Other Sports Give It Up For Kobe Bean Bryant - Page 5

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 12:25 PM

HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – This is a direct message to the anti-Kobe Bryant crowd out there.

Give it up! Give up the fight.

And give it up for Kobe Bean Bryant.

Seriously, stop hating on the man and surrender. There’s a good chance KB Bryant is going to leave this game with his face on the NBA’s version of Mt. Rushmore, alongside those idols from his childhood, specifically Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

You can’t win this argument. Despite all of your theories to the contrary and reasons for why he should not, could not and will not go down as one of the game’s top five all-time greats, it’s going to happen. There’s no stopping him now. He’s already got the championship rings (five of them, to be exact) and career longevity that has eluded so many other seekers of basketball’s holy grail (fame, fortune, rings and legendary status).

And now he’s hunting down scoring legends, one by one, as he climbs up the career chart every time he and the Lakers hit the floor. With 13 points tonight against the Sacramento Kings, Bryant will pass Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and move into eighth place on the NBA’s career scoring list. He began the year in 13th place. He’ll be knocking on the door of the top five by season’s end.

Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the man his due.

You’ve doubted him at every turn, from the moment he stood at that podium as a high school senior with those shades sitting atop of his shaved head and told the world he was taking his talents to the NBA next year (it was “The Decision” long before we’d ever heard of LeBron James).

There was no way this brash kid was going to take over the league the way he tried to in his first couple of years in the league, butting heads with grown men (on his team and around the league) on a nightly basis. But he did.

There was absolutely no he was going to be able to co-exist with another all-time great, Shaquille O’Neal, and win titles with the Lakers while they tussled for alpha dog status in the same locker room. But he did. He won three titles and would have probably won several more had they stayed together.

Surely there was no way he’d win it all without Shaq, not after blowing up that dynasty. He’d have to settle for being known forever as Robin to the big fella’s Batman, a shame worse than anything he could stand. But he did. He finally won without Shaq, back-to-back titles even, and now he’s chasing his third straight.

But KB Bryant isn’t just playing for his own legacy these days. He’s doing it for his coach now, too. He’s trying to make sure Phil Jackson exits Laker land properly, with another ring.

It’s yet another improbable twist in Bryant’s true Hollywood story.

The same coach that trashed him in that book after the Shaq-Kobe dynasty ended is the one that inspires him now. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times explains:

Kobe Bryant doesn’t need any added motivation, but he acknowledges the importance of winning one more championship under Jackson.

“Yeah, for me especially because we’ve been together for so long,” Bryant said. “I’m going to make sure I do everything in my power to send him off in the right way.”

Jackson, 65, reiterated Thursday that he would be done coaching after this season. He said that last season was a “maybe” as far as retirement, but “this year, there’s no ‘maybe.’ “

He then joked he would find a way to stay in the spotlight: “I’m actually going to have a press conference once every two months just to kind of feel right. Maybe like Jerry [West], just getting it out.”

West recently made headlines by saying at an Orange County auto show that the Lakers’ defense looked slow and old.

Bryant didn’t want to peer too far into Jackson’s departure after 11 seasons with the Lakers, five of which have ended in championships.

“It’ll be a sad day, but I’m sure I’ll get together with him and go fly-fishing at some point,” Bryant said.

You won’t catch us doubting Bryant when he says he and Phil might go fly-fishing together one day. In fact, we’re expecting as much. Look at the man’s history. He doesn’t just chase his dreams, he snatches them up.

Are we convinced that his sole motivating factor is making sure the Zen Master receives a proper send off? Well, of course, not. We all know he wants to climb more than just the scoring charts.

Jordan has that sixth ring.

You know KB Bryant won’t rest until he has seven … or eight, or even nine.

At this point, we’d be fools to doubt him.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/0...s=iref:nbahpt1

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-28-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Jordan was more discrete than you think - I know a woman he picked up one night. He had one of his people approach her and tell her that "Mike wants to hook up with you." She agreed, and was escorted from the club to a hotel room separately, so no one ever saw them together publicly.

