And when the Feb. 23 date rolls around, it will end a long wait for Kobe-Artest followers. They haven’t met during the regular season since the 2003-’04 campaign. Last year, of course, the two missed each other because Artest went into the stands to touch off a brawl during a game against the Pistons and got suspended for almost the entire season. When the Pacers visited Staples a little more than two weeks ago, Artest was still sitting in club-imposed detention, waiting.

On Nov. 30, 2003, Kobe had 12 points against the Pacers, but that’s somewhat misleading. The Lakers were a different team then, one whose starting five was populated by four future Hall of Famers in Bryant, Gary Payton, Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone. The Lakers were hot at the time and showed it, trouncing the Pacers 99-77. Artest had only six points and five rebounds.

In a rematch that season, on Feb. 2, 2004, the Pacers got revenge at home, beating the Lakers 85-72, but Kobe was one of many injured players from both teams who missed that game. He watched as Artest led all scorers with 24.

But that was then, this is now.

Now we’re witnessing a different Kobe. He doesn’t have the burden of having to pass to others, so he’s free to embark on an orgy of individuality every time out. That’s good or bad, depending upon which camp you’re in. But it definitely presents a stiffer challenge to Artest. He has not seen a scorer like this in quite some time. For that matter, he hasn’t seen a scorer of any kind for quite some time, but that’s attributable to his own lunacy.

And the 81 will only make Artest’s chore more grueling. That’s because if many in the media are now speculating as to whether Kobe is capable of breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game record of 100 points, you just know Kobe is pondering it as well. Pitting arguably the game’s best defender against a superstar scorer with dreams of 100 in his head might be the NBA’s most formidable matchup since Kendra Davis squared off against Michael Axelrod.

This also juices up a rivalry that has gone flat recently. Only a few short seasons ago, the Kings had Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Doug Christie and Vlade Divac, and the Lakers had Kobe, Shaq, Rick Fox and Robert Horry. Phil Jackson was calling Sacramento a cow town, and citizens responded by ringing cowbells in his face. The two factions had a healthy hatred for each other, and when the teams met on the court there was electricity in the air.

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Lately, though, there has been a power outage. No electricity. The Lakers are above .500, in search of a playoff spot. But a championship seems a long way off. The Kings are plodding along, pale imitations of their former selves, with little hope of re-joining the elite any time soon.

But now Artest has hit town, and assuming he doesn’t pull a Webber and complain that there aren’t any soul food restaurants open late at night, or he doesn’t subject fans to pitches for his rap CD, he’ll reinvigorate this franchise and re-ignite the rivalry.

All he has to do is stop Kobe. Only a crazy person could think that is possible.

Exactly my point.