Dwightsanity

With all of the Dwightsanity off-season drama surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s hard to believe all of the team’s problems would be solved by signing Dwight Howard to a five-year, $118-million dollar contract. The truth is, the Lakers have had problems on the court since Phil Jackson retired, but that’s neither here nor there. Lakers fans were praying to get Howard last season thinking he could fill the big-man hole caused by losing Odom and Bynum. This season caused disappointment and distress among hopeful Laker fans everywhere. So the question is: Will signing Dwight Howard solve the Lakers basketball woes? The hype surrounding Dwight Howard is just that: hype. This guy averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds during his season with the Lakers. Sure, he averages a double-double but is that the most he is capable of? Howard is a step above mediocrity hovering between the average and above-average range. But are the standards set too high for the 6’11’’ beast? It all comes down to work ethic. When Randy Moss claimed he was the greatest wide receiver to ever play, Jerry Rice weighed in by commenting, “The thing that separates us, is that I never took a play off. My work ethic, I was not the most talented but I was going to outwork you and I think that is why I was able to have so much success on the football field.” So far, Howard has proven to the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers that he plays when he wants to. He’s often the guy who always looks like he’s having a good time, but it leads people to think he doesn’t take wanting to win a championship seriously. When Shaquille O’ Neal discussed Dwight Howard on ESPN LA in June with Max Kellerman, he referred to a comment Jerry West made to him when becoming a Laker saying, “He told me, he said, ‘I know you do movies. I know you do albums but you need to get at least two or three championships while you’re here or this move will be considered a bust.” So to Dwight Howard, Lakers fans have this to say: We know you do impressions and we know you have a great time, but you need to win at least one, or two, championships to be taken seriously. Whether it’s in Los Angeles, Houston, or Dallas, prove your worth. Signing Dwight Howard could be a big risk to take and come at a hefty cost. Can the Lakers franchise afford the monetary risk at another sub-par season? Or will signing Howard into a contract be the assurance he needs that he can give every game his all? All that can be said is that if Howard is signed and has another mediocre season, at best, the blame won’t fall on Howard but on the Lakers organization. Like the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”