Why You Shouldn't Pull for Kobe Bryant

What would you think of a co-worker who did the following:

Only got to your office after crying his way out of another?

Had high sales in part because he stole potential sales from other co-workers?

Forced management to transfer another, more successful salesperson ("salesman SHAQ") out the door, because of jealousy? 

After getting "salesman SHAQ" transferred, continues to live off his accounts, claiming his own greatness off of them?

After getting "salesman SHAQ" transferred, promised to be a leader and produce to the success level of recent years, only to have revenue fall to it’s lowest point in seven years?

After being unable to produce without "salesman SHAQ," demanded a transfer to another office saying that management didn’t do their part to build a successful sales force around him?

Gave himself his own nickname?

Publicly berated a new salesperson ("salesman Bynum") for his perceived deficiencies?

Publicly berated management?

After his wife couldn’t make it to the Christmas party at P.F. Changs, because she was taking care of their newborn, proceeded to have a tryst with a waitress in the restaurant bathroom? (Maybe the Christmas party is in Colorado).

Consistently talking about how great he is, and acts like he is entitled to lore of the greatest, most revered salesman in the history of the company? (Let's call him "salesman 23," or "salesman 45" if you prefer?)

Would you like this person?

I wouldn’t. 

I would make sure I never gave any credit to this person. I wouldn't help to inflate his ego, because he didn’t earn it and didn’t understand what it means when people say, “Greater than the sum of our parts.”

I can’t understand how this society, who loves the ‘Hoosiers’ aspect of both basketball (and life in general), could possibly pull for Kobe Bean Bryant.

Kobe may be a great person and a great teammate, but from his action I can’t believe either is true.

What annoys me most is fact the people want to compare him to "His Airness."

Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. 

The only part of Kobe’s game that is better is his ability to hit buzzer beaters. Sure, that is great. But so is teamwork.

Jordan knew that taking a shot when you're doubled is not the best shot, so he passed to Scottie Pippin, Steve Kerr, John Paxon, B.J. Armstrong, and even Bill Winnington. 

Look it up, he gave up game winning shot attempts to pass it up to a guy with a better look. That is how you become a great teammate. That is guy who "gets it." That is a guy who should be remembered forever.

Not Kobe. Not a guy who chucks up bad shots so he can pose for the camera. Not a player that has won nothing as the "number one" on a team.

What is the next thing he is going to do in order to "Be Like Mike?" Retire three times, play baseball, and continue to run the Bobcats into the ground?

And just in case you think I’m just being a hater, let's look at the numbers.

In his career Kobe scores 25.1 ppg. That is 10th all-time. Pretty good, unless you look deeper.

His career field-goal percentage is .455. Not good. Not in the top 250 all time. 

Beat out by such studs like Junior Bridgeman (.475), Vinny Del Negro (.474), Avery Johnson (.478), Mark Aguirre (.483), and Sherman Douglas (.484). 

Noticed I used guards and small forwards to show you that even a good to semi-good player could make this list without being a big man.

Oh by the way, Jordan’s percentage was .496, ranking him 117 all-time. (Lebron’s is .471. Ouch "LeBron Haters.")

To make it more even towards guard play, how about we discuss Kobe’s three point percentage. 

A sizzling .341!

Not even top 200 all-time. He falls behind those sharpshooters Rasheed Wallace, Keyon Dooling, Josh Howard, Keith Bogans, Shane “Whose your Daddy?” Battier, and Morris Peterson. (Does Mateen Cleaves come with that?)

So he is a taller, better looking, less tattooed Allen Iverson (who also happens to score more points per game all-time, than the Black Mamba).

So if you think that the "Next Jordan" should have bloated stats, a bloated ego, no championships without a hall of fame big man, and questionable moral, then I guess Kobe is your guy.

I’ll take LeBron.