Kobe, Please Stop
Written by Daniel Doyle, Sunday June 07 2009
Drop the act Kobe. I'm not buying it.
First there was Jordan. He coined the tongue out of the mouth. He was Mr. Cool. A smooth pump of his fist when he nailed a game winning jumper was all he needed. There was no question of whether it was a genuine reaction. Jordan was all natural.
Next came Tiger. In a sport where serenity and calmness were of the utmost importance, he let emotion run free. Woods perfected the fist-pump and it became an instinct for him everytime an improbable putt fell in the cup. Tiger is all natural.
Now, in the 2009 playoffs, the cameras seem to always find Kobe's scowl. His baracuda like jaw juts forward and a somewhat awkward and painful expression is created. There is a difference in the intensity of an athlete and an athlete looking mad. Kobe looks mad. Kobe is artificial.
Please tell me I am not the only one who is not buying what Kobe is trying to sell. The difference between Jordan and Woods, and what Kobe is doing now, is the authenticity of it. Cameras simply always found M.J. and T.W., Kobe is seeking the camera out. He holds the grimace as long as possible so that every possible spectator, photographer, and cameraman can admire his tenacity and determination. What a joke.
As good as Kobe Bryant has been in the playoffs, his acting definitely could use some work. The problem Bryant has, is that no matter how talented he is, he will never be Michael Jordan. Even with my belief that Jordan was the better overall talent, it was the aura of Michael that set him apart from every player before or since. Kobe's attempt to create an image for himself is so apparent that no one can endear his or herself to Bryant. Jordan and Woods sucked people in with the ideal they represented. Perhaps its not too late for Kobe. Maybe the original Joker that sits courtside could give him a lesson or two in acting.
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23 comments
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100% right...Jordan was dominant on D as well. Pippen certainly helped on the defensive end too. I will say that Pippen was definitely one of the 50 best defensove players of all time.
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P.S. - If the Magic lose tonight my next column will have the best title in the history of headlines. Look out for it (unless they win tonight).
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He had an attitude problem no doubt about it. I just think it's too easy to say he was made by Jordan. Sure it helped him a great deal that he was always the second option to cover defensively (actually Jordan was options 1-3 really) but Pippen's defense and passing were a large part of his game. He and Jordan absolutely bothered the hell out of everyone they played. That's something else that hasn't been mentioned enough; Michael Jordan is one of the best DEFENSIVE players of all-time. He overshadowed himself by being the most dynamic offensive player ever, but anyone who was guarded by him knows what a nightmare it was.
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Comparing Manu to Kobe was a joke, but Shaq would have won his titles with Manu just as easily as he did with Kobe....Pippen one of the 50 best of all time? That is an enormous stretch. Refusing to come off the bench in the final seconds of a playoff game because the play was not called for you? Pippen was weak. Jordan made him. Pippen sure had the talent, but he sure is overrated.
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I'll just throw in that comparing Manu Ginobili to Kobe is an enormous stretch, but... I don't think Shaq won those titles by himself, I just think that he could have had Kobe not been there. As for Pippen being overrated I actually think he might be underrated historically. He could do it all. His assertion that most teams would rather have him than Jordan was the stupidest thing ever uttered, but he was a very, very good player.
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The NBA, as it is today, did not exist until M.J...Kobe's accomplishments? Which? 81 pts is impressive. Other than that? I do not like Kobe, obviously, but I can separate my feelings. Can you, Bama? If you can then you will understand that Kobe is, at the very best, a jump shot or two better than Scottie Pippen.
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Ok tap the breaks here, I know you and the other Jordan worshippers refuse to even think Kobe is CLOSE to his class but come on. The guy is good and most of the stuff that is being said about him is basically because he is not liked because of his personality. I realize to the day the man dies, Michael Jordan in your eyes and the eyes of others will see him as a Saint and that the NBA didn't exist til he came along but the day will come that another player perhaps Kobe will be called the greatest to ever play the game. Kobe is one of the best PERIOD. Try as you might to take away his accomplishments, you can't. He will be a Hall a Famer and considered one of the best there is when it's all said and done. Nothing changes that.
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Jordan did win his on his own, just as Shaq won his on his own, just as Kobe lost last year on his own, just as Kobe will win this year on his own-if he wins, and I hope he doesn't...Who did Jordan have that helped him? Pippen? He is the most overrated player in NBA history! Jordan made him. The Bulls, with essentially the same team minus M.J., did not get to the CONFERENCE Finals, nevermind WIN the Finals. When Jordan did return, except for '95, the Bulls were about to start their second 3 'Peat....Shaq could have won the NBA title from 2000-2002 with me as point guard and 10 blind midgets. Shaq at his prime was just unfair. Only Jordan's Bulls could have beat LAL during that time...As Benn has stated, no one is saying Kobe is not good, he is good. In fact, he's just as good as Manu Ginobili, if not better. He's just not Jordan-or Duncan, or Shaq, or Magic, or Larry, or Wade- he's not a legend, he's not a Finals MVP, he's a great SCORER and he plays hard on D. Other than that, why is he so special?....By the way, he is NOT the best closer of his time. Take a look at Mr. Wade and his game winners...and when the Lakers choke and lose this series, Kobe will be just as bad as 'Dirk'
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I think the problem I have like Greg said (thank you Greg for getting that point) is that Kobe doesn't get a lot of respect among fans because of his personal life. You can't just take away his rings because he didn't do it on his own. Neither did Michael, Neither did Magic, neither did Bird. There is not a Batman without Robin.
