Kobe Bryant owes LeBron James a very large Thank You card.
If you've seen the new Guitar Hero commercial with Kobe, Alex Rodriguez, Tony Hawk, and Michael Phelps, several things are obvious.
First, A-Rod is beyond help.
If he can't look natural goofing around at this point in his career/life, he never will unless perhaps he wins a championship. I doubt it. The guy is too insecure to ever really be comfortable with himself, no matter the accolades. If you want further proof, find a reasonable answer as to why a professional athlete of international fame would divorce his wife and the mother of his children to hook up with a 50-year old, over-the-hill pop star. A woman who was also married and a mother at the time of their initial trysts.
Second, the jury is still out on Phelps.
He looked a tad awkward there. He might want to dial back the exposure until he's got a better handle on the camera. Of course, I didn't see him on Saturday Night Live. Nor have I thought that he looked particularly painful in any of his other commercials, so maybe it was just a bad take. What do I know? There's a reasonable chance the answer is nothing.
The third thing is the most important—Kobe Bryant has officially arrived.
I might not like it. You might not like it. But it's a fact.
Odd that a commercial would play the role of the apple in this revelation, but Kobe just looked like he was having a good time. He looked like he was sincerely enjoying the role of lead jackass. That's endearing. That's what a lot of the greats realize and embrace:
"People LOVE me. I don't have to take myself too seriously because they always will."
I think that realization lives in symbiosis with another:
"I am one of the best, if not the best, (fill in the blank) going right now."
In tandem, they turn very good into great. They turn a superstar into a special star, one that you will always remember and consider yourself lucky to have witnessed.
I've been really lucky in my lifetime. I have seen, up close and personally Ozzie Smith, Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr., Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal (in his prime, the most impressive Irish force to ever take the floor), Joe Montana, Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Jerry Rice, and Tom Brady.
And that's just off the top of my head.
I think we're gonna have to add Kobe's name to that group after this season.
And I think he's got LeBron James to thank for it. Bear with me.
When Kobe was first drafted, he was a petulant and spoiled rookie. He thought he was great already, but was far from it. No one could or did rationally question his talent. Still, he was only 18. Even exceptional talent needs time to develop into performance at the highest level of competition.
But Kobe failed to grasp that concept, and carried on like he was already the New Air Jordan instead of just the Original's heir-apparent. I loathed him for it—and I was not alone.
Remember that ridiculous commercial of him writing poetry or making an introspective entry in his journal or some such nonsense? Wow.
But then he started to mature. His other-worldly talent ripened and it's manifestation on the floor became a sight for tired eyes that had seen the National Basketball Association rise to glory under the tutelage of Magic, Bird, and then the Greatest of Them All.
And even haters like me came around. Supreme talent will do that to true fans every time (provided you're not out tossing people down stairs or electrocuting defenseless animals).
I was not alone.
And then came Colorado. Then chucking Shaq under the bus for seemingly no reason. Really, were those police interview transcripts real or not? Kobe's not stupid—what was he trying to accomplish by involving Shaq?
I had no illusions that he raped that girl. Give me a break. What he unquestionably did was bang some 19-year-old ski bunny while his wife was home in California with a new-born baby daughter. Then he tried to worm his way out by implicating someone who had absolutely nothing to do with the situation.
Back to square one, Mr. Bryant. I was back to despising him. And I was not alone.
Kobe continued to regress after that episode. There was the increasingly-public catfight with Shaq. Then the disaster season that saw Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton fail to win a championship. Then Kobe ran Shaq out of Los Angeles (either directly or indirectly). And, finally, Kobe had it his way—he got all the press and shot attempts he could handle.
Only the Lakers were no good.
I think that made Kobe take a step back and reassess the situation with an objective eye. Like I said, I think he's a pretty smart guy and I believe he really is driven by a sincere desire to win.
What he saw was Shaq winning a championship and trying to groom Dwayne Wade for the spot Kobe wanted.
