Why don't the lakers have individual banners for the Minneapolis Lakers Titles?

sp6r=underrated · Post #21 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Wed Jul 6, 2022 11:44 pm

xinxin wrote:Another attempt to take potshots at the lakers…. & yet people complain that. that’s all this forum talks about…. Noice…

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I created the thread. It wasn't an attempt to take potshot at the lakers. I'm genuinely curious why they went with this weird middle ground

Pennebaker · Post #22 » by **Pennebaker** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 12:14 am

For decades the LA Lakers thought it was inappropriate to hang Minneapolis banners in their building, or to retire the numbers of Minneapolis players - Bob Short and Jack Kent Cooke deemed it unnecessary - and so they didn't honor the Minneapolis teams until 2002 after Jerry Buss decided that he would like to see the Lakers entire story tied together.

I think the LA Lakers wanted to build their own legacy and didn't want to be seen as trying to ride the coattails of the MInneapolis teams, but they no longer had an issue once they had won more titles than the Minneapolis teams.

And here is what Jerry Buss said about why they didn't retire Mikan's number:

"Mikan was one of the true greats of the game, but the Lakers wall of honor was meant for the L.A. Lakers."

For Mikan's part he shrugged off the LA snubs and reasoned that he never played or lived in Los Angeles. Mikan had lived in Minneapolis all his life and there is a statue of Mikan in the Target Center in Minneapolis.

So either way Mikan claims Minneapolis and Minneapolis claims Mikan.

Edrees · Post #23 » by **Edrees** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 12:37 am

Lakers didn't think Celtics were low enough to include titles when dinosaurs stilled roamed the earth so they have to also play dirty to make it even

Fencer reregistered · Post #24 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 12:39 am

The Dodgers, on the other hand, completely embrace their Brooklyn legacy.

At least, they did when I was growing up. Of course, at that point they had been in LA less than 10 years, and a lot of their people had started while the organization was still in Brooklyn.

In fact, both Tommy Lasorda (RIP) and Vin Scully (recently retired) started with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

theforumblue · Post #25 » by **theforumblue** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 12:49 am

All that matters is that the nba counts them. Take it up with them about why it should be included or not.

Pelon chingon · Post #26 » by **Pelon chingon** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 1:03 am

The real shame is them hanging the *2002 banner.

GopherIt! · Post #27 » by **GopherIt!** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 1:43 am

I get why they do it but tying them to a franchise is absolute b.s. One of the worst sins in all of pro sports imo.

The titles ought to belong to the cities where they were won. That’s where the memories are. That’s where those legacies live.

An NFL comparison I have to George Mikan:

Johnny Unitas was a legendary Baltimore Colt QB. The key player of a dynasty. He played from 1956-72. Won 3 mvp’s, 3 NFL championships and a Super Bowl. Voted into the HoF in 1979. Everything he ever accomplished in the NFL was in Baltimore. The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

His NFL legacy is now tied to the Indianapolis Colts franchise in Indiana. It’s a complete joke.

sp6r=underrated · Post #28 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 1:49 am

Edrees wrote:Lakers didn't think Celtics were low enough to include titles when dinosaurs stilled roamed the earth so they have to also play dirty to make it even

LEgit LOLed

sp6r=underrated · Post #29 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 1:51 am

Pelon chingon wrote:The real shame is them hanging the *2002 banner.

Don't blame the refs for the Kings clanking all those free throws. And don't blame the refs for this.

Watch on YouTube

sp6r=underrated · Post #30 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 1:52 am

Fencer reregistered wrote:The Dodgers, on the other hand, completely embrace their Brooklyn legacy.

At least, they did when I was growing up. Of course, at that point they had been in LA less than 10 years, and a lot of their people had started while the organization was still in Brooklyn.

In fact, both Tommy Lasorda (RIP) and Vin Scully (recently retired) started with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

I was at a Giants-Dodgers game in SF recently. Tons of dodgers fans were rocking Brooklyn gear. Including a lot of really old dudes who might remember when the bums were in Brooklyn

MaxZaslofskyJr · Post #31 » by **MaxZaslofskyJr** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 3:57 am

sp6r=underrated wrote:

The banner for the Minneapolis year which condences all the titles into one banner is distinct from all the other Laker title banners. It'd be one thing if the Lakers didn't count those titles in their official history, but that isn't the case. They do consider it one franchise and those titles being equal with all the others.

It seems lame to me to count titles for your rivalry with the Celtics but not give those titles the same esteem in your own house.

The real question is why the NBL title in 1947-48 is not included whatsoever. Basketball historians will tell you that the NBL was a better league than the BAA but only BAA records followed through to the NBA.

