Phil Jackson's The Man

The best news any fan of basketball was waiting to hear was heard yesterday, when the great coach and former player Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in NBA history, gave the word that he is putting off retirement and will be returning to coach the LA Lakers next season. Phil Jackson has won what? Eleven championships as a coach. He has just led the Lakers to back to back Championships. So what that he is about to turn sixty five? Well, sixty five is too young for Phil Jackson to retire, when he he has the chance to lead the Lakers to a double repeat -- three back-to-backs in a row. He's done it before -- three times. Why not a fourth? If Zen can't handle the NBA grind, what can?

“Count me in,” Jackson said. “After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It’ll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.” The hope of LA fans is that Phi Jackson coaches forever and never retires..

“We’re extremely pleased that Phil has decided to return, ”Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. Understatement!