A Contender To Call His Own
Excerpts from the mind of Kobe Bryant: A crate-digging expedition inspired by Gasol, MacKenzie, Mutoni and Airington.
Mutoni has already written about this. Holly has referenced it once or twice. And Myles has been threatening to give his own iconic take, which I hope he does very soon. So this may be overkill, but I’ll throw it into the pot anyway…
Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol. That’s what this Lakers-Grizzlies trade boils down to, and that’s why this Laker team goes from a probable first- or second-round KO to a very real shot at an NBA Finals berth. (Though it says here they could still lose in the first or second round. But whatever.)
Fact is, the Los Angeles Lakers just went from pretty good to, potentially, really really good. If nothing else, they seem to have upgraded their biggest weakness at essentially no cost. Apparently, you don’t always have to pay to play, at least not if you’re Mitch “I Love It When A Plan Comes Together, Even if It Was More Dumb Luck Than A ‘Plan’ Per Se, and Let’s Be Honest, I Was Due For a F*ckin’ Break” Kupchak. However it went down, it’s done, and now comes the long hard work of turning potential into reality. This Laker team appears good enough to pull the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. That’s real, and I for one am excited about it.
Honest.
My personal Laker history isn’t really relevant to this post, except that it is. In a nutshell: From childhood ’til I was about 30, I loved the Los Angeles Lakers. A few years ago, I stopped loving them and started actively rooting against them. But that is neither here nor there.
As a fan of the game in general, my time at Slam also altered my focus, in that I now tend to root for two things: 1, Guys I sort of know, and 2, interesting sh*t to happen. The first is self-explanatory. If I meet a guy and like him, I root for him to succeed. This explains why I root for LeBron James, Derek Fisher, Morris Peterson, and Kevin Love, among others. The second is more of a strict journalistic thing, I guess: When interesting sh*t happens, like the Celtics going from doormats to powerhouse in one offseason, or the Miami Heat losing 98 games before Christmas for no apparent reason, I think it’s cool. It’s something to write and talk about, and so it’s good for business.
This whole Pau Gasol business falls into Category 2.
I recently decided I don’t hate the Lakers anymore. I’m not trying to scramble back on the bandwagon, honest. I just don’t care enough. Maybe because my day-to-day existence is less basketball-drenched than it used to be, or maybe because I’m old and cynical and think I should have better targets for my hate. Regardless, I don’t really care that much either way, and the fact that this trade means new storylines for basketball fans like us to discuss and fight over is pretty cool. So, I’m glad the Lakers are the hot new midseason contender.
I still won’t root for them, but I’m glad nonetheless.
Anyhoo, when the trade went down the other day, it got me thinking about this conversation I had with Kobe Bryant a little more than five years ago. I believe I have referenced this conversation previously on this site, though I haven’t had a chance to make it as relevant as I hopefully do now.
To set the scene: It’s October 2002, and I’m supposed to interview Kobe for the cover of Slam 66. I actually timed the interview partially around my honeymoon, which allowed me to fly back from Hawaii with my new wife and spend a day and a half in L.A. to get the interview done. (She actually sat on the fringe of the photo shoot and interview the whole time. I introduced her to Kobe. He was very nice. Perhaps she thought I’d be introducing her to NBA superstars on a regular basis now that we were married. It hasn’t worked out that way. She seems OK with it.)
The Lakers were fresh off their third straight NBA championship, but as most of us probably remember, there were still rumblings about disharmony between Kobe and Shaq, to the extent that Kobe had been considering bailing on the whole operation for a chance to spread his wings. At the moment though, all was well. Kobe was looking bigger and stronger than he’d ever been (the requisite 15 lbs. of muscle), he was out of the adidas deal that had started so promisingly and ended so sour, and he was, it seemed, all Nike’d out and content with his place in the basketball universe.
The Q&A took place after the photo shoot, at the Lakers’ El Segundo practice facility. Kobe was great, for both the camera and for me. He said “motherf*cker” a lot, which surprised me, but whatever. He had never not played with Shaq. He had not yet been accused of rape. His flesh was still tattoo-free. There were questions about his image, and we talked about them, but they were mostly different questions than the ones people ask now. A lot of what we think about Kobe Bryant today, on and off the court, didn’t yet apply.
I won’t print the whole thing for you freeloaders, but here’s the stuff that seems relevant today:
—
SLAM: Do you feel like you’ve quieted the doubters about your priorities, let them know what you’re about?
KB: Well, that’s funny, and that brings us to another point. Let’s rewind a little bit… I read that somebody said, “Kobe would never do it on his own.” Well, do what? What are you talking about? Because if you’re talking about scoring 30, 35 points, I could do that for you. Now, if you’re talking about winning rings, on my own? I can’t do that for you. Who can? Nobody has. You know, Shaquille hasn’t done it on his own. Jordan. You know, if you go back in history, you can run this down for days. So if you’re talking about individual success, I can give that to you on another team. But if you’re talking about rings, nah, I won’t even touch that. I need the big fella.
(Worth noting: When he said, “I read that somebody said,” Kobe was referring to Trash Talk, the letters to the editor section of Slam. A lot of what we talked about in this interview was initially inspired by reader feedback Kobe claimed to have read in the magazine. I still think this is pretty cool.
Also worth noting: Pau Gasol is now “the big fella.” I mean, he’s not, but you see my point.
And now we’ll skip ahead in the interview, past some Shaq-related stuff that doth not bear on the topic at hand…)
SLAM: All right, but he’s gonna be gone someday. Is there a part of you that’s looking forward to that, to finally show what you can do on your own?
KB: Not at all. I’m kinda past that. I know what I can do individually, but that’s not what it’s about. I mean, you take a player—McGrady’s a great example of that. You put him in Orlando, and he’s having great individual success down there. But you gotta give up something to gain something. He gave up playing in Toronto—which, I think, if he would’ve stayed in Toronto, we probably would’ve played them in the Finals the last two years. I mean, you’re talkin’ about McGrady and Vince. Those two motherf*ckers can hoop, man. They’d definitely be a championship contending team. But he knows how much talent he has, and it was difficult for him to play with somebody else who was the primary focus. So he felt like, in order to do his thing, he had to get out of there. I was facing a similar situation.
(Worth noting: Just a few years ago, many considered Tracy McGrady to be Kobe’s equal on the basketball court. As I write this, I’m not sure if Tracy McGrady is still on a roster. D-League, maybe? I’ll look into it.
Also worth noting: It was not crazy, five or six years ago, to think that the pairing of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady would’ve made the Toronto Raptors an unstoppable trophy-consuming monster. Obviously, it’s crazy now.
