soto school of Zen.
Dogen would quote the Lotus Sutra, but did not consider it any
differently from other sutras of the Buddha, this in spite of the
Buddha's own admonition to consider it higher than the previous (Sutra
of Immeasurable Meanings and before) and following sutras (Nirvana
Sutra and later). Hence, only provisional truth and partial
enlightenment could be had from it by him. The kind of enlightenment
that leads to compassionless domination of others ... as mere, empty
extensions of one's own Solipsistic body.

Dogen was popular with the government, because his teachings removed
the compassion from Samurai and Daimyo, rendering them fierce and
merciless warriors, who would shun no tactic to win, no matter how
vile.

____ Toxic Zen Story ______________________________

Phil Jackson practiced, and coached his players in something he calls
"Christian" Zen (see Toxic Zen Story #17: D.T. Suzuki and Father
Thomas Merton). The kind of Zen doesn't really matter, though. A
stream, polluted at it's source, is toxic downstream as well, you'll
find as soon as you drink from it.

Only a month after leading the Bulls to their third straight title,
Jordan experienced personal tragedy when his father was murdered. He
began to see life differently. He walked away from the game and stayed
retired for almost two full seasons. It carved a void in his career,
and family.

Dennis Rodman got stranger and stranger, wearing a bridal gown at one
point, being self-destructively violent at another. Where the earlier
respect he had earned as a player, there was now a huge gaping hole.
He sank into public perversion, with a decidedly aggressive and
determined, challenging manner.

There were the two brothers, Brian Williams (of the Bulls) and Kevin
Williams -- also known as Bison Dele and Miles Dabord -- their story
suddenly stopped developing. Brian, 33, his girlfriend and the boat's
captain are still missing, and investigators suspect their bodies were
tossed overboard and eaten by sharks. On the night of Sept. 27, Kevin
died quietly at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Chula Vista. Kevin, it is
thought, killed the NBA star out of jealousy, stole his money, and
then was apparently waylaid in Mexico, overdosed on insulin and left
to die.
(http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20021004-9999_1n4dele.html)

Then Zen Master Jackson rides off to the Los Angeles on his red and
black motorcycle, leaving the wreckage behind, as Zen Masters, do. And
leaving behind an empty feeling.

On to the Lakers for Phil, to produce another Boom-Bust.

So now, we have Shaq, who was beloved by everyone, starting to tear
down his image like Rodman did. ``Tell Yao Ming,
`Ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-so,' '' O'Neal said, during an interview on
Fox television. The song goes: "Ching-chong chinaman sittin' on a
fence, tryin' to make a dollar out of 99 cents." That song, and now
Shaq's racist uttering, are on the collective minds of the asian
community, forever. Another gaping hole in the works?

Thusly, another basketball community suffers.
___________________________________________________

The community at large suffers as well. Chicago had an orgy of gang
violence during the peak of the Bull's success...

Now comes this news story which relates to Zen Master Phil Jackson in
L.A. and Zen Jesuit Jerry Brown, Mayor of Oakland:

From the L.A. Times 4/28/2003, The State section, "Crime Edges Up in
State - The homicide rate in California's biggest cities increased
nearly 11% in 2002, and major crimes rose 3.8%, Lockyer says.", by
Richard Winton, Times Staff Writer:

'The homicide rate in California's largest
cities and counties climbed nearly 11% in 2002 as
major crimes also rose 3.8% compared with the year
before, the state attorney general's office
announced Sunday. Although the number of homicides
was lower than at its peak in the early 1990s,
there were 1,842 reported killings in 2002 --- 179
more than during the year before, according to the
preliminary figures.'

' "We must never forget the pain that each of
these killings causes for families and
communities," Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said in a
statement.'

Ah, but Zen is all about forgetting about the effects of causes. It's
all a "gap experience in being", not paying attention to the effects
on society of your distorted views.

First, the increase around the Laker's Zendo at Staples Center in
L.A.:

'Los Angeles' homicide rate rose 11.1% during
2002, with 653 killings --- the most for any city
in the nation. The surge in homicides also was
reflected in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles
County, where the 135 killings were 25% more than
in 2001. '

'There has been a downward trend this year,
however, with 25% fewer homicides than in the same
period in 2002, said Los Angeles Police Chief
William J. Bratton. As of April 19, he said, that
meant 50 fewer homicides.'

Don't be fooled by that, Chief. The playoffs are just getting going...

And here are the astonishing numbers in Oakland. Jerry must be
deconstructing reality at an enormous pace:

'But those gains were countered statewide by
surges elsewhere. Oakland contributed to the jump
in the state homicide rate with 108 killings ---
28.6% more than 2001...'
___________________________________________________

And just recently, Michael Jordan appears to be handing over the
speartip position, of corrupting-role-model to Kobe Bryant. The evil
that is Zen puts all of it's energy behind the speartip, and casts
aside everything else once the means of evil has served it's purpose
of penetration into the hearts and minds of the masses. The slide
downhill is swift and hellaciously unstoppable...

From "Pollin Decides Jordan's Time With Wizards Is Over - Charlotte
Next for NBA Legend? ", by Joseph White, The Associated Press 5/7/03:

'WASHINGTON (May 7) -- Michael Jordan isn't
welcome back with the Washington Wizards, who
abruptly dumped him Wednesday because he failed to
turn them around in his 3 1/2 seasons on and off
the court.'

'Team owner Abe Pollin made the decision after
meeting with Jordan, who was the Wizards'
president before coming out of retirement to play
for them the past two years.'

He appears to have had everything going against him, inside and out,
the opposite of how everything was going for him before in his career:

'A team source, speaking on condition of
anonymity, told the Associated Press that Pollin's
decision was based on three reasons: player
dissension, a franchise faltering after 3 1/2
years of Jordan in charge, and deteriorating
relationships throughout the organization.'

'The source said no decision has yet been made
regarding the front office people Jordan has
hired, or whether Jordan's hand-picked coach, Doug
Collins, will remain for the final two years of
his contract.'

Friends of Zen practitioners face little else but suffering, due to
the attachment to evil...

'The last few months have been particularly
embarrassing for Pollin's team.'

'Jordan and his teammates were sniping at each
other as the Wizards finished a disappointing 37-
45 for the second consecutive year. Players
publicly criticized Collins, and Collins accused
them of being disrespectful. Recent reports in the
New York Times and Washington Post talked of a
rift within the franchise between Pollin's people
and Jordan's people.'

'Wednesday's much-anticipated meeting included
Jordan, Pollin, Wizards minority owner Ted
Leonsis, Pollin's attorney David Osnos and
Jordan's attorney Curtis Polk. It was Leonsis who
brought Jordan to Washington three years ago by
making him part owner of both the Wizards and the
Washington Capitals.'

'But Jordan stumbled from the start. He botched
the firing of coach Gar Heard and later hired
Leonard Hamilton, who in one season produced a 19-
63 record. Jordan tried to run the team from his
home in Chicago -- the only commuter front-office
head in the league -- leaving a rudderless team to
falter on its own.'
___________________________________________________

As time marches on the story gets nastier, and seems like an
incredible injustice is being done to a stalwart Zen warrior, who has
bravely embraced emptiness and the principle that effect is somehow
not connected to cause ...

From "An unceremonious exit for Michael Jordan" by Ashley McGeachy of
Knight Ridder Newspapers:

'PHILADELPHIA - (KRT) - The story rivals other
juicy tales from the nation's capital. It has
fame, greed, power, wealth and politics.'

'Wealthy old Abe Pollin this week dismissed one
Michael Jordan from the Washington Wizards without
so much as an explanation or evaluation. No thanks
for filling the MCI Center to capacity for two
seasons, thus lining Pollin's pockets. No kudos
for bringing the Wizards within a few wins of the
playoffs.'

'Instead, the Wizards smeared Jordan the day
they let him go, saying he was a poor general
manager, that he helped create problems between
players and fostered an atmosphere of mistrust.'

' "See this, MJ? This is a pink slip. Never
seen one? There's a first time for everything.'' '

'So Jordan zoomed away from the Phone Booth in
his convertible, seething for all the world - and
a well-placed Associated Press photographer - to
see. In a statement, Jordan said he was shocked by
the decision, and "by the callous refusal to offer
me any justification for it." '

Mmm, I can think what might cause this to happen ... but I believe in
causality, Zen discards it ... why seek justification at this late
hour? The "gap experience" is just beginning, isn't just BEING enough?

Having grasped the void so firmly, and with so much attention being
paid to Michael, the results are certain to be spectacularly bad...

'The fallout in D.C. has been Clintonesque.'

'On his afternoon D.C. radio show, former
Georgetown coach John Thompson likened Pollin to a
plantation owner, a crack that was echoed by the
No. 1 disc jockey in town the next day.'

'According to the Washington Post, Pollin
offered Jordan $10 million, payable over five
years. This wasn't about money, Jordan said. This
was about honor and commitment.'

Gosh, you are going to need that money later, Michael, if effects
actually do follow causes and all of that corrupting influence cycles
back around now. Take the money...

'Despite his grace and talent on the court,
Jordan probably was not the most skillful
personnel manager. He made mistakes, like drafting
Kwame Brown with the Wizards' No. 1 pick in 2001.
And it had to be tough on Richard Hamilton, Jerry
Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and others to play with
an aging superstar still craving the spotlight.'

