Kobe Bryant's Finals Message: Don't Bleep with Me Now

Kobe Bryant has yet another opportunity to prove all the doubters, critics, and "Kobe haters" wrong.

That million dollar question has once again risen from the dead and reporters are asking again, "What does it mean to win a championship without Shaq?"

Here's what Kobe had to say, taken from Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski's article:

"

“People think Shaq would have won a championship without me on that team?” Bryant sniffed.

“They’re crazy.”

"

Crazy indeed. Bryant is a very hungry and dedicated player. When he's on the court, he gets attention from all five players on the floor. He's an unstoppable force with a lot of pent up anger.

Time and time again, Bryant can't seem to get over that hump. The Game Six meltdown of last year's 2008 Playoffs, the Western Conference Semifinals blunder, a 31-point blowout against Phoenix in the 2006 Playoffs to name a few.

But this year, there is a different Kobe. The Kobe that is getting his teammates involved, being a presence on the defensive end, and the Kobe who has the will to win.

A more unselfish Kobe. Yes, unselfish, surprising isn't it? Some may believe he is still selfish but hey, the guy makes amazing shots.

A new chemistry has developed with Kobe and this Lakers' team. Kobe has learned to play with them and help them do what they do well.

With Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and Trevor Ariza, Bryant has even built better trust amongst them. He has learned to communicate not only positively to them, but to a point where they will know what to do, or else.

The frustrated Kobe seems to be gone.

The new Kobe came when he decided to suck it up, be patient, and instantly, they became a contender again. When Kobe waited his turn, he earned an opportunity to become the best. His next message is a resounding one and it may come as a surprise to some, but not me.

The Finals start tonight and L.A. could possibly win this series in four games, but I'm going to set my eyes on them winning in six.

All that said, Kobe has a chip on his shoulders and wants to send a message to not only his opponents, but the world.

It's: Don't bleep with me now.