All that aside, the league's future could be decided on the outcome of what could be called the NBA's "Bay of Pigs" crisis unfolding as we speak in Los Angeles. The Cuban missile crisis was a crucial turning point in American and world history. So, too, is Kobe v. Shaq to this league. Right now, tensions on the court with these basketball superpowers are on "DEFCON Level 1" alert. Both have stated publicly that they wouldn't mind being traded away from each other, despite the lingering glow of last summer's NBA title. Both are pretty well dug in to their respective positions on life and basketball.

Shaq finally got the respect he deserves after eight years of some pretty hard knocks in the media about one thing or the other. The team was his. After all, who got to LA first?

Kobe points out that Shaq didn't win in LA until he blossomed. Who was there to carry the team when Shaq fouled out in the NBA Finals in Game 2? Who is the best weapon with the game on the line with under a minute to go, and not a free throw clanking liability? Kobe won't say it, but he knows he's the "Air Apparent," so don't try to stop him. Who's the man? I am. No, I am!!

Stern knows these two giants must stand down, find peace and make it back to the finals in June. Otherwise, we'll have gone three straight years in the NBA Finals, with two new teams (and no repeat teams) for the first time since 1979-'81. It's like making "DieHard 2" and "DieHard 3" but casting George Clooney and Tom Cruise in the lead for the sequels instead of Bruce Willis. Hey, when you have a formula that works, stick with it. For David Stern, the formula is to get superstars on good teams, get them to the NBA Finals where the TV ratings triple and get those stars back to the finals as often as possible.

Here's a telling stat: From 1980-89, either Boston or Los Angeles was represented in the NBA Finals every June. The Detroit Pistons bridged the gap to Michael Jordan's ascendancy with three consecutive finals appearances, including back to back titles. MJ and the Bulls then carried the league for six of the next eight years. Even losing NBA Finals teams had the courtesy of showing up for more, as Portland and Utah made several brave runs in June during that span.

As one anonymous NBA Team official said to Mark Heisler recently in the LA Times: "We were on such an incredible roll, there was admiration to the point of reverence (about David Stern). Every sport and every league said 'We've got to have David Stern.' In hindsight, we were riding Michael Jordan's coattails while we were telling ourselves, 'Boy are we good.'"

But it's not just that Stern must hope for Kobe and Shaq to return to the June stage, he has to now grapple with the angry public face of this silly feud to decide who's "the man." To most fans (whether they like the Lakers or not) the thought that either of these two young stars would want out of LA is insane! They are wealthy beyond belief, living in the league's glamour capitol, and have a string of potential championships stretched out in front of them for the taking.

Did McHale ever want to get out of Boston to get away from Bird? Worthy splitting from Magic? I don't recall Joe Dumars begrudging the number of shots Isiah was taking. All I remember was Dumars shutting down Jordan on defense. Even Scottie Pippen happily rode shotgun with Jordan, all the way to a dubious honor as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. In the end, Scottie only wanted out because of money, not pursuit of rings. Even Clyde Drexler, twice denied the ultimate prize in Portland, went cherry picking for his ring in Houston and got it. Stockton and Malone defined the lethal power of twin talents working closely together.