'But does anyone doubt Jordan's learning curve
as an executive? '

'Apparently not Bob Johnson, the owner of the
new NBA franchise taking root in Charlotte, N.C.
Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment
Television, wants Jordan to join the franchise and
is not too self-centered or power hungry to share
the limelight. You want part of the franchise,
Michael? Take it.'

The next chapter in the story in Charlotte will be even more dramatic,
if the early returns are any indication...

Back to the Lakers and Jackson, still in McGeachy's article:

'Cry me a river. Nothing like a 2-love deficit
to get the Lakers squawking and to hush the
conspiracy theorists. Lakers coach Phil Jackson
says that the referees have prevented O'Neal from
doing his job during the first two games of the
Lakers-Spurs Western Conference semifinals.'

'Thus, the two-games-to-none deficit heading
into Friday night's game.'

' "They're taking away what his career has
been," Jackson told reporters after the Lakers
lost Game 2 in San Antonio, Texas. " ... We need
to keep Shaq out of foul trouble on the offensive
end, so he can play defense. We have to limit
their chances and opportunities around the lane,
and the basket. He's going to have to (govern)
himself on what's acceptable and what they're
calling." '

'Said Shaq: "If they want to protect the
floppers, that's okay. But I will never, ever
change my game. Ever. If that's how they want to
call it, that's how they want to call it." '
___________________________________________________

Whether the punishment for the slanderous view of life that Zen's
acausality and emptiness creates, comes from others or from one's own
mind, the result is the same. Chaos and a surprisingly sudden reversal
of fortune ....

From the Dailynews.Com: "Jackson risked 'major heart attack' before
surgery" Published: Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 9:27:16 PM PST:

'EL SEGUNDO -- The Lakers' harrowing journey
toward a fourth consecutive championship took its
most frightening turn Saturday, the kind that
makes the season's various shooting slumps, ankle
sprains and petty spats look like fun and games. '

'Phil Jackson, the team's head coach and
resident genius, was hospitalized while doctors
cleared a blocked artery in his chest.'

'Until he underwent the urgent procedure -- an
angioplasty that lasted more than two hours --
Jackson ran the risk of a "major heart attack,"
Lakers spokesman John Black said in breaking the
news.'

'For a day, at least, the team's on-the-court
struggles didn't seem so important.'

'It was revealed that Jackson had felt pain and
tightness in his chest for about a week and was in
discomfort during the Lakers' 110-95 victory over
the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, a win that
sends them into today's game at Staples Center
trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven quarterfinal
playoff series. '

'And, chillingly, it was revealed that although
Lakers players weren't yet aware of their coach's
plight, Jackson and his staff did their jobs
during Friday's must-win game knowing that
something might be seriously wrong with one of the
most successful figures in National Basketball
Association history.'

' "We were holding our fingers crossed," said
assistant coach Jim Cleamons, "that he would get
through the game." '

'At one point, Black said, Jackson turned to
Tex Winter, his excitable assistant and mentor,
and ordered the older man to cool it.'

' "Tex, calm down," Jackson is said to have
told Winter. "You're going to give me a heart
attack." '

'By that time, Jackson, 57, had undergone a
Friday-afternoon round of tests at Centinela
Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood.'

'More tests early Saturday showed an "over 90
percent blockage" of the left anterior descending
artery, Black said.'

'During the procedure that followed, an
angioplasty balloon was inserted in the artery to
clear the blockage, and a stent was implanted to
prevent the artery from collapsing.'

'Suddenly, the Lakers' immediate future lay not
in the hands of basketball superstars Shaquille
O'Neal and Kobe Bryant but in those of doctors
named Phillip Frankel and Vern Hattori.'

'Saturday afternoon, Jackson was said to be
resting comfortably, having suffered no damage to
his heart, and hoping the doctors would release
him from the hospital this morning. The Lakers
spokesman said, perhaps optimistically, that
Jackson might be able to coach the team in this
afternoon's game. If not, Cleamons, the assistant
and once-a-week Daily News columnist, would act as
the stand-in head coach.'

The coach is apparently critical to the peculiar success that the
Lakers have enjoyed....

'Continuity has been hard to come by anyway for
this year's Lakers. An aging team more dependent
than ever on O'Neal and Bryant, they got off to a
horrible start in November while Shaq got in
playing shape following a September foot
operation. As late as February, more than halfway
through the season, they were losing more games
than they were winning and their chances of even
reaching the playoffs were being debated.'

'The Lakers' 50-32 won-lost record left them
only the fifth seed in the eight-team Western
Conference playoffs, putting them on a bumper-car
collision course with good teams from Minnesota,
San Antonio and either Sacramento or Dallas.'

'It has been a hairy ride. Minnesota provided a
brief scare before falling four games to two. San
Antonio won the first two games at home as the
Lakers dealt with leg injuries to Rick Fox and
Devean George. But when George returned to action
unexpectedly Friday and led an early Lakers surge
to victory, it appeared things were swinging their
way.'

'Now they're all holding their breath again,
waiting for their leader's healthy return.'
___________________________________________________

And now, the drum beat of injustice against poor Michael Jordan is a
staccato rhythm ...

From "MJ Was a Legend on Court, But Not as Wizards CEO - Jordan,
Pollin Had Poor Relationship" By John Feinstein on AOL:

'The firing of Michael Jordan may very well be
a Made for TV movie before the month is out. Or,
it might be a fall television series. Better yet,
it could end up as a long running soap opera, "As
The Wizards Turn." '

'Not since Ray Walston played Mr. Applegate in
the movie version of 'Damn Yankees,' has anyone
been cast as the devil quite the way Washington
Wizards owner Abe Pollin has been since that
moment in his office last week when, if you take
the Jordan-spinners at their word, he repeatedly
plunged a knife into the back of Jordan's Armani
suit and then sent him back to the plantation --
to quote one ex-coach turned radio talk show host
-- to spend the rest of his life picking cotton.'

'Or something like that.'

'Let's cut to the chase here: Pollin didn't
fire the greatest basketball player in history. He
fired a CEO who was either overmatched by the job;
didn't really care about the job or never worked
at the job. You can choose the reason but the
facts are the facts: Jordan, as CEO of the Wizards
made one move that helped the team: he signed
Michael Jordan to a contract to play for $1
million a season.'

'That was it. Nothing else -- NOTHING -- Jordan
did worked. His first act after taking the job in
January of 2000 really became symbolic of his
entire tenure. Having decided after 10 whole days
that Gar Heard shouldn't coach the team anymore,
he fired him.'

'And then, he sent Wes Unseld to deliver the
news while he was at the Super Bowl launching
another of his corporate ventures.'

'It didn't get better after that. There was the
botched negotiation with Mike Jarvis; the hiring
and firing of Leonard Hamilton; the drafting of
Kwame Brown; the trading of Richard Hamilton for
Jerry Stackhouse and the constant ragging on his
teammates/employees because they were letting HIM
down by not being as good or as tough or as
passionate as he was about basketball.'

'Remember, he selected these players. Then he
ripped them.'

Pausing from the merciless beating on Michael, to pity poor Michael.
Pity is the worst thing that anyone can do to a Zen warrior. They know
the end is near at pity time...

'Let's pause here for a moment to make one
thing clear: Pollin's not an innocent bystander in
all this and neither is his No. 1 lieutenant Susan
O'Malley.'

'Pollin has done, to put it kindly, a poor job
of running his franchise for a long time. It has
been 21 years since the Bullets/Wizards won a
playoff series and 24 since they were serious
contenders to win a title.'

'This isn't an accident. Pollin's made mistakes
too numerous to chronicle here, not the least of
which has been his unflagging loyalty to both
O'Malley and Unseld even though neither has ever
done anything to substantially improve the
constantly sagging franchise.'

'Whether Pollin handled Jordan's firing well is
really a moot point. Jordan and his boobs --
notably agent Curtis Polk -- have harped on the
lack of warning and the fact that Jordan wasn't
given any explanation for the move.'

'That is complete and total nonsense, the kind
that Polk and his longtime boss David Falk love to
hand out, knowing there's always someone out there
willing to believe the moon is made of Swiss
cheese.'

'The warning signs that the Jordan/Pollin
relationship was going south had been around for
months. Everyone in Washington knew that there was
tension between the Pollin faction and the
Jordan/Ted Leonsis faction of the organization.
The fact that the Pollin side leaked like an
iceberg-struck ship to The New York Times the
weekend before the Pollin/Jordan meeting (most
people think O'Malley was the leaker; she denies
it, more reason to believe it) certainly should
have been a clue.'

And now back to the Michael beating...

'Oh, and there was one more thing that might
have clued Jordan and company that all wasn't
well: THE TEAM WAS GOD-AWFUL. Even with Jordan
playing remarkably well for a man of 40 years old,
the Wizards won 37 games and missed the playoffs
with plenty of room to spare.'

'Everyone on the team, with the exception of
backup center Jahidi White, had been brought in by
Jordan. The apologists have all lined up to say
that because he had spent two seasons on the
court, Jordan would have been 'positioned to do a
better job the second time around as CEO.'

