poor Kobe Bryant. no matter what he does, people (i.e. the media) will criticize him. according to the media, Kobe Bryant is responsible for the departure of Shaq, got Phil ousted, ripped apart the Lakers, it's his fault the Lakers lost to Detroit, the creation of AIDS, the turbulence in the Middle East and made Eve eat the apple in the Garden of Eden.
is Kobe Bryant a saint? HELL NO. far from it. however, recent events in Laker Land show he isnt responsible. here's my outlook based on what is actually said, not theory.
1) Shaq: the big TRAITOR is the reason why he left the Lakers, not Kobe Bryant. Shaq fooled a lot of people thinking Kobe got rid of him. how do i know this? let's look back and think about it. have you EVER EVER heard Shaq saying he hopes Kobe stays a Laker? NO. remember last year when the Lakers reported to training camp, but Kobe was missing? Shaq said "the WHOLE team is here." now, Shaq was asking the Lakers for a $60 million dollar contract for 2 years, BUT, he came into camp AGAIN fat and out of shape. he told the Laker management in July 2003 that if they got Karl Malone and Gary Payton, he would come into camp leaner and more dedicated. did he? NO.
after the NBA finals were over, Kobe was asked a question of can he play with Phil and Shaq. Kobe said "i could play with Phil and Shaq forever." Shaq's response? "i will ALWAYS do what's best for ME." now in Phil Jackson's book coming out, he quoted Kobe Bryant as saying he could play with Shaq but he's tired of being the sidekick. now also keep in mind that the Lakers didnt out of the blue say they were trading Shaq. it was Shaq who DEMANDED to be traded. Mitch Kupchak basically told the media Shaq is expendable. that's when Shaq made his trade demand.
now why would the Lakers make Shaq expendable? think about it. you have this one guy working hard every off season, dedicated to working on his game and keeps his mouth shut about management, then you have this other guy who NEVER works out in the summer, constantly bad mouths the management in the media, but yet is demanding a $60 million dollar contract for 2 years. hmmmmm, who would i pick? the proof is the fact Shaq is now in Miami in shape and motivated. WHERE THE HELL WAS THIS MOTIVATION THE LAST 3 YEARS IN LA???? the fact is also it was about money when Shaq told the national media "the Heat are on the brink of winning a championship as long as they do the right things. the right things are bringing in the right people and MATHEMATICALLY." what is "mathematically"? it's about money. plus, how can he say he would defer to Dwayne Wade (rookie sensation in Miami) but he couldnt defer to Kobe in LA?
plus, as much as people say Kobe is a ball hog and selfish, have you EVER EVER heard Kobe say in the media "i want the ball. you got to feed the big dog the ball."? NO. that was SHAQ almost everyday. plus Kobe Bryant usually leads the team in assists. how can you be a selfish player AND lead the team in assists? people say Shaq gets others involved, but he NEVER led the team in assists? Shaq is probably the most selfish player ever to play basketball. but because Shaq is "Mr. Personality" people overlook that fact. because Kobe Bryant is a quiet guy, people automatically assume he's cocky. tell me you havent seen that in regular life. how many of us seen a very attractive woman who is shy, but because she's shy, people think she's arrogant? same thing here. i will miss Shaq, but it is because of HIM, not Kobe, that he's not in LA anymore. he isnt loyal. otherwise he would have never left Orlando. Orlando wouldnt pay him $120 million dollars back in 1996, that's why he came to LA. now, it's 2004 and it's the same ol' thing.
2) Phil Jackson. i like Phil, i really do. however his new book also sheds light on his flaws. people see his book and say "see! Kobe is an arrogant ballplayer who only looks out for himself!" but, i tell people, READ his words. Phil, in his book, says he couldnt coach Kobe because he just wont listen. but isnt Phil Jackson a "MASTER" of controlling egos? Phil told Mitch Kupchak (his own words) in January 2004 that he didnt want to come back as a Laker coach for the 2004-2005 campaign if Kobe was still there. basically Phil gave a "him or me" ultimatum to the Laker brass. so if this true, then how did Kobe push Phil out as in him telling the Laker management to get rid of him? Phil pushed Phil out, not the other way around.