He saw his Lakers struggling despite absolutely unreal numbers from Number 24.
He saw a non-LA public and media turning against him, and looking to the younger generation to fill those Nikes with the guy in flight on the side.
Most importantly, he saw LeBron James and he saw a real threat to his legacy. To his place in basketball history.
That is when Kobe started to get it. To see his teammates as necessary rather than necessary evils. To see assists as something that helped his team win rather than missed shot opportunities. To see defense as important rather than a time to rest his shooting legs.
And I believe he got it because, consciously or subconsciously, he saw LeBron already had it. Although James was still a little raw, Kobe was smart enough and talented enough to see his younger self in LeBron.
Except it was young Kobe talent with mature Kobe's attitude. And I believe it shook Bryant.
For the first time, he saw that his window for basketball immortality was finite. That someone better than he would eventually come along. Perhaps he already had.
I think he saw what most of us saw in LeBron—not the next Michael Jordan, but the first LeBron James.
And he knew that he had to get his act together and secure his legacy while he still could. Kobe knew he had to raise his game to the next level while that level was still the standard for legendary remembrance. He knew that, in a couple years, LeBron will do things that no one has seen or imagined.
Things that even Kobe Bryant cannot replicate.
So prepare yourself people. Kobe Bryant is going to be unstoppable this year because he knows he must be.
He is going to make believers of us all.
It started last year when he carried L.A. to the NBA Finals almost single-handedly. It continued this summer when he led the United States back to golden glory in the Olympics by being a DEFENSIVE force of nature. And it continues right now as he plays hurt—an injury that really impacts his scoring and not much else.
It gives me no pleasure to say this, but I think it ends with Kobe hoisting one of the more inexplicable championship trophies in recent memory.
35 comments Last one added about 1 month ago — Leave a Comment
Marcel Mansour 8 months ago
Good article. I actually agree with most of your points, except when you made it look like Kobe didn't play defense a few years ago. While he wasn't as dedicated as he is now, he was still damn good.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Fair enough. Thanks for the comment and constructive feedback.
Andrew
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OBIE ONE SHINOBI 8 months ago
bullshit. kobe is threaten by lebron jamens? Please. He never passed the ball because he had smuch as starting point guard, Kwame or Mihm as starting center. if i were him I would shoot a shit load. Lebron James is all hype, not saying he is not good, but get back to me when he can shoot free throws and have a consistent shot.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
OK.
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nicole bryant 8 months ago
this article is a bit of a stretch dont you think??? i agree with obie one lebron james doesnt have a consistent shot, barely plays defense, and is a piss poor free throw shooter. he has lebron james to thank??...laughable.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
"Although James was still a little raw, Kobe was smart enough and talented enough to see his younger self in LeBron."
"For the first time, he saw that his window for basketball immortality was finite. That someone better than he would eventually come along. Perhaps he already had."
"He knew that, in a couple years, LeBron will do things that no one has seen or imagined."
Read between the lines.
I think it's pretty clear that I'm not saying Kobe felt threatened by the current version of LeBron, but what he could become if - IF - he continues to improve. Since James is already so good, improvement would have to be in his shooting and free throws. Sometimes I don't want to beat you to death with the obvious point, kind of ruins the artistry.
What is laughable is people like you who are so quick to dismiss the work of others without taking the time to understand its very obvious point.
Thanks for the feedback.
Andrew
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F. Dellomes II 8 months ago
Kobe and LeBron became best of friends during the Olympics.
I'm sure that Kobe has his home address and his phone number.lol
But has the "big number" for games and the Playoffs.
Lakers NBA Champs 2009.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/LosAngelesLakersDynasty/
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Thanks for the feedback Felix. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Kobe's all set as far as contact info goes.
Andrew
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F. Dellomes II 8 months ago
We are excited in LA LA LAND!