'Oh please. Does anyone really think he ever
stopped being CEO?'

'Jordan explained in great detail how he put
into motion the disastrous Hamilton for Stackhouse
trade this summer.'

'Remember, this took place after he'd already
had one year close up on the court re-learning the
league. Apparently he didn't learn that Stackhouse
isn't effective unless he can dominate the ball
and when you are on the same team with Michael
Jordan that can't happen. '

'Apparently he didn't notice that a healthy
Hamilton was on the verge of stardom. So, he made
the trade and Stackhouse spent the entire season
in a snit because he didn't see the ball enough.'

'Apparently that came as a surprise to Jordan.
It did not come as a surprise to people around the
league who questioned the trade the day it
happened.'

Zen practitioners are too much in the moment to ask advice. They ARE
the Buddha, and you're just an attachment to their life. Why ask your
finger where to point?

'Does this mean that Jordan can't possibly be
effective running an NBA team? No. Most people
don't become franchise CEO's and part owners at
36. Jordan was asked to train on the job under a
microscope. He had no one to turn to for guidance
-- except maybe Falk, which is a little bit like
turning to an Enron executive for ethics advice --
and no one to teach him the ropes.'

'The problem for Jordan going forward is he is
probably in denial about how poorly he ran the
Wizards. The boobs around him will tell him it was
Pollin's fault; Unseld's fault; O'Malley's fault;
the media's fault. Not his fault.'

Truth be told, it is not his "fault", it is the circumstances produced
in his environment by his practice of Zen.
___________________________________________________

And finally, as we come down to the inevitable close of the Phil
Jackson Zen sesshin, from the article: "Arrogant Lakers brought
themselves down", by Mike Kahn - CBS SportsLine.com Executive Editor,
May 16, 2003:

'Arrogance ended the dynasty. '

'Confidence is one thing, and we know the Los
Angeles Lakers had plenty of that. But the "Lake
Show" was doomed to failure months before the
2002-2003 season even began. '

'All the foibles came spilling out as the Spurs
annihilated the Lakers in the fourth quarter in
front of a hushed Staples Center crowd, ending a
110-82 rout to finish the Western Conference
semifinals Thursday night. '

'We saw Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, his
throbbing left knee barely holding up his enormous
body as Tim Duncan looked like a younger, newer
model, leaving dust in Shaq Diesel's face. '

'There was his superstar "little brother," Kobe
Bryant, with no gas left in his tank, either, as
defensive specialist Bruce Bowen and the rest of
defense-oriented Spurs cut him off at every turn.
'

'And finally in the face of defeat, there was
the ultimate Zen Master looking so calm and
forthright -- coach Phil Jackson -- with 25
consecutive playoff series victories, the best
winning percentage and most postseason wins in
history and nine NBA titles, a record he shares
with Red Auerbach. Was it hard to forget that he
was less than a week removed from 90 percent heart
blockage that required an angioplasty procedure
and a stent inserted? '

'There is a reason why nobody has won more than
three titles in a row the past 37 years, and why
the Boston Celtics won eight in a row and nine of
out 10. Auerbach had that team intact, made
improvements along the way and everyone was on the
same page or sent packing. '

'Not these guys, who very well could have
pulled it off if they used the same script. '

'It began immediately after the Lakers swept
the New Jersey Nets for their third consecutive
title last June. Rather than bring in immediate
help for their weak cast of role players -- led by
aging Robert Horry, Rick Fox and Brian Shaw --
they re-signed young Devean George to an inflated
contract. '

'They ignored free agent Charles Oakley and all
other big men who might have helped O'Neal and
depended on a weak group of Samaki Walker, Slava
Medvedenko and Mark Madsen. Only point guard Derek
Fisher, erratic at best, is still in his prime but
has to work with unpolished rookies Kareem Rush
and Jannero Pargo. '

'Owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch
Kupchak thumbed their noses at everyone else --
heck, with Shaq and Kobe, we don't need much else,
they said. '

'But that was presuming Shaq was all there. Oh,
he was there all right, a little too much of him,
again. His weight wasn't in the 360-pound range as
he had been, but there were other issues. He
waited until Sept. 11 to have foot surgery that
caused him to miss training camp and the first 12
regular-season games. It also required more time
to get in good enough condition to be competitive,
and the result was an 11-19 start that left the
team's chemistry in shambles. He said all season
it was because he wanted three opinions on what to
do with his foot. '

'Since when does it require nearly three months
to get three opinions? '

'He copped out on his teammates. '

'Yes, they pulled it back together to finish
50-32, but by the time the playoffs rolled around,
they were already tempting fate. O'Neal struggled,
and with his foot and knee aching, he suddenly
realized that at 31 and carrying too much weight,
kryptonite wasn't required to break his body down.
And despite being just 24, Bryant was clearly
weary from carrying the team much of the season.
George had been a bust, and nobody was helping
O'Neal inside at all. '

'They looked very beatable before coming
together to eliminate Timberwolves in the first
round. They lost Fox to a torn tendon in his left
foot and George subsequently sprained an ankle.
And yet the Lakers still believed they could beat
the Spurs. '

'The bigger question was whether the Spurs
actually believed they could beat the Lakers. Yes,
the Spurs were fabulous down the stretch of the
regular season, finishing 41-9 and even sweeping
the Lakers in four regular-season games. '

'They had added a lot of athleticism in Manu
Ginobili and Speedy Claxton, with upgraded roles
for Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson to complement
Duncan. Malik Rose, in his bull-in-a-china-shop
manner, was a terror inside subbing for Duncan and
David Robinson, in the final season of his
fabulous career. '

'And yet, the Lakers' arrogance (they had won
eight of the past nine playoff games between the
teams) still had the Spurs' confidence a little
shaky. But by virtue of having the best regular-
season record, the series opened in San Antonio,
and the Spurs won Games 1 and 2 without much of an
issue. The Lakers stung them badly in Game 3 in
Los Angeles, but it was Game 4 that raised
eyebrows. The Spurs opened up a 16-point lead and
looked to be taking control of the series, only to
fall apart in the third quarter, miss free throws
down the stretch and give the Lakers life. '

'It was even worse in Game 5, when they blew
virtually all of a 25-point lead they held late in
the third quarter. But Horry's 3-pointer at the
buzzer seemingly had the hand of the "Basketball
Gods" push it out of the basket after it was two-
thirds of the way down. Shell-shocked but
victorious, the Spurs took a 3-2 lead to Los
Angeles on Thursday night. '

'When that shot came out, the dreams of four
consecutive titles ended. Even Horry, the quiet
assassin with five titles (including two in
Houston) who seemingly always hit the game-winning
3-pointer, was foiled. In fact, by the end
Thursday night, he had missed 26 in a row and was
2-for-38 in the playoffs. '

'That was just a small part of the problem. The
Lakers couldn't deal with Duncan, a magnificent
technician inside. And even Robinson, dealing with
back problems and sore knees as he approaches his
38th birthday, still had the savvy and skills to
create some problems for O'Neal. '

'But that's not what caused them to lose when
all was said and done. It began with not tweaking
the roster up front and O'Neal's delayed surgery.
They were just too arrogant to believe anyone was
capable of derailing the Shaq Diesel Express on
their way to setting new standards for excellence.
'

'In some way, they believed they were taking
their best shot at making history. '

'What they were left with Thursday night was an
errant swing and a myth. '
___________________________________________________

And now Kobe Bryant and the team will completely self-destruct...

' "Basketball Star Kobe Bryant Signs Nike Deal"
by Frank Tang, Reuters, Tue June 24, 2003 '

'Nike Inc. has added another star to its stable
of elite basketball players, continuing its recent
run of shoe endorsement deals.'

'The world's largest athletic shoemaker on
Tuesday confirmed it signed a sponsorship contract
with Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant
in a deal reportedly worth as much as $45 million.
Nike declined to disclose the terms.'

'Bryant, who won three consecutive NBA
championships with the Lakers, parted ways with
German sportswear company Adidas-Salomon AG last
year and since then had been negotiating with Nike
and U.S. No. 2 Reebok International Ltd. .'

'Nike spokesman Mark Shapiro said the company's
design team and Bryant are working together to
come up with new signature basketball shoes that
the 24-year-old will be wearing on court. He said
Nike may develop other signature products for
Bryant in the future.'

'The company, based in Beaverton, Oregon, also
has similar deals with many other professional
athletes in different sports, including notables
Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.'

'The Los Angeles Times, citing an industry
insider, said Bryant's contract runs for five
years and is worth between $40 million and $45
million.'

'Nike in May signed high school basketball
stars LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Both of
them are expected to be in the top three at this
Thursday's NBA draft.'

'However, the size of James' deal dwarfs what
Bryant will receive from Nike. According to
ESPN.com, James will earn more than $90 million
over seven years.'

' "What Nike is betting on LeBron James is his
potential to be the next Michael (Jordan), and
they didn't want anybody else to get him," said
Jack Trout, president of Trout and Partners, a
marketing strategy firm.'

'Trout said during Bryant's six-year
relationship with Adidas, he did not have a big
impact to boost the company's sales.'

' "Would it help Nike? Yes. Would he have a
line like the Air Jordans? Probably not." Trout
said.'

