Did Kobe Bryant and US Basketball Team Earn Gold Medal in Drinking Games?
Kobe Bryant can add drinking liquor shots to the list of things that he does quite well.
Sporting News (h/t Yardbarker) spotted a London Times report about the U.S. men's basketball team getting a little competitive with their post-game drinking.
There is no link to the Times story, which is behind a pay wall, but Sporting News does have these juicy nuggets to offer from the report that had some of the team at Aspers Casino near Olympic Park, shortly after their win over Nigeria:
"The paper claimed that, once there, “Kobe Bryant, the $50 million U.S. basketball player, challenged a group of...volunteers, known as the Games Makers, to a drinking contest when he and his teammates visited a casino next to the Olympic Park.” ...
"They took on a group of Games Makers, who were regulars at the casino. One said that the 6ft 6in Bryant ordered a round of three shots: gin, brandy and tequila. The rest were hazy on how much was drunk and by whom."
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As the report informs us, Games Makers are merely the volunteer guides who wear purple shirts and are rather ubiquitous in the background of Olympic coverage.
Apparently, Bryant is taken with them and wanted to show them a good time.
For me, I would rather drink with the Key Master or perhaps the Gatekeeper.
Team USA was already feeling confident about its prospects in London, so it makes sense that the players would throw early sleep and caution to the wind to go out drinking after a 156-73 drubbing of Nigeria.
The story doesn't mention how much was imbibed, only stating that they were "hazy on how much was drunk and by whom."
This could have been as simple as three shots and bed. What bothers me is Bryant ordered gin, brandy and tequila.
In my experience, when liquors are mixed, it's a party. There is no taking it easy when Mr. Tequila saunters up and greets his pal Gin.
I am guessing Brandy was there just to make it all classy.
As long as they bring home gold, we say, "Cheers."
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