By Randy Galloway, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Oct. 19--Picture this: The Mavs flying across half court, with J.J. Barea the fast-break triggerman. His wingman to the left, that's Dirk. And to the right? That's Kobe. J.J. scoots past Nash. J.J. looks left, where Marion has Dirk shadowed.

Jerry Buss has already shown that he'll part with superstars. Yet upon hearing that the Los Angeles Lakers' owner would consider trading Kobe Bryant, even Shaquille O'Neal was shocked. "I guess it's business before loyalty. But, wow.

Believing he had been insulted and misled, Kobe Bryant asked the Los Angles Lakers for a trade Wednesday and insisted nothing could change his mind. Then something did. He spoke with coach Phil Jackson and backed off his request.

Kobe Bryant asked to be traded from the Lakers on Wednesday, a day after calling the team's front office "a mess." He said there was nothing the Lakers could do to change his mind. "I would like to be traded, yeah," Bryant told ESPN radio.

If you think Hollywood celebrities and sports superstars are a neurotic and difficult bunch, try treating the personality disorders of their pets.