Kobe Bryant: NBA's Loss Is Europe's Gain as Mamba Considers Italian Offer
The jab step would be the same, so would the grimace and jump shot. The only thing that would change is the uniform as Kobe Bryant considers a very real offer from Italy, and that's no Bologna.
ESPN reports Italian side Virtus Bologna have not relented in their pursuit of Lakers star Kobe Bryant. The current offer has reached the $5 million mark, which would be pretax and allow for Bryant to return if the NBA was to break the current lockout.
The report states there have been continuous meeting between Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka, and Bologna President Claudio Sabatini.
The assumption is that Bryant is seriously considering the proposal as the NBA continues to cancel dates and preseason games.
The NBA is about to shut out a great deal of players from receiving paychecks. That sentiment has many players flocking for the International gate at their local airport.
Europe could see an infusion of NBA talent that has never been seen before. For a brief moment, the best in the world will be playing overseas.
Mamba Strikes Abroad
The money means little to a man that revived his image. The Black Mamba is now in the good graces of the American consumer, making him a marketable athlete once again.
His money garnered through his Lakers contract, along with renewed endorsements makes Bryant a man who is in want of little.
What he does crave is to stay ahead of the curve. He is well aware that LeBron James is training daily, as is Dwyane Wade and other NBA elite.
The call of the day is to train responsibly, and to stay fresh until the NBA season begins. The last thing Bryant wants is rust to infect his game, only to see the NBA lift their lockout to save some semblance of the season.
If the best in the world are playing in Europe, you can bet Bryant will be among them.
NBA Loss
As great as the 2010-2011 NBA season was, the loss of the upcoming one will be far greater. There is little hope that the season will begin as scheduled, a loss of at least some games is assumed.
It is a shame considering all the great subplots, story lines and characters we received just a few months ago. The nation was once again on board with the NBA.
Bryant is not a young man. Each season from here on out is at a premium for fans that have been dazzled by his talents for years now.
We are on the precipice of allowing a season of great basketball to be shipped overseas. The months of entertainment will be left for highlights we see on SportsCenter.
Dazzling finishes at the rim will be received on YouTube by uploaders from overseas. This is not what we sign up for as hoops hysterics, but is what we will have to settle for as owners and the union continue their stalemate.
For one odd year, it will be far better to be a basketball fan in Europe than here in the States. The Mamba will lace up the sneakers once again to amaze fans, it will just be thousands of miles away, now.
