Overrated Lakers' act growing old.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Although I don't want to put too much emphasis on the importance of sports, the world will become a better place Sunday if the Los Angeles Lakers lose to the Sacramento Kings.

These Lakers, who should not be compared to the great and wonderful Showtime Lakers of Magic Johnson, have been around too long. Because they've won two straight championships and play where they play, they get as much TV time as a sitcom. If the world is just, this will be the final episode of Kobe McBeal.

Maybe any team that wins all the time grows tiresome. Maybe the Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan, the New York Yankees of George Steinbrenner and the Duke Blue Devils of Mike Krzyzewski did, too.

But the Lakers would be obnoxious if they lost. To be fair, they have only four qualities working against them: Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the roster.

Jackson is an amazing coach. All you have to do is give him the best player in basketball and one of the best and he wins. He won with Jordan, the best player in the game, and Scottie Pippen. Now he's winning with Shaq, the best player in basketball, and Kobe. How does he do it? It must be a gift or something.

Imagine. You have the best player in the entire league on your roster, and accompanying him is one of the best. And somehow you manage to win.

How would Jackson do if he didn't have Shaq and Kobe, or Michael and Pippen? Don't know. The last time his best player left, he quit.