COLIN LINNEWEBER

• I thank you for taking the time to give me some of your time. I hope I am able to entertain with my rapid take on the past few days in the world of sports.

• The Los Angeles Lakers (42-18) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (39-21) 108-104 in overtime Sunday at the Staples Center to continue their streak of dominance since acquiring power forward Paul Gasol in a trade completed early last month. When Lakers center Andrew Bynum returns from his knee injury in late-March, he will team with Gasol and forward Lamar Odom to formulate one of the most powerful frontlines in recent NBA history. The Lakers formidable trio, coupled with the brilliance of Kobe Bryant, should allow Los Angeles to waltz their way through the brutal Western Conference and into the NBA Finals come June. For the first time since the 2004 season, the Hollywood Fakers are authentic and I expect the franchise to earn their 15th championship banner when this campaign is in the books.

• ESPN executives announced last week that they have hired Bob Knight to work as a guest studio analyst leading up to and during the NCAA Tournament. There is a provision in Knight’s curious contract that prohibits any of his new colleagues from ever referring to him as a “member of the media.” The polarizing bully, who hasn’t led a team to a championship in 21-years, never ceases to amaze with his unjustifiable sense of entitlement and elitism. Bob Knight, who won more NCAA Division I games than any other coach, knows the game of basketball as well as anyone. But, he is a miserable excuse for a man and I predict that he won’t be an insightful or quality “member of the media.” Good luck, Bristol. Your suits made your own bed and now you have to sleep at Knight.

• New York Yankees part-owner Hank Steinbrenner grated the New England region this week when he attacked the notion of “Red Sox Nation.”

“Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of (expletive) that is,” said the brazen chain-smoker. “This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”

Hank Steinbrenner is truly a remarkable man and one needs to hope that Time Magazine has seriously considered nominating him as their “Person of the Year.” The sports world has been convoluted since the Sox inexplicably won the World Series in 2004 and it’s a testament to “Big Hank’s” character that he is going to take it upon himself to reestablish normalcy in the world of athletics. After all, the “Bronx Bombers” on their lonesome have as many championships (26) as the Celtics (16), Sox (7) and New England Patriots (3) combined.

• The New York Jets molested the pooch last week when they traded the 2004 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jonathan Vilma, 25, to the New Orleans Saints for a conditional pick in the 2009 draft. This mindless trade illustrates why the Jets are the league’s red-headed-step-children and it furthers my speculation that I will expire before I ever witness a Jets Super Bowl victory. The incompetent brass running Gang Green jettisoned the talented linebacker because they contend that he is ill-suited to play in their 3-4 defensive schemes. If Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini was really a genius, he would adapt to his personnel instead of stubbornly employing a system that clearly is not in the best interest of his team. Instead of adapting, “Mangenius” and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum swapped the 12th overall pick in the 2004 draft for what essentially amounts to a one-month supply of beef jerky. J-E-T-S Why?! Why?! Why?!

• Kudos to Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, 24, for enrolling in the 2008 spring semester at the University of Texas to complete his degree. Young, who signed a $58 million contract in 2006 with the Titans, is expected to graduate this May. I am not convinced that Young will be a superstar in the NFL. Nevertheless, the league needs more men like Young and the “Lone Star State” should be proud that they produced such an upstanding gentleman.

• Thanks again for providing me with your time. Without your readership, I’d have absolutely zero reason to write.

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