GrandInquisitor · Post #32 » by **GrandInquisitor** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 4:36 am

As a Minneapolitan and Wolves fan from the inception of the franchise I can clarify this a bit. We retain the players, we share the memories (ie. highlight packages) but fair is fair, the titles belong to the franchise. The Timberwolves haven't won anything and shouldn't be hanging banners for a title when theyve never even played for one. Those belong to the Lakers. As was said we consider Mikan, Mickelson,etc ours because they lived here when this stuff happened.

In the same way the Minnesota Twins are technically the same organization as the original Washington Senators which had been around since pre-1900. We consider the Twins an original baseball franchise. Had they not been awful any championships won there should be acknowledged here. But any players are a part of that areas history, not ours..

LewisnotMiller · Post #33 » by **LewisnotMiller** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 4:42 am

LakersLegacy wrote:The Lakers have won 17 championships, 12 in LA and 5 in Minny. Celtics fans try to make it as if the Minny championships never happened. They keep editing Wikipedia. Also the Lakers won the championship the year before the NBA formed. It’s crazy how many people don’t appreciate Mikan or the Minny 5 championships. Lakers champions with 5 each are Mikan, Magic, Kobe. Got to respect that

Some Boston fans. Most are fine with counting old banners and recognising old players. We just don't like the Lakers and enjoy needling you.

LewisnotMiller · Post #34 » by **LewisnotMiller** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 4:46 am

Edrees wrote:Lakers didn't think Celtics were low enough to include titles when dinosaurs stilled roamed the earth so they have to also play dirty to make it even

We only count the ones won in front of Bostonian dinosaurs...

RTG HD · Post #35 » by **RTG HD** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 4:52 am

LewisnotMiller wrote:
LakersLegacy wrote:The Lakers have won 17 championships, 12 in LA and 5 in Minny. Celtics fans try to make it as if the Minny championships never happened. They keep editing Wikipedia. Also the Lakers won the championship the year before the NBA formed. It’s crazy how many people don’t appreciate Mikan or the Minny 5 championships. Lakers champions with 5 each are Mikan, Magic, Kobe. Got to respect that

Some Boston fans. Most are fine with counting old banners and recognising old players. We just don't like the Lakers and enjoy needling you.

Some of them seem surprisingly sensitive. Don't needle too hard.

SinceGatlingWasARookie · Post #36 » by **SinceGatlingWasARookie** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 5:04 am

Do warriors fans care about the 2 championships in Philadelphia?
Do Kings fans care about the franchise's only championship In Rochester?

Laker fans care about the Mineapolis championships only because they are in a race with the Celtics.

Post #37 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 5:18 am

SinceGatlingWasARookie wrote:Do warriors fans care about the 2 championships in Philadelphia?
Do Kings fans care about the franchise's only championship In Rochester?

Laker fans care about the Mineapolis championships only because they are in a race with the Celtics.

Celtics have won 1 title and made just 3 finals my entire adult life vs 6 lakers rings. Ain’t nobody got the need for some 1960s historical events to make yourself feel better.

MAMBAEMD · Post #38 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 6:29 am

dockingsched wrote:
SinceGatlingWasARookie wrote:Do warriors fans care about the 2 championships in Philadelphia?
Do Kings fans care about the franchise's only championship In Rochester?

Laker fans care about the Mineapolis championships only because they are in a race with the Celtics.

Celtics have won 1 title and made just 3 finals my entire adult life vs 6 lakers rings. Ain’t nobody got the need for some 1960s historical events to make yourself feel better.

This post is as good as it gets!
Nicely done Doc.

OxAndFox · Post #39 » by **OxAndFox** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 7:29 am

dockingsched wrote:To ensure there’s enough room to accommodate LAkers retired jerseys, LA Kings multiple Stanley cup title banners, LA Sparks multiple championship banners, and some Clippers player posters.

So why not have all the championships on 1 banner then?

BoatsNZones · Post #40 » by **BoatsNZones** » Thu Jul 7, 2022 7:46 am

The Warriors never used to acknowledge the Philly titles in Oakland until 2014 I think (I know it was before their recent run). The do acknowledge them in Chase center now though.

It's whatever. I'd prefer they leave them off personally; 99% of fandom is about following the team that lifts up/ties together your local communities, not whatever legal ties they have to some prior organization.

Obviously all the Laker titles in Minnesota are meaningless to the vast majority of current fans other than ring-counters, as are the Warriors titles from Philly. Specifically because they have their own teams.

Good illustration of how ridiculous sports fandom can be, especially when arguing histories.