I'm not sure where exactly Cris Collinsworth was trying to go in this interview with Kobe Bryant, but thankfully it's a place that Bryant wouldn't allow Collinsworth to take him. Listen to the way Collinsworth asks Kobe if he thinks it's "cool" to say he loves his country, because to me, it seems like Collinsworth is expecting a much different answer than the one Kobe responds with.
Note to Collinsworth: it's the Olympics, dude. Athletes are representing their country against athletes from other countries around the world. Of course it's cool to be patriotic and say what an honor it is. I don't know if Collinsworth meant the question to be a legitimate one in the context of our country's current political climate, or if he was just looking to catch Kobe saying something controversial. But either way, Kobe's answer left Collinsworth looking like an unpatriotic, self-loathing American. Probably not the qualities that NBC was looking for from one of its Olympic broadcasters.
[via Awful Announcing]
Kobe Thinks Patriotism Is Cool, Cris Collinsworth May Believe Otherwise
- 28Comments
- Say Something »
8/18/2008 4:11 PM ET By Brett Pollakoff
-
- Brett Pollakoff
- Brett Pollakoff is an NBA blogger for FanHouse
Read More: NBA Media Watch NBA Videos USA Basketball Kobe+Bryant, KobeBryant
- 28Comments
- Say Something »
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Could not get over the tone of Collingsworths voice must less the"SMIRK" on his face in asking Kobe this question. Makes me question his loyalty to the USA. NBC does not need him on the air for any reason. Maybe he needs to stay in China.
"God Bless the USA"
This interview is really disturbing. Collinsworth is soooo slimy.
Where did this attitude come from that "It's not cool to be patriotic"??
Why would such a question even be asked???
Props to KB for putting the worm in his place . . .
Chris Collingsworth ... what were you thinking? Are you truly that unpatriotic? The Olympics rekindles the pride we have in our country. Its amazing that anyone would think otherwise.
Shame On Chris. I liked him as a Cincinatti Bengal and then when he startred broadcasting. After hearing this I think hem is an assjoe who saked stupid qestions to Kobee. u go Kobee! Chris sucks!
Collinsworth looked like he was trying to get Kobe to say other things then he being so patriotic, Kobe has done it all in Basketball so a gold medal will make it all even better what a way to accomplish this then with a bunch of great players in this US team.Collinsworth go home and hide under your bed............. Go Kobe and the USATeam!!!!!!
Hey Chris when did it become cool to be an American hateing,very average reciever, no talent sportscaster. You are so pathetic FOX didn't even want you. Thakyou Kobe,as much as I hate the Lakers I will cheer for you.
Athletes are representing their country against athletes from other countries around the world
You mean like Becky Hammon and Chris Kaman?
Kobe's answer left Collinsworth looking like an unpatriotic, self-loathing American. Probably not the qualities that NBC was looking for from one of its Olympic broadcasters
You have not watched NBC in a while
Chris has been a slimy character from the first broadcast he made on the NFL. Now we can get an idea of his own patriotism and feeling towards his country. It is something that we can do as fans of the games in shutting him off the air whenever he is visible. Now lets all stand behind Kobe as a true American and patriot, regardless of your team enthusiasm.
You know, I'm a major Spurs fan. I love Manu, and his pride and passion for the game. I've always hated Kobe, and D. Wade, ect. Mostly because everyone else hated my Spurs. But you know, I love the redeem team. And I think Kobe, and Wade, and LeBron, and even Melo are the Sh*t now! I love watching them play with such passion and team work. They really know what they are playing for. They can be up by 30 and still dive on the floor for a loose ball, or play angry defense. I almost bought a USA Kobe jersey today. That is blasphamy where I'm from.
WELL CRIS COLLINSWORTH IS A NBC LIB...
THIS IS WHAT THAY DO, JUST LOOK AT OBAMA AND HIS WIFE.
NBC AND THE DRIVE BYE'S HATE AMERICA. I JUST SENT AN E-MAIL TO THE NFL ABOUT THIS. I SUGGEST ALL OF YOU DO THE SAME. LET'S GET COLLINSWORTH OFF THE AIR.
Collinsworth has always been a buffoon and loser. He was a loser in the nfl. They had to dump him on fox because he was the lone loser without a superbowl ring. He was so disgruntled because of his loserness, he sought out the best opportunity to wreek loser, liberal revenge. Whether or not NBC shared his view or not, or wanted him to take this anti-American stance is a mystery. If they fire is dumba** I guess we will know. I have never been a Kobe Bryant fan, but I love the dude now. He was more diplomatic in his response than I would have been, and he put the shameful, waste of skin collinsworthless in his place. The bottom line is this, not all Americans share the liberal, "shame on me, I am disgusting" view that the liberals so proudly display and so foolishly flaunt in front of the rest of the world. It's time they realize true Americans, and MOST Americans, do not side with their crappy a** shame on me point of view. When it is on the line, true Americans will toe that line and say "I LOVE AMERICA DAMMIT!!!!"
I think you guys are off your rockers if you think Collinsworth was trying to put down Kobe. He just wanted to know what being Patriotic meant to Collinsworth in this day and age.
U R STUPID
I think you all missed the point. Collinsworth's comments were scripted. The purpose was to spin for Kobe's benefit. I have every confidence in Chris's patriotism. By asking the question as he did, he allowed Kobe the opportunity to state his patriotism. This interview was nothing more than "spin" to raise Kobe's public appeal.
My wife and I were shocked to see a man (Cris) we admire act and sound so unpatriotic. We believe he should be held accountable by his media bosses and reaccess his feelings and pride in being blessed to be an American. Our athletes are doing America proud and we thank GOD for them.
Dear Chris Commiesworth,
If you are so embarrassed to be an American patriot, why don't you just stay in China. We won't miss you and I'm sure they won't even know who you are. Regarding NBC, this kind of anti-American attitude fits in perfectly with their biased reporting and news coverage. I guess that now includes the Olympics as well? Disgusting. If I see this scumbag's face broadcasting an NFL game again, I will turn the channel and watch another network's game.
I think alot of people leaving comments here need to cut their medication in half.
It is obvious Collinsworth was giving Kobe the opportunity to tell not only USA, but the world, that we as a nation still believe in America.
Brett Edwards, I am afraid, knows all too well that the way a question is framed is as important than the question itself. By questioning Collinsworth's patriotism in the question he asks, he is leading you to follow his line of thinking and sadly, too many of you are gladly following like the sheep he wants you to be.
He threw Kobe a sofball to allow him to tell the world that Americans still believe in their country.
cris collinsworthless, you're a d**che-bag. what a smug SOB. (smug like john kerry smug)
he appeared to me to be disgusted that Kobe didn't renege on his patriotism or his American pride.
Chris Collinsworth must have been affected by working on the same Sunday night football show with Keith Olbermann. Too bad he can't think on his own.
Like others, I have never been a KB fan...until now. I really believe him, and his reaction to Phelps winning the 8th Gold Medal tells all.
Collingsworth seems to be unpatriotic, but it COULD have been a set-up question for Kobe to smack, who knows?
It's just so easy to believe otherwise, given the anti-America leanings of NBC, from the opening segments about how modern and gracious China is (never mind it is mostly fake - special effects, singers, inhumane human rights record).