< Back to front page Text size – +

I hate Kobe, so should you

E-mail|Link|Comments (24) Posted by Ian Rider June 4, 2008 02:13 PM

The front page of ESPN.com this morning was littered with stories on Kobe Bryant. I realize that the Lakers are the flashier team in this series, they probably always have been in this rivalry, but the media's love affair with Kobe has always been something that bothered me, and this is the perfect time for me to let it all out. So, forgive me while I rant on why I can't stand Kobe Bryant.

First of all, there is a difference between hating a player and a team, and hating the coverage of that player or team. It is rarely the fault of the player or team that the national media falls in love (or hate, see your Patriots) with them, and writes countless stories, essentially shoving the player down the throat of America. Some fans confuse this difference, and end up hating the player or the team just because they are forced to hear and read about them 24 hours a day. Bill Belichick is all anyone wants to talk or write about, and it is quite obvious that he doesn't love the camera; at least not when it's being trained on him (I had to). I do not hate Kobe because he is on TV a lot.

Other times, fans hate players or teams because they "kill" their team or favorite player on a consistent basis. This sort of hate is what was behind the old "Yankees Suck" chant. You know, the one Sox fans used to chant when the Bombers were dominating. (Now if we chant it, Yanks fans don't have much of a beef.) Fans, and I'm very guilty of this as well, we'll often say "I BLEEPING hate that guy" during a game in which their nemesis is, once again, lighting their favorite team up. So please, let me preface this post by saying, I do not hate Kobe because he is really good, or because he plays for the Lakers.

Now that we've got that happy junk out of the way, let me tell you why I do hate Kobe Bryant.

Most of these love letters from the national media touch on Kobe's great turnaround this year. People talk about how Kobe learned to trust his teammates, and be a leader and a better teammate this year. This is a good thing? Really?

Why should we be applauding a man who decided to grow up when he was 29 years old? That's a normal basketball progression? If you got invited to a Bah Mitzvah for a 30-year-old, that would be completely OK? These are the same writers that will rip a player for demanding a trade, chastise a star player for ball-hogging (ask Pierce), and condemn an athlete with off-the-court issues. Why not Kobe? Why does he get a pass?

This is a guy whose own team's fans should be ripping him. He single-handedly crippled a dynasty. This one man ran one of the top three big men ever and one of the top two coaches ever out of town. The national media plays it like a star who was facing down times, decided to play through them, the team "finally" gave him a supporting cast, and now he is thriving once again. The Lakers (and their blindly loyal fans) allowed this brat to tear a dynasty to shreds, play king of the hill for four years, cry about the team he has left to play with, and then reward him by mugging the Grizzlies for an All-Star big man. Jerry Buss let his future son-in-law hit the bricks for this smug brat. He shipped the best big of his generation to Miami, who let's not forget got a ring WITHOUT Bryant, for this brat. All this, and Lakers fans chant "M-V-P" for him on a nightly basis? This guy was the Least Valuable Player of the franchise for the better part of this decade.

This guy is not a star who struggled through thin years, to be rewarded with a chance at the Finals. This guy is not Paul Pierce.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith brings up the Jordan comparison in the conversation he had with Bryant last week. I feel like I don't have to break into this "argument", but I'd like to note an instance that should have ended this years ago. After being criticized by his coach in April 2004 for shooting too much, Kobe refused to shoot against the Kings to prove a point to his coach. In a Game 7 during the first round of the 2006 playoffs against the Suns, down 15 at halftime, Kobe took only 3 shots in the final half. The next Jordan? Please. Michael would have fired more than three shots in the second half if he thought it could help his team win.

Bryant's basketball sins alone should draw the unending ire of fans and media alike. Someone needs to explain to me why he is the chosen one.

What about what happened in Colorado? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot we no longer are allowed to speak about that. That's tucked under the rug.

Was Bryant remorseful? Sure, don't you remember he bought his wife a trillion dollar diamond ring and dragged her to the press conference? This guy makes Bill Clinton look like Ward Cleaver in the husband department. Yet, when he was coming back from the trial to play in the games that night, announcers and members of the media acted like he was a hero! That's unforgivable. Why does nobody talk about this? Never mind. You don't have to answer that one, it probably won't make it past my editor.

