In at attempt to try and put this 15th Lakers' Championship into perspective, I have responded to ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, "Page 2" Kobe '09: "Change we can believe in?" Here is the link to that article. It is lengthy (even longer than my rants), but it is a classic indictment of Kobe Bryant that is indicative of those that are still Kobe haters or at least doubters.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090616&sportCat=nba
My comments sent to Bill Simmons:
Bill,
The best thing I love about your articles, are that whenever someone accuses me of writing my "Lakers' Manifestos," I send them a link to your Page 2 and then add, "see I am far more concise & a lot less wordy than Bill." Seriously I love reading your work, but in this case, I believe you were a bit schizo in your opinions of Kobe. You started off in what I felt was a "sad the Celts did not kick our butts again, condemnation of Kobe," but ended up sounding like you couldn't help but respect the hell out of him and recognize he is one of the greatest players to ever play basketball. While that is perfectly acceptable, you did leave out a few items that might be relevant. While you spoke of his superb work ethic and drive to win, you failed to mention he has played more than a whole season, 2 post seasons, and an Olympics with a dislocated pinky. Furthermore, since the regular season Cav's game in Cleveland, he has additionally played with a dislocated right ring finger. Just pops the sucker back into its socket, and off he goes, Hi Ho HI Ho. He also re-injured them in game 5 Sunday. There is not a player in the game with his pain threshold and will to fight through it. One of the main reasons Laker fans love him so much, is, unlike Shaq and most other players, he plays in pain, he plays through injury, he always plays!! That does not strike me as a "me first attitude, or selfishness, or some kind of deception or act." It does strike me as a leader by example, a team player, and a superb athlete willing to risk his career to win now. We never worry about him. Even when hurt, he is the best out there. His fans joke, "the only way he ain't playing is if they amputate his right hand, and then, he'll still get double digits, with just 5 digits on his left hand!" Kobe has more mileage on him than a 1968 Volkswagon Bug. He "takes a lickin', but keeps on tickin'!" Hey, we all know he is human. He missed 5 free throws one game, he sometimes forgets he has team mates in his desire to win. We all know Eagle Rock was not one of his finer moments, nor was his selling out Shaq in his infamous, "Shaq does it all the time" plea to the police to try and save his own skin. He can be a stubborn, spoiled. self centered egotist. But he is changing and he is maturing. If you had watched every Lakers game like all of us have this season, you would see this transformation taking place. Is it complete? No. Is he closer to understanding what it takes to make a good team a champion? You bet! He is making his team mates better and in turn they make him better. There is finally synergy on this team & yes a Title without Shaq! .
It bothers me that even when he smiles, hugs his team mates, embraces Fisher, following the ultimate triumph of both their careers (though he claims winning a gold medal is #1), I still hear, "that was disingenuous, like it was scripted and an act!" Please. That accusation smacks of petty childishness & is snippy, resentful, jealous, and unfair to me. If you think his happiness was an act, than give him an Academy Award to go along with his O'Brien and MVP Trophies. But please let the man be himself, even if you are sickened by him and the so-called, Hollywood Fakers! We Laker fans and admirers of Kobe's abilities and work ethic, quite frankly don't give a damn if his emotions are genuine, an act, or a masterful cover up. We are every bit as happy as he is to have had our team fight through adversity and win a Championship. We suffer and exalt with the team in the ups and downs. We feel the team's pain and their joy. The only difference is, we are not having to get an IV drip due to exhaustion, nor taping fingers back into place that have been pulled out of their sockets. (Well, I came close to having that happen following a playoff loss.) We also are not called upon to score 30 points every game, grab 6 or 7 boards, dish out 5-8 assists, play in your face defense, and make every clutch free throw. We just watch and hope and are amazed. Oh by the way, how genuine was Paul Pierce's seemingly career ending injury in the Finals last season, only to come back and single handedly torch the Lakers? Even we who would rather burn in hell for an eternity, than lose the way we did to Boston last season, never wished Pierce harm. We respected him and still do. But let's call a spade a spade, if that is what we must do! Get my drift?
What irks me the most following this arduous journey and ultimate triumph, is that the Laker and Kobe haters are gathering like hungry wolves. It just kills this negative cadre of vultures to try and resist feasting on the jubilant bodies of joyous fans, Laker players, and of course, their ultimate prey, Kobe Bryant. They would prefer to wait for the leaner and unhappier times in Lakers' Land, like last season's failures, before ripping away the flesh of fallen carcasses and feasting on the stench like some carrion predator, but alas, they just cannot wait!
I can hear it now. "Kobe has only won with Phil Jackson to guide him Kobe would not have won if Fisher doesn't hit those two clutch 3 pointers. Kobe had the best supporting cast around him of any other elite player. Kobe was lucky Kevin Garnett was injured. Kobe should thank the Cavs for losing to the Magic and giving Kobe and the Lakers home court advantage. Kobe is nothing without Pau!" Did I leave anything or anyone out? No doubt the haters will come up with a fresh arsenal of contempt & venom during the Summer.
Phil Jackson on Kobe's leadership:
"In those eight years that have ensued from that period (last Championship), he's learned how to become a leader in a way in which people want to follow him, and I think that's really important for him to have learned that, because he knew that he had to give to get back in return. And so he's become a giver rather than just a guy that's a demanding leader, and that's been great for him and great to watch." This from a coach who wrote how Kobe was uncoachable.
Shaq:
Why is Shaq making overtures to Kobe now after rapping to Kobe "how's my ass taste?" It is because Shaq knows he sealed his own fate, with statements like, "you don't feed the dog, the dog don't guard the house." "Pay me," in reference to a preseason game when he exhorted Dr. Buss in Hawaii. He didn't endear himself to the organization when he scheduled a toe surgery a few weeks before camp started and his ritual of showing up 40 lbs. overweight every training camp, while Kobe was in mid season shape, did not help his cause. Shaq now realizes, he might be able to win another ring alongside Kobe.
Kobe is perceived as a whiner & a ball hog:
Sure he complains on nearly every shot that he was fouled. So do most players. But the fact of the matter is Kobe is fouled at least 50% of the time he drives to the basket and receives about 20% of those calls. The refs "T" up Kobe regularly when he argues the no-calls, like the blatant slap on the arm while shooting in the finals that caused a 3 foot miss and got no call. There were probably 20 others throughout the playoffs that he did not receive calls. Dwyane Wade and Lebron...all they have to do is drive to the hoop and they will either score or get the foul. Kobe averaged over 30 points, 5 reb. and 5 assists per game in the Finals. Only Jerry West and Michael Jordan have done that. Kobe had 8 or more assists for 6 straight playoff games.(including the Finals). Ball hog, selfish? You tell me!
"Hey, Hey, You, You, Get Off of Kobe's Cloud..." The torch has not yet been passed to Lebron or D-Wade. In time, my man. But that time is not right this moment. No raining on our parade or our reign! Kobe is in fact our "Reign Man!"
This Championship is dedicated to the memory of Chick Hearn who would have been damn proud at not only the way Kobe played, but of the entire Lakers' franchise. Rest easy Golden Throat...we ain't done yet!
Watchdogg.."tellin' it the only way I know...Dogg-E-Style"
