Smoke This Red!

On Sunday night around 11:00PM Eastern time, Phil Jackson not only supplanted himself as the most decorated coach in professional sports, but also the greatest. Don't believe me? The only spot his Knicks championship ring can fit is on his toe!

But Brendan, he's always had great players! I wonder how Joe Torre would have done without DJ or Bill Belichick without Tom Terrific?

But Brendan, he inherited playoff ready teams, they were bound to be champions! Doug Collins had MJ and Pip, how'd he do? Del Harris and Rudy T each had Shaq and Kobe, did they win rings?

But Brendan, he never developed any teams, never helped them grow to championship status! Folks did we forget that the Lakers were just 42-40 two years ago?

But Brendan, the league is so watered down, it's easier to win today! Red Auerbach won titles when the NBA had less teams than toes on your feet (and I'm saying this as a Celts fan!)!

The Montana Man has compiled a career .705 winning percentage, his teams have won less than 50 games only three times in 18 seasons and he has brought 12 different squads to The Finals. He's managed to remain cool, calm and collected in a world of enormous egos, money-loving millionaires, and free-agency frenzies. He's prevailed through Shaq rap videos, MJ's gambling bonanzas, Kobe's rape trial and Scottie's stubbornness. At the conclusion of their careers, nearly all of his players are left with the same lasting words, "I wouldn't have wanted to play for anyone else but Phil."

His coaching techniques are legendary...from Tex Winter's triangle offense to the summer reading he assigns his players. The Master of the Mind Games once before a 2000 playoff game, displayed images of Edward Norton's character from the movie American History X, who has a bald head and a tattoo of a swastika, alternating with photos of Sacramento's white, shaved-headed and tattooed point guard, Jason Williams. Jackson then displayed pictures of Adolf Hitler alternately appearing with Sacramento coach Rick Adelman. The Lakers of course, went on to win in Game 7 where they went on to defeat the Pacers in The Finals.

So before Phil rides his Harley off into the Montana moonlight (and for the record, I believe he's coming back), let's show our appreciation for The Zen Master and the style in which he's done it...laid back, seemingly unemotional, rarely calling a timeout in situations when his fellow coaches would be doing somersaults onto the court, yet devastatingly intelligent, exacting and awesome....awesome like the light coming off a ring...like the light coming off 10 rings.