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Like I said man, I'm no Laker fan. But I'd be excited to if I were one. As a Bay Area guy, my sentiments run in the, ahem, other direction. But facts are facts.
Good luck bro, as good as Kobe is, you're gonna need a little bit (like to keep Bynum relatively healthy).
Andrew
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Keener def 8 months ago
Good writing, and an interesting read, although it is admittedly conjecture. In that line, I want to mention that it is more probable that Lebron has more to thank for Kobe than the other way around. Kobe has enough on his plate that motivates himself to achieve historical greatness, not to mention his fiercely competitive nature. However, I would venture to say Lebron portrays himself the way he is today, professionally, because he saw how much hate has been directed towards Kobe for the last decade. It's an easy lesson to learn, and who knows? If Lebron had come before Kobe, Lebron might be the one who has to face a lot more hate today while Kobe would be the poster boy of the NBA.
One other thing regarding the feud between Shaq and Kobe. It's been documented since his days in Orlando that Shaq suffers from immaturity, self-esteem issues, and jealousy. That's why he left Orlando, because he felt threatened by another rising star of that time. Same thing happens in LA, all the while failing to act like the leader he proclaimed himself to be (demanding the ball, threatening not to play defense, throwing team mates under the bus, getting team mates traded, throwing profanity publicly towards Buss and demanding max money). Now he's left another team under bitter terms while embracing another. When there's a pattern, it usually means there's something significant going on, and the common factor in all these scenarios is Shaq. Shaq usually doesn't get the brunt of the hate for the feud because he deflects our attention away from his flaws with his antics and jokes, and not surprisingly, the media falls for it. But after repeat offenses, people are now seeing Shaq for what he really is. I'm not defending Kobe in anyway, because I think he certainly began as an immature and naive player who could have handled his situations more carefully, too. But Shaq is equally and largely responsible for his feud with Kobe.
Anyway, it's refreshing to see a writer with some decent set of objectivity and rationality, unlike most people on Bleacher Report.
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F. Dellomes II 8 months ago
Keener,
God stuff here...
wondefulkat
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/LosAngelesLakersDynasty/
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Keener,
Thanks for the feedback.
I disagree to an extent with the analysis of the Shaq/Kobe feud, but then I wasn't in LA nor was I paying that close attention so I can't really say you're wrong. And I do agree that Shaq shares in the blame - he was the older and should have been the more mature player up until a point. Plus, Shaq needed Kobe more than vice versa (although I think Kobe was still better off with Shaq if they could have made it work). I just can't really explain why Kobe brought Shaq up during police questioning, if that in fact happened. Regardless of who shoulders the lion's share of the blame, Kobe has come a long way since that episode and deserves credit for it.
I actually think most people on B/R do a good job of being objective. Of course, I spend more time on here writing than reading so you might have a better handle on that (and I have read some insane stuff).
Thanks again for the constructive comment.
Andrew
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Bittu Ahlawat 8 months ago
Keener,
I have been following Lakers for a very long time and my feelings toward the Shaq-Kobe saga is same as yours. It very easy for most people to look past the role that Shaq played in it compared to Kobe. One thing that I have always noticed, one of the biggest reason that made Kobe angry toward Shaq was the simple fact that Shaq didn't want to work hard to get in and stay in better shape whether during the season or during off-season. Kobe, of course, could have handled it much better than he did at times. But a lot more times than not, it was Shaq who started the drama and then Kobe went off on it and Kobe always end up being the bad guy in it. But anybody who bothered to look at the Shaq's track record can see how he has handled himself with rising young stars like Penny, Kobe and even to some extent Wade.
