Jackson-Lakers drama's new episode

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2005 | by David Leon Moore

LOS ANGELES -- The somewhat expected yet strange return of Phil Jackson as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers doesn't mean the Lakers are back.

But the buzz is back at the Staples Center.

A news conference announcing his rehiring Tuesday brought out a media horde as big as the ones that used to show up for the latest war of words between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

"Just look around the room," general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "You can see the response."

And sense the drama. It was a Staples Center staple when Jackson, O'Neal and Bryant combined to win NBA titles in 2000, '01 and '02. It continued in 2003 as the Lakers fell short of the Finals and in '04 as Bryant coped with a sexual assault charge and the Lakers lost in the Finals to the...