BTW, I got this story second hand from a friend who worked with this woman, who was extremely fit and attractive. Both were on the Admiral's staff and not the type to make shit like that up. I assume this was the way he typically conducted himself, and I also assume if his people got any hint that the woman in question was either mentally or emotionally unstable, they'd pull the plug on the deal before he ever entered the picture.

Well, the dude was certainly a player off the court as well!

And maybe you're right: His "people" may have found a way around the TMZ types and maybe even the social media aspect.

I'm just "assuming" that if he lived under the constant scrutiny that today's celebrities and superstar athletes live, one of his conquests would have cracked at some point, opening up the floodgates.

And from what I've heard, that's a pretty big pool of water.

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, the dude was certainly a player off the court as well!

And maybe you're right: His "people" may have found a way around the TMZ types and maybe even the social media aspect.

I'm just "assuming" that if he lived under the constant scrutiny that today's celebrities and superstar athletes live, one of his conquests would have cracked at some point, opening up the floodgates.

And from what I've heard, that's a pretty big pool of water.

Like Lake Michigan.

KurtCobain · 01-28-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, the dude was certainly a player off the court as well!

And maybe you're right: His "people" may have found a way around the TMZ types and maybe even the social media aspect.

I'm just "assuming" that if he lived under the constant scrutiny that today's celebrities and superstar athletes live, one of his conquests would have cracked at some point, opening up the floodgates.

Definitely he would've had a few bad media episodes. Even now in his retirement he's getting ****ed with for having a hitler mustache.

Psyko Tek · 01-28-2011, 06:50 PM

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...nnbin&hpt=Sbin

Mr Clutch?

I'm a suns fan

and they suck

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...nnbin&hpt=Sbin

Mr Clutch?

I'm a suns fan

and they suck

I feel your pain.

kcxiv · 01-29-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...nnbin&hpt=Sbin

Mr Clutch?

I'm a suns fan

and they suck

chiefzilla1501 · 01-29-2011, 05:49 PM

I've wanted to hate Kobe, but it's hard to disrespect a player that's this good. And I'm rooting like hell for the Lakers to come back to form and dominate the Heat. Still, having watched MJ, I think Kobe is a distant 2nd and that's not a knock on Kobe. I just don't think there will ever be a player that comes close to MJ.

I agree that he'd probably be more disliked in today's game, but I also think what MJ really has that Kobe doesn't is marketability. He was charismatic, was extremely recognizable, and had a bunch of quirks (like the tongue hanging out). I would also guess that the guy had business smarts that Kobe does not.

I don't care that either of those 2 are dicks. You can't be a competitor if you aren't. Look at Lebron--he's so intent on making everyone happy, that he's forced his teams to accomodate his posse wherever he goes, and then he lets his dumbass friend make a PR move as stupid as "the decision."

CanadaKC · 01-29-2011, 06:07 PM

when he gave it to a hotel employee up the ass while married...he lost a little respect...but hey...what NBA player hasn't done that?