i think Phil couldnt handle Kobe. why? Phil is a smart guy, no doubt about it. but he is an ARROGANT intelligient man. now, if you think you are intellectually superior to people, what would be the one thing that would drive you crazy? ANOTHER intelligient person. Phil played mind games with his players all the time. but, it probably didnt work on Kobe Bryant who sees through the head games. of course that will annoy Phil. he couldnt mold Kobe's mind like the other lemmings on the team. Kobe is already motivated. i laugh at the fact that Phil wanted a therapist because Kobe was getting to him. this is the same coach who coached certified psychopath Dennis Rodman. people say Phil managed Jordan, but the difference between Jordan and Kobe is, Jordan was the #1 guy in Chicago, but it was SHAQ, not Kobe, who was the #1 guy in LA. in other words, Kobe wouldnt fall for the mind games that Scottie Pippen probably fell for. had Kobe been the #1 guy in LA, i doubt Phil would think that way about Kobe.
here's another thing Phil said that let you know he had a problem with Kobe. Phil wanted to trade Kobe back in 1999. Phil's FIRST season was 1999-2000. how can Phil say Kobe is uncoachable if Kobe hasnt played a full year under Phil? Phil doesnt like a challenge? didnt Phil think he might be able to control Kobe's mind in 5 years? that's the odd part about his book. he wanted to get rid of Kobe well before he won a title in LA. makes you wonder about Phil. again, Phil had Dennis Rodman for three years and was able to control him. Rodman is crazy. no doubt. but he couldnt handle Kobe? he calls Kobe a narcissistic, but isnt Phil the same? is he truly a "Zen Master"?
now, i have NO IDEA what Kobe Bryant did, but the poor guy cant get a break. i'm talking basketball terms here, not his personal life like i know some of you are going to bring up. i dont condone the fact he cheate don his wife, i am looking at his basketball life only. no matter what he does, he will always be criticized. he is called a selfish player, but yet Allen Iverson is the very definition of a selfish player and you dont see the same criticism. amazing, simply amazing. i feel for Kobe, i really do. but the admirable thing he has done is keeping his mouth shut. he isnt blasting Shaq or Phil. he is just going about his business. why do we see Shaq in the paper everyday blasting the Lakers and Kobe? Shaq will never win a championship in Miami. why? him and Dwayne Wade will be at odds. he did it with "Penny" Hardaway in Orlando and he did it with Kobe Bryant in LA. mark my words.....
is Kobe Bryant a saint? HELL NO. far from it. however, recent events in Laker Land show he isnt responsible. here's my outlook based on what is actually said, not theory.
1) Shaq: the big TRAITOR is the reason why he left the Lakers, not Kobe Bryant. Shaq fooled a lot of people thinking Kobe got rid of him. how do i know this? let's look back and think about it. have you EVER EVER heard Shaq saying he hopes Kobe stays a Laker? NO. remember last year when the Lakers reported to training camp, but Kobe was missing? Shaq said "the WHOLE team is here." now, Shaq was asking the Lakers for a $60 million dollar contract for 2 years, BUT, he came into camp AGAIN fat and out of shape. he told the Laker management in July 2003 that if they got Karl Malone and Gary Payton, he would come into camp leaner and more dedicated. did he? NO.
after the NBA finals were over, Kobe was asked a question of can he play with Phil and Shaq. Kobe said "i could play with Phil and Shaq forever." Shaq's response? "i will ALWAYS do what's best for ME." now in Phil Jackson's book coming out, he quoted Kobe Bryant as saying he could play with Shaq but he's tired of being the sidekick. now also keep in mind that the Lakers didnt out of the blue say they were trading Shaq. it was Shaq who DEMANDED to be traded. Mitch Kupchak basically told the media Shaq is expendable. that's when Shaq made his trade demand.
now why would the Lakers make Shaq expendable? think about it. you have this one guy working hard every off season, dedicated to working on his game and keeps his mouth shut about management, then you have this other guy who NEVER works out in the summer, constantly bad mouths the management in the media, but yet is demanding a $60 million dollar contract for 2 years. hmmmmm, who would i pick? the proof is the fact Shaq is now in Miami in shape and motivated. WHERE THE HELL WAS THIS MOTIVATION THE LAST 3 YEARS IN LA???? the fact is also it was about money when Shaq told the national media "the Heat are on the brink of winning a championship as long as they do the right things. the right things are bringing in the right people and MATHEMATICALLY." what is "mathematically"? it's about money. plus, how can he say he would defer to Dwayne Wade (rookie sensation in Miami) but he couldnt defer to Kobe in LA?
plus, as much as people say Kobe is a ball hog and selfish, have you EVER EVER heard Kobe say in the media "i want the ball. you got to feed the big dog the ball."? NO. that was SHAQ almost everyday. plus Kobe Bryant usually leads the team in assists. how can you be a selfish player AND lead the team in assists? people say Shaq gets others involved, but he NEVER led the team in assists? Shaq is probably the most selfish player ever to play basketball. but because Shaq is "Mr. Personality" people overlook that fact. because Kobe Bryant is a quiet guy, people automatically assume he's cocky. tell me you havent seen that in regular life. how many of us seen a very attractive woman who is shy, but because she's shy, people think she's arrogant? same thing here. i will miss Shaq, but it is because of HIM, not Kobe, that he's not in LA anymore. he isnt loyal. otherwise he would have never left Orlando. Orlando wouldnt pay him $120 million dollars back in 1996, that's why he came to LA. now, it's 2004 and it's the same ol' thing.
2) Phil Jackson. i like Phil, i really do. however his new book also sheds light on his flaws. people see his book and say "see! Kobe is an arrogant ballplayer who only looks out for himself!" but, i tell people, READ his words. Phil, in his book, says he couldnt coach Kobe because he just wont listen. but isnt Phil Jackson a "MASTER" of controlling egos? Phil told Mitch Kupchak (his own words) in January 2004 that he didnt want to come back as a Laker coach for the 2004-2005 campaign if Kobe was still there. basically Phil gave a "him or me" ultimatum to the Laker brass. so if this true, then how did Kobe push Phil out as in him telling the Laker management to get rid of him? Phil pushed Phil out, not the other way around.
i think Phil couldnt handle Kobe. why? Phil is a smart guy, no doubt about it. but he is an ARROGANT intelligient man. now, if you think you are intellectually superior to people, what would be the one thing that would drive you crazy? ANOTHER intelligient person. Phil played mind games with his players all the time. but, it probably didnt work on Kobe Bryant who sees through the head games. of course that will annoy Phil. he couldnt mold Kobe's mind like the other lemmings on the team. Kobe is already motivated. i laugh at the fact that Phil wanted a therapist because Kobe was getting to him. this is the same coach who coached certified psychopath Dennis Rodman. people say Phil managed Jordan, but the difference between Jordan and Kobe is, Jordan was the #1 guy in Chicago, but it was SHAQ, not Kobe, who was the #1 guy in LA. in other words, Kobe wouldnt fall for the mind games that Scottie Pippen probably fell for. had Kobe been the #1 guy in LA, i doubt Phil would think that way about Kobe.
here's another thing Phil said that let you know he had a problem with Kobe. Phil wanted to trade Kobe back in 1999. Phil's FIRST season was 1999-2000. how can Phil say Kobe is uncoachable if Kobe hasnt played a full year under Phil? Phil doesnt like a challenge? didnt Phil think he might be able to control Kobe's mind in 5 years? that's the odd part about his book. he wanted to get rid of Kobe well before he won a title in LA. makes you wonder about Phil. again, Phil had Dennis Rodman for three years and was able to control him. Rodman is crazy. no doubt. but he couldnt handle Kobe? he calls Kobe a narcissistic, but isnt Phil the same? is he truly a "Zen Master"?
now, i have NO IDEA what Kobe Bryant did, but the poor guy cant get a break. i'm talking basketball terms here, not his personal life like i know some of you are going to bring up. i dont condone the fact he cheate don his wife, i am looking at his basketball life only. no matter what he does, he will always be criticized. he is called a selfish player, but yet Allen Iverson is the very definition of a selfish player and you dont see the same criticism. amazing, simply amazing. i feel for Kobe, i really do. but the admirable thing he has done is keeping his mouth shut. he isnt blasting Shaq or Phil. he is just going about his business. why do we see Shaq in the paper everyday blasting the Lakers and Kobe? Shaq will never win a championship in Miami. why? him and Dwayne Wade will be at odds. he did it with "Penny" Hardaway in Orlando and he did it with Kobe Bryant in LA. mark my words.....
