Poor Kobe. I was gonna wait until the dust settled on last night's massacre before I gave my piece, so I could guage from which angle I would attack it, but who was I kidding: Kobe is ALWAYS the story.
We could talk about the Celtics defense, which cemented itself as historically good with their python-like (or Mamba-like)suffocation of the high-scoring Lakers. We could talk about KG getting Mighty Joe Young off his back, or Little Shuttlesworth hitting 22 3's in the series, or P-Squared going to another level historically, or Doc Rivers putting a sock in Bill Simmons' mouth. We could talk about the Big Three as a whole, how they were brought together to accomplish a specific goal and did it through hard work, unselfishness, and a desperate commitment to winning.
Or we could talk about Phil Jackson getting worked by a speedbag, or the changes the Lakers must make in order to become tougher and better defensively (we have to make a move for Ron Artest).
We'll touch on those things here and there, but ultimately, it's all about Kobe. You know it and I know it.
He was so somber at the postgame press conference last night that you'd have thought he was speaking at a funeral. Other than losing a close family member or something like that, is there anything that could make Kobe more despondent than finally winning his first MVP and getting to the Finals without Shaq, only to see it all blow up in smoke?
Kobe's tone at the podium was that of a man who realizes that until he wins a 'chip without Tom Hanks (Big), he can never even begin to be considered the greatest. And we all know that Kobe is driven by the pursuit of just that. Kobe may not be the most self-aware person on the planet, but he is in touch with his goals and his desired legacy, as well as what he has to do to inherit it. He understands perceptions.
If Kobe weren't as good as he is, this wouldn't be a problem. If he didn't show so many flashes of Jordan, nobody would make the comparison. If he didn't have such rare ability he probably wouldn't have the same aspirarions. But Kobe walks like Jordan, he's picked up a lot of the on-court mannerisms of Jordan, he wanted his own team so he could win titles as The Man like Jordan, he wants to be the G.O.A.T. so he has to surpass Jordan, plus he's got talent and skills like Jordan, so he's judged against Jordan and Jordan alone.
He's held to a higher standard than Kevin McHale and Scottie Pippen, two Hall-of-Fame sidekicks with multiple rings who aren't thought of as top-tier legends.
He's even held to a higher standard than Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain, unequivocal legends of the sport.
He's held to the standard of Air.
Of course, most people don't want anyone to be better than Jordan, especially not Kobe, whom they don't like, anyway, so when he fails they jump all over him. Jordan's team wouldn't have blown a 24-point lead in the Finals. Jordan's team wouldn't have lost an elimination game by 39 points. And so on and so forth.
Maybe if people thought he was a good guy, they'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Kobe didn't play like an MVP this series, but it's not his fault that his No. 2 guy is soft and can't hold onto the ball, or that his No. 3 guy is wildly inconsistent, or that nobody on his team other than Derek Fisher is mentally tough or that his team has no heart or that they play no defense. Of course, everybody thinks he's a phony a-hole. Which brings me to my main point:
I feel sorry for Kobe because this is just one more moment of disappointment in what may just be a star-crossed career, and because I don't think he's just a complete a-hole. Some of the things Kobe has done are indefensible, but for the most part, I don't think he means to hurt anyone. I'm serious. You know how he never seems to be able to avoid controversy, no matter what he does? I don't think he's crazy, just that he had a unique upbringing and is wired a little differently than 99.999% of the athletes out there, and can't help but behave in a certain way. There are certain parts of Kobe's personality that mix together and make people dislike him, but I don't think Kobe bleeds jerk, like, say, Barry Bonds. Yet when he's down he's treated with a similar disdain.
This was supposed to be Kobe's year. Then, just when you thought it was his time...it wasn't. Now it's just another summer for people to bash him. Starting to think his story is destined to be a sad one.
You gotta feel for the guy. Or at least I do.
