Lakers Move Ahead Delicately

To remember the high or remember the horrific.

To honor the Lakers or honor America.

Should the Lakers have joined the rest of the league and devoted all of Tuesday night’s pregame activities at Staples Center to remembering the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks?

Or should they have spent part of the time enjoying a league tradition? The minutes before the home opener for the defending league champions are normally reserved for raising the title banner and handing out championship rings.

Ultimately, the Lakers risked a perception of insensitivity and opted for both ceremonies.

Laker forward Rick Fox called it “a delicate moment.”

If so, the team did a decent juggling act.

There was a moment of silence, there were moments of elation, there were scenes from the destruction in New York and there were scenes from the Laker triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals last spring. There was a video message of patriotism from President Bush.

The new banner took its place next to the seven others won by the Los Angeles Lakers. The new rings found their way into the hands of those who earned them.

And everybody went home happy.

With the exception of the Portland Trail Blazers, who lost to the Lakers, 98-87.

The only dissatisfaction expressed by the sellout crowd was in the form of scattered boos when NBA assistant commissioner Russ Granik, representing Commissioner David Stern, was introduced.

Stern, breaking the tradition of being with the league champions on banner night, had chosen to stay in New York to watch Michael Jordan battle Father Time.

“We discussed whether this was the best idea,” said Granik of the double pregame ceremony. “And we agreed it was time to give out the rings. I think people understand the rings are something special.

“But they also realize there are other things in the world we have to pay attention to. In the end, I think it made sense to do things the way they did.”

If anyone had a right to complain, it would be Todd Bailey. His father, Ace Bailey, the director of pro scouting for the Kings, was on board the second plane to crash into the World Trade Center.

Todd was on hand Tuesday to participate in a commemorative tipoff before the game with a red, white and blue ball signed by every member of both teams. The ball, along with balls from the other openers, will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the Twin Towers Fund.

“It was just unbelievable,” said Bailey after taking part in the ceremony. “I’m at a loss for words. This has been really top shelf. The Lakers have been really classy.”

While others earlier may have questioned the scheduling of Tuesday’s ceremony, Bailey said the timing couldn’t have been better for him. He had just returned from New York where he attended a memorial service Sunday at the site where the World Trade Center stood.

“It still kind of hasn’t set in,” he said, “but being there in New York kind of hit me hard, looking at the rubble, the smell of everything still burning.

“This has been kind of nice to get my mind off everything.”

And who better to argue the propriety of the evening?