Only Fools Will Question The Legacy Of Kobe Or Superman

Join me, true believers, as we delve into one specific and fascinating element of the NBA Finals. Past the standard “who will win”, “keys to the game”, and the always scintillating post-game line of questioning that begins with the words “were you surprised when…..?”

Win or lose, this Series will define the legacy of Kobe Bryant.

I thought it best to start this column with the most ludicrously inane statement of the bunch, because you can bet your last aging sneaker it won’t be the last time this one crosses the line of common sense.

It’s easy to tell when the person you’re speaking to or hearing as they call themselves NBA experts or analysts knows little or next to nothing about basketball or even playing a team game at even an average level.

The moment discussion comes up about Kobe’s three previous Title rings and how they count less because of the team around him at the time.

More to the point, because Shaq was the “real” leader of the team and without him there would have been no Championship run from 2000 to 2002.  

I cannot tell you how often this line of absurdity makes it into what could ostensibly be intelligent conversation. It’s as if all Bryant did was stand around and polish O’Neal’s MVP trophies.

Try this one on for size. Shaq owes his three Title rings to Kobe Bryant, and to consider he would still be wearing them without Bryant on the roster is like considering Jack Nicholson attending a Lakers game without his sunglasses. Unthinkable.

The basketball twits who insist this would be Kobe’s first “real championship” or one he will have “earned by himself”, both comments I have heard on sports talk mumble within the last week, is moronic at best.

Kobe Bryant’s championship legacy is well set in stone already and is beyond question.

Win or lose, this Series will define the legacy of Dwight Howard.

Win and the NBA’s most underrated player will finally have broken through and led his team to a Title. Lose, and some of those same weekend pundits will spout with an air of superiority how they knew all along Howard could never crack the superstar ceiling.

And again, they would be alarmingly wrong. Should the Magic fall short, the only thing that can said about Howard at this stage of his career is how many more chances he will hopefully be granted to wear that ring. But his legacy will be alive and still rolling.

At 23 years of age Howard is already a 3-time All Star, a Defensive Player of the Year, holds seven records as the youngest ever in NBA History for such mundane marks as nailing 5000 rebounds in a career, carding a double-double, and leading the league in blocked shots.

Oh yes, and he’s also one of the absolute nicest guys you will ever meet. Humble, hard working, endlessly gives back to kids and the community, and looks great in a Superman cape.

Simply due to luck of the draw and depending on such things as free agency, salary caps, and what he wants in life, Dwight Howard may never have the opportunities of a Kobe Bryant.

But anyone who underrates this guy knows as much about basketball as the geniuses who staked their reputations on the knowledge there was no way LeBron and Cleveland could miss on a Finals berth this season.

Dwight Howard’s NBA legacy is well set in stone already and has nowhere to go but up.

Bur fear not. One will lose in these Finals and will be excoriated by the weekend wankers as a fraud, unable to rise to the occasion, or a loser.

Likely the same “insiders” still backing up on the Cavs loss. And being faced with what could indeed be a truly legendary Final.

Or at the very least, one that should be great fun to watch.

Veteran National sportscaster Ed Berliner fears no man, woman or talk show host when it comes to opinions, and is thankful when people read every word before filing snappy retorts. He can be heard along with the widest variety of reporters, writers, columnists and analysts at "Stone Cold Sports".

Stone Hard Opinion. Ice Cold Bias. No Prisoners.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?