By Brian A. Lester

One of my favorite Christmas Day memories from back in the day is kicking back on a comfy sofa and watching the Chicago Bulls battle the Detroit Pistons in rivalry where not an ounce of love was ever shared between the two rivals.

The game was something I looked forward to as much as opening presents and eating tasty holiday food. It was a game that was a true rivalry in every sense of the word, not like the rivalries the league tries to create today but comes up short in its efforts.

The Bulls-Pistons Christmas clash was different. Special.

It was Michael Jordan always finding a way to generate points against a bruising Detroit defense, doing his best to one-up Isiah Thomas or Scottie Pippen getting involved in shoving matches with Dennis Rodman.

In my young mind, it didn't get any better than the Bulls and Pistons.

Oh sure, the rivalry faded off somewhat once the Bulls got past the Pistons in the playoffs and began dominating Detroit, but still, just knowing the Bulls and Pistons were on the same hardwood floor was enough to get excited about on Christmas Day.

These days, the rivalry has long since faded, much the way rivalries in general have lost their luster in the NBA.

This Christmas, fans will be treated to a pair of rivalry games, one featuring the Celtics and Nets. The other, pits Sacramento against Los Angeles.

I guess it's fair to say the Nets and Celtics sort of hate each other, but in no way could those two teams ever generate the sort of friction that the Bulls and Pistons did.

Yes, both Boston and New Jersey are respectable teams and both will make the playoffs ---- they met in the postseason last May ---- but the game just doesn't scream rivalry into my ears.

Then there is the Lakers and Kings, and I will say that this indeed is a rivalry on the rise with a lot of potential, particularly after the way the two teams treated fans to a thrilling seven-game classic in the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately for the powers that be in television, the rivalry between the Lakers and Kings might not have the same meaning this season. Sacramento is well on its way back to the postseason and could even win the championship, but the Lakers are in sad shape at the moment.

And sad might be too kind of a word. After all, if the playoffs were to begin today, the three-time champs wouldn't even be given the opportunity to defend their crown.

Oh well. I guess that's just the way the Christmas cookie crumbles.

Perhaps someday, there will be a rivalry on Christmas Day worth watching, much the way the Bulls-Pistons game was worth every minute of the air time it consumed.

Until then, at least I have my memories.

Brian Lester is a sportswriter in Ohio and can be reached via e-mail at BAL4@hotmail.com.