Also worth noting: It’s true — those two motherf*ckers really could hoop.)
SLAM: Looking back on that now, how close were you really to leaving L.A.?
KB: Oh [holds thumb and forefinger thisclose together]. So close. It was just getting out, someplace like Tracy said, where he could do his thing. I know what would’ve happened. I would’ve went to another team, I would’ve become a great individual player. And then everybody would be saying, “OK, he’s a great player, but can he win?” So I said, Man, f*ck that. I’d rather have people say, “He’s winning, but can he be a great player on his own?” That’s in my control. I can do that. But if it was the other way around… like, Damn, I need some help to win these ma’f*ckin’ rings.
(Worth noting: It turns out Kobe didn’t actually have to leave L.A. to hear people say that about him. This may be ironic, but I’m never sure what qualifies for irony, so I’ll just say it’s interesting.
Also worth noting: He really did say ‘ma’f*ckin’. I still have the tape. You can check.
And now, skipping ahead again, to the penultimate Q&A)
SLAM: Anything else on your mind, that we didn’t cover?
KB: Yeah. I hear some players say, “Well, Kobe couldn’t do this on his own,” or whatever. I saw that sh*t coming a mile away. All they’re trying to do is derail my focus. If I go out there and I start trying to prove people wrong, like I can do this on my own, then maybe we don’t get a ring. And I’m not gonna do that. So if that’s their strategy, they need a new one.
(Worth noting: Quite the question there, huh? “Anything else on your mind?” I’m like a regular Wolf Blitzer. I should’ve asked him if he wanted a cold drink, too.
Also worth noting: Kobe’s focus has indeed proven difficult to derail. You could argue that he may have derailed it himself at some point, but outsiders have no chance. He is a man of his word.)
—
So you can see why this jogged my memory. Back in October ‘02, I had no desire to see Shaq and Kobe part as long as they were still piling up hardware. At the same time, some part of me was excited about the possibility of Kobe going solo, if only to see just how good he might be. Five years later, we know: He’s gone solo and he’s been amazing, and he hasn’t won sh*t. It’s a team game, after all.
Kobe knew this even then. He knew it last summer when said all those interesting things he said and then retracted them and then sort of implied them again, and he knew it five-plus years ago. He knew what would happen if he ever had to go it alone, and then Shaq left, and it happened just like he thought it would.
Now, finally, he’s got a team around him that might be good enough to contend again. For the first time, though, it’s his team. And this, as a fan of the game, is what I’m excited about: Arguably the best player of his era, a dude with a potential claim to top-10 (top-5? top-1?) all-time, finally in charge of a legitimate contender. Even then, it occured to me that it wouldn’t be right if a guy like Kobe never had the chance to lead a great team. He, and we, had to wait damn near 12 years, but now, finally, we get to see if he can take them to a title.
I’m looking forward to watching him try.
247 Responses to “A Contender To Call His Own”
Feb.5 at 11:03 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
YES, YES YES!
Feb.5 at 11:07 am
white hot eboy says:
Not what I was expecting. I think I’d prefer Myles take on this whole thing. Let down is probably the feeling I have at the moment, Jones.
Feb.5 at 11:10 am
Ryan Jones says:
Sorry eboy. I’m like the Shaq of slamonline writers for you right now, huh?
Feb.5 at 11:11 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I went back and read this interview Sunday night after I got home…I got really jealous… and now, I am jealous again. But, thanks I love the conclusion. It really is wild when you think of Kobe/Shaq and where they have both ended up since they have parted ways. Another reason I want the Lakers to get another ring so damn badly IS DFish. He is the glue that holds Kobe and this team together.
Feb.5 at 11:11 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
and, I still can’t believe we’ve been watching him for 12 years.
Feb.5 at 11:16 am
BETCATS says:
Stop the Tracy hating! He has back problems and everything else problems. When he goes to Camp Che Wanga this summer, youll see. This is the man who scored 13 points in like 23 seconds aganst the Spurs. He is a freak of nature. As for the Gasol Trade, Memphis made out like Madonna and Brittney. It looks ugly now but only history can judge.
Feb.5 at 11:16 am
DUCE says:
SLAM SUCKS HOW CAN U MAKE THE REMARK IF TMAC IS STILL IN THE LEAGUE. YEA HE IS AND STILL ELITE STATUS. IF NOT WHY WAS HE 2ND TEAM ALL NBA IN 2007. YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS SERIOUSLY.
Feb.5 at 11:18 am
TADOne says:
Interesting take. Holly, do you want Jones back on the bandwagon?
Feb.5 at 11:19 am
white hot eboy says:
No, you are not quite as witty as him, Jones. I just thought after your cryptic offerings yesterday there was going to be some over the top type of journalistic bombast that would have either shown 24 in a poor light or a well revered one. Rereading these passages just made me remember how good the Lakers used to be and how desperate they have become to pin title hopes on a semi-servicable player with a group of guys who prior to the Big Youngster’s injury, seemed like they had a special bond going, that seemed like they could have been special regardless. Overblown expectations can be a bit*h.
Feb.5 at 11:20 am
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Nice work, or “interesting” as you put it. I think we all respond to great ones falling from grace. To see someone prevail under such circumstances is awesome to see. Its just a game, but sometimes it means so much more. Sam can back me on this point.
Feb.5 at 11:20 am
Ryan Jones says:
Only way I’m getting back on the bandwagon is if they trade Kobe for Bron and draft Kevin Love. You can hold me to that, Tad.
Feb.5 at 11:21 am
Ryan Jones says:
And I would never, ever claim to be as witty as Diesel. Blasphemy, that.
Feb.5 at 11:21 am
TADOne says:
Now THAT would be interesting.
Feb.5 at 11:22 am
TADOne says:
Shaq needs to have his own talk show.
Feb.5 at 11:22 am
BETCATS says:
Kobe for Bron? that would happen as likely as a Yao for Shaq trade.
Feb.5 at 11:23 am
BETCATS says:
I learned my Shaq Fu in Kobe, Japan
Feb.5 at 11:23 am
H to the izzo says:
Hi BET!
Feb.5 at 11:29 am
BETCATS says:
good moring to you izzo
Feb.5 at 11:32 am
Tariq says:
I think I remember this piece. This was the “Lord of the Rings” article with the three O’Briens, right Ryan? When he kept quoting Nas and Jay-Z? And while T-MAc may not be Kobe’s equal (who is? Bron, maybe?)…still, T-Mac is far from a spent force. He was pretty good last year. When healthy, he’s still elite.
Feb.5 at 11:33 am
Tariq says:
Vince, however, is ho who got schooled by Snow.