Andrew,
I dont agree with you on the fact that you said Kobe needed Shaq more than vice versa. Shaq and Kobe came in LA in 96 and they didn't get to the finals until Kobe became KOBE, if you know what I mean. But he still had all those vets with a very young Kobe but they couldn't get to the the Finals. Maybe, this was true in their first championship run as well against Indiana but after that, it was Kobe who carried us to the finals, during season and during the first 3 rounds of playoffs (check the playoff games against western conference teams during the second and third championship) Shaq only played great in the finals against Philly and Nets. If they handed out "PLAYOFFS MVP" instead of "FINALS MVP" it would have easily been Kobe with 2 and Shaquille with 1. Any die-hard Laker watcher like myself will tell you the same. On the police questioning situation, yes Kobe probably did say that to the police but do you really believe he was lieing? By no means, it makes it right by ratting someone out but I don't think he knew that he was being recorded when he said those comments. But just as big, before this tape leaked out to the press, Lakers opened up their training camp following the acquisition of Malone and Payton and Kobe wasn't there. When reporters asked Shaq about Kobe absence, he told them the people that mattered were already there. Its very hard to not fall for a guy like Shaq, who is very funny, witty and says some of the funniest quotes but that doesn't change the fact that he had A LOT to do with the break up than media or he ever put it on his shoulders.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Bittu,
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your very reasonable disagreement.
Furthermore, I will gladly capitulate to die-hard fans who are close to the situation on such matters. I don't even pay very close attention to my favorite team (Warriors), let alone to the Lakers to seriously argue with someone who has. And you seem like one of the rational die-hards (like Keener, Felix, Marcel, etc.).
As with the others I mentioned, I can't say I totally agree with you. But you certainly back up your argument so I can't say you're wrong either.
And I do agree 100% that Shaq shared blame for the break-up.
Anyway, thanks for the constructive feedback.
Andrew
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Keener def 8 months ago
Just to clarify a bit, my analysis on their feud was mainly collected from their interactions aside from the Colorado incident, but yeah, I completely agree with you on the police report because that probably escalated the existing tension between the two. There was an in in depth piece about Kobe's personal life that might shed some light onto why he acted the way he did as a young player (http://www.newsweek.com/id/61773/page/1) (In short, his social maturity under American standards wasn't developed due to his foreign and family-centered upbringing).
You're probably right about most people doing a good job here. The only pieces I read from BR tend to focus on Kobe related issues, and that's where you find most of the incoherent nut jobs.
Keep up the great work.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Oh yeah, Kobe's one of those supreme talents who divides people, but I think that too ends this year. Just like most fans loved Jordan because of his on-court exploits, I think we're all gonna be forced that way by Kobe's play this year.
If you're a real fan, you just can't dislike the highest form of excellence.
He's already sold me and I was one of his harshest critics (although I think I was always fair).
BTW, wanted to give you props for pointing out that LeBron owes Kobe a thank you as well. That was a fantastic point and an excellent way to spin the perspective.
Andrew
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F. Dellomes II 8 months ago
One thing I like about the new 2008-2009 Lakers is that there is no distraction nor is there is nothing
but a "great attitude" about playing the game today in the Laker "center of trust'.
Watching the preseason and the first 3-0 start is scary.
Meaning "scary-good" The Los Angeles Lakers have not felt a winning presence for a few years now.
Last year the choked and got zero.
I'm glad the NBA GM's rated them the Team to beat.It's only natural to beleive we can't get another NBA Championship based on the past years since the Shaq-Kobe Fued and negative surrondings if you know what we mean here in Los Angeles.
It's is a great feeling to see the "Lakeshow" out of these young players at the helm of Kobe Bryant.
Lakers are three units deep on the bench.
How can you match that and not have the proof???
Showtime is back...Bring on any NBA team!
Felix
aka wonderfulkat
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/LosAngelesLakersDynasty/
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Zach Classmore 8 months ago
Kobe owes LeBron a thank you, just like LeBron owes Kobe one... and Darko Milicic one... if basis for comparison is what you're pointing out, then Thank You's can be infinitely granted.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
OK
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Zach Classmore 8 months ago
OK! :)
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nicole bryant 8 months ago
still a ridiculous article with no basis..i live in the akron cleveland area and trust me lebron isnt what he seems. kobe doesnt owe lebron anything!
