LOS ANGELES – You know you have a ton of NBA Championship rings when you don’t feel it necessary to attend a victory parade. That’s exactly what LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson did; he skipped the festivities while opting to go to a doctor’s appointment he had scheduled earlier.

Well, okay, but let’s face it, with his stature in L.A. any doctor’s office would be expected to bow to his wishes to push back an appointment for a day IF he requested.

Regardless, the man has won a 6-pack of rings with the Chicago Bulls and after this year’s victory in Game 7 against the hated-rival Boston Celtics; he has another five with the Lakers—the parade thing may be getting old.

Jackson, 64, is said to have bypassed the celebration to keep medical appointments he had scheduled that could not be changed, according to a statement made by the Lakers front office.

Jackson, who has been behind the Lakers bench for the most coaching wins in Lakers history, banked $12 million for the 2009-10 season and is pondering his next move. A decision is expected soon but sources say Lakers owner Jerry Buss might ask his guru to take a large slash in pay.

Lakers executive VP Jeanie Buss, who is Jackson’s girlfriend, told ESPN:

“Phil was already watching the ESPN highlight show when we got home. I think that is a good indication of where his heart is. It’s his hips and his knees that we need to worry about.”

L.A. CABBIE GIVEN $10,000 COMPENSATION BY STAPLES CENTER FOR BURNED CAB

In other news around the Staples Center, the CEO of the arena presented a $10,000 check to a cabbie whose taxi was trashed during the raucous party following that Game 7 win after a mob of “happy” fans decided to burn the dude’s wheels.

The CEO had this to say to the cabbie while presenting the check

“On behalf of all the knuckleheads, we apologize and hopefully that helps you get on your feet a little bit.”

The cabbie who is a 41-year-old Ethiopian immigrant responded:

“I was thinking they can kill me. That’s all I was thinking. They burned the car.”

The financial gesture reminded many of us of the Lakers’ 2000 NBA Championship celebration when the team and Shaquille O’Neal each gave about $43K to the city of L.A. to replace two police vehicles that were also torched during another violent post-game party.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Ron Artest became one of the heroes of the clinching game that gave the Lakers its second straight NBA Championship when Los Angeles topped the Boston Celtics 83-79 in a game that was ugly on the offensive side of the ball and tough as it comes on the defensive end.

Just saying Artest’s name in the same sentence as the word “heroes” is unexpected and against all odds, but the man scored 20, grabbed five boards and had five steals. Video posted on my Examiner.com column here.

On a night when Kobe Bryant had one of those games in which he couldn’t find his shot but tried anyway, Artest was the glue outside that held it all together. He was Mr. Outside with Pau Gasol playing his companion role of Mr. Inside.

Pau could have easily been chosen as the MVP of the series and on this most of important of nights, he shed his “Pau Gasoft” monicker forever. A game seven stat line of 19 points, 18 rebounds and four assists is manly, clutch and worthy of a trophy.

But let’s get back to Mr. Artest. A guy who kept his emotions in check all season and never allowed himself to get giddy about his place on the Lakers, let it all hang out on Thursday night.

His first moment as a Lakers player, in front of media at his introductory press conference he knew he had to be different and said:

“I am not in a position to do anything to win, or I’ll get suspended. I try to be as smart as possible and as aggressive as possible without being ejected.”

He thanked his shrink in his immediate post-game interview on the Staples Center floor. He mentioned her again when he met with the press. She helped him follow through on that day one intention. Lakers fans should send her a fruit basket, at the very least.

He fulfilled his promise to Kobe Bryant from 2008. Bursting into the Lakers locker room at the TD Bank North Garden in Boston after the Lakers lost the championship in soul crushing fashion, he found Kobe in the shower.

Then and there he sized up the situation and knew Kobe couldn’t win without someone else having his back.

Despite him still under contract for another team, Artest decided he was the man for the job and promised Kobe he would help him win a championship and soon. When the call went out for Ron during his free agency summer of 2009, he couldn’t believe his good fortune.

Kobe needed every one of his teammates to fill in the gaps in his game on Thursday night and Artest was the man for the job. Despite his childlike exuberance and stream of conscious orations, the man made good on his pledge.

All the audio and video clips today will highlight Ron-Ron’s random thoughts, his inability to filter himself on a night of pure joy. Yeah, he’s crazy but not the kind that hurts a team’s chances to be the best they can.

It was acknowledged by coach Phil Jackson who called Artest the MVP of the final game. And for Artest, that makes it all worth while.

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC