Other Sports Give It Up For Kobe Bean Bryant - Page 3

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

kcxiv · 01-28-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I don't think so. Some of it is Kobe's dickness being exposed through the media, but if you just look at Jordan and Kobe in photos Kobe just looks more like the guy who needs a good ass kicking.

what do you mean you dont think so? All his team mates said he was a dick, he gets into ****ing fights with his team mates. Even in his Hall of Fame speech was a dick, but you dont think so?

The only person Kobe has ever thrown under the bus was Smush Parker, and well, can you blame him. lol

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I don't think so. Some of it is Kobe's dickness being exposed through the media, but if you just look at Jordan and Kobe in photos Kobe just looks more like the guy who needs a good ass kicking.

Totally agree, check out this one.

Frazod · 01-28-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

If the internet had existed when Michael Jordan was playing basketball in the 80's & early 90's, he'd be far more hated than Kobe.

The mere fact that social media didn't exist during his day if proof enough. If Jordan had people following him 24-7, especially on the road, he wouldn't be as revered today.

Hard to argue with this. There are three kinds of women in Chicago - those Jordan has ****ed, those Jordan didn't want to ****, and those Jordan hasn't met.

I used to work for a woman who dated Jordan in college until she tired of his constant indiscretions. Direct quote from her: "Mike would **** a snake if you held it's head still."

He was always careful and discrete, but would not have done well in the world of cellphone cameras and twitter.

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-28-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I don't think so.

Then you clearly don't know anything about Michael Jordan.

If Twitter and Facebook and TMZ would have been around back then, the guy would probably be the most reviled athlete in America.

The guy ****ed every chick he could while married (including several porn stars), had massive gambling debts and gambling addiction and was a dick to everyone in his path, including his own teammates.

That shit wouldn't fly in 2011.

BigCatDaddy · 01-28-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv

what do you mean you dont think so? All his team mates said he was a dick, he gets into ****ing fights with his team mates. Even in his Hall of Fame speech was a dick, but you dont think so?

The only person Kobe has ever thrown under the bus was Smush Parker, and well, can you blame him. lol

It doesn't matter man. Some people have that "it" likeable factor about them. Look at all the stuff Mike Tyson did and everybody still loves that dude.

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then you clearly don't know anything about Michael Jordan.

If Twitter and Facebook and TMZ would have been around back then, the guy would probably be the most reviled athlete in America.

The guy ****ed every chick he could while married (including several porn stars), had massive gambling debts and gambling addiction and was a dick to everyone in his path, including his own teammates.

That shit wouldn't fly in 2011.

Spot on.

Frazod · 01-28-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

It doesn't matter man. Some people have that "it" likeable factor about them. Look at all the stuff Mike Tyson did and everybody still loves that dude.

Who the **** loves Mike Tyson?

BigCatDaddy · 01-28-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then you clearly don't know anything about Michael Jordan.

If Twitter and Facebook and TMZ would have been around back then, the guy would probably be the most reviled athlete in America.

The guy ****ed every chick he could while married (including several porn stars), had massive gambling debts and gambling addiction and was a dick to everyone in his path, including his own teammates.

That shit wouldn't fly in 2011.

Most know that now and do they care? No. Just like people overlook all of Charles Barkley's personal stuff.

BIG_DADDY · 01-28-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Who the **** loves Mike Tyson?

Funny, that's exactly what went through my head. Maybe he means in a Tonya Harding type of way.

-King- · 01-28-2011, 04:02 PM

What I've never understood is how people are okay with LeBron being the next Jordan but hate the idea of Kobe being that.

LeBron is a bigger douche than Kobe, and somehow, is a worse off basketball player. Imagine if Kobe had LeBrons size and talent. With Kobes work ethic, he'd single handedly win the NBA title every year. But LeBron has no type of work ethic to show off. He's still the only 6'9 260 pound guy in the NBA that has no type of post moves to speak of and a very average jump shot.

suds79 · 01-28-2011, 04:03 PM

Bottom line...

If you don't like Kobe because you feel like he's a dick, then stop reading or paying attention to anything Jordan outside of highlights from here on out.

It'll just down hill for you.

BigCatDaddy · 01-28-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Who the **** loves Mike Tyson?

Mike Tyson and Ali might be the only 2 athletes or former athletes alive that rival Jordan's popularity. Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant walk into some place guess who everyone wants to shake hands with.

BigCatDaddy · 01-28-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

What I've never understood is how people are okay with LeBron being the next Jordan but hate the idea of Kobe being that.

LeBron is a bigger douche than Kobe, and somehow, is a worse off basketball player. Imagine if Kobe had LeBrons size and talent. With Kobes work ethic, he'd single handedly win the NBA title every year. But LeBron has no type of work ethic to show off. He's still the only 6'9 260 pound guy in the NBA that has no type of post moves to speak of and a very average jump shot.

Lebron had the physical freak thing on his side, but any thought of him ever being a top 10 player have pretty much went by the wayside now.

-King- · 01-28-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Mike Tyson and Ali might be the only 2 athletes or former athletes alive that rival Jordan's popularity. Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant walk into some place guess who everyone wants to shake hands with.

Being popular does not mean you're loved.

Frazod · 01-28-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Mike Tyson and Ali might be the only 2 athletes or former athletes alive that rival Jordan's popularity. Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant walk into some place guess who everyone wants to shake hands with.

Ali, sure. But Tyson? Perhaps once, but not for a long time.

01-28-2011, 12:25 PM
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5018410	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, 04:02 PM	#40
-King- ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓ Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $2345743	What I've never understood is how people are okay with LeBron being the next Jordan but hate the idea of Kobe being that. LeBron is a bigger douche than Kobe, and somehow, is a worse off basketball player. Imagine if Kobe had LeBrons size and talent. With Kobes work ethic, he'd single handedly win the NBA title every year. But LeBron has no type of work ethic to show off. He's still the only 6'9 260 pound guy in the NBA that has no type of post moves to speak of and a very average jump shot. __________________ 🏁
Posts: 63,903

01-28-2011, 04:03 PM	#41
suds79 MVP Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10005036	Bottom line... If you don't like Kobe because you feel like he's a dick, then stop reading or paying attention to anything Jordan outside of highlights from here on out. It'll just down hill for you.
Posts: 5,747