So, in spite of his image of perfection, he cannot seem to hit that
Jordanesque level of fame. But barely one week later on June 30th,
this would all change ... now he will surpass the Jordan implosion ...
___________________________________________________

' "Lakers star Kobe Bryant accused in sex
assault case" Monday, July 7, 2003 EAGLE, Colorado
(CNN)

'Los Angeles Lakers pro-basketball star Kobe
Bryant is free on bond Monday after turning
himself in to police on an arrest warrant for
alleged felony sexual assault, authorities said. '

'Bryant, the successful 24-year-old guard,
posted $25,000 bond after he surrendered to the
Eagle County, Colorado, Sheriff's Detention
Facility Friday, the sheriff's office said Sunday
in a statement. '

'District Attorney Mark Hulbert was quoted by
newspapers in Denver and Los Angeles, California,
as saying that prosecutors would make a decision
on whether to file formal charges after they
examine police reports. '

'The sheriff's office issued a warrant for
Bryant after a woman alleged sexual misconduct by
the player in a hotel in Edwards, just west of the
Vail ski resort in western Colorado, on the
evening of June 30, the statement said. '

' "Upon review of interviews and physical
evidence, investigators met with the district
attorney's office and concluded they had enough
evidence to charge Kobe Bryant with felony sexual
assault," the statement said. '

' "During the investigation, Bryant was
cooperative with investigators and remains
cooperative with authorities." '

'A judge has sealed court records in the case,
and a spokesman for the sheriff's office refused
further comment. '

'Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the
allegations are "completely out of character" for
Bryant. '

' "For the seven years he's been with us, he
has been one of the finest young men we've known
and a wonderful asset to both our team and our
community," Kupchak said in a statement Sunday
night. "However, since this is a legal matter
being handled by the authorities in Colorado, we
must refrain from further comment at this time." '

'Kupchak referred all questions to Bryant's
lawyers in Colorado. '

'Two of Bryant's teammates came to his defense,
shaking their heads at the allegations. '

' "That's totally out of his character, but who
knows," said Kareem Rush. "I don't think it's
true, so I'm going to stand by him and say that
it's 100 percent not true." '

' "He's a happily married man and I'm sure he's
happy. He talks about his wife all the time,"
Jannero Pargo said. "I can't wait for the truth to
come out." '

Ahh, but we're just beginning to see what's under the surface of the
slick Zen-style facade ...

'The 6-foot-6-inch Bryant was a member of the
2002 Laker National Basketball Association
championship team, averaging 26.6 points per game
in four games in the NBA finals against the New
Jersey Nets. He was selected to the 2001-2002 All-
NBA First Team. '

'Bryant was also named most valuable player of
the 2002 All-Star Game after scoring 31 points,
five rebounds and five assists. '

This is already, even at this early point, an epic fall from grace.
Famous people seem to have no separation between appearance and fact,
and little possibility for recovery ...
___________________________________________________

'Posted on Fri, Jul. 18, 2003 '

' "Chronology of Events in Kobe Bryant Case",
Associated Press'

'Events in the investigation of sexual assault
allegations against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe
Bryant: '

'_June 30: Bryant arrives at the Lodge & Spa at
Cordillera near Edwards, Colo., after 10 p.m.,
ahead of knee surgery at Steadman Hawkins Clinic
in Vail.'

'_July 1: A 19-year-old front desk employee
tells Eagle County Sheriff's Department that
Bryant sexually assaulted her. Bryant has surgery
at Steadman Hawkins.'

'_July 2: Sheriff's deputies take Bryant to a
hospital for undisclosed tests.'

'_July 4: Sheriff Joe Hoy issues an arrest
warrant for Bryant, who has returned to
California. Bryant flies back to Eagle County,
surrenders and is released after posting $25,000
bond.'

'_July 6: Bryant's arrest is made public. Hoy
refuses to release booking photo.'

'_July 7: District Attorney Mark Hurlbert says
it might take several days before he decides
whether to file charges.'

'_July 11: Under media pressure, Hoy releases
booking photo.'

'_July 17: Vail Daily asks judge to order Eagle
police to release two reports relating to the
alleged victim from a month before the alleged
assault.'

'_July 18: Hurlbert files a single count of
felony sexual assault against Bryant. Bryant
releases a statement, saying "I made the mistake
of adultery" but "I am innocent of the charges
filed today." '

It unfolds slowly ... as each leaf opens, you get a stronger whiff of
the scorched and rotting seeds within the bloom ...
___________________________________________________

'Prosecutors, defense give a taste of what
trial might be - TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Writer,
Friday, October 10, 2003'

'(10-10) 07:10 PDT EAGLE, Colo. (AP) -- '

'Prosecutors wasted no time painting a picture
of Kobe Bryant as a callous rapist who wouldn't
take "No" for an answer. Defense attorneys didn't
take long, either, to show they would attack the
accuser in their attempt to keep the NBA star out
of prison. '

'Bryant sat stone-faced during a preliminary
hearing Thursday as the woman's story of a
flirtatious encounter gone bad came out for the
first time. There were graphic details of Bryant
grabbing her by the neck, bending her over a chair
and attacking her at the posh mountain resort
where she worked. '

' "You're not going to tell anybody about this,
right?" he allegedly asked the woman repeatedly
during five minutes of sex. Before allowing her to
leave, she told police, Bryant forced her down and
made her kiss his penis. '

That act identifies the attacker. He has done this before, and someone
will come forward to say so. Kobe is done. DONE.

The rapture, following domination, is of the 6th Heaven (of desire).
The 6th Heaven is the highest of the 24 different kinds of Heaven in
the 6th world of T'ien-T'ai's 10 worlds. It is a heaven of desire and
domination, ruled by the Devil King of the 6th Heaven.

Whenever the Devil King dominates, rapture inevitably follows. So
there is a rapturous moment at the end, a goal-line dance or
demonstration, showing the signature of who is really in the driver's
seat.

The mind of Zen is the mind of the Devil King of the 6th Heaven of
desire. That is why Zen believers are so thoroughly driven to go back
to that place which produces such terrible results in their lives,
like addicts getting a fix. And the signature of the 6th Heaven ...

'Bryant's attorney, Pamela Mackey, tried to
show the woman's story was just that -- a story.
She used the woman's name six different times, and
at one point suggested that her injuries might be
"consistent with a person who has had sex with
three different men in three days." '

'That drew a quick recess from Judge Frederick
Gannett, but also gave an early taste of what
could likely turn into a messy and nasty trial
when it is finally held sometime next year. '

' "The defense threw some serious mud, and now
we will see if it sticks," said former prosecutor
Craig Silverman, now a Denver defense attorney. '

The view is of a powerful person trying to break a vulnerable person,
who is seeking justice against terrible odds. Not a nice view of that
Zen Boy Scout Kobe Bryant ...

'Outside of Winters, most of the prosecution's
case will center on the testimony of the woman.
The only other direct witnesses identified so far
are a bellman who told the woman to report the
incident and a nurse who treats rape victims. '

'Still, much of the day's testimony was
terribly damaging to the reputation of Bryant, 25,
who could face life in prison if he is convicted.
'

'Winters described in graphic detail for a
packed courtroom how the 19-year-old woman said an
exciting, chance meeting with the Los Angeles
Lakers' superstar led to a nightmarish assault
that left her shaken and in tears. '

'She said she told Bryant "no" at least twice
and he ignored her, pulling her dress up and her
underwear down and raping her from behind. '

Reducing her to a nonentity. Nothingness. How very Zen...

'At one point, the woman told police, Bryant
forced her to face him and say "No" when he asked
if she was going to tell anyone. '

'Bryant has insisted the sex was consensual. He
sat at the defense table staring straight at
Winters for much of the hearing, hands folded in
front of him. Bryant occasionally clenched his
jaw, but showed little other reaction. '

'Winters, the only witness of the afternoon,
recounted what the woman told him in an hourlong
interview the day after she met Bryant at the
resort. It all began with a tour of the hotel that
led to some flirting. She went back to Bryant's
room and showed him a tattoo on her ankle, then
turned down his request to join him in the hot
tub, Winters said. '

'Her shift at the front desk was ending and she
wanted to go home, he said, and "she was starting
to feel a bit uncomfortable." '

'Winters said she stood up to leave and Bryant
gave her a hug that led to some consensual
kissing. '

'But when she turned to go, Bryant grabbed her
by the neck, pulled up her black dress and raped
her against a chair, Winters said. She told
investigators she said "No" at least twice before
bursting into tears as the five-minute attack went
on. '

'Bryant wasn't holding her neck so tight she
couldn't breathe, Winters said, but enough to
control her movement. '

' "She was afraid that he was going to choke
her," he said. '

'Afterward, Bryant told the woman to clean up,
Winters said. She fixed her hair, wiped her face
and left after again promising to remain silent. '

'She went back to the front desk to finish up
her work and finally left the resort with an
unidentified bellman, Winters said. She told him
what happened and he urged her to report it, later
following her home. '

That bellman is the hero of this story. It is very hard to suggest to
someone to do the right thing in such a moment...