Maybe the most aggravating thing about Kobe, and in a sense, the thing that I hate the most, is how fake he is. I'm tired of the charade. That Sunday Conversation made me want to vomit. Kobe said on ESPN's Sunday Conversation that his teammates were "like my brothers." Brothers? Really? Apparently, in Kobe's World, you could cry about how crappy your brothers are, demand a trade from the family, causing your parents to ship off four of your brothers for one really good brother. You can't trade your brothers in real life. Ask Tito Jackson. How about the rest of his "brothers" that he wanted to be traded from that still are on the team? Now they are one big happy family? And the way he keeps force-feeding us this "I love these guys, I swear" routine makes it that much easier to see right through. For example, how they all showed up to his MVP press conference. What a sham. Brothers. Give me a break. Can you picture Sasha Vujacic borrowing Kobe's Bentley for a beer run? Brothers? So like, Jordan Farmar walks up to Kobe every day, punches him in the arm and gives him a noogie? I'm not buying it. You can hear the other players forcing it for the cameras. When they were pushing for Bryant to be the MVP to the media, they all sounded like frightened witnesses pleading the 5th in a mafia trial. This isn't the first time Kobe has talked about his "brothers." Remember, Shaq was his big brother too. How's that working out for him?

I don't think anyone "likes" this guy. He just has never fit in so he fakes it. He was a rich boy who grew up in Europe and went to the best high schools and came back for the States for his senior year. He used to say he was "from Philly", back before they booed him at the All-Star game. Bottom line, he has never fit in anywhere. But the little brat ran off his "big brother", and now he's the big man on campus, and the rest of the team has to play in his shadow. The brat became a bully. Bullies tend to have lots of "friends".

I can understand why his teammates pretend to love him. They want the ball, and their jobs. I guess I can forgive LA fans for cheering him on. He's the guy on their team. What can they do? I just can't fathom why the national media, and even fans across the country, even in Boston, still love this man. I guess I never will.

OK, hate is a strong word. It isn't like I hate him in the true sense of the word; I don't even know him. I don't wish anything bad on him, except a Finals loss. But in sports, fans can use harsh words like that in the context of the game. If I were GM of the Boston Celtics, and Mitch Kupchak wanted to trade Kobe Bryant for Paul Pierce straight up, I'd shoot it down in a second. I wouldn't take Bryant for anyone in a Celtics uniform. Not for Pierce. Not for Allen. No for Powe. I'd get skewered in the media. I'd get fired. I wouldn't get a job in the league. I'd sleep like a baby.

Three things I thought while ... hey ... did I mention I hate Kobe Bryant?..

Another annoying comparison this week is the Phil Jackson vs. Red Auerbach debate. I wasn't around for Red and can't really speak on the subject, but I have heard people use the fact that Red had more Hall of Famers on his squad. This is a ridiculous argument considering that Red scouted, drafted, and coached these players. Also, there were like 8 teams in the league back then and there are 30 teams now. Every team was packed with Hall of Famers; what was he supposed to do, draft bums?

As far as the over-hyped Lakers referenced above, you know the Celtics are loving this. This is the second time this season Boston has been widely viewed as underdogs, the first being against Detroit. They played their best basketball in that situation, as well as their shortest series. I'm just sayin' ...

Finally, my series prediction. I'm a homer, so, the Celtics in six. I believe that this series will play out a lot like the Detroit series, with the Celtics winning a game (or in this case two) on the road in the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce is the MVP as he continues to close out games, ultimately outshining Bryant in fourth quarters throughout the series.

tags boston celtics, kobe bryant, los angeles lakers

« Back to front page

24 comments so far...

Agree 100%, well said, now I can see the whole picture of Kobe, thanks for bringing it out to the forefront, everyone should know his true colors, great job

Posted by Lilivolau June 4, 08 04:04 PM

WELL SAID MY MAN, WELL SAID!

Posted by SCOTT S June 4, 08 04:06 PM

Reasons why the Lakers will beat the Celtics:

� The Lakers are a true definition of a team. They are a cohesive unit. There is a strong bond that they have developed over the years that can only come through growth, maturation and perseverance. They have fought together as a team, they have suffered defeat together and they have won together. This team knows what it is like to go through the fire and to come out of it victoriously. This bond that they have developed gives them strength which can only be brought about through testing by fire. This is a family, a unit, a band of brothers that fights as one. There is a strength and an advantage that not even Celtics big three can match. Your Celtics have faltered in the playoffs for everyone to see�the Lakers have overcome and overcome decisively.