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Brilliant support for your equally brilliant position.
And forgive me if I trust my own eyes rather than an anonymous online ghost.
If LeBron is half of what he seems - a 6'9", 260 pound Oscar Roberston with a desire to be the best and a work ethic to match - then he will be something that none of us has ever imagined.
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Dracula's Buttocks has teeth 8 months ago
The only person Kobe owes anything to is Shaq for giving him three titles that he would have otherwise never smelled in his lifetime. Kobe is a punk loser who owes Shaq everything.
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Mike D 8 months ago
Kobe owes LeBron a thank you? For what? Kobe has always been great. Newsflash for you there buddy. Kobe has always been a good shooter, defender, and always have had the will to win. The killer instinct. Kobe doesn't need Lebron to remind him he should reach to be great. He always have. Jordan was the trascender, not Lebron.
Kobe knew that in a couple years Lebron would do stuff we haven't seen before? What? Have you been sleeping the last 4 years since Shaq left the Lakers? 81 points. We haven't seen that before. Outscoring a team 62 in three quarters vs 61 is something we haven't seen before. Get real Andrew. Instead of waiting if Lebron ever gets a jumpshot, open your eyes and enjoy greatness. It doesn't take Kobe winning a championship to enjoy what he has given to the game.
...that Kobe cannot even replicate? LOL what does that mean. I'll give LeBron this, he has the statistics in Fantasy Land. Sort of a statpadder if you ask me. Just the other night when Cleveland was winning by 20 with 4 minutes left, LeBron is still out there padding his stats. A little history lesson for you though, since you brought up Big O in your article...Jordan's best statistical year couldn't hold a candle to what Oscar Robertson did for the first 4 years of his career, let alone his rookie year. And he was a PG. Go figure.
LeBron had it from the beginning? What "it" are you talking about. Kobe was already an all nba first team defender when he was 20. Kobe had a decent jumper when he was 18. LeBron at 23, not so much.
Kobe didn't need to learn how to be a team player from LeBron. Before LeBron ever sniffed his first NBA game, Kobe was already a THREE TIME CHAMPION by the age of 23. He was the fascilitator of a three peat team and the 1B to Shaq in a duo that was prob. ranked amongst as one of the best one-two combo in the history of the game. Kobe knows how to play the game in all levels. He has proved it by guiding a team to win 3 in a row as a fascilitator and scorer.
Kobe HAS BEEN the REAL King of the NBA. Get with the program. You've been listening to too much hype since the hype came in 2003 homie.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Mike D,
People like you really amaze me. I wrote an article about how Kobe will be an unstoppable force in the NBA this year, that he will single-handedly carry them to a championship. And you take it as an attack on him?
You point out all the prolific scoring games, blah blah blah. Let me ask you something, when did those transcendental scoring games happened for Kobe? How'd the Lakers do that year? Who won the championship?
And that is the point.
Kobe always has had the talent (kinda what I meant when I said he talent has never been questioned). Kobe always has had the drive to be the best. He's always wanted to win. He has always had the ABILITY to play D, I just think he's made a stronger commitment i.e. now he is scary (I never said he was a bad or lazy defender before). He's always been able to put up insane scoring numbers.
He just didn't know how to lead his team (i.e. be the best) or didn't really want to until several things happened.
It is TOTAL conjecture that LeBron was the primary catalyst. Which is why I never said it was fact.
You obviously disagree and could have simply done so since I never insult or attack Kobe or the Lakers or anyone else (except maybe Ken Rosenthal, Kevin Kennedy, Tim McCarver, etc.). Instead, you choose to try to insult and offend me. Of course, you failed since you're some online anonymous coward, who probably gets his jollies off in cyberspace because you have no actual live bodies with whom to speak.