'Winters testified that the woman's blood was
found on the inside of Bryant's T-shirt, based on
DNA tests. The woman told him she had bled from
the attack, he said. '

'Bryant has the right to go to trial within six
months of his arraignment, but he could agree to
push that back until later, perhaps after the NBA
season ends early next summer. '
___________________________________________________

From "Face it, folks, we really don't know Kobe
Bryant", by Mark Whicker of The Orange County
Register, Sat, Jul. 19, 2003:

'They can interview as many sympathizers as
they want, and they can receive all the
testimonials from all the TV people they can
stomach, and it won't change the truth.'

'We don't know Kobe Bryant.'

It sounds like we're beginning to learn, if not truly about him, at
least about the very foul circumstances that a prominent Zen practice
can produce in a life, at the moment of the flowering of result...

'He can call us back, but we don't know him. He
can give us neater sound bites than Ronald Reagan,
but we don't know him. He can participate in Read-
to-Achieve and he can sell us space-age basketball
shoes and he can look stricken on a Friday
afternoon podium, his fingers entwined with those
of wife Vanessa, but we have no idea who Kobe
Bryant is.'

'That doesn't mean we can't be sincerely blown
away by allegations that Bryant committed felony
sexual assault on June 30, or that we can't shake
our heads when District Attorney Mark Hurlbert
announces that he will file charges, as Hurlbert
did Friday.'

'But how can we really know Bryant? We don't
even know anyone who does.'

'Not even the Lakers do, not unanimously.
Bryant does not accompany them on their nocturnal
visits to the symphony halls, libraries and
museums of North America.'

So, the truth comes out, slowly emerging from the swamp of his life,
revealing one feature after another to our hypnotized gaze...

'Two seasons ago, Ron Harper was asked about
Bryant's seclusion and, famously, said, "Who know
where he go? Who know what he do?" '

'Well, the prosecutors in Eagle County, Colo.
think they know something.'

'Hurlbert took 19 days to connect the dots on
the way to a trial he cannot afford to lose. He is
a new DA, just as Joseph Hoy is a new sheriff. His
office has been plagued by a backlog of cases and
much staff turnover. He was appointed, not
elected.'

'The odds against a successful prosecution are
forbidding. Since Bryant offered that he and the
alleged victim had intercourse, Hurlbert is
reduced to proving his case on the basis of
physical evidence - "the application of physical
force or violence" in the complaint.'

'The Vail Daily News, quoting sources "close to
the investigation," reported that there was no
loud commotion at the hotel and that Bryant's room
was on an otherwise vacant floor. The woman was
not in hysterics afterward, although she was
"visibly upset" and "in a stupor" when she
returned 20 minutes after she entered the room.
And hotel security was not called.'

'It will be the word of Bryant, an effortlessly
glib 24-year-old, against the word of a 19-year-
old who, in the past six months, has lost her best
friend in an auto accident and has ended a
romantic relationship. Eagle city police have
records of two police responses to calls from her
home, on non-criminal matters, but have resisted
releasing them to the media.'

'As the ill-mannered world barged into
Hurlbert's aerie this month, this became a DA's
official nightmare.'

'Why did Hurlbert proceed? Only two
explanations: he's delusional or he knows
something we don't.'

Can truth win out? The odds seem slim ... but the truth has an
enormous ally ... Kobe Bryant. Whenever things seem to start to go his
way, he will turn the house upside down ...

'The defense team fired off Bryant's first
statement as Hurlbert was still on the microphone.
Then it produced Bryant and Mrs. Bryant, with a
flourish, later on Friday, and Kobe's voice broke
as he publicly apologized to Vanessa.'

'The strategies are obvious: Present Bryant as
a tortured soul who was ambushed after lapsing
into adultery, and go hard after Hoy, the sheriff
who obtained a bench warrant against Bryant
without consulting Hurlbert.'

'Whether either strategy actually has anything
to do with the case is not clear.'

'Bryant's lawyers reluctantly admitted they
might even have to seek a change of venue if Hoy
and Hurlbert couldn't refrain from making
incriminating statements. Please. The last place
they want Bryant to stand trial is the woman's
small hometown, a hamlet unimpressed with rich
California sizzle.'

'Hurlbert's witness list includes an
investigator from the DA's office, a Vail police
detective, two nurses from the Glenwood Springs
hospital where Bryant was taken, six sheriff's
detectives and a criminalist. He will mount as
many details he can and hope the jury identifies
with his client, which indicates, again, that
either he has faith in her strength or he knows
not what he's doing.'

There's the rub. Can any average guy identify? Can any average gal
sympathize? ...

'Those who say that a he-said, she-said
situation always favors the defendant are wrong.'

'Twelve years ago this morning, Desiree
Washington freely walked into Room 606 of the
Canterbury Hotel in Indianapolis. At a trial the
next January, Washington testified Mike Tyson
raped her. Defense counsel called two witnesses -
fellow Miss Black Expo contestants of Washington's
- who testified that Washington had called Tyson
"ignorant" and had cited "how much money Robin
Givens (the former Mrs. Tyson) is getting." '

'Tyson testified that Washington only got angry
when he wouldn't accompany her downstairs in the
aftermath.'

'Tyson was found guilty, sentenced to six
years, and served three.'

'True, Tyson's ineffectual defense team cast
him as an uncontrollable sexual predator and
maintained Washington should have known that
before getting in his limo. But defense attorneys
must play the cards they're dealt. The
Indianapolis jury liked and believed Washington.'

'The difference between Tyson and Bryant is the
approximate difference between Lucifer and
Gabriel. Bryant makes an appealing, convincing
aggrieved party. But Hurlbert and the plaintiff
have less to their name and just as much to lose.'

'We don't know Bryant, and most of us have
never known a person of similar renown who rolled
down his facade like Bryant did Friday. The
question is whether he simply revealed another
facade.'

'One thing we do know, and so should Bryant:
when he tearfully wished he "could turn back the
hands of time," he need not worry. Those hands
will be revisited in detail, beginning at 10 p.m.
on June 30, 2003. '
___________________________________________________

From: "Public cools to Bryant's case as he faces
first day in court - Media turning skepticism from
accuser to him", by C.W. Nevius, Chronicle Staff
Writer, Wednesday, August 6, 2003, San Francisco
Chronicle:

'When Kobe Bryant walks into the courthouse
today in Eagle, Colo., he will find that
perceptions have changed dramatically. '

'When he was arrested July 4 and formally
charged with sexual assault two weeks later,
public opinion seemed firmly in his corner. The
five-time NBA All- Star was lauded for his
exemplary lifestyle, maturity and spotless image.
'

'Just as an example, Miami Herald columnist
Leonard Pitts began his column on possible charges
against the Los Angeles Lakers star with four
words: "No way in hell." Pitts later revisited the
topic, somewhat sheepishly concluding that he was
no longer so sure, but who can blame him? He
wasn't the only one who felt that way. '

'The alleged victim, on the other hand, was
portrayed as a emotionally fragile wannabe star
who had auditioned unsuccessfully for the hit
television show "American Idol." As the case
dominated the headlines, there were reports of 911
calls to her house and then rumors of attempts at
suicide. '

'It was an example, some said sadly, of how a
mixed-up 19-year-old woman from a small town could
get caught up in seeking publicity until it all
spun out of control. '

It seemed like a lock, a given ...

'But in the weeks leading up to today's hearing
-- expected to be no more than a 10-minute session
before Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett,
during which Bryant will acknowledge the charges
against him -- the hot lights of the national
media have shifted to Bryant. What they have
uncovered has neither helped his case nor his
image. '

'A hailstorm of reports and rumors has chipped
away at both Bryant's story and his credibility.
The Associated Press quoted Luke Bray, a 22-year-
old friend of the alleged victim, as saying there
had been "visible evidence" of an attack a week
after the June 30 incident. And the Vail Daily,
whose hometown reporters have nailed the out-of-
towners more than once when they got their facts
wrong -- knocking down a tale that the alleged
victim had previously filed a sexual harassment
complaint against a co-worker, for example -- has
also found inconsistencies in Bryant's story. '

'Reporter Randy Wyrick, who lives in Eagle,
reported that investigators were saying Bryant was
"changing his story" as the investigation began.
First he was "insisting he did not have sex" with
the woman, then, when confronted at about 11:30 on
the night of July 1, with an attorney present,
admitting that he did. '

'In the days before Bryant was charged, former
Eagle County Deputy District Attorney Jim
Fahrenholtz warned a reporter from The Chronicle
to be on the lookout for exactly that kind of
inconsistency. '

' "That could be a big part of probable cause,"
said Fahrenholtz, now a defense attorney in Eagle.
"They go see him, and he says, 'I never touched
her. ' And they say, 'Then you wouldn't mind
coming down and giving us a little DNA, would
you?' And he goes, 'Uh-oh.' " '

' "I get a lot of cases where everything looks
good (for acquittal) except for the defendant's
initial statements," Fahrenholtz said. '

'If anything, these kinds of stories may shake
Bryant out of what some perceive as a state of
denial. Newsweek reported that his attorney,
Pamela Mackey, had nearly quit when she saw Bryant
and his wife pop up at the ESPY Awards three days
before the decision to file charges. Mackey had
warned Bryant that smiling for TV cameras in a
tuxedo was not the right image to portray while he
was under suspicion for sexual assault. '

'Surely Bryant has gotten the message by now,
at least financially. It was announced Monday that
Nutella, an Italian company that makes a sandwich
spread, had dropped him as its $500,000-a-year
spokesman "in part because of the charges."
Although not exactly a household name in the
United States, Nutella is a popular and well-known
product in Europe, and Bryant, who speaks Italian,
is very popular in Italy. '

'Is that just the beginning? Industry estimates
are that Bryant makes between $10 million and $12
million on endorsements alone. His $1 million-a-
year contract to pitch Sprite is still in place,
but the soft-drink maker has stopped airing
Bryant's TV commercials. (The company says it is
only a change in marketing strategy.) '

'And there are rumors that Nike, which just
signed Bryant to a shoe contract in the $40
million to $45 million range, has checked into its
options if it were to decide to get out of the
deal. '

'Nor has Bryant's personal life escaped
unpleasant scrutiny. Police spokesmen from Newport
Beach (Orange County) have confirmed that an
ambulance was called to Bryant's home twice in the
last year "to treat a woman." One call came July
3, the day before he flew to Colorado to be
arrested and post $25,000 bond, and the other was
March 5. The reports do not specify who was given
medical assistance or why. '

THAT IS A SHOCKING REVELATION. It goes to state of mind ... and begins
to really prove the case to the jury.