Feb.5 at 11:34 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
ha I love the MMA inspiration. And I will find out what made you jump ship from the days of Laker love. Be ready for that phone call, Jones! How much of this interview didn’t get printed?
Feb.5 at 11:35 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
yes Tariq. One of THE hottest covers I’ve seen. The yellow, the black uni, the trophies. AHH still framed today. This and Ivy’s “Soul on Ice” are my most favorites. The latest Kobe is up there, too.
Feb.5 at 11:35 am
BETCATS says:
Vince Carter needs to start dunking on people RIGHT NOW and demand a trade to the Magic for Pat Garitey and everything not Hedo, Dwight, Ray Lew, Jameer, and Keith Bogans. Make it happen
Feb.5 at 11:37 am
TADOne says:
“Soul on Ice” was the sickest cover.
Feb.5 at 11:38 am
BETCATS says:
2nd what Tad says, i went to wallgreens and got the cover blown up to an 8-10 photo that hangs on my wall
Feb.5 at 11:40 am
Ryan Jones says:
This cover remains in my top-three all-time. And pretty much the whole interview ran in the issue. Only thing I remember leaving out is a brief hip-hop segue. Mr. Bean said he didn’t want to talk about his own history as an MC, and he also made reference to having listened to Biggie and Nas a couple years before they had actually released records. I gave him a pass on that one. Not everybody’s good with dates.
Feb.5 at 11:41 am
Tariq says:
Ryan: you feel that way about the Lakers because hate is not the opposite of love. Indifference is.
Feb.5 at 11:42 am
Ryan Jones says:
Tariq, you are too wise for this place sometimes.
Feb.5 at 11:43 am
BETCATS says:
Jones i checked your book about Lebron out fromt the Libary. I was semi-impressed but not really at all
Feb.5 at 11:43 am
Tariq says:
Ryan: thank you for noticing. Now if only I can win that Latin Grammy for Best Dance Video.
Feb.5 at 11:44 am
Ryan Jones says:
How old are you, BET? ‘Cause if you’re older than 14, it wasn’t really written for you.
Feb.5 at 11:45 am
Ryan Jones says:
By which I mean: I read it, and I wasn’t that impressed with it either. But it’s huge with the middle-school kids!
Feb.5 at 11:46 am
H to the izzo says:
Tariq:If you’re going to win it,now’s the year,the pool of talent is depleted.Now you will have to find a flaming shirt.Good sir
Feb.5 at 11:46 am
TADOne says:
Jones is a cult hero for 12-13 year olds.
Feb.5 at 11:46 am
H to the izzo says:
Ryan:It has great reviews on Amazon.
Feb.5 at 11:48 am
BETCATS says:
yes i am 15, i read it because i didnt realize it was for younger kids at the time
Feb.5 at 11:48 am
Ryan Jones says:
Thanks for noticing, izzo. And I swear I only wrote half of those.
Feb.5 at 11:48 am
Ryan Jones says:
Sorry BET. Couple years earlier and it would’ve been the best book you ever read.
Feb.5 at 11:50 am
BETCATS says:
i am just not a book person. i just read them and then forget. the cover was intresting looking but thats about it.
Feb.5 at 11:51 am
H to the izzo says:
You’re toughest critic was actually the “Kids Review”.Ouch
Feb.5 at 11:51 am
Ryan Jones says:
I hate that f*cking cover. Ugliest font in the history of fonts.
Feb.5 at 11:52 am
Tariq says:
“Not a book person”? Priceless…
Feb.5 at 11:52 am
Ryan Jones says:
izzo: I did not know that. That’s awesome. BET, you wrote that sh*t, didn’t you?
Feb.5 at 11:52 am
H to the izzo says:
BET:I would have never guessed.I still have doubts that you’re an actual person,Russ’s theory had some merit.
Feb.5 at 11:56 am
Ryan Jones says:
I’m pretty sure BET’s actually in his early ’40s, but whatever.
Feb.5 at 12:08 pm
TADOne says:
Quite possible. I don’t of any other “15″ year olds who post as much as he does during school hours.
Feb.5 at 12:09 pm
Jake says:
When I heard about this trade happening, my head almost exploded. I screamed,I jumped up and down and even danced.For 4 years I’ve been made fun of for liking Kobe and his team of minions,but they kept giving just enough hope to warrant my love.Then this season came,and they started performing like my NBA 2k8 franchise simulation said they would.Then Bynum went down,and I wept like Jesus.I’ve never been a big fan of Gasol, but just think of what this man will do in the triangle.It’s going to be a glorious time watching them.The Rise Of Pau begins now.
Feb.5 at 1:24 pm
jbn74sb says:
Just come out with already, Pipe Cleaner. What in the hell did Kobe do to you? You’ve been playing hard to get on this topic for long enough.
Feb.5 at 1:30 pm
James the balla says:
Anyone know what BA stands for, is that block attempts?
Feb.5 at 1:32 pm
Jake Appleman says:
ah memory lane…
Feb.5 at 1:34 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
All I want is a Lakers/Cavs Finals sometime in the next three years. Is that too much to ask?
Feb.5 at 1:35 pm
James the balla says:
Yes it is Russ … i truly hope the cavs never make it anywheres into the playoffs again.
Feb.5 at 1:36 pm
jbn74sb says:
You really think LeBron will be on the Cavs in three years?
Feb.5 at 1:44 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Bodie, I said in a comment yesterday, and I’ve said it elsewhere before, and I’ll say it again: He never “did” anything to me. Our face-to-face interactions have, without exception, been positive. I swear to Jesus. My issues are the sum of things I’ve seen, heard, and/or been told by people I trust, much (but not all) of it is public knowledge, and collectively it’s quite a haul. However, telling the whole story would take more time than I’ve got these days, but Russ and others can vouch for the fact that I’ve been compiling anecdotes and facts for a while now. I just haven’t gotten around to putting it all together, and I’m not sure when I will. You will certainly be among the first to know if/when I do.
Or maybe I’m just stringing you people along. Suckers…
Feb.5 at 1:45 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I should say, though: It makes me hot when you call me “Pipe Cleaner.”
Feb.5 at 1:49 pm
jbn74sb says:
Where does one compile these little facts and anecdotes? Do you have a “Kobe Bryant” file on lock down in your basement somewhere? A little creepy.
On a more serious note, have you not seen any change in Kobe’s personality over the last couple of years? Or do you think it’s all manufactured?
Feb.5 at 1:50 pm
white hot eboy says:
LOL
Feb.5 at 1:51 pm
white hot eboy says:
At Ryan’s pipe cleaner comment.
Feb.5 at 1:51 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I don’t vouch for anyone. Mainly because that word creeps me out. Vouch. Who came up with that one?
