There are many people who believe the Los Angeles Lakers are on a hell-bent mission to destroy the NBA this season, en route to an NBA title (and a possible redemption matchup against the Celtics). It's a reasonable thought; and an interesting side note to the whole idea of a Lakers title romp was broached by Wojo earlier this evening.For Bryant, this season is no longer about resurrecting his reputation. The NBA Finals run, the MVP, the gold medal, were his redemptive route. As Paul and James and Dwyane Wade jockey, the 30-year-old Bryant has completed a transformation from petulant superstar to enlightened elder. After an Olympics in which his performance, sunny disposition and, yes, private manipulations, regenerated his global image, Bryant has found a true second act in his career.This particular quote is indicative of this season's issue
The entire notion -- and titled theme -- of Wojo's article is a "second act" for Kobe. And for me, as true as that is, it's even more freaking bizarre. First consider that yes, we are only a few years removed from the whole Eagle Creek business that seemingly forever (whoops) tainted his marketability and reputation. So, yeah, to see him as the new Jordan -- and a rival to LeBron -- when it comes to advertising:popularity dollars is a little crazy, still.
(Ed. Note: Something ate another 400 words of this. I apologize. My point being is that Kobe's second act doesn't start until he wins his own title; not for us, not for history, not for anyone other than himself. Yes, he has proved it on the court and, yes, he has resurrected his career, but until he steps out of a perceived shadow that he sees Shaq casting over the titles he's won, he won't ever consider himself heading into any sort of "second act.")
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LA maybe in the finals but don't be surprise that
they will be facing young Atlanta instead !
Written like a true hater of Kobe Bryant.
I guess thats why he has what he has and you write a crappy blog.
Hi Hater!!
Quotes from Wojo's article:
"His teammates called him out when he speed-walked into the opening ceremony, leaving them several yards behind to treat his own entrance with the lavish ovation that it deserved"
"“Come on, Kobe had to pad his stats,” another Team USA teammate would laugh later."
"Privately, Bryant never believed that Paul had paid his playoff dues to be in the MVP conversation a year ago, but the game’s best point guard is back again."
"For instance, they found it curious that he would go his own way most mornings on the pre-Olympic tour of Macau and Shanghai...."
"Once the flight touched down in Beijing, they found interesting the way that he started to throw his arms around his teammates...."
"Well, Kobe wanted no part of it...."
"Nothing nasty, just deliberate."
"and, says one associate, “I guarantee whatever happens..."
Analysis: Isn't it funny how everything Adrian, the Yahoo article author, has said regarding the above topics is not backed up by anything of journalistic integrity? Not to mention that they are all conjecture and simply personal biases? And isn't it funny how it's always a vague "someone" or "teammate" who claims these things, not "Chris Paul", not "Jason Kidd", not "Lebron James", not any specific real person? Adrian, we'll believe what you wrote the moment you back up everything you wrote with facts and legit quotes, not some conjecture and personal interpretations from someone nobody cares about. Do you think we readers are dumb or something? His entire article was a thinly veiled hate mongering disguised as some grand praise.
It's amazing how completely oblivious some people are. Kobe haters all say the same thing, picking at little things to try and bring him down and then shut their mouths when he proves you guys wrong every single time. We'll see what you say when the Lakers do win.
Journalists are becoming just as bad as lawyers. Too bad we can't put all the bad journalists and lawyers on the same island, so they can torture each other. Keep writing the trash about Kobe, because kobe and supporters will have the last laugh! Don't you get it, good always prevails over evil.
Just because a journalist can't site a source, it doesn't make him a bad journalist. Sources will often request that their name be kept out of a story.
Nothing in the Yahoo story sounds far-fetched or made up based on what we know about Kobe's personality, so I don't see any reason to doubt them. I think they are probably most, if not all, true, but the thing is, who cares? Would anyone really care about this or write critical articles if this was Jordan that did this things? But of course, Kobe-haters relish this sort of thing as further evidence that he's the spawn of Satan.
On the other hand, Kobe-worshipers need to get a grip on reality. They denounce the stories as untrue and attack any article or comment that is critical of Kobe like it's an assault on their religion. People need to start accepting the fact that Kobe is a manipulative egomaniac. This is who he is and always will be, and denying it just makes them look stupid.
But this is also what makes him the best player on earth, so why not just embrace and enjoy his idiosyncrasies along with his greatness? Sounds like his teammates already have, so there's no reason everyone else shouldn't either.
Did I say Adrian was a bad journalist? Of course I know many sources wish to remain anonymous. All I said was that it was funny that not one, not two, not three, not even four statements were of hearsay nature, but eight. That is what makes it suspicious. I'm not even trying to defend Kobe because I can definitely believe him to be an egomaniac, just like Jordan was. No surprise there because, like you said, it's what makes them the best. But what you also need to realize is that careless journalism like this, accumulating over the past decade, is what also depicts Kobe as such a character. So what we should do as fans is just forget about these players' attitudes (to a reasonable extent) and just enjoy what they do on the court. Leave the hate and the hype.
Did I say Adrian was a bad journalist? Of course I know many sources wish to remain anonymous. All I said was that it was funny that not one, not two, not three, not even four statements were of hearsay nature, but eight. That is what makes it suspicious. I'm not even trying to defend Kobe because I can definitely believe him to be an egomaniac, just like Jordan was. No surprise there because, like you said, it's what makes them the best. But what you also need to realize is that careless journalism like this, accumulating over the past decade, is what also depicts Kobe as such a character. So what we should do as fans is just forget about these players' attitudes (to a reasonable extent) and just enjoy what they do on the court. Leave the hate and the hype.
The person who wrote this blog is clearly negative. All of the Olympians gave Kobe his props. LeBron did several times, Carmelo did, Dwayne Wade did. Everybody. Clearly Kobe has grown and matured as most people do after their twenties. Kobe was humble, appreciative of the Olympic experience, plus he played great defense and nailed a 4 point play in the Gold Medal Game. It's only hateful shallow people such as yourself that hate your own sad life that have to be negative and hold on to the past. Your a gimmick. You should be better than that.
kobe is a punk and for ever more be a punk,and you punks that follow kobe the punk are just like him nothing but a punk,trying to a man hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never was,and isnt and never will be a man ,the punk brought back the celtic curse and for ever more be allusive in his championship as long as he is in a lakers uniform hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!