Following the Lakers Through Every Season

By Araz Shahbazian

I bleed purple and gold, and I say that knowing full well it means signing up for the rough years along with the good ones. Being a Lakers fan isn't a fair-weather thing for me — it's a season-in, season-out relationship, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The championship years are obviously the fun ones, but honestly I've come to appreciate the rebuilds too. There's something about watching a young roster figure itself out, spotting the player who's about to break out, arguing about the roster with friends. That's most of the fun of being a fan — the hope as much as the hardware.

At the end of the day it's about loyalty. You pick your team and you ride it out. Wins feel better when you've sat through the losses, and the history of the franchise means more when you've followed it through a down year or two. Go Lakers — every season.