Feb.5 at 1:52 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Besides, Ryan lies more than, well, you know.
Feb.5 at 1:57 pm
Ryan Jones says:
It’s a Word file on my desktop, bodie. If you’ve got any hacking skills you can probably find it.
And as also referenced in a string of comments yesterday, I don’t generally buy personality changes from celebrities, particularly not ones for whom “personality changes” are a necessary part of reputation rehab. That’s not to say he HASN’T changed; maybe he has. I’m just cynical about anyone “changing.”
Or maybe the point is, if you’re not sure what someone’s real personality is in the first place, how do you know if it’s changed?
Feb.5 at 1:59 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
Great point Ryan. I never really thought about personality that way, but I definitely agree with you. Personality is something deeply rooted in each person. Kobe’s always had the same personality. It’s just a matter of what facets of that personality he has chosen to reveal/conceal to the public at certain points in his career.
Feb.5 at 2:02 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Not only am I not sure whether Kobe’s always had the same personality, I’m not sure whether he has a personality at all.
Feb.5 at 2:04 pm
jbn74sb says:
My only hacking skills are on the basketball court. I am afraid that I will foul out of our league games within about 10 minutes.
I do find it odd that you appear to have placed more faith in the opinions of others regarding their interactions with Kobe, as opposed to your own interactions with him. Unless of course he is cool to you (specifically) in person, and then calls you (specifically) a m-therf-cker behind your back.
Feb.5 at 2:04 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
man, this blew up since I was able to get online. Ryan, the thing I disliked the MOST was the tatts and the God references all of a sudden. Too cliche, too common and too much to be taken seriously. And that comes from one of the biggest Kob supporters ever. And I wish I could hack.. because that file would be my best and worst nightmare all rolled into one.
Feb.5 at 2:07 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
bodie, I will support Ryan to say Kobe is a genius at playing the public persona game. He had me eating out of his hand with the wink at the game on Friday, he is swimming in charisma. It’s tough to KNOW who he really is, regardless of the way he treats you. But, that is probably the way he “protects” himself. I hope to one day have the opportunity to do a sit-down with him and judge for myself, but, I doubt it happens.
Feb.5 at 2:09 pm
jbn74sb says:
And LeBron has a personality? Dude seems fake as Paris Hilton. Kobe’s “image” was certainly manufactured at the beginning of his career, but he has really seemed to open up within the last few years. The fact that he may not be a people person - who gives a sh-t?
Feb.5 at 2:09 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
Was that sarcasm, Russ? The fact you mentioned that proves Kobe DOES have a defining personality. It’s not something that you can easily define or put your finger upon, but Kobe’s personality is strong and prevalent. I think he gets this label of enigma because I believe he shares many aspects of an artist’s personality. His many differences from the rest allow him to become the best.
Feb.5 at 2:11 pm
Ryan Jones says:
What Russ said.
Bodie, Notice I said “face-to-face” interactions. There have been a few curious phone calls… Anyway, regarding the opinions of others, they are people I know well, and in many cases their stories are independently varified. I don’t just go on rumor & innuendo, honest.
Holly, I’m glad you haven’t guzzled all the Kool-Aid.
Inevitably, if I ever do get around to writing and posting all this, it’s gonna be even more of a letdown than eboy thinks this one is, if only because it’s been talked about so much. That’s probably part of my reluctance to find the time.
Feb.5 at 2:11 pm
jbn74sb says:
Holly - With all of the problems Kobe has had relating to the media and the public, I think he is far from a genius in the public persona department. Tiger, LeBron, and the rest of the plastic public figures have that side of the game much more figured out. Kobe, on the other hand, is like the Rainman of basketball. Yeah.
Feb.5 at 2:14 pm
jbn74sb says:
Ryan - The Kool-Aid about Kobe tastes like a Golden Shower - he was only the Golden Child for the first few years. Since then, nearly all of the press regarding Kobe has been negative, and more people hate him than love him.
The real Kool-Aid guzzlers are Shaq fans.
Feb.5 at 2:14 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Bodie, Bron definitely comes off more scripted, like he’s always trying to say the right PR thing — and this was even before his people hired a veteran NYC PR guy a few years ago. Of course he’s got a public persona that he turns on and off; anyone at that level would. But having been around him in high school, knowing his friends, his mom, his old teammates, I feel like I have a pretty good sense of who he is. I didn’t know KB in high school, and I don’t know his fam, but I’ve spent enough time around him to have come to a conclusion that the “real” guy might be unknowable. Again, Russ will vouch, even if he doesn’t like that word.
Feb.5 at 2:16 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Thanks for playing armchair psychicatrist, Ryne. And no, I wans’t being sarcastic. I’ve sat down with Kobe one-on-one for extended periods on three separate occasions, and for shorter periods countless other times. I have my own feelings on the matter and I don’t need you or anyone else to tell me what it all means.
Feb.5 at 2:19 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
nah…he is great with the media when he is one on one with you. Or, I think he is. He is charming, whether that is the real him or not. But, I do agree that these past few years I think he is finally finding himself and is starting to shed the other stuff. I said yesterday that i can’t imagine knowing myself at 18, 20, 22 without going to university and having that time to depend on myself and learn and grow and figure out who the hell I was. It is crazy how some guys can come into the L and seem to stay true to themselves while others flounder. I think Kobe wanted to be perceived as a certain way in the beginning, before he knew who HE really was.. and instead of just being himself, he had the persona on. Now, he is older and “wiser” and I think we are starting to see pieces of the real him. He still knows how to turn it on when all eyes are on him though. I’m pretty sure most famous celebrities do though, it is a part of their job.
Feb.5 at 2:20 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
and the “real” KB? maybe he doesn’t want us to know it and maybe we never will.
Feb.5 at 2:21 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
I agree with you, Ryan, but I’d like to look at it differently. Kobe is ‘unknowable’ in what sense. He’s unknowable in his actions. He’s unknowable in his words. He’s unknowable in his expressions. He’s unknowable in his emotions. This, to me, defines someone who is actively searching the world. Testing. Trying. Weighing and measuring. Kobe moves through his world with a deliberate questioning. He is still creating a personality. And he’ll find what works and doesn’t work for him as time progresses.
Feb.5 at 2:22 pm
white hot eboy says:
You guys are hillariously silly.
Feb.5 at 2:23 pm
Ryan Jones says:
There’s a couple different ways to phrase that, Ryne. Yours seems to be the optimistic approach. I’m not sure I’d call it realistic, though.
