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Gonna take two weeks
Gonna have a fine vacation
Gonna take my problems
To the United Nations
 
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a'gonna do
 
Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues.
 
What happened to the Summer?!
 
Basking in the championship afterglow was beyond special, riding that high from Orlando carried me to heights unimagined or realized at any point in my life … I don’t think I finally touched ground until mid-July. Everything was a blur and a whirlwind of events: the parties, the well-wishers, family and friends calling, voice mail full, hundreds of text messages, e-mails, e-mails and more e-mails – how do you keep up??

Seeing tens of thousands upon thousands of Laker faithful at the L.A. Coliseum was surreal, police escorts  (‘Let’s Go, Lakers!)…and of course, the sobering news of Trevor signing with the Rockets was so sudden – what? The business side of basketball, which you put off mentally throughout the season (especially after the trade deadline in February) reared its head and was a jolt to the system (always is)

Trevor’s an L.A. kid – he came up through the L.A. ranks, Westchester High School, UCLA – and this was home. When I spoke to Trevor, I was saddened because he’s more than a teammate, he’s a great friend, someone who I got close to when he came over from Orlando nearly two years ago … but now he’s wearing the Red, White and Silver for Houston.

Back to the Grind

Early August I was back to working out, doing sprints, conditioning, and slowly working my way back into basketball shape after giving my mind and body ample time to rest and heal. I did hundreds of jump shots, drills, sweating out the excess of fun and excitement from the prior months, all in the spirit of chasing that championship feeling again …..you want that feeling, you need that feeling of being on top
 
Ron-Ron’s On Board

I didn’t really have a chance to properly digest the news that Trevor was gone when I heard that Ron Artest was signing with the Lakers. Man, that was quick. The NBA’s a funny business, always keeps you on your toes. I was like, ‘Whoah, we got Ron?’ I had always heard he wanted to play for the Lakers and he would show up at our Playoff games when the Rockets were enjoying their summer off, but man, we got him?
 
Players have reputations, for better or worse in the league. Ron’s rep is pretty well documented: a hard-nosed player, one of the best defenders in the game and someone who’s got your back. Plus, Ron has always embraced the challenge of trying to lock down Kobe.
 
‘Ron’s a great player but will he upset the Lakers chemistry?’ ‘Ron’s a great player but will he be a distraction for the Lakers to repeat?’
 
I’ve heard all of this talk over the summer, really, leading up to training camp and I simply laughed. Ron’s been in the league for 12 years, the guy, like all of us, has grown.

Divisive force? Polarizing figure? I’ve seen just the opposite since he started showing up at El Segundo. The guy has been nothing but professional, going above and beyond trying to fit in. Plus, the guy is hungry and I’m not talking Carl’s Jr. burger hungry, I’m talking Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy hungry.
 
Label jars, not people. Ron’s rep is outdated.
 
When you’ve been in the league for 12 years and have won individual awards like Defensive Player of the Year and have made your coin like Ron has, what else is there? He could have made more money elsewhere. He could have signed a longer term deal but he wants the hardware. Every day in practice I’m reminded of it. I see his drive, his focus.
 
No one on the Lakers is content with one championship. We want to repeat and even if we drop our guard just for a little bit, Ron will remind us. He wants one and he wants that championship badly. Besides, no one is letting their guard down, especially with Kobe on the team, driving us, pushing us in training camp. Kobe wants No.5. How did he spend his summer vacation? He worked out with Hakeem Olajuwon learning the Dream Shake and other low-post moves.
 
By the way, Ron is wearing No. 37 in honor of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album being No. 1 for 37 straight weeks. How cool (and funny) is that?
 
Lamar and Khloe’s Wedding
 
As if the offseason wasn’t eventful and exciting enough, I received a call from Lamar.

“Luke, I’m getting married on Sunday and I want you and Bre to be there.”
 
This was on Wednesday.

I was like, ‘Lamar, you name the time and place and I’ll wear my best suit.’
 
You’ve read all the reports, not just in the sports pages but in the gossip circles, stuff like: ‘Is this a publicity stunt?’ ‘Does Lamar know what he’s doing?’ ‘Has he signed a prenup!?’
 
Lamar has never looked happier and if anyone deserves to be happy, it’s him. He’s experienced a lot in his life, some really heavy, heavy stuff.  I know him pretty well and this seems nothing but genuine.
 
Lamar and Khloe were having the time of their life at the wedding. Pretty much the entire team was there. I know D.Fish had a prior commitment that he couldn’t get out of. But everyone who could be there was, especially on short notice.
 
Bre and I went, and I did wear my best suit, which is saying something because it’s not exactly my everyday attire.
 
Kobe was there, dancing the night away. You couldn’t get him off the dance floor. Spin moves and fancy footwork are not limited to the gym floor with Kobe. He was on fire that night!
 
Lamar didn’t just dance with Khloe, he danced with the entire Kardashian family, living it up. Everyone was dressed pretty formal, suits, dresses, the whole nine yards. Ron was there, having a good time, chilling. He wore his standard wedding attire of a baseball hat, jeans and t-shirt.
 
PJ was having a good time, too, hanging out.
 
My Dad’s Back -- In the Game of Life

Over the summer I got a chance to catch up with my dad, something that the regular season doesn’t really allow me to do. Sure, we talk on the phone and stuff, but you’re always jumping on and off the airplane, getting ready for the next game. The summer allows you to really unwind.
 
My dad’s been on the hard road from back surgery – his 36th overall operation. He had an eight-and-a-half hour procedure fusing bones in his spine last February and has been re-habbing ever since. Everything he loves – the NBA, broadcasting, the travel, was pushed to the side in order for him to get his health and life back.
 
He made his first trip on a plane in almost a year last weekend up to Portland where he’s a legend. Fans up in Portland – the Blazermaniacs my dad calls them – cherish the franchise’s only title and my dad’s role in it.
 
He was there for a Blazers benefit, spoke to the media and also to the team. He and my Godfather, Maurice Lucas, reminisced about that great ’77 Blazers team and how this current Blazers squad needs to buy in if they’re going to go places.
 
My dad is back in the game of life so to speak, and I’m extremely happy that he’s back on track. He’ll be there at Staples on Tuesday night. Bill and Lori are making the two-and-half drive from San Diego to be there on ring ceremony night.
 
All summer I’ve been anticipating getting the ring from Commissioner Stern. I’m excited just writing this. I will have the biggest smile on my face when I shake his hand and accept it. It will be a proud moment for me, my family and it’s cool that my dad will be there to see his son get one. We can compare ring sizes and diamonds. My guess is mine will be gaudier. I mean, my dad’s ring is an antique by now.
 
Oh, yeah. We’ll have a game to play that night too against an improved Clippers team. I’ve heard and seen ring night ceremonies gone wrong for the reigning champs. Remember the Heat getting blown out by the Bulls a few years ago when they received the jewelry? I do.
 
You can’t let your guard down. I’ll be going from one emotion to another that night. Once you get that ring and the banner is raised to the rafters, the championship is officially in the rearview mirror – because once that ball is thrown in the air, it starts all over again.
 
I’ll be chasing that championship feeling once again.
 
Running down a dream
That never would come to me
Working on a mystery
Going wherever it leads
Running down a dream

-- Luke