� We have a leader that has been established as the best NBA player in the league, the MVP, Kobe Bean Bryant aka �The Black Mamba�. This player was what brought to the City of Los Angeles by the best Laker player in history�Jerry West. The best player history (Michael Jordan) has passed the torch to Kobe Bryant to one day over take him as the best player in history. The legacy of our leader (Kobe Bryant) overshadows any legacy that your leader (Paul Pierce) has established over the years with your Celtics. It pales in comparison.

� Your team�the Celtics is a patch work of veterans that have underachieved. Sure they are great players in their own right. But all have failed individually to get them to this point. Kobe has not. Your team is built for a 2 to maybe 3 year run tops, but just as the San Antonio Spurs found out�age did catch up with them. Our team is young and hungry and they have been built to last a decade.

� Belief. The Lakers already know and believe that they are the best team in the league. Not just better then the Celtics but better then everyone. Why? Because they know that they are not at full strength. They know that once they have all their pieces together�they will be unstoppable, a force to be reckoned -with all 82 games. This is just a test for them to see how far then can go. Since they have gotten this far (not a full strength), why not go all the way. They know they can.

� Who have the Celtics defeated? Lebron James, Joe Johnson, Joe Smith, Al Horford, a hurt Chauncy Billups and a hurt Richard Hamilton and a no-show Rasheed Wallace (that was in love with Kevin Garnett.)

� Our team defeated...Alan Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, a sweep of the Denver Nuggest. We defeated Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, the team that had the best home record in the league. We defeated Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry. �.THE DFENDING CHAMPS.

� Atlanta Hawks who would not have even made the playoffs if in the west took you to seven games�.tisk tisk�what a shame.

� Our coaching staff has a total of 59 rings. They have the experience, the knowledge and the understanding to play at this level. You do not.

� Sure you can stand on the past and relive old Celtics Glory�but this is not only a new decade nor a new century but this is a new millennium. Old things have passed away�.behold all things become new.

� Since arriving in Los Angeles from Minneapolis for the 1960-61 season, the Lakers have reached the NBA Finals 23 times in 47 seasons. To put it in perspective, the Lakers have pretty much played for the NBA title every other season during their stay in Los Angeles.

� The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, including 8-0 at home. The Celtics are 12-8, including 10-1 at home. The Lakers' 23 finals appearances since 1961 are the most championship appearances for any team in any major North American sport over the same time period. The Boston Celtics have reached the NBA Finals 15 times over that same stretch.

� This Celtics are likened to a deer in the road with headlights shining in its eyes.

Posted by lakerluv June 4, 08 04:52 PM

Dude - You twist facts like pretzels.

You sound like a scared kid whistling in the dark
-
-

Kobe's coming - BE AFRAID - BE VERY AFRAID !

Posted by jimmycslick1 June 4, 08 05:10 PM

I agree as well...good article my son 165...

Posted by B June 4, 08 05:18 PM

Wow, Lakerluv...I don't even know how to respond.

I don't know about the Celtics, but after reading that comment, I'm "likened to a deer in the road with headlights shining in its eyes." That was the most frightening thing I've ever read.

Posted by irider June 4, 08 05:31 PM

Is this guy sick? Kobe is the truth son, his career has just begun!If you read the second word in this title put an "r" on it, take the other words off and you have the name of the person who posted this! I'm sure this guy plays ball!
Not! stop hating son

Posted by CAPITALIZN June 4, 08 08:55 PM

Hate Kobe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGccjdhWxho

Posted by heh8me&1 June 4, 08 11:02 PM

great article. i will be thinking about this idiotic column when kobe is clinching the nba title(lakers third in a row against the chowders) on your homecourt. boston sucks and so do the fans and bitter old bloggers... go lakers!!!

where have you guys been the last 21 years anyways...

Posted by anthony June 4, 08 11:48 PM

nice article. I especially agree with the "fake" part. Dude is so concerned with his own legacy so he tries to look like a civilized and loving individual, but the truth is that he doesn't give a crap about other people, running shaq (top 5 big men all time) and Phil J (top 2 coach) out of town because HE wanted to run the show. Kobe is a complete narcissist.

Posted by hiphophead June 5, 08 01:30 AM

Nicely done Ian! Although you forgot to mention how Kobe ratted his "brother" Shaq out when he got pinched in Denver; just another piebce of the Kobe character puzzle.

Posted by George Carranza June 5, 08 01:47 AM

Lakerluv has got some serious issues, beyond inability to be rational...

