Gary Vitti Will Leave Lakers After Next Season (LA Times Article)

Look we're all frustrated by the injuries but I think we're making Gary a scapegoat here.

I don't think our lack of modern technology is solely on Vitti. Those kinds of decisions come straight from the Basketball Ops department as well. If your basketball ops team is innovative, they'll make sure that kind of stuff is on the table. It's also on coach and how much he wants to incorporate the technology into his strategy. For all we know Vitti can be a huge proponent of monitoring. Also - Lakers keep stuff under wraps - who is to say we don't use it? Is there an article I missed where Vitti says he's old school and doesn't believe in monitoring technology?

Anyways, Vitti has been more than just a trainer here. He has always been a do-it-all kind of guy, serving as a coach of sorts and involved in bigger decisions than just player health. I'll miss the guy. I can't say we've had the best times as he's on his way out but there's nothing wrong with investing for a brighter future. Glad he's going to be around as consultant.

 

the randle admission was sort of terrifying, both from vitti and randle himself. so, you both knew something bad was going to happen and were like...let's go!

 

The Randle injury is still a mystery to me. That whole scenario sounds implausible. I still think when you break your leg on no contact there is more there than a bone bruise.

 

Let's use our max contract slot next summer on the Phoenix medical staff.

Worth every penny.

 

Damn, we have a Lakers Ball harbor?

 

Re: Phoenix staff. Empirically..... and "urban legendedly" ...... 5-6(?) years ago ..... that was the view of them. How about a half a decade or more later? Are they still as good with doing better with a player's resurgence and health than other top training staffs? Any of you "ve pump you up" peeps have an educated observation who out there is THE primo Vitti head of staff type person that we should back the boat up to, loaded with treasure for them, in the Lakers' harbor?

Would to hear Klapper on "Weekend Warriors" Saturday show give his yoda like observations on who we should try for.

 

watch they say no because our presentation sucks

 

Gary VItti will always be a Laker, Pau will always be a Laker, Lamar Odom will always be a Laker. Just because you will always be a Laker doesn't mean you will always be a Laker. Thanks for the memories, but time to move on to the future of medicine.

 

I would to add a couple of qualifiers on once a Laker, always a Laker.
Must have been liked by the fans and provided a positive impact.

I can mention all kinds of roster members I wouldn't call Lakers for life

 

Barns we all know Smush is your guy but it's time to let it go....really.

 

Isiah Rider
Dennis Rodman
Scrubs.....

 

Do you consider them Lakers for Life?

To me, Rodman I remember more from the Bulls than the Pistons, but certainly not the Lakers
Rider: Jailblazers. Not even on the radar for me as a Laker

 

How about Glen Rice?

 

For me there are probably 3 categories I would put Laker players in:

1. Lakers for Life
2. Lakers - Glad we had you as roster filler or as a role player - for whatever time you were on the team
3. I either am embarrassed you had the uniform on, or you made so little contribution I forget you were on the team

Glen Rice for me is category 2. Nice role player while he was here at the tail end of his career. Great shooter, but on his last legs. Not here long enough, not here long enough during his prime, and not enough impact for me to consider him a LFL. When people think of Glen Rice, it's probably for the team he spent most of his career with.

To summarize:

1. Not a massive list. Reserved for the best of the best (Like our retired Jerseys) and fan favorites for what they gave to us and the game. (For some may include players like Sasha, Walton, Madsen or Rambis even though they are not a retired jersey or all time great. Bshaw, Horry, Ron Harper, etc)
2. Huge List (Lots of players filled out rosters, but due to timing in their career, time on the Lakers, or impact to the team, they are more remembered elsewhere for their exploits are not enough to be LFL.) Maybe a Chris Mihm type, Penberthy) Some of you may have a generous heart and want all of them to be category 1, but that would include not only Glen Rice as a Laker for Life, but Chucky Atkins, Jon Barry, Ramon Sessions, Xavier Henry, Doug Christie, Brian Cook, Vlade Divac, Wayne Ellington, LeRoy Ellis, Travis Knight, Vladamir Radmonivic, Carlos Boozer, Sun Yue, etc. Not everyone can be a LFL. Just like we don't celebrate Western Conference Titles, we don't invite everyone into the LFL club so easily.
3. Not a massive list, but filled by the likes of (For me) Rodman, Rider, Smush, Samaki Walker, Adam Morrison, Kwa-may Brown. May have embarrassed themselves or the Lakers at some point. Somehow you made me want to forget you were ever in a Laker Jersey. If we had a get together of famous or loved Laker players, your invitation would probably get lost in the mail.

I think it would be more fun to debate what category certain players belong in from a fan's perspective. Say Ariza, Artest, Penberthy or other bubble candidates in people's minds based on their impact and fan's memory of their time as a Laker.

Here's a great all time list to chew on: http://www.lakersuniverse.com/playersprofiles/lakers_players.htm

So while I LOVE the idea that we will always treat a player that ever appeared on a roster as family, I struggle with the idea that I put Wesley Johnson, Soumaila Samake,
Jamal Sampson, Ed Davis, Robert Sacre, etc on the same level of LFL with BScott, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem, Shaq, etc. Inconceivable.

But back on topic......Gary Vitti is on the #1 list for me. Not many trainers in the history of Western Civilization in any sport could be so loved by their fan base. I'm glad he's making this move before that has a chance to permanently change.