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3 months ago
Kind of what I have been saying all along lol. Although my opinion on the Jordan-Kobe debate is that Kobe has yet to be greater than Jordan (see, I am not going to say if he will ever be or not be greater heh), I have been saying over and over that I feel bad for Kobe. He has had to bear this pressure of being "the next Jordan" ever since he was a kid. I am the same age as him (in fact, he is a few weeks younger than me), and when I try to put myself in his shoes, I can only feel pity for him. The scrutiny...the expectations....I feel that Kobe did start all this by letting his ego get the best of him, but hey, who didn't say he would be like Mike when he was young (I'm sure Kobe was singing this song in his head everytime he made shots as a kid)? It's just that Kobe had decent enough skills to make a lot of people think. And who doesn't want to be the best? It's just that Kobe openly says he wants to be the best (which does bring him flak). Which bring me to this point: Everyone, from people who argue that Kobe is the best to people who argue Kobe isn't anywhere near Jordan, needs to stop. Especially the people that support Kobe. I understand your passion for Kobe, but seriously. Everytime he does something magnificent, they bring up the "Kobe is the GOAT" debate. Then when everything seems to fall apart, they start telling everyone to "stop comparing" and that "kobe has 100000 more years left in him to beat Jordan." And then they wonder why everyone else jumps on Kobe, calling them "haters" when Kobe has yet to prove anything besides the fact that he is the best player of THIS era. And you know why the news and every other media outlet gets carried away with this, crucifying him when he fails and placing him on clouds when he drops 81? Because they know people, both pro and anti Kobe, loves reading this stuff. Think about it....these articles? Why do you read them, both people who are for and against Kobe being the greatest? See my point? And then in turn, I'm betting articles and news like this gets to Kobe and gives him more reason to prove people right or wrong or whatever, kind of like a vicious cycle. Kobe is an adulterer, but so is half the world. Kobe might become the greatest, but it might also be Lebron, or maybe nobody but Jordan. Kobe is arrogant and egotistical, but so are a lot of people. Kobe is not perfect as some would believe (this is for both the Kobe fanatics and the Kobe "haters"). Kobe is human, like us. I am only saying this from a human point of view, through thoughts of what it would be like for a person my age to go through all this. I can only think that the world is very cruel. Both sides need to stop comparing and scrutinizing Kobe and just let him play.
3 months ago
i agree with what you said especially at the end.
3 months ago
Kobe will get his fare due.
It will come due to a major Jordan screw-up.
People will then start to bash Jordan
and love Kobe. This is unfortunate for both.
If you notice, Jordan is pretty much kept out of the news.
There were only slight blows at him over the course of career.
When they were major, the NBA had to step because
this is the face of them. What the NBA stood for.
For Kobe, not so lucky because people say...
Ya' get what ya deserve mr. steak name boi.
These are the band-wagon people.
You know them, of course you do.
They live next door to you and say...
...I told you so when things go wrong.
If Kobe won, they'll say... I told you so.
When he loses, I told you so :-)
You're like... sure get out of here what that!
I do not think Kobe has an ego problem.
I think he is sure of himself and his capabilities, possibilities.
It is always the ones who are uncertain
and afraid to take the road less traveled
who say EGO this and EGO that.
I have never heard Kobe overstep or diss Jordan!
He is very respectable and humane. A loving father and husband.
That is still young, has faults, and is maturing like we all should.
We must transcend pass this way of thinking.
Kobe realized he was great, born for excellence
wayback why others are wondering.
(Kanye is seen to have an ego problem
and good number of musicians dislike him
and will not take the chances that he takes musically and personally.)
So is... Donald Trump
So was... Michael Jordan
So was... Ali
probably you too
and countless others
What the EGO is few "overstand" what it means.
Too much Freud for me. :-)
There has been a major conspiracy surrounding MJ.
And that is... THE NBA does not want no one to be better than Jordan.
No one is the best. Best is not good enough, better is always the idea.
If fans want to settle for the best, they'll always be unhappy and complaining.
are blazers and willing to test old-times.
"I want Tiger, Jordan, Ali, Babe Rute, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jackson...."
Then when these people have a few "human" mistakes.
We drop them like a bad habit. When we put the crown on their heads and said
...he or she is the BEST!
'THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE,BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND
CONTROVERSY'
'GOOD BETTER BEST' NEVER LET IT REST UNTIL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER AND
YOUR BETTER IS THE BEST!
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
OM SAI - The Higher Learning Radio
www.omsairadio.com
3 months ago
i very much agree with everything you've written.
kobe is a very perceptive person, very within himself, an enigma to many even his very own teammates. thats because his a genius in his own rights, the ability to often perceive things beyond the norm.
3 months ago
Fantastic and extremely creative article Anthony. I think Kobe is just unlucky. He came into the league out of high school, so several people took that the wrong way. Then he had to play with another dominant player early when he was so young yet expected to produce so damn much and then he was on his own with absolutely no one to help him. Finally, he gets a pretty good supporting cast and what does he do with them. He leads them as they win the West in the regular season and then dominate the playoffs. They get to the Finals where finally all of that pressure of not winning without Shaq will stop and all of his teammates fail him. Gasol is exposed as soft and not tough, Odom is shown as extremely inconsistent and not all there and the rest of the team is too young and can't handle the pressure of the big stage. Then, Kobe loses and everyone will start saying how he can't win without Shaq and he deserved it.
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