Now we know, after being dropped inside the shoe of those past frustrated hopefuls, how it must have felt back then battling those dreadful demons from Beantown

Laker fans of today's generation finally had their share of emotional sting being haunted again and again by thoughts about failure to subdue the Celtic mystique.

The leprechauns did it again. The mastery and all those jinx revisited in one dramatic finals series filled with lofty expectations. It hurts. We're on this nasty side of history, and to be honest with everyone of you, I want to exact revenge pretty badly.
 
During the first two games held at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, it's apparent the Lakers were just a quality big man away from stealing either or both matches, being outrebounded 46-33 and falling short of one stirring comeback late in the game simply tell a lot about something they've been missing all along.

**Cough**Bynumite**Cough**

The outcome of the series should have been a different story had the Lakers been able to secure that breath-taking Game 4 and not given away a 24-point advantage.

The ultimate turning point of that game, fans couldn't get over with for at least the next twelve months or so, was when the Lakers were up twelve in the third, and then Kobe dishing out a pass to Pau Gasol beneath the basket who missed on a dunk -- a crucial play that must have given the Lakers a 14-point cushion; instead, Paul Pierce sprinted on the other end for a layup plus a foul, trimming the  lead to nine points and the Celtics then built their momentum from there. The pivotal quarter ended with the Celtics trailing the Lakers by two, but what if Pau didn't miss on that wide-open attempt?

Then came the opening of the final quarter with Kobe assisting Ronny Turiaf underneath who was hacked, then went to the foul line and badly missed both shots at the charity stripes. Los Angeles fell just a couple of well-executed plays short of the victory that could have altered the entire complexion of the series, paving the way for a historic comeback and a horrifying close out game that resemble that of the infamous Game 1 of the '85 finals, dubbed as the Memorial Day Massacre.

What's left to ponder now inside for the multitude of hopefuls worldwide were the startling thoughts of "What if" . . . . "What could have been" . . . .

The sting remains. The wounds left open. The bleeding that probably won't cease until at least June of next year.

Can't wait for 2009. Revenge couldn't be any sweeter. Cheer up!