by RON CHIMELIS, STAFF , The Republican

Tony Gaffney is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League, which opens tonight at Las Vegas.

This gives the former University of Massachusetts forward a reasonable shot at making the NBA roster of the league's glamor outfit, and its champion.

Gaffney is not just one of my favorite athletes, he is one of my favorite people. Nobody poured more of himself into every minute of every game.

Nobody represents team Basketball more than he does. I ROOT for the Tony Gaffneys of this world.

But can I ROOT for the Lakers?

"Hopefully if people in New England aren't rooting for L.A., they can still ROOT for me," said Gaffney, who grew up in Berkley as a Celtics fan.

"I'm a Los Angeles Laker now," he said proudly.

Omigod.

"Tell the people of Western Massachusetts I want to make 'em proud of me," he said.

Stop it, Tony. Don't make this so hard.

The world has too much hate already. I hate no team, not even the Yankees, but none gives me more pleasure by losing, or more angst by winning, than the Lakers do.

Kobe. Phil. Jack Nicholson. Showtime. Ugh.

The Lakers have been my anti-team since 1966, when I was 10 and the Celtics beat them in a bitterly contested NBA finals.

As Game 7 ended, I jumped for joy in front of our black-and-white TV. It's been a no-love-lost affair between the Lakers and myself ever since.

But they never go away. The Lakers are creeping up on the Celtics - they trail 17-15 in NBA titles.

With Boston's Big Three aging, L.A. could replace the Celtics as the NBA's all-time greatest franchise soon.

That would cap a relentless pursuit which dates back to 1963, when the Celtics took a 6-5 lead they have yet to relinquish.

Phil Jackson has already passed Red Auerbach for most coaching titles. By finishing the quest in L.A., he added a sacrilegious element to an already irritating accomplishment.

Gaffney's agent said the Celtics offered him a pre-draft workout, but waited so long, he had already committed to one in Miami, and could not attend.

The Lakers jumped in after the draft. I hope Gaffney makes this team and has a long NBA career.

But, do I want to see Gaffney hugging Kobe Bryant after beating Boston in the Finals?

Do I want to see him sipping champagne with owner Jerry Buss? Talking Zen with Jackson on "Outside the Lines?"

Can I possibly, under any circumstances, find the stomach to ROOT for the newest Laker, Ron Artest?

These are agonizing questions.

I must deal with this incrementally. And incredibly.

You have earned this, Tony. Go get ' em.

Anyone know a good psychologist with a specialty in divided allegiance?

Ron Chimelis can be reached at rchimelis@repub.com

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