Feb.5 at 2:24 pm
jbn74sb says:
LeBron, from the get go, has been very adept at playing the game, in terms of creating an image, whatever that image is. As a result, he gets nearly universal adulation, despite the fact that the public has no sense of who he is, aside from an absolutely dominant basketball player. Kobe, meanwhile, gets criticized for being fake, when in reality, the problem is that he’s not fake enough.
Feb.5 at 2:24 pm
Ryan Jones says:
See, like eboy. Eboy is very knowable. We all know eboy is an @sshole. There is nothing else he could be.
Feb.5 at 2:26 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Fair point, Bodie, except it doesn’t acknowlege consistency. When your personality is inconsistent over time — accounting for the fact that people, particularly young people, do still grow, develop and mature — you tend to come off as a fraud. Or bi-polar. Or worse. I would say LeBron’s personality has been pretty consistent. But the other guy?
Feb.5 at 2:28 pm
jbn74sb says:
I wouldn’t word it the same as Ryne, but I think what has been interesting about Kobe is to have watched him try to grow and change as he has gotten older. For someone who is regarded as the best in the game, he has had to deal with a lot. Even if most of it has been self-inflicted. Whether you like him or not, Kobe is interesting.
LeBron, who on the court will be better than Kobe (if he isn’t already) appears to be about as interesting as my desk off of it. And not like Duncan, who has seemingly portrayed himself as boring as a way to maintain some privacy.
Feb.5 at 2:29 pm
white hot eboy says:
I don’t run away from the fact that I’m an a*shole. I actually embrace it. And while on his ridiculous subject, unless there’s not a camera, mic, pad and pencil or prying eyes around NONE of the guys mentioned will ever put their “real” selves out there. Anyone who thinks differently just needs to put themselves in these guys shoes and ask yourself “am I really going to be straight with this pale, ghostlike, stick figure sitting before me, or should I run the line of bulls*it on him like everyone else?”
Feb.5 at 2:30 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
The difference is that LeBron has let his personality take a backseat for the most part, and hasn’t overextended himself in whatever direction the pop culture wind happened to be blowing. If you read 20 different interviews he’s done from when he was in high school to now, the voice would be pretty consistent. If you look at how he’s dressed, or what he’s done off the court, there’s been some sort of linear progression. Kobe’s would look like the EKG of a heart attack patient.
Feb.5 at 2:30 pm
Ryan Jones says:
“Kobe is interesting.” If we were smart, one of us would just post this as the first comment on any Kobe-related column and be done with it. Alas…
Feb.5 at 2:31 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Russ wins the metaphor contest. Again.
Feb.5 at 2:31 pm
white hot eboy says:
Well, I guess that question would only apply if Ryan was the one asking the questions, but you get the idea.
Feb.5 at 2:32 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Eboy, you suck at comedy. Never explain the joke, especially when everyone in the room already got it.
Feb.5 at 2:33 pm
white hot eboy says:
Nice comparison, Russ.
Feb.5 at 2:35 pm
white hot eboy says:
It’s sucks being singled out, don’t it, Jones?
Feb.5 at 2:35 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I barely even make sense.
Feb.5 at 2:36 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Bengtson strikes again!
Feb.5 at 2:36 pm
jbn74sb says:
What if Jordan had been covered or criticized in the same way that Kobe has? Reports of Jordan being an all-around asshole abound, yet the mainstream media and therefore the public were/ are none the wiser.
Apparently, Kobe is sometimes a serious self-centered, insecure, egomaniac. At other times, it seems that he can be engaging and a good guy. Sounds to me like someone that has had a difficult time controlling his emotions, and that has gotten better at it over the last few years, parking lot videos aside. And in reality, you can actually see these tendencies in his game. The world wants Kobe to play at about 85%, doing everything well, and keeping himself in check. What has made him truly special has been his ability to play with his emotions and impose his will upon a game. Of course, sometimes he can’t control it and it leads to 10-29 shooting nights with 7 turnovers. If that fire, which he appears to be learning how to harness, sometimes causes him to be an insecure, self-centered egomaniac, both on and off the court, well, it goes with the territory.
Feb.5 at 2:37 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And it’s not like you’re really singling out Ryan so much. There’s two people posting here who’ve sat down with Kobe, and no one’s ever going to confuse me with Michael Sweetney.
Feb.5 at 2:37 pm
white hot eboy says:
Give up, Bodie.
Feb.5 at 2:38 pm
white hot eboy says:
You also aren’t built lke a pencil, Russ.
Feb.5 at 2:39 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Michael Sweetney…… hahaha I feel you, Bodie, I really do.
Feb.5 at 2:39 pm
white hot eboy says:
Quick question, How many times have Russ/Ryan sat with MJ in a interview setting?
Feb.5 at 2:40 pm
jbn74sb says:
EKG > Flatline.
Feb.5 at 2:40 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Again, Bodie, it’s about consistency. I wasn’t entirely joking about the bi-polar sh*t before. Sometimes I wonder if dude inspired Sybil. Anybody see his halftime interview with Screamin’ A during the Cavs game week before last? SAS kept trying to “black” things up as only he can, and dude was just even-keeled, monotone, proper grammar. Yet he drops “ma-f*ckas” left and right when he’s sitting with ME. Maybe it’s just a question of catering to your audience — admittedly, I don’t write the same for SLAM as I do for the PSU alumni magazine — but it’s always felt like something else.
Feb.5 at 2:41 pm
Ryan Jones says:
pencils have arms?
Feb.5 at 2:42 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I’ve only sat with Mike once, for 13 minutes. Slam 100. Russ has had him 2 or 3 times, I think, but I don’t know if those have been 1-v-1, for which I think he still hates me.
Feb.5 at 2:43 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’ve asked that a lot, the question of whether Kobe was covered like Jordan and vice-versa. I eagerly await the inevitable tell-all book on MJ (probably not until he dies) written by some old SI reporter that will make The Jordan Rules look like a love letter. Guess what? We’ll never know!
I’ll say this, though. With Kobe, it’s about WAY more than his just being a “serious, self-centered, insecure, egomaniac.” The League is FULL of those. Kobe’s somewhere beyond.
Feb.5 at 2:43 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I remember the first time I read that interview thinking did he really say it MA-f*ckas” and then thinking it again Sunday night. That is just funny. Oh Kobe, this is why “The Enigma” was the perfect choice for him in the 10th anniv. (on a side note, I was told I was an enigma by my calculus teacher in high school. Still not sure why. haha).
Feb.5 at 2:44 pm
jbn74sb says:
I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything about Kobe. I come down on the side of liking him, faults and all, in large part because he is on the team I’ve rooted for since I was about 5.