Bottom line: the Lakers should be the favorite. They score easier, they're longer, they pass the ball a LOT better, and they have a better bench. HOWEVER (Stephen A. voice), the C's have home court, better defense, get to the foul line more, and that weird thing called heart. I'm taking home court and heart in 6.

Posted by LHendrix June 5, 08 08:56 AM

Million dollar talent with a 10 cent head. I can't wait until the Celts defense shuts down the Lakers for a stretch, and Kobe decides to take all the shots. Thats going to be their doom.

Posted by esscubed June 5, 08 09:12 AM

nobody can dunk like kobe! nobody can jump an aston-martin like kobe bryant! nobody can travel from a rape trial to a basketball game like kobe!

Posted by benjikaye22 June 5, 08 09:23 AM

So true.....I'll never forget watching the start of an All-Star Game about 5 years ago and when they introduced the players they had to pass a line-up of kids.

KG slapped hands with all of them, even Rasheed ran a wave of hand slaps with the kids and when Kobe came out, he totally ignored the kids...didn't even look at them! He just stood and stared into the stands! I couldn't believe it. Here were these kids totally thrilled to be on the court with these players and he blows them off. That day I saw the true Kobe Bryant .

Posted by rosecity June 5, 08 10:34 AM

"This is a guy whose own team's fans should be ripping him. "

during player introductions during the opening game in LA, Laker fans booed Kobe on his way on the court.

MVP chants started to come when they saw the change in him this season and how he meshed with the entire team.

Posted by lakersfan June 5, 08 12:46 PM

I'm in the "hate Kobe" crowd. And like you, not because he has talent. It's his attitude, the details of the rape, his bullying all in the way of his narcissism. He needs help. I believe he is a sociopath, really.

Gawd it must be awful to have to play with him.
The league would be better without him.
He's a monster, and not in the good definition of that word.

Good guys need to take him down, and then he will show his true colors again, and throw a temper tantrum fitting of a player who lives by "it's all about me".

Posted by richard kaplan June 5, 08 01:07 PM

u need d lord if u hate.....c'mon now, do not hate, appreciate.......haha

Posted by ilovekobe June 5, 08 01:21 PM

Ian...will you marry me?? Hahaha...that was absolutely outstanding! No one could have said it any better. Honestly, no one should be comparing anyone to Michael Jordan. There was only 1 Jordan...and his first name isn't and will never be Kobe. The Phil Jackson vs. Red Auerbach comparisons also need to stop. Red was the greatest coach ever. Could Phil Jackson be everything to that franchise that Red was?? Definately not. Not even close. Stop the madness.

Posted by Nellie June 5, 08 02:52 PM

Funny i kinda recall those MVP chants in boston as well, no that i want to get in some truth or anything. "Paul Pierce is the MVP"........ emm sure, whatever you say dude. Just wasted 20 minutes, sigh let me go back to waiting for the game to start. This is going to be a beat down of epic proportions.

Posted by Jams June 5, 08 03:19 PM

SPOT ON. That he's the NBA's golden boy-slash-hero is a big joke. He thinks he's Jordan. And analysts are beginning to say he's entered the Jordan stratosphere. I don't think so. Punk.

Posted by dub June 5, 08 03:19 PM

I LOVE KOBE, HE SCORED 81 POINTS IN ONE GAME SOMETHING JORDAN CAN NEVER DID.

BY THE WAY F*** THE CELTICS AND F*** BOSTON, PAUL PIERCE NEEDING A WHEEL CHAIR FOR A SPRAINED KNEE-ALL TIME BITCH MOVE

JUST ANNOYING, THAT LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN, SPY GATE CHEATING FOR 3 SUPERBOWLS, AND OH THE RED SOX!

BOSTON NEVER COULD ACQUIRE TRUE TALENT SO THEY ALWAYS HAD TO CHEAT. A TEAM FULL OF MERCENARIES.

Posted by cheating celtics, go lakers!!! and yankees!!! June 16, 08 11:57 AM

Well Boston kicked ass and our hometown boy, Kendrick Perkins, has his first championship. Woo hoo! I hate Kobe Bryant.

Posted by KB in Beaumont, TX June 18, 08 02:04 PM

agreed in every sense. Not to mention the fact that if anyone steps within five feet of him when he's taking a shot, you know he's going straight to the line.

Posted by Truth April 19, 09 09:58 PM