Bryant Sends O’Neal a Resounding Response

First it was Phil Jackson who had his say in a book really more boring than revealing, but still taking aim in part at Kobe Bryant.

Then it was Shaquille O’Neal going on the attack, sniping at Bryant from afar, the insecurity that led to his departure to Miami revealing itself further in nasty comment after nasty comment about his former teammate.

For the most part, Bryant remained mum in response -- until Tuesday night and the start of the NBA regular season on TNT in front of a national TV audience, delivering maybe the most damaging blow of them all -- tossing pass after pass inside to the big dog, otherwise known around these parts as Chris Mihm.

Oh, wouldn’t you have liked to have seen the look on Shaq’s face as he took a gander at Mihm’s first-half statistics: 19 points to lead all scorers, five of six free throws and nine rebounds. FIVE OF SIX free throws.

How much fun would it have been there to sit there with him and chat about Bryant’s first-half contribution: eight points, four field-goal attempts and four assists. The ultimate team player. The Lakers following in step behind their new leader and running out to a 19-point lead. Thanks for the memories, Shaq.

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IF BRYANT can put Mihm in the Basketball Hall of Fame he will definitely go down as the greatest player to ever play the game.

Mihm did a lot of nothing while playing for Cleveland and Boston, but right now you have to give Bryant this: He’s already shown the basketball world for one night on national TV that he’s more than willing to go inside if the big man is willing to run up and down the court and play with enthusiasm. He sure knows how to hit Shaq where it hurts.

It helps, of course, playing a team like the Nuggets, which must not have gotten word the regular season has begun. Denver played like it was having problems with the altitude, no one rising to the occasion to match the above-the-rim play of Mihm, whose career high for an entire game before getting together with Bryant was 21 points -- against the Clippers, of course.

Mihm had a career high-22 points after three quarters of play -- I wonder if Shaq was still awake. And Bryant had 18 with a quarter to play. Yes sir, how funny would it be this season to hear folks talk about one of the great tandems in basketball: Kobe & Chris.

Right about now, of course, Shaq probably has something he’d like to say in response, but who cares?

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SOME OTHER first impressions from Laker Game No. 1:

* The Lakers really aren’t that good, but they are 1-0.

* It appears Vlade Divac’s role this season will be to talk to TV reporters after timeouts so none of the players in uniform have to be bothered.

* Lamar Odom continues to play like he has no idea what he’s doing.

* Dodger outfielder Milton Bradley sat at courtside, which might explain why the Nuggets played as if they were intimidated all night.

* When the second quarter starts, Bryant sits and it’s time for fans to go to the restroom.

* You put Jumaine Jones, Tierre Brown, Brian Grant, Kareem Rush and Chucky Atkins on the floor at the same time and you have a team the Clippers can beat.

* Coach Rudy Tomjanovich arrived late -- just like he had done earlier for one of the exhibition games. Brings back memories of Isaiah Rider.

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ON THE Sunday morning show with the daughter, who prefers to be called Miss Radio Personality, the Boston Parking Lot Attendant not only called in as promised and didn’t hang up when teased, but he made significant news regarding the future of Dodger Stadium if he’s true to his word.

When asked about his plans for Dodger Stadium, Frank McCourt said he has decided to “replace every seat in Dodger Stadium with a new one,” which should make it clear, he said, “That we’re 100% committed to staying in Chavez Ravine and investing in this venue.”

There has been plenty of speculation that McCourt, the land developer, would eventually unveil plans to turn Chavez Ravine into a condo tract, but McCourt said, “our commitment is to stay here and improve the fans’ experience in this stadium.

“I’d like to replace every seat in the next few years, and sooner rather than later.”

McCourt also said the plan is for the Dodgers to have a $100-million payroll next season, which essentially matches last season’s payroll.

I had been under the impression the Dodgers were going to reduce the payroll next season and that McCourt had said so when he came to town, but he said, “I never said a figure. I’ve heard figures mentioned, but I never said one, and we’ll spend what’s necessary to field a winner, and I would say it would be comparable to last year’s payroll.”

Miss Radio Personality then told the radio audience that she liked the Boston Parking Lot Attendant. Fortunately, we have been pre-empted this week by a Raider game, so we might need the full two weeks to get back on track and resume talking to each other.

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BARRY BONDS was in attendance for the Laker game, and I thought it would have been funny if the ball had bounced his way and he had caught it. If I was him, I would have refused to give it back until someone offered to buy it from him.

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TODAY’S LAST word and column are named in honor of Jim Derby:

“I’ll give you a dollar if you’ll name the column one day in honor of my father, Jim Derby, who was an editor at the Chicago Trib. He always told me newspaper guys will do anything for a drink or a dollar.” Patrick Derby.

Please mail $1 to Page 2, 202 W. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

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Simers can be reached at [email protected]. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.