Breaking: Ruben Patterson Can't Stop Kobe

For a while, Ruben Patterson was "The Kobe Stopper." It was his claim to fame, his identity around the league; I didn't even realize he'd scored like 15ppg last season, since I only thought of him as a defender.

However, Patterson's now telling us to let the whole thing go. For one, he'll now say that "Shawn Kemp really started that;" I'd say that blaming one of the league's more buffoonish anti-heroes is a good way to discredit a nickname. Anyway, more from Clippers Notebook:

"I'm sick of it now," Patterson said of the nickname. "It's worldwide. I hear it everywhere I travel. The first thing people say is 'Kobe Stopper.' They don't say Ruben Patterson. They say 'Kobe Stopper.' But I tell everyone that me and Kobe are good friends now, and he actually tried to get me to the Lakers two years ago."

I'd be more sympathetic to this cause if Patterson hadn't once promoted the nickname. Kemp may have coined it, but I distinctly remember Patterson bragging to the media about it. Then again, this is a guy who's had his shared of legal troubles over the years. Better to get branded with a ridiculous, pointless boast then be known as "The Wife Slapper" or "The Nanny Molestor."