'It's all quite a change from the days when the
19-year-old accuser's 911 calls were fodder for
talk radio. And this could be just the beginning.
'

'A trial is probably months away, but Judge
Gannett has already ruled that there is no reason
TV cameras should not be allowed in today's
hearing. If there is a trial, and it is televised,
it will be the O.J. Simpson Show all over again. '

Except the venue of the trial is a small town in Colorado, the only
state where a questionable rape verdict can lead to a life sentence.
How did it happen, that the one time that Kobe would blow it, would be
in the direst of circumstances? ...

'For now, Bryant appears unruffled. He will
actually appear on national television twice today
-- first during his court appearance and then
tonight on the "Teen Choice Awards" show, which
was taped earlier. For the second year, '

'Bryant was chosen "favorite male athlete." '

'Representatives for Fox, AOL and Teen People,
which sponsor the award, declined to say whether
Bryant had been voted the award before or after he
was charged with sexual assault. '

It's immaterial ... it's not going to be seen as a favor to him, if he
loses ...
___________________________________________________

From: "Bryant prosecutors accuse defense of
orchestrating media leaks", by Jon Sarche,
Associated Press Writer, Thursday, October 23,
2003

'(10-23) 12:16 PDT DENVER (AP) -- '

'Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault
case on Thursday angrily accused defense attorneys
of leaking sealed details to the media and asked a
judge to consider punishing the defense team. '

'In a court filing, District Attorney Mark
Hurlbert said retired state District Judge William
Jones learned of sealed information from defense
attorney Hal Haddon and gave it to a reporter for
the New York Daily News, which ran a story quoting
Jones on Oct. 11. '

'The details -- that another man's semen was
found in underwear worn by Bryant's accuser -- had
not yet been brought up in Bryant's preliminary
hearing, which ended Oct. 15. '

'Hurlbert also cited the defense's repeated use
of the accuser's name during the hearing and its
questioning of the woman's sex history, which is
normally kept secret under Colorado's rape shield
law. '

' "In the past two weeks, the defense has been
on a campaign to get information in the public
domain that has been specifically prohibited by
the court," Hurlbert wrote. '

'Neither Jones nor Haddon returned calls for
comment Thursday. Jones earlier told The
Associated Press he had been misquoted and was
basing his comments on what he heard was said in
court. '

'The newspaper reporter stood behind the story
in an interview with an investigator, Hurlbert
said. '

'Hurlbert asked Eagle County Judge Frederick
Gannett to hold a hearing to determine whether
Haddon violated a gag order on attorneys and
others involved in the case. '

'Punishment for contempt of court could include
a fine, but sanctions are left up to a judge,
prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said. '

'Bryant, 25, is accused of raping an employee
at an exclusive mountain resort in June. '

'The Los Angeles Lakers guard is due in court
Nov. 10 for his initial appearance, during which
he will be advised of the felony sexual assault
charge against him and could enter a plea. '
___________________________________________________

And now a fiery welcome back from his supporters. A white hot rousing
show of deep appreciation for the fatally stricken Zen warrior.
Moments before flames would erupt on every side of Los Angeles, except
the side that is ocean...

From: "Bryant given rousing welcome back", by Ken
Peters, Associated Press Sports Writer, Friday,
October 24, 2003

'(10-24) 01:59 PDT ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) --

'A hometown crowd gave Kobe Bryant a rousing
welcome back to basketball. '

'With a sellout crowd of 18,298 at the
Arrowhead Pond giving him a roaring ovation then
yelling his name in unison several times during
the exhibition game, Bryant played Thursday night
for the first time since being charged in July
with sexual assault. '

' "The crowd support meant a lot, the fact that
they're standing behind me and my family. It meant
a lot," said Bryant, whose wife Vanessa was at the
game. '

'Bryant played 32 minutes against the Los
Angeles Clippers and scored 15 points on 4-of-14
shooting as he joined Shaquille O'Neal and new
teammates Karl Malone and Gary Payton in a game
for the first time. '

'There were sporadic chants of "KOBE! KOBE!"
when Bryant was on the court. When a close-up of
him was shown on the big screen in the second
quarter, there were a few scattered boos as well.
'

'While he was cheered in Anaheim, Bryant can
expect an equal volume of jeers when the Lakers
make regular-season stops at such cities as
Sacramento and Philadelphia. '

'On the court, Bryant seemed his usual self --
grinning and clapping his hands when a teammate
hit a jumper, grimacing and shaking his head in
mock disbelief when he was called for a foul. '

'He has been ordered to stand trial in Eagle,
Colo., on charges of sexually assaulting a 19-
year-old worker at the resort where he was
staying. He has said the sex was consensual. '

'Working his way back from knee surgery, Bryant
was happy just to get in a game. '

' "It felt good to be back out there competing
and playing a game," Bryant said. "I had fun." '

'He looked relaxed, at one point hugging and
joking with Quentin Richardson of the Clippers,
and sharing a laugh with Clippers coach Mike
Dunleavy near the sideline while a teammate was
shooting free throws. '

'With all of the Lakers' starters except O'Neal
sitting out most of the fourth quarter, the
Clippers beat their star-studded opponents 107-
101. Corey Maggette scored 21 points for the
winners. '

'Bryant still was the focus. '

' "I think he's absolutely glad to be back in
his element," Malone said. "There were guys who
said he shouldn't play this year. But this is what
he needs." '

'Payton agreed. '

' "He needed to come back and see that the fans
still love him," said Payton, who along with
Malone took pay cuts to join the Lakers and try to
win their first NBA championship rings. '

A disastrously poor choice of path. The way of Zen is the path to
hellishness for you and your family ... We must note that Phil knows
how to flush and refill.

'The Lakers' high-scoring quartet didn't have
any trouble sharing the ball in their first game
together. '

'O'Neal scored 18 points, Payton 17 and Malone
15. The fifth starter, Devean George, had 14
points. '

' "I think we showed that we can play with one
basketball," Malone said. "It can be done. I think
we can get it together on defense, too." '

'The crowd began chanting Bryant's name almost
from the opening tip. After driving and being
called for an offensive foul the first time he had
the ball, he pulled up and made a jumper 11/2
minutes into the game. '

'Bryant showed signs of rust, including going
1-of-5 from 3-point range. One shot from beyond
the arc barely ticked the front of the rim. But
Bryant got the ball back and lobbed a no-look pass
to O'Neal, who dunked as the fans cheered wildly.
'

Hmm ... they would seem to be a well-oiled machine ... but we'll have
to sabotage that, won't we, Kobe?
___________________________________________________

From: "Kobe critical of Shaq's leadership - The
transcript of Kobe Bryant's interview with ESPN's
Jim Gray" Jim Gray, ESPN.Com, Monday, October 27,
2003:

GRAY: What was your reaction to Shaq saying the
Lakers are his team, and everybody knows it?

BRYANT: It doesn't matter whose team it is. Nobody
cares. I don't, Karl [Malone] doesn't, Gary
[Payton] doesn't, and our teammates and the fans
don't either. There's more to life than whose team
this is. But this is his team, so it's time for
him to act like it. That means no more coming into
camp fat and out of shape, when your team is
relying on your leadership on and off the court.
It also means no more blaming others for our
team's failure, or blaming staff members for not
overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid
blame for your lack of conditioning. Also, "my
team" doesn't mean only when we win; it means
carrying the burden of defeat just as gracefully
as you carry a championship trophy.

Here we go. It's not enough that his life is hanging by a thread ...
with a large percentage of fans embarrassed that he's even playing
this season ... with his knee barely hanging together ... yeah, this
is the time to fight against the injustice of King Shaq.

GRAY: Do you consider Shaq to be a leader?

BRYANT: Leaders don't beg for a contract extension
and negotiate some 30 million [dollars] plus per
year deal in the media when we have two future
Hall of Famers playing here pretty much for free.
A leader would not demand the ball every time down
the floor when you have the three of us [Malone,
Payton, Bryant] playing beside you, not to mention
the teammates you have gone to war with for years
-- and, by the way, then threaten not to play
defense and rebound if you don't get the ball
every time down the floor.

GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team
player. Is he right?

Actually, that is correct. A team player would have sucked it up,
taken his besmirched Zen honor off to a corner and committed seppuku
(ritual disembowelment suicide with a sharp short sword, verrrry
popular with the Zen set). He's disposable like everyone else in the
Kingdom of Shaq, the mighty. (Except of course, Shaq.)

BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been
successfully sacrificing my game for years for
Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson] wanted me to do,
so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not
in physical condition to carry the trust of our
offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw
Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't
running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back
and I did. This year is no different; my role is
whatever Phil wants it to be. Period.

Not enough sacrifice, dude. You have to learn to love the nothingness,
and become one with it ...

GRAY: Through out the preseason, your leg and
conditioning has been lagging. Are you in the
proper shape to start the season?

BRYANT: My knee is not strong enough to play yet.
I know it. When it is I will play.

Ahh, you have to love that Zen spirit of self-slander ... I am
inadequate, I know my inadequacies, when I stop being inadequate I
will become capable again. I am nothing. I wish to spend myself, to
spend my life for the cause of Phil Jackson Zen.

GRAY: Does that mean you will miss the opener
[Tuesday] night and other games?

BRYANT: I probably won't play tomorrow night or
until I'm ready. But I don't need Shaq's advice on
how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before,
during and after games. I've played with a broken
hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a
fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the
size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because
of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that
serious in the first place.

GRAY: Kobe, Shaq said if you didn't like what he
had to say you can opt out and leave next season.
Will you leave the Lakers?

BRYANT: I won't make that decision until the end
of the season. I told Shaq last year that I was
planning on opting out. He knew before anyone. I
told him out of respect for what we have been
through together. I thought he should be the first
to know. The fact that he acts like this is such a
big shock is a mystery to me. If leaving the
Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide,
a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike
selfishness and jealousy.

GRAY: Do you feel Shaq has been supportive in
regards to your legal situation?

BRYANT: He is not my quote unquote "big brother."
A big brother would have called to lend his
support this summer. I heard absolutely nothing
from him. I spoke to Devean [George], Rick [Fox],
Mitch [Kupchak], Phil, and our owner Jerry Buss.
And Shaq's own Uncle Jerome called and left three
messages. Other teammates like Derek [Fisher],
Mark [Madsen], and [Stanislav Medvedenko] left
messages as well. Opponents called like [Chris]
Webber, [Mike] Bibby, and many others. So did a
lot of coaches. Michael Jordan, who didn't have my
home phone, tracked it down to lend his support.
So did Tiger Woods. But yet from my so-called big
brother, I heard nothing.

So, the long list of Kobe-supporters is being read, and lo ... King
Shaq the mighty is not a supporter of Kobe, but in fact, only the
lesser gods in the pantheon on the NBA are in Kobe's supporter list.
Big surprise.

Kobe is part of the heat shield, the part that burns up and peels off.
Shaq is the ship. Don't you see the relationship clearly?

GRAY: Why not resolve this behind closed doors?
Why is this so public?

BRYANT: I asked Phil on Sunday [yesterday] to say
something to calm this situation down before it
boiled over. But he backed away, so now here we
are. I have been a bigger person every time
something happened with Shaq, and I don't expect
this to be any different. But somebody in this
organization had to speak up, because his
unprofessionalism hurt us last year, and I don't
want it to hurt us this year.

Why would Phil Jackson intervene in his carefully scripted Scenario of
Nothingness ....
___________________________________________________

From: "Kobe isn't making things any easier for
himself ", by Bruce Jenkins, Monday, November 3,
2003, San Francisco Chronicle:

'The Los Angeles Lakers start four men and a
shadow. He is Kobe Bryant only in the memory, and
in a reputation he will have to rebuild. The
process is just beginning, and it is a strange
thing to watch. '

You have this wrong. Kobe is slowly and deliberately deconstructing
his life, in every aspect.

'If the Staples Center crowd sounded a bit
subdued for those of us watching on television
Sunday night, it's because the Lakers' fans don't
quite know what to make of Bryant -- or how his
self-imposed isolation will affect the team. It's
all very cool, watching Gary Payton and Karl
Malone join a unit that looks quite unbeatable,
but something is wrong. '

'Speaking strictly from a basketball standpoint
-- heaven knows the depth of his problems off the
court -- Bryant doesn't deserve to have it this
easy. The way he's acted recently, he should find
himself in a maelstrom of confusion, leading to
thumbs-down reviews and 28-point losses. '

'Instead, he rehabilitates his soul in triumph.
He's like a bratty little kid whose punishment is
a little extra candy on Halloween. This is someone
who doesn't know how it feels to be a down-and-out
professional athlete, playing with a bunch of
mopes heading nowhere -- although he seems
morbidly intent on exploring that avenue, if
that's what it takes to get him out of Los
Angeles. '

'There are those who believe the Bryant-
Shaquille O'Neal spat was orchestrated, designed
to turn the conversation from sex and prison
sentences to jumpers and backdoor cuts, but that's
a little too heavy for this corner. There are no
winks or knowing glances exchanged between the two
men on court, Shaq choosing to ignore Kobe. The
two cannot stand each other, and that's been the
case for years, period. '

It was going to be Shaq's house or Kobe's house. It could not be both.
The upstart must perish, or be driven off, limping to an uncertain
future. This is the way of the Lion King. King Shaq.

'The only difference in the latest renewal is
that Bryant chose to participate so viciously,
straying so far out of character. But then, that's
been his way from the moment he decided to have
offseason knee surgery. Given the chance to make
the proper decision, he's made the wrong one every
single time. '

With the complete Zen-determination to self-destruct on the field of
battle, and like Lieutenant Coronel Sugimoto Goro (Toxic Zen Story
#12), Kobe must die standing up, leaning on his sword.

'He could have avoided the whole mess if he'd
blown off Eagle, Colo., (where he went completely
on his own) and consulted the Lakers' medical
staff for surgery. In the wake of the sexual-
assault charges, he conducted an embarrassing news
conference with his vacant-looking wife. Then he
tried to appease her with a ridiculous tattoo
(some people can carry the look; he's not among
them) and a $4 million "Hey, just look at me now"
diamond ring. Through it all, Bryant's parents are
nowhere to be seen, making it obvious that the
family's so-called reconciliation was a ruse. '

Yes ... a complete nothingness where a person with friends, a career
and a family once stood. But there is more to go yet, the devastation
is not yet complete...

'You'd think that as Bryant's attorneys and
advisors work the case for his defense, they would
mold a calm, reliable, almost boringly predictable
client. In his utter defiance, Kobe has proved to
be the complete opposite. People once thought they
knew him; now they don't have the first clue who
he is. '

'As the Lakers made their first road trip of
the season, Bryant seemed to have everything
backward. Why was he still rehabilitating his
knee, when a normal healing process would have had
him ready a month ago? Why didn't he fly with the
team to Phoenix? Why did he show up at the arena
by himself? Why would he so thoroughly isolate
himself in his last remaining sanctuary, the
basketball court? '

'Bryant played against the Suns that night, but
he was passive and deferential, taking no shots in
the final four minutes of an extremely close game.
In a way, that was good; both Payton and Malone
will have to adjust to a life without him (because
of the trial) even if the team is fully unified.
Bryant also said he had "no explosion, not even
close" off his knee, and that appeared to be the
case Sunday night against the Warriors, although
he showed flashes of brilliance and the kind of
warm, genuine smiles we haven't seen from him
since last year's playoffs. '

'In the wake of Bryant's astoundingly ill-
tempered remarks to ESPN's Jim Gray, many fans and
media members just threw up their hands, saying,
"Well, that's it, he's out of here, might as well
trade him tomorrow." That is hardly the answer. A
trade couldn't possibly be worked out until he's
found guilty or innocent. '

No, No, NO !!! The play has more acts, and must be played completely
through. We must observe the complete destruction of this person, due
to his practice under his Zen Master, Phil Jackson. Every gritty and
painful step.

'The teams -- Utah, Denver and the Clippers --
most likely to have the salary-cap room to sign
Bryant as a free agent are about as attractive as
soot. '

'So he'll be around awhile, make no mistake
about that. He also stands to make the most money
if he stays in L.A. next season, and that could be
an issue when he begins to consider legal fees and
lost endorsements. '

'Not everyone is in the doomsday corner, as it
turns out. Former NBA player Greg Anthony, now an
analyst for ESPN, actually said the controversy
will help the Lakers, and he's not alone among
insiders. "This is nothing new, " added Bryant's
teammate, Rick Fox. "We had a lovefest last year
and lost the championship. We didn't get along
before and won three. I'm telling you, this is
good." '

Oh, yes, that's the spirit ... This is really good for Kobe, it's
medicinal. It's GREAT. Kobe needs more, more, more ...