As for the rest of your bile spewing rant, it is barely coherent. If you want to write a column singing the praise of Kobe, go for it. But none of the stuff you mentioned is even relevant to my article so it is a totally impotent rebuttal.
Often, you're comparing Kobe at 30 to LeBron at 23. Otherwise, you're comparing Kobe's strengths at 23 to LeBron's weaknesses at 23. Sure, 23 Kobe is a much better shooter than 23 LeBron and a better defender. Of course, 23 LeBron can absorb infinitely more punishment, is a better driver, has better handles, understands ball distribution better, has a knack for involving his teammates, and is far more mature.
Sure Kobe had 3 championships by 23. Of course, he also was playing next to one of the greatest centers of all-time. LeBron's best teammate to date is who? Zydrunas Ilgouskas? Larry Hughes? Carlos Boozer?
And if Kobe was the facilitator, the driving force, why did Shaq win a ring the year he left while Kobe's still waiting for his (a wait I say will end this year)?
Then the whole marketing nonsense, which you're right is totally irrelevant. In classic ogre fashion, you clearly misunderstood (or, more probable, you made no effort to understand) my praise/criticism of his commercial. Astounding reading comprehension my friend.
I was simply pointing how ridiculous that poetry ad was and how much better, more comfortable he looked in the new one. Nothing to do with marketing POWER, try to stay with me here man.
I know I'm using a lot of big, mutli-syllabic words. It'll be easier if you grab a dictionary.
Finally, I will repeat: Kobe has enough of a basketball IQ to see how dominant LeBron WILL be (notice the emphasis on the FUTURE TENSE). Kobe is smart enough to see a 6'9" 260 lb guy (who is still growing) with insane basketball skills, maturity, ambition, and intelligence. He's seen a supreme talent deliver time and time again while playing under the scrutiny of a national media microscope since he was a sophomore in high school. He's seen that talent enter the NBA and not skip a beat (unless you think that LeBron should have single-handedly led a team to an NBA championship by the age of 23, something your boy hasn't done and he's 30).
THAT WAS THE POINT EINSTEIN.
What does the 'D' stand for? Douchebag?
And we ain't homies. Never would be a homie to someone with so little sack as to go out of his/her way try to start an online beef.
Go back to your stuffed animals and video games, child.
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Mike D 8 months ago
And what does Kobe's marketing power have to do with any of this? Everyone knows if it wasn't for colorado, Kobe would still be the most marketed athlete today next to Tiger. He's already getting his appeal back as oppose to...as much as Nike wants LeBron to be able to sell his shoes and be the main guy, his marketing production isn't all too impressive.
Kobe mania in china also helped with his appeal.
...and since LeBron was sighted chillin with Kobe during the Olympics...
I think it's LeBron who needs to be sending the Thank You Letters to Kobe. Not the other way around.
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Mike D 8 months ago
First of all, who's attacking who? I commented on your article about my opinions based on what you wrote in your article. Douchebag? Cyberspace coward? Right...you're a smart one. Think what you want, but stick to the topic.
You're basing all your arguments without facts. If Lebron is such a better teammate or team "leader" Kobe is, why is the production or PER of the second and third option to Lebron down everytime they play with Lebron in cleveland as oppose to those same players having a better production year with another team the years before they played somewhere else? Where is he making his teammates better? Lamar, let alone Kwame Brown, have had better careers playing with Kobe then the years before they came into the Lakers. That's a fact.
I never questioned that Lebron is a physically, athletic beast. A body that can easily soar and dunk and drive over people. That's great. But i hate it when people like you give him a free pass and say well, he only needs a jumpshot and he's all good.
Kobe was the facilitator of the Lakers. This is not an opinion. Phil Jackson has been quoted numerous of times when he said he was the main facilitator during the threepeat. Why did Shaq win his fourth? Was he even second option when he won his last ring? Was he even third option? Let's go to defense? Was he the catalyst on D? No, that was Zo.