Feb.5 at 2:45 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
*what it would have been like had Kobe been covered like MJ and vice-versa
Feb.5 at 2:45 pm
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, what percentage of Mike in that 13 minutes seemed real too you, since we all know his is the most celebrated, protected, teflon personality in modern basketball?
Feb.5 at 2:47 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I only sat with MJ twice. Once for nearly an hour, the second time for a little less. Both times with Tony G. Never did do one-on-one. Luckily by the time Ryan got him one-on-one I was so hopelessly jaded that I didn’t care. Still don’t. (Assh*le.)
Feb.5 at 2:47 pm
jbn74sb says:
I can’t help myself. Had The Enigma not tried to perform The Enema in Eagle County, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Feb.5 at 2:47 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I’m with you on that Bodie. Even if he does/did turn out to be a huge ass, I would still love and respect his game because, it is the best I’ve ever seen and he is on my team for better or worse, forever (at least, I hope forever). And if being so effing complex is part of his legacy as being one of the greatest ever, I will take it every day, to be able to watch him play ball. The Jordan thing is interesting because I think you could expose all of his secrets and skeletons and people will still love him just the same because he is MJ. He gets an automatic pass.
Feb.5 at 2:48 pm
white hot eboy says:
There’s a lot of as*holes in this thread.
Feb.5 at 2:49 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I believe I got a full, consistent 13 minutes of Jordan’s media personality, which was polite and professional and has been honed by 18,000 interviews over the past 25 years. I think I might’ve gotten a half-minute glimmer of his “real” personality when I asked him to name the ultimate starting five from his era. He seemed to like that question and got a tiny bit animated. But again, it’s not about guys putting on a media/public face. Of course they do. This is different.
Feb.5 at 2:49 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
avoid the grammar in that post above, please.
Feb.5 at 2:50 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
We’d be having this alleged conversation with or without the alleged events that took place in the alleged state of Colorado.
Feb.5 at 2:50 pm
white hot eboy says:
Holly, not everyone gives Mike a pass. I would direct you to Senor Bengtson for a prime example.
Feb.5 at 2:51 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Again, what Russ said.
Feb.5 at 2:51 pm
jbn74sb says:
Holly - If Jordan were playing today, with all of the increased media coverage, there would be no pass. The coverage of the gambling, partying, and mistresses and who knows what would crash perez hilton.
Feb.5 at 2:53 pm
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, I wasn’t relating it to Mr. Bean at all. I actually just wanted to see from someone who has interviewed him what you felt was him or the product MJ. I’ve seen a completley different side and I know I still have only seen a percentage of his real persona. Just was curious is all. Back to Mr. Mamba.
Feb.5 at 2:53 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I don’t believe I give Mike that hard of a time. I do, however, look at him as a human being who played the game of basketball exceedingly well rather than a God who deigned to come to Earth for a little while and bless us poor, miserable peons with His divine presence.
Feb.5 at 2:54 pm
jbn74sb says:
We’d be a having a conversation, but not this one. On one hand, the Lakers would have won in 2004 without Kategate, and might still be together. On the other, it may have been the best thing to happen to Kobe, as it forced him to shed the fake image, and build up a new one.
Feb.5 at 2:56 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
We would be having this same conversation. I can’t speak for Ryan–but I will, actually. We talked about him this way long before “The Incident.”
Feb.5 at 2:56 pm
white hot eboy says:
“deigned”- Don’t see that word every day.
Feb.5 at 2:56 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Gotcha eboy. The Jordan thing took place at the tail end of a Jordan Brand commercial shoot, and the place was crawling with PR folks. Even if he’d felt like opening up to Mr. Pipe Cleaner Slam Guy (which he didn’t, obviously), he never would’ve had the chance.
Feb.5 at 2:58 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I’m getting sick of typing this, but… What Russ said. Bodie, I’d argue that the more recently built-up image we see now might actually be vastly more fake than whatever we saw pre-Eagleton.
Feb.5 at 3:00 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
yeah bodie, NOW… I think because Jordan is so loved, if a tell-all were to come out tomorrow it would be a shock, but ultimately people would brush it off because they wouldn’t WANT to give up the image of Jordan that has been carefully crafted, packaged and delivered to them. No doubt though, if he was 12 years in, just like KB, there would be a lot of stuff floating in the air that never would have seen the light of day during Mike’s career. I definitely think Kobe brings some of this on himself with his inconsistencies, as Ryan mentioned but, I also think he is judged a lot more than anyone else. The love me/hate me isn’t stronger with anyone else but Kobe. He creates so much controversy!
Feb.5 at 3:00 pm
Bigi says:
His The Riddler Off The Court/And Batman On It.
Feb.5 at 3:02 pm
white hot eboy says:
Did “The Incident” really change Lakers fans perceptions. Wasn’t the next game he played in after the story came out, filled with a packed house of Lakers fans, young and old, male and female, screaming support for young Mr. Bean. How hated is he really, if a r@pe charge is pending and you have parents allowing their 5 year old girls wearing said parties jersey proudly, if not misinformed, immediatley after. Diehard fans are hard to persuade in these arguments.
Feb.5 at 3:04 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
and Bodie, during road games does he usually give shout outs to Vanessa and his daughters on the post game interviews? I don’t ever get the coverage of the post game interviews conducted on court, but saw it during the raps game. I’ve never seen it from him before (and this has NOTHING to do with persona, just being curious).
Feb.5 at 3:04 pm
jbn74sb says:
Russ and Ryan might be having this conversation, but the public (myself included) wouldn’t be.
Much of the hate towards Kobe is a result of him “selling out” Shaq to the cops (note to Kobe: never talk to anyone about anyhing ever again in a parking lot).
The Last Season, if it had been written, would have been far different.
Kobe’s problem with Malone’s hunting may have never occurred, as the team may have stayed together.
And the Chucky Atkins “Ask Kobe - he’s the GM” comments never would have happened.
Paul Shirley may still hate his +ss, and written about it, but that’s about it.
Feb.5 at 3:05 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Eboy, those that love KB LOVE him. I’m just saying that MJ was universally loved, whereas Kobe’s fans are diehards and the people who aren’t fans, really ARE NOT fans. at all. in most cases. Thats all. That entire year of the trial was interesting (and stressful), to watch unfold. the fans, the road trips, everything.
Feb.5 at 3:06 pm
jbn74sb says:
Most importantly, he wouldn’t have been unfairly blamed for breaking up the team.
Holly - I have no idea. Road games are on KCAL, and they don’t have a post-game show.
