Kobe reportedly encouraged teammates to be unsportsmanlike:

[Treesquid PhD]

The trolls are long gone, Dad. Time to move on, unless you consider me, D-Dogg, A Bomb and BIM to be trolls. The four of us have been here "facing the music" all along.

fixed

 

[Treesquid PhD]

He's a basketball player, not anything but. His image doesn't mean squat...what he does on the court does. That's it. I don't care about his ad dollars, his commercials, whatever. He's a guy who I respect because of his game.

When it comes to egomaniacs, Kobe ain't got nothing on Tom Cruise, but how many people are going to go watch MI3? Image is nothing...results are everything.

The Kobe Show was the highest rated program in my house all season long...you tuned in to see what he would do on any given night. THAT is the epitome of entertainment. It was must-see TV.

You never know he maybe working on the set of Kazam 2 as we speak.

 

[Chaplin]

He's a basketball player, not anything but. His image doesn't mean squat...what he does on the court does. That's it. I don't care about his ad dollars, his commercials, whatever. He's a guy who I respect because of his game.

When it comes to egomaniacs, Kobe ain't got nothing on Tom Cruise, but how many people are going to go watch MI3? Image is nothing...results are everything.

The Kobe Show was the highest rated program in my house all season long...you tuned in to see what he would do on any given night. THAT is the epitome of entertainment. It was must-see TV.

There is so much wrong with this post, it's not even funny. Did you cut and paste this from a Laker board?

 

[D-Dogg]

There is so much wrong with this post, it's not even funny. Did you cut and paste this from a Laker board?

Dissect it then bro...

Unless you are really in love with Cruise....or are down with L Ron.

 

[elindholm]

His image doesn't mean squat...what he does on the court does.

That's a fine opinion for you to hold. Do you deny that most of the rest of the world disagrees? Remember, we're arguing his status as an entertainer.

 

[D-Dogg]

His image doesn't mean squat...what he does on the court does.

That's a fine opinion for you to hold. Do you deny that most of the rest of the world disagrees? Remember, we're arguing his status as an entertainer.

And how does he entertain? He's a basketball player for crying out loud! That's how he entertains...I'm not signing up for Kobe Bryant poetry readings, buying a Kobe rap CD (he's terrible at it) or watching him act. I enjoy him playing basketball.

I don't understand how else you expect him to entertain. He is what he is...an extremely gifted basketball player with uncommon drive and determination. I find what he does incredibly entertaining. On any given night. Though I'll admit, I find myself watching Kwame Brown most Laker games as he works his tail off, then happen to catch Kobe doing something spectacular..that's what DVRs are for.

 

[elindholm]

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. I already know that you admire his skill as a basketball player.

We got here from the analogy that a surgeon can be a jerk and still be the guy you'd want doing the job, so why isn't in the same with basketball players? And my response was that basketball players are entertainers, where image is important. Now you want to say that image shouldn't be important. Fine, you're entitled to that opinion. But it's clear that image is important -- just look at Bryant's lack of endorsements and strong "negative ratings."

You keep saying, "I don't understand why so many people are so negative about Bryant." Then someone explains why, and you disagree with it. Do you not understand the reasons, or do you not accept them? Make up your mind. The reasons have been articulated as clearly as they possibly can be, by many people on this board and elsewhere. If you want to say the reasons are stupid, I'm prepared to concede that point, but they are what they are.

 

[George O'Brien]

We've gone through similar discussions about Melo Anthony, although I think Melo has grown up a bit. None the less, the combination of selfish play and arrogance has hurt Melo in his efforts to become a media star. (And before you say "media star in Denver", remember where LeBron is playing).

It is a lot easier to like good guy types who get involved in the community, help on charity stuff, and try to connect with the fans and put winning ahead of ego. This is what makes it so easy to connect with the Suns and turns everyone off from the Knicks.

 

[frdbtr]

And blah blah blah.....Once again, Yes Kobe is immature at times. Yes he wanted to validate his greatness on his own. (think about if MJ was on a team with Shaq or if he and Pippens roles were reveresed? YOu dont think he would have done everything he could to get that guy out of there so he could prove he was the GOAT. As much as you would love to think this was not true, if Shaq was on MJ's team when he came on as a rookie, then no matter what he did it would be viewed as a byproduct of Shaq. Thats got to be annoying....But conversly how many titles does Shaq have w/o Kobe, its the yin and yang of both of them along with the ingenious coaching of Jackson. No one person was exclusivly responsible for the winning of three titles but i digress) Yes he is manically competitive. But heres the reality. If some groupie/alleged victim wouldn't have reported him in (and lets assume he is innocent. Then that could have happened to 99% of the players in the NBA that they slept with a groupie and she alleged rape. In fact the fact that he was Kobe Bryant might have been the impetus. But really we have no idea so this is conjecture) then while he would have caught flak for his wanting his own team, he wouldn't be the pariah he know is.

Can we just agree he is the best perimeter player in the NBA and leave it at that?!? He didn't quit in game 7, he (*being immature again) was probably chastised in the locker room for trying to go on his own and being down 15. So he proved a point in the second half. Stupid and self destructive yeah.....Would MJ have done that. Not after that first title when it came together for him. But i feel Kobe never had had a vet presence that wasn't self interested or an far inferior player that he respected. Dude needed some guidance and we are seeing the byproduct of him not getting that out of high school.

But whatever. Like i keep saying he is amazing. A real joy to watch when he is not sabotaging his own team. Who the hell really cares if he is an a$$hole. You don't know him and he don't know you. It's ridiculous. Is AC Green a Hall of Famer because he was the nicest guy in NBA history? No. So why is Kobe so hated and discredited becasue he comes across as selfish and immature. Just respect him for what he is, a basketball player.

And Chris I love ya but you think by your watching is causing ratings to go up and there by leading to more players being a$$holes? I would like to see that socialogical experiment. There are a$$holes in every walk of life. But if the best lawyer is going to get me off and is a jerk, I'm going to hire him. Or if the best surgeon is a really selfish prick, I'm still going to go to him for his ability at his trade, not his personality.

Shouldn't it be the same for Kobe?

The difference between Kobe and Jordan is Jordan EARNED the respect of his teammates and the rest of the NBA, then became a mega star. Kobe is demanding Jordan like respect while treating his teammates and others in the NBA with total disrespect. I hold a different opinion of Jordan then you do, frankly I think that Jordan's main motivation in the NBA was to win Championships and he would have taken a back seat to Shaq if he had had a shaq like player on the bulls when he came into the league. Magic Johnson (another champion) took a back seat to