01-28-2011, 12:25 PM
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $4968410	Give It Up For Kobe Bean Bryant HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – This is a direct message to the anti-Kobe Bryant crowd out there. Give it up! Give up the fight. And give it up for Kobe Bean Bryant. Seriously, stop hating on the man and surrender. There’s a good chance KB Bryant is going to leave this game with his face on the NBA’s version of Mt. Rushmore, alongside those idols from his childhood, specifically Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. You can’t win this argument. Despite all of your theories to the contrary and reasons for why he should not, could not and will not go down as one of the game’s top five all-time greats, it’s going to happen. There’s no stopping him now. He’s already got the championship rings (five of them, to be exact) and career longevity that has eluded so many other seekers of basketball’s holy grail (fame, fortune, rings and legendary status). And now he’s hunting down scoring legends, one by one, as he climbs up the career chart every time he and the Lakers hit the floor. With 13 points tonight against the Sacramento Kings, Bryant will pass Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and move into eighth place on the NBA’s career scoring list. He began the year in 13th place. He’ll be knocking on the door of the top five by season’s end. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the man his due. You’ve doubted him at every turn, from the moment he stood at that podium as a high school senior with those shades sitting atop of his shaved head and told the world he was taking his talents to the NBA next year (it was “The Decision” long before we’d ever heard of LeBron James). There was no way this brash kid was going to take over the league the way he tried to in his first couple of years in the league, butting heads with grown men (on his team and around the league) on a nightly basis. But he did. There was absolutely no he was going to be able to co-exist with another all-time great, Shaquille O’Neal, and win titles with the Lakers while they tussled for alpha dog status in the same locker room. But he did. He won three titles and would have probably won several more had they stayed together. Surely there was no way he’d win it all without Shaq, not after blowing up that dynasty. He’d have to settle for being known forever as Robin to the big fella’s Batman, a shame worse than anything he could stand. But he did. He finally won without Shaq, back-to-back titles even, and now he’s chasing his third straight. But KB Bryant isn’t just playing for his own legacy these days. He’s doing it for his coach now, too. He’s trying to make sure Phil Jackson exits Laker land properly, with another ring. It’s yet another improbable twist in Bryant’s true Hollywood story. The same coach that trashed him in that book after the Shaq-Kobe dynasty ended is the one that inspires him now. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times explains: Kobe Bryant doesn’t need any added motivation, but he acknowledges the importance of winning one more championship under Jackson. “Yeah, for me especially because we’ve been together for so long,” Bryant said. “I’m going to make sure I do everything in my power to send him off in the right way.” Jackson, 65, reiterated Thursday that he would be done coaching after this season. He said that last season was a “maybe” as far as retirement, but “this year, there’s no ‘maybe.’ “ He then joked he would find a way to stay in the spotlight: “I’m actually going to have a press conference once every two months just to kind of feel right. Maybe like Jerry [West], just getting it out.” West recently made headlines by saying at an Orange County auto show that the Lakers’ defense looked slow and old. Bryant didn’t want to peer too far into Jackson’s departure after 11 seasons with the Lakers, five of which have ended in championships. “It’ll be a sad day, but I’m sure I’ll get together with him and go fly-fishing at some point,” Bryant said. You won’t catch us doubting Bryant when he says he and Phil might go fly-fishing together one day. In fact, we’re expecting as much. Look at the man’s history. He doesn’t just chase his dreams, he snatches them up. Are we convinced that his sole motivating factor is making sure the Zen Master receives a proper send off? Well, of course, not. We all know he wants to climb more than just the scoring charts. Jordan has that sixth ring. You know KB Bryant won’t rest until he has seven … or eight, or even nine. At this point, we’d be fools to doubt him. http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/0...s=iref:nbahpt1
Posts: 32,387

01-28-2011, 06:50 PM	#64
Psyko Tek special teams Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mesa AZ Casino cash: $10015665	http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...nnbin&hpt=Sbin Mr Clutch? I'm a suns fan and they suck __________________ Psyko Tek The keyboard has been drinking,
Posts: 12,018

01-29-2011, 05:49 PM	#67
chiefzilla1501 In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $1834497	I've wanted to hate Kobe, but it's hard to disrespect a player that's this good. And I'm rooting like hell for the Lakers to come back to form and dominate the Heat. Still, having watched MJ, I think Kobe is a distant 2nd and that's not a knock on Kobe. I just don't think there will ever be a player that comes close to MJ. I agree that he'd probably be more disliked in today's game, but I also think what MJ really has that Kobe doesn't is marketability. He was charismatic, was extremely recognizable, and had a bunch of quirks (like the tongue hanging out). I would also guess that the guy had business smarts that Kobe does not. I don't care that either of those 2 are dicks. You can't be a competitor if you aren't. Look at Lebron--he's so intent on making everyone happy, that he's forced his teams to accomodate his posse wherever he goes, and then he lets his dumbass friend make a PR move as stupid as "the decision."
Posts: 48,425

01-29-2011, 06:07 PM	#68
CanadaKC Lord of the SB Rings Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Casino cash: $6528668	when he gave it to a hotel employee up the ass while married...he lost a little respect...but hey...what NBA player hasn't done that?
Posts: 1,505