Feb.5 at 3:07 pm
white hot eboy says:
Holy, you know what sucks? Your boy had the same opportunity to be beloved like Mike. Through his actions and personalitie(s) he has been labelled, maybe slighlty unfairly, but the diehards (like yourself, Bodie, Myles, etc.)hold it down in the face of adversity, so is it really all that bad? Dude is still held in the highest regard playing “the game of basketball” so that and his huge bank accounts can squash all the hate, I’m sure. Being beloved can be overrated, you know.
Feb.5 at 3:07 pm
jbn74sb says:
Kobe is definitely Love/Hate. Aside from his game, I can’t imagine anyone having strong feelings about LeBron one way or the other.
Feb.5 at 3:08 pm
jbn74sb says:
I’m not sure that his polarity is bad eboy. I do think it’s interesting to debate though.
Feb.5 at 3:10 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I will tell you as a fan, nothing has tested my support of kobe, except the colordo debacle. It forced me to separate my fandom and love of his game from the person and it was tough.. maybe tougher for me as a female to wonder what I would feel IF he was convicted of it and if I chose to believe in it. I still would have LOVED his game, but I would have found it hard to root for him, or respect him, you know? Not that he is playing the game he loves for MY respect, but damn, it was tough and forced me to think about a lot of things regarding sports stars, “heroes”, celebrity, and the whole issue of NOT knowing someone just because we love their game and see them on tv every other night.
Feb.5 at 3:13 pm
white hot eboy says:
You’re right Bodie’s it’s not “bad” per se, it’s kind of unexpected when the games best player for the last 7 or 8 years is looked upon, as a whole, as an enigmatic as*hole. I think the NBA fan is so used to having beloved guys like Magic, Michael, Doctor J, Kareem, etc. that had no personality baggage. We all know that these guys had personal issues, but being built up to be heroic and then taking the ball and run with it is something not everyone is cut out to be. I don’t know if Kobe fully wanted to be the hero initially, I think he realized the benefits of it late in the game, and now it seems to be a neverending mountain of missteps that has caused him to be constantly criticized. Again, it’s unfair, but he had the ability to avoid alot of it.
Feb.5 at 3:17 pm
Ryan Jones says:
And full credit where it’s due: Kobe seems to be doing a lot for the Make A Wish foundation and other such charities, and regardless of his motives, if he’s helping some sick kids feel better, I’m not bad.
Feb.5 at 3:19 pm
white hot eboy says:
Holly, I was about your age when Michael’s gambling issues came out in the press, full blown, for the first time. I never forgot the feeling I had hearing my dude being talked about negativley for the first time in his career for something not related to basketball. As a fan, I said, who cares, that’s my boy, but years later, I realized that along with other issues reported and not reported made him less “all-american” than he always was portrayed. Telling him this, face to face, was something I took a chance with, and he actually told me he repected me for it. I know what you’re saying, and I think if you could speak to Kobe in the same manner alot of the “enigma” issues could disapeer in the blink of an eye or a exchange of words, so to speak.
Feb.5 at 3:19 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Ryan! Thanks for mentioning this. He HAS been doing a ton. Another thing that I heard recently was that Melo is on a list of celebrities who give the most money per year to charities. Good for him. Definitely didn’t see that, not that I think he is a bad guy or anything.
Feb.5 at 3:21 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Melo’s got a smart agent who pushes his clients to do this this, but Melo still has to ok the writing of the check, and apparently he does.
Feb.5 at 3:21 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Also, increasingly I can’t type today, so I’m gonna go now. Vote Obama.
Feb.5 at 3:21 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Eboy, thats really cool. And, I am still waiting on the real MJ story. I think I will put together some of my notes from the dark days of Kobe into a blog post. It was definitely eye-opening. about Kobe: In one of the recent articles about his work with Make a Wish, Vanessa said Kobe is 6′ 4″ 3/4 rather than 6′6″. We all knew that, but, it was funny to hear her say she made him get measured at home. hha
Feb.5 at 3:22 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
bye, ryan! thanks for posting this and opening the debate.
Feb.5 at 3:24 pm
white hot eboy says:
Holly, I always thought he was taller than 6′ 6″. And if you get the “real” MJ story before he passes, either don’t believe it or find a publisher…………quick. That sh*t is more protected than Area 51, in more ways than one.
Feb.5 at 3:25 pm
jbn74sb says:
I don’t disagree with you, eboy, but…
Magic ran around on Cookie so much he got AIDS. And he ran at least one coach out of LA, if not two.
Dr. J had a sex tape with White Zinfadel, fathered a temporary tennis star out of wedlock and raised a druggie kid who killed himself.
Michael gambled, partied, and f-cked his way to infamy, yet somehow kept it all on the DL, and was generally regarded as a complete a++hole as a teammate.
Bird also fathered an illegitmate child that he apparently refuses to recognize or even acknowledge.
Kareem, on the other hand, apparently never got into trouble for anything, yet was aloof and a pr-ck, so everyone hated him.
Feb.5 at 3:25 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
for real, hey? the world these athletes live in daily is so funny. Just another world than the one we are living in.
Feb.5 at 3:25 pm
Jake Appleman says:
“Kobe is definitely Love/Hate. Aside from his game, I can’t imagine anyone having strong feelings about LeBron one way or the other.” Bodie, I’m going to expound, but I will say, “you’re wrong.”
Feb.5 at 3:26 pm
Jake Appleman says:
*not going to expound
Feb.5 at 3:26 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
ahah bodie, that rundown was great.
Feb.5 at 3:27 pm
jbn74sb says:
Holly - Kobe was 6′8″ until they measured him during booking out in CO.
Feb.5 at 3:27 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
do it, Jake.
Feb.5 at 3:27 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
hahah i know, Bodie. Now just passing along what Vanessa said. That is pretty wild. Must have been the fro.
Feb.5 at 3:28 pm
jbn74sb says:
Solid argument, Jake. You’re wrong.
Feb.5 at 3:28 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
and regardless of real/fake, he was sooo pumped up after the raps game and his dunks he was funny when he said he hadn’t had a game like that since he had his fro. I’m just glad I got to catch all of the guys on the day of the trade, everyone was buzzing.
Feb.5 at 3:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
The media treated Chosen athletes with white gloves back when MJ entered the League. By the time Kobe showed up, they’d traded them for boxing gloves.
Feb.5 at 3:35 pm
white hot eboy says:
Bodie, I knew all those issues, as I said in my comment, we all know these guys had personal issues.
Feb.5 at 3:35 pm
Jake Appleman says:
I can’t. I’d be giving away potential future magazine material.
Feb.5 at 3:36 pm
Jake Appleman says:
Apologies for being a money whore, Bodie; just know that it is you, who is, in fact, wrong.
Feb.5 at 3:37 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Oh yeah, and I just got back from voting for Obama.