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Ben, I can also always count on you to bring Reason and Logic to the table too. Jordan is my all-time example of what a guy with talent + character can do and as a result, he is one of the most beloved pro idols of all-time. Granted, he was far from perfect as a human being, but he was one high-flying phenom on the court, and relatively off the court too. Jordan is still King. Nonetheless, the Lakers would have failed themselves against my athletically weak Rockets if Kobe was not there, which has nothing to do with the bigger argument you returned us to, yet it illuminates more reasons why I don't like Kobe--because he doesn't play for the Rockets and he always finds a way to beat us when he needs to.
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and Bee-tee-dubs, this argument got started because of Kobe's pathetic pandering for camera attention...which absolutely cannot be refuted. because remember, he is a terrible human being.
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Ms. Bama, no one is here arguing that Kobe isn't good. If someone in here says that then we can all gang up on him/her. What we are arguing is Kobe vs. Michael. Jordan would very likely have pulled off an 8-peat (we could call him Octoballer) had it not been for his stupid two-year baseball hiatus. This will be the first time that Kobe wins a title as the most important person on his team. Jordan has 6, Kobe has 1. That's my argument. And before I get jumped on, I realize Kobe will have 4 if he wins this year, but the first three came as Scottie to Shaq's Jordan. I am counting the rings separately. Did Kobe play a big role in the first 3? For sure. But I would argue that the Lakers could have possibly won those titles on the shoulders of O'Neal, whereas the opposite is absolutely untrue. People are misunderstanding what I am saying about Kobe. I have never said, nor will I ever say, that Kobe isn't good or even great. But this argument remains Kobe vs. Michael. Just my opinion. Try not to let it ruin your day, folks.
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Bama, your ongoing ability to use reason in these arguments continues to impress me, particularly when so many smoke screens are thrown your way. I don't like Kobe because of what he has done in his personal life. I don't like Kobe because he is not on the Rockets. Still, I have to acknowledge, especially with this unexpected playoff run that he is the ultimate player in HIS time--the present. I want to see him lose, but he keeps on winning despite and in spite of me and others who dislike him. I don't know how anyone cannot respect him as the unbelievably athletic athlete who he is. Despite that too, he has somehow managed to carry the talented Lakers to this point, and somehow managed to make me feel sorry for him for the sheer lack of respect he fails to receive outside of LA. In the end, I hope that no one has a role model who is an excellent athlete unless the only role they are being judged by is that athleticism. Hell, it's hard enough to find "moral" leaders who are truly moral even when their only profession is morality.
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No I think it is crazy to say that Russell may not have won that many titles had he played in the 80's or 90's. You can say that about Jordan. Didn't he win the rest of his titles about time Magic, Bird and Isiah were all either retired or retiring? Who was Michael's nemsis back then? Houston? Michael won before Shaq,Kobe,Tim Ducan,Steve Nash etc had came along. In fact you can make the arguement that Michael might not have won that many titles had he had to play against better competition today. See as I said earlier under my story, that a lot of fans such as yourself let personal dislikes cloud your judgement on whether or a not a player is good. What does a dismissed rape case have anything to do with Kobe's professional career? Jordan's gambling habits still didn't stop him from being called the best, nor did Magic's personal life. Is Larry Bird less of a player because he didn't acknowledge he had a daughter out of wedlock? These guys aren't perfect and you are expecting him or anyone else to be, then be prepared to be more disappointed in the future.
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Number 1) Pretty sure the Nobel Peace Prize has never been awarded to a guy that had to settle out of court for millions of dollars with a girl that was set to charge him with rape. Number 2) Bill Russell is not talked as the greatest player ever because he was 6'10 when the average height in the NBA for a center was 6'7. It was a different game then. He never would have won that many rings had he played in the 80s, 90s, or this decade. Number 3)Peever never said that 6 titles is the only way to validate a player. He was simply saying that Kobe will not be on Jordan's level until he accomplishes that. Not too illogical at all really.
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So if you don't win six rings in a row you aren't good? If that's a fact then the best player of all time is Bill Russell right because I believe he won several in a row and nobody hardly talks about him being the best player ever. That also means Magic,Bird,Isiah all sux because they couldn't win six titles in a row. That's the dumbest logic I've heard yet.
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bamababe, When Kobe has 6, yes count them, 6, SIX, rings in a row (technically) as Michael does, then we can talk!
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I see the haters have come out for Kobe again. This guy could win the Nobel Peace Prize and someone would have a problem with him. So Kobe wants to be Michael wow he is a terrible guy for wanting to be the best at what he does. Do you not think that Michael wanted to be Magic? or Bird? Really the only difference between Michael and Kobe at this point is the media covered up Michael's dirt because they liked him more. I got news for you kids, hate him or not he still has 3 rings, he still is rich and probably the best in the game right now hands down and most of you would take him on your team like him or not.
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I think the Bulls teams were perfectly put together rather than being "talented." I mean, Bill Wennington and Bill Cartwright were probably the best centers MJ ever had. Pippen was really really good and so was Rodman, but the bit and pieces that made up the rest of the teams were not. Also, remember a couple years ago when Pippen said that "most people would rather have a Pippen than a Jordan"? Hahahaha, what a crooked-nosed, violently deep-voiced looney.
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Mychal, a talentless team does not win 6 championships in a 8 year span even with a superstar. as much as I agree that the Bulls would not have won 6 rings without Michael, they wouldn't have won without a talented TEAM either.