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In a pathetic
attempt to get our collective mind off the presidential election and on
to something a little less earthshaking, I hasten to remind you, gentle
readers, that basketball season is upon us. Nothing heralds the arrival
of fall like the gentle swish of the round ball through the net, the clank
of the bouncing brick against the rim.
The truth
is, I live in Florida, and it is my civic duty to inform the nation that
we, the people of the Sunshine State, are prepared to accept anybody as
president; Howard Stern, Donald Duck, even Regis Philbin, as long as we
don’t have to count any more stinking ballots! The NBA, in its infinite
wisdom and mercy, established from days of old the sacred overtime, even
unto the double and the triple, specifically to spare us, the people,
the agony of a tie. Washington, are you listening?
Conventional
wisdom, manifesting through the odds makers, lists the champion Los Angeles
Lakers as the favorite to win it all in 2001. Remember Shaq
and the Lakers? Is that the same team that got off to a shaky 3-3 start,
losing at home to the geriatric Jazz before breaking down on the road
in Texas, succumbing to both the rickety Rockets and the spunky Spurs?
Meanwhile, even if Allen Iverson won’t be winning any Grammys for his
rapping, his dynamic ‘76ers have already filled the leadership void in
the NBA East, bolting to an early 6-0 start.
But it’s
a long season. None of this may mean a thing come next June. There are
a number of interesting planetary alignments that will be in effect throughout
the 2001 playoffs and finals, and these will favor certain coaches and
players more than others. It’s not too early to take a peek down the stretch
and see how the season ends.
Something
in the Air
There’s definitely
something in the air during the playoffs. May and June 2001 will feature
a preponderance of planets in Gemini and Aquarius, two air signs. The
Sun, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will all be in Gemini, making harmonious
aspects to Neptune and Uranus in Aquarius. This will give a big advantage
to individuals who were born with the air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius)
in their natal charts. It also gives a slight advantage to our fire sign
people, the Aries, Leos and Sagittarians.
Mercury,
the sure-handed planetary ruler of Gemini, will spend almost the entire
playoffs in Gemini, its home sign. Mercury enters Gemini on May 7, 2001,
advances through the sign all the way to the 29th degree, where it turns
retrograde on June 4, 2001. It begins moving backward and finishes the
finals on approximately June 21, 2001, at 23 degrees Gemini. With this
clever, communicative planet so strong in its own sign, we are sure to
see plenty of brilliant ball-handling, devious head games and perhaps
an emergence of superstar duos; two players who complement each others’
skills so perfectly that they seem to play as one.
I like to
think of basketball as a Gemini game, with a small, indoor court, short
quick passes and close communication between players and coaches. I say
this to distinguish it from more Sagittarian sports like football or rugby,
which are played on large outdoor fields, with long running plays and
more distance between the coaches and players. The planetary emphasis
in Gemini during the playoffs guarantees us basketball at its best, and
the ultimate crowning of an exceptional championship team. But who will
it be?
Can
the Lakers Do It Again?
In the overwhelming mess of possibilities, let’s start with the obvious—will
the Lakers repeat? Head Coach Phil Jackson
appears to be under a tremendous amount of stress during the playoffs.
Jackson’s natal Sun is at 24 degrees Virgo (born September 17, 1945, at
5:40 pm CST in Deer Lodge, Montana). Between June 7–16, 2001, an impressive
array of planetary forces will be lined up against him. First Mars, retrograde
in Sagittarius, makes a 90-degree square to Coach Jackson’s Sun on June
7. Then the transiting Sun conjuncts Jupiter in Gemini at 23 degrees on
June 15, both making another 90-degree square to Jackson’s beleaguered
natal Sun. The retrograde Mercury in Gemini backs up to square his Sun
yet again on June 18.
These square
aspects represent continuing difficulties and challenges to Coach Jackson’s
leadership and courage. However, because they are so numerous and exact,
they also indicate that much attention could be focused on him during
this time. Any lesser coach would fold under the pressure, but I would
never count Phil Jackson out. I move that we return to this question in
April, when we should have a clearer understanding of the specific problems
facing the Lakers.
Crowning
the Kings?
It should be obvious from the above that there are a number of planetary
indicators pointing to the 24th degree of Gemini. That’s why I am so intrigued
by the chart of the Sacramento Kings’ head coach, Rick Adelman (born June
16, 1946, at 4:00 am in Lynwood, California). His natal Sun is at 24 degrees
Gemini, conjunct transiting Jupiter and receiving a fortunate
trine aspect (120 degrees) from transiting Uranus in Aquarius. Adelman should be in
the spotlight during the playoffs.
Is this the
year that the Kings get crowned? It’s a little early to say, but they
do look to at least advance deep into the playoffs. They are a good, young
team, but much depends upon the relative condition of their competition.
There is a lot of basketball to come, and anything can and will happen.
Remember, it's a very long season. One thing is for certain. We will crown
an NBA champion in June of 2001, and with any luck at all, by that time,
we might even know who our next president will be!
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