Feb.5 at 3:37 pm
Jake Appleman says:
Also: nanny nanny poo poo
Feb.5 at 3:38 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Love it, Russ.
Feb.5 at 3:39 pm
jbn74sb says:
eboy - I set those out like that to point out two things.
1) Times have changed in regards to the media’s coverage of athletes and celebreties.
2) The media, when they decide to, can really sway public opinion regarding these public figures. Kobe, to an extent, has been a victim of that. Brett Favre, on the other hand: Alcoholic, drug addict, all-american hero.
Feb.5 at 3:39 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I wish I could vote Obama.
Feb.5 at 3:40 pm
Jake Appleman says:
I wish I could vote for Canadian health care.
Feb.5 at 3:41 pm
white hot eboy says:
White.
Feb.5 at 3:42 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Brett Favre and Kobe are also from different generations. Not to mention one is a white quarterback in Green Bay, Wisconsin while the other is a black shooting guard in Los Angeles, California. Not to belabor the obvious, but their situations couldn’t be any more different. Favre is more from the Jordan era anyway–his professional reputation was set in stone when Kobe was still in junior high school.
Feb.5 at 3:44 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And the NFL star system is racist as hell. Always has been. Entirely different from the NBA.
Feb.5 at 3:45 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Also, I’m more mad that Ryan didn’t mention me in the dek than I am that he sat one-on-one with Jordan.
Feb.5 at 3:46 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
haha, very true, Jake. I shudder at the thought of living in the US for that very reason.
Feb.5 at 3:47 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Russ, I want to talk about that with you at some point. (NFL) Race/socio-economic status, etc within sports is a topic I’m thinking of exploring for one of my classes. That was really vague, but I don’t want to get into it right here.
Feb.5 at 3:47 pm
jbn74sb says:
That is because there are actually white people in the NFL.
Feb.5 at 3:48 pm
bootlace says:
I think Holly is on the right track here…players who come into the league straight outta highschool don’t go through the essential life lessons that makes you who you are. You can’t say a superstar teenager wont change, it is in fact awefully strange if he doesnt change. Kobe came into the league a little arrogant, ok REALLY arrogant. But then he faced many real life problems ranging from adultery to friendship problems with his teammates to being the evil person (yet innocent) that destroyed a dynasty. He’s been through a lot honestly, and I do feel that now everything’s finally falling into place for him and he’s becoming the person he wants to be. The life of these young superstars is so different from the norm I dont think us normal folks can really ever understand it..Theres the way Kobe did it (all naive, egocentric, and hungry for success) or the LeBron way (proffesional,collected,media darling). To me, it feels like KObe is the more REAL of the two - he has gone through many struggles and we have witnessed his many different sides. LeBron on the other hand just sounds like a broken record of “Sports PR 101:An Expert’s Guide”.
Feb.5 at 3:51 pm
white hot eboy says:
bootlace, you are silly.
Feb.5 at 3:56 pm
Michael says:
Wow, this is kind of a shock to my system. I didn’t realize Slam readers were capable of having smart civilized discussions much less on Kobe.
Feb.5 at 3:57 pm
jbn74sb says:
Who amongst us was that directed at, Michael?
Feb.5 at 3:58 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
We’ve got a good thing going, Michael.
Feb.5 at 3:58 pm
white hot eboy says:
Bodie, don’t expect a response.
Feb.5 at 4:04 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
i just wish grant hill would have been able to lead a title contender.
Feb.5 at 4:05 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
There’ve been, what, 10 or 15 players who’ve come out of high school in the past 10 years and made it? Yet Kobe is the only one who gets discussed like this. Would it really have made a difference if he’d gone to college for what probably would have been all of one year? I say NO.
Feb.5 at 4:06 pm
jbn74sb says:
Please note the other topics on that cover, including:
Darius Miles
Vin Baker
U of O’s 2 Lukes. Yikes.
Feb.5 at 4:19 pm
jbn74sb says:
Extending the 10 years and forgetting “made it”, let’s see.
Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Jermaine
Tracy
Outlaw
Webster
Bynum
Diop
Kwame
Miles
Harrington
Rashard
Korleone Young
Bender
Leon Smith
Deshawn Stevenson
Chandler
Ousmann Cisse
Amare
Ndubi Ebi
Kendrick Perkins
James Lang
Dwight
Livingston
Robert Swift
Telfair
Al Jefferson
Josh Smith
JR Smith
Dorrell Wright
Gerald Green
CJ Miles
Monta Ellis
Louis Williams
Blatche
Amir Johnson
Going back through those drafts is a trip.
Feb.5 at 4:19 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Russ…… I’ve got soooo much to say about that.. To both agree and disagree with it. haha. But, it will take too long to word properly. Bottom line, Kobe is special. Both oncourt and off.
Feb.5 at 4:21 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I had the two lukes on my wall for awhile.
Feb.5 at 4:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Yeah, I knew I was estimating on the low side.
Feb.5 at 4:32 pm
Myles Brown says:
Hi.
Feb.5 at 4:33 pm
TADOne says:
Damn I’m so upset that I missed this whole debate.
Feb.5 at 4:34 pm
white hot eboy says:
You two suck.
Feb.5 at 4:36 pm
Bryan says:
I have nothing to contribute you all know how I feel about Kobe but I can’t stay I’m at the college in a computer lab , I’m just showing my face because everyone said I wouldn’t because of the superbowl.
Feb.5 at 4:37 pm
TADOne says:
Shia can’t type f*ck then. So disappointing.
Feb.5 at 4:37 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
shia, you have been missed. Myles, wish you were around for this one!
Feb.5 at 4:38 pm
Bryan says:
Congrats Sam and all the other bandwagon jumping assh*les.
Feb.5 at 4:38 pm
Bryan says:
I’ll be around some in 2 weeks f*ckers.
Feb.5 at 4:39 pm
TADOne says:
Much better.
Feb.5 at 4:39 pm
white hot eboy says:
Hi Shia, nice sentiment to your comment, too.
Feb.5 at 4:40 pm
white hot eboy says:
Don’t threaten us with a good time, Shia.
Feb.5 at 4:44 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Myles, come back.
Feb.5 at 4:44 pm
TADOne says:
Just got thru all the comments. Ya’ll f*ckers are funny.
Feb.5 at 4:45 pm
TADOne says:
So Holly, do you think that was the “real” KB you interacted with?
Feb.5 at 4:45 pm
Myles Brown says:
Hi!
Feb.5 at 4:48 pm
Myles Brown says:
“Real” is one of the most over-and mis-used words in the entire lexicon. As it has already been explained, “real” is entirely circumstantial…
Feb.