'People act as if this is the most shocking,
disturbing breakup of a genius partnership in
history, but in fact, it happens constantly. The
precise, beautifully timed Abbott-and-Costello
routines were crafted by men who despised each
other offstage. Lucille Ball didn't care at all
for Vivian Vance, but they were magical together
on "I Love Lucy." Phil and Don Everly had a
terribly bitter relationship while creating fine,
distinctive harmonies in the recording studio.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar never really warmed to Magic
Johnson, even as those perfectly placed passes led
to all those rings. '

'Right now, it appears the Lakers don't even
need their old-time chemistry to succeed, but it's
a very long season. The rigors of Bryant's court
case could change everything, and if Shaq keeps
freezing him out, that can't be good. Bryant can
afford to be a lot of things -- careless, rude,
insensitive '

' -- but he can't be a shadow. It's a look we
might not see for long. '

___________________________________________________

Kobe Bryant, was alone and facing knee surgery in Colorado, the state
with the toughest laws on the books for prosecuting rape, with the
most shockingly long sentences, for the least supportable cases.

Could a devilish function of mind take over his better character, and
assert itself as dominant? Oh, yes that could happen. Zen guarantees
the inevitability of it under the right circumstances. The right
person, and the right place make the external cause for it.

But even if it didn't happen, people start to doubt so quickly in
spite of a career record that is untarnished up to that point.

Why? The emptiness, the void is created and nurtured over time and
hangs over head at the appointed moment for being and nothingness to
emerge in startling fashion. The shocking Zen experience is here !!!
Now you can explore the infinite possibilities of that evil result,
carefully inspecting that jewel of ill-fortune in every facet, from
every angle, over and over as the years roll by in your cell.

With your family, friends and co-workers, all together and poised for
the maximum effect. Perfection in its disaster, the sharpest, bleakest
change in fortune IS the Zen fortune.
___________________________________________________

I wonder where Phil Jackson and that red and black motorcycle are off
to next? Should we warn them? How about the sponsors on those
commercials he's doing? You know he really looks like death itself in
those commercials, what were they thinking?

Why does this happen to us, over and over?

Corruption is produced by Zen, as those who follow their master into
the emptiness, and who attract followers, themselves. Sports teams and
adoration seem to go together. Particularly in Phil Jackson's teams.

Empty style has become a means of corrupting the world for the
devilish function that underlies Zen. Zen's purpose is to prove that
the fundamental view of life of a person, affects life itself, as a
negative example.

And to generate the chaos and hellishness that will give way to world
peace, if we act to make that so. Certainly, the effects of Zen are
quite a spur to get things moving. But there is a positive example of
the very same principle ... a better way to live.

____ Epilog _______________________________________

The Buddha's highest teachings were the purpose of the Buddha's advent
on this earth.

The Buddha did not appear on this earth to drain people's compassion
with discussions of the emptiness and meaninglessness of life which is
just a void.

The Buddha did not appear on this earth to teach people to live in
such a narrow and momentary way, that there would be no context for
self-examination and conscience.

The Buddha did not appear on this earth to possess people's minds with
such illogic as to befuddle their ability to choose correctly between
what is good and what is evil.

The Buddha did not appear on this earth to teach people how to commit
atrocities and genocide, in the exploration of their "infinite
possibilities", or "new states of being".

The Buddha did not appear on this earth to teach people how to maim
and kill with their hands efficiently, quietly, loudly, with increased
terror inflicted, or to maximize their subjugation to control the
public sentiments for political ends.

These are all profoundly evil distortions of the Buddha's true
teachings, which introduce infinities in the variables holding good
and evil, removing all shades of gray in the propositional calculus of
value.

Simply stated, the Buddha made his advent on this earth with the
purpose of teaching the compassionate way of the bodhisattva, which is
at the heart of the true entity of all phenomena, which is the eternal
Buddha at one with the eternal Law. Which is how to navigate the sea
of sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death. He originally set
out on his path, because of his observation of the sufferings of
common people and wanting to understand the source of those sufferings
(enlightened wisdom) and how to transform those sufferings into
unshakable happiness (enlightened action).
___________________________________________________

Nichiren Daishonin writes (Encouragement to a Sick Person, WND p. 78):

"During the Former and Middle Days of the Law, the
five impurities began to appear, and in the Latter
Day, they are rampant. They give rise to the great
waves of a gale, which not only beat against the
shore, but strike each other. The impurity of
thought has been such that, as the Former and
Middle Days of the Law gradually passed, people
transmitted insignificant erroneous teachings
while destroying the unfathomable correct
teaching. It therefore appears that more people
have fallen into the evil paths because of errors
with respect to Buddhism than because of secular
misdeeds."

Because Bodhidharma discarded the Buddha's highest teaching (the Lotus
Sutra), and due to his lazy nature turned to shortcuts to
enlightenment, he came to the distorted view that life is acausal and
empty, that the true entity is the void.

This erroneous view really comes from a misunderstanding of the Sutra
of Immeasurable Meanings, where the True Entity is described by
negation (the only way it can be): "... neither square, nor round,
neither short, nor long, ..."

The description of the True Entity is logically voidal, but the True
Entity itself is not. Bodhidharma was simply confused, due to the
slander of negligence (laziness), and false confidence. The truth of
life is that at the heart of the True Entity is the compassion of a
bodhisattva for others.

Non-substantiality does not mean empty. Life has value. Humans are
respectworthy. There is a purpose to everything. And every cause has
an effect, so we are responsible for our thoughts, words and deeds.
Zen is acausal. Zen is the greatest poison, which compares to the even
greater medicine of the Lotus Sutra.

Suffice it to say: the purpose of Zen in the world is to corrupt and
undermine everything that is not based upon the truth and the true
teaching. All religions, disciplines, institutions and organizations
which are undermined by Zen will eventually fall after glaring
revelation of their worst defects, sooner rather than later.

If there is some good in your family, locality, society and culture,
or country that you would like to retain, then cease the Zen, and
begin to apply the medicine of the Lotus Sutra to heal the Zen wound
in your life.

"Zen is the work of devilish minds." - Nichiren

-Chas.

a prescription for the poisoned ones:

The only antidote for the toxic effects of Zen in your life ...

be that from Zen meditation, or the variant forms: physical
Zen in the martial arts, Qigong, Acupuncture, Falun Gong,
Copenhagen Convention of Quantum Mechanics, EST,
Landmark Education, Nazism, Bushido, the Jesuits,
Al Qaeda, or merely from having the distorted view that life
is acausal, and that the true entity of all phenomena
is the void ...

with the effects of the loss of loved ones, detachment,
isolation or various forms of emptiness in your life ...

is the Lotus Sutra: chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo
at least 3 times, twice a day, for the rest of your life,
in at least a whisper ...

and if you can, chant abundantly in a resonant voice !!!

The full 28 Chapters of the Lotus Sutra (and many other
wonderful things) are online at the SGI website:

http://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Buddhism/LotusSutra/index.html
__________________________________

LS Chap. 2, Stanza 8.23

At that time among the great assembly there were voice-hearers, Arhats
whose outflows had come to an end, Ajnata Kuandinya and the others,
twelve hundred persons. And there were monks, nuns, laymen and
laywomen who had conceived a desire to become voice-hearers or
pratyekabuddhas. Each of these had this thought: Now for what reason
does the World-Honored One so earnestly praise expedient means and
state that the Law attained by the Buddha is profound and difficult to
understand, that it is very difficult to comprehend the meaning of the
words he preaches, that not one of the voice-hearers or
pratyekabuddhas can do so? If the Buddha preaches but one doctrine of
emancipation, then we too should be able to attain this Law and reach
the state of Nirvana. We cannot follow the gist of what he is saying
now.

This anthology:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=author:f4g3h2i1j0%40aol.com+

[cindy]

Ahh, but IM just beginning

>"Jeff Bond" <jb...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>
> Let's meet there so you can show me
> what a dangerous guy you are. I'll even buy you a burger and fries.
> Name the time and I'll be there.
>
> !!!!!!!!!
>1. I don't eat burger and fries so i don't where you got that info.
>along with all the other shit you little chicken.
>
>
>2. Let's meet you chicken 3pm 3-10-04 at lat 37.840086 long -122.1040
>you little chicken bok bok if you can get away form doing the pizza doll

!!!!!!!!!!!

"Jeff Bond" <jb...@nowhere.com> IS A 100% NO SHOW HOT AIR CHICKEN SHIT.

LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF I WAS AT lat 37.840086 long -122.1040 AT 3PM
BUT NO LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF , LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF
BUT NO LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF , LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF
BUT NO LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF , LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF
BUT NO LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF , LITTLE CHICKEN SHIT JEFF

"Jeff Bond" <jb...@nowhere.com> wrote in message news
> Okay, Roger, I confess. I stole your mail, stalked you day and night,
> stole a car and left it in your driveway, made harassing phone calls to
> you (while my wife screamed at me), and yes, I even cyberstalked you.
> Oh, and that old grey and red Honda? Yeah, that's mine too (in
> addition to the White Bronco like OJ's).
>
> But I'll have you know I am *not* 5'8" and 160 pounds. Get your facts
> straight! im a 3' stalker troll that plays w/his 2" all day.
>

!!!!!!!!!

o we all have your facts straight sbc, police, sheriff
with video with sound, pics , phone tapes by me & sbc.
so why don't you call det.at and at and at and sbc.

they will be more then happy to take you back to the funny farm
and lock you up in the big white room.