But yeah, you're right. We're not homies. And I wasn't starting beef as you claim. I was simply criticizing your article. If you can't handle it, don't put your two cents in little buddy.
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Mike D 8 months ago
Main point is, Lebron is not the stick where Kobe will measure himself with. Know a guy by the name of Jordan?
Last year was the first year Kobe finally had a good enough team to utilize in an attempt to win a championship. Lebron had nothing to do with a Pau Gasol trade, or Bynum growing up. Jordan never won without help. Same logic applies to everyone else that has ever played the game and won a championship(Rick Barry might be the only exception).
The reason why those 4 years he was breaking scoring records was due to his teammates lack of ability to score consistently. He couldn't trust them with the ball. Now with a good team, he does.
Nothing to do with realizing he should be a team player or be more like Lebron. He proved he already could play that role during the three peat as Shaq's 1B. He just needed a good team like Jordan needed Pippen and Rodman. Same applies to LeBron.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Mike Douchebag,
I could have predicted this exchange the minute you posted your first response. People like you always post an initial, inflammatory comment and then try to backpedal onto moral high ground once you get the response you're after. I've got an emotionally-unbalanced older sister who does the exact same thing, so I've got lots of practice dealing with it.
"Newsflash for you there buddy."
"What? Have you been sleeping the last 4 years since Shaq left the Lakers?"
"Get real Andrew."
"open your eyes and enjoy greatness."
"little history lesson for you though."
"Get with the program. You've been listening to too much hype since the hype came in 2003 homie."
All from your first post. Sure, those are simple criticisms. No attempt to start a beef there. Nope, not a one.
Especially since the entire tenor of the article was about how good Kobe IS and how good LeBron MAY become (notice extensive use of the conditional throughout). About how Kobe will carry his team to a championship this year and join a group of athletes that define greatness in their support.
I will say to you what I say to all the ornery online cowards who come on sites like this simply to spew venom at writers who have the stones to put their work out for public consumption:
YOUR WORDS ARE IN PRINT AND PERMANENT. THEY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
You can keep trying to spin garbage into gold, but you're only fooling yourself. And I bet not even that.
On the upside, you are keeping me thoroughly entertained. I always get a mild kick out of shredding unarmed simpletons such as yourself in a battle of wits.
BTW, CONJECTURE means it's not supported by fact. Otherwise, it would be called FACT. Guess you didn't grab that dictionary.
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Mike D 8 months ago
Wow, a response all about bitching? Your article is weak. Your responses are weak and give nothing to the argument. And your knowledge about the game is laughable.
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Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago
Mike,
I agree to an extent. Although I appreciate your very insightful and specific comments, I don't think I am quite a basketball genius. I mean, sure, I know more than the average person, but I wouldn't quite put myself on par with Jack Ramsey and the other luminaries you mentioned. I do appreciate the flattery though.
And although you call my argument impervious to rationale criticism, I think it has a couple vulnerabilities. Not major, certainly not perfect though. But, again, I appreciate your superlative compliments. And thanks for the fan add.
It means so much more coming from such an accomplished author and contributor. Yours are surely the shoulders on which the greats' feet rest.
Cheers,
Andrew
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J.C. Ayvazi about 1 month ago
All your bay area boys must be asking, "Andrew, how could you?"
Tip of the hat for an enjoyable read, even as the start of this game 1 is plenty ragged.
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Andrew Nuschler about 1 month ago
Thanks man, thought this would meet with more of your approval.
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Yvette about 1 month ago
This article was awesome. I had originally made another comment, but I'm not sure it was posted. This was extremely well done, and not because it's a compliment to Kobe. It takes a lot to swallow your pride and write something that hurts you.
So, I commend you for that. And even if you had been writing about LBJ instead of Kobe, the article still would have merited the compliment.
Your writing style has officially won me over. And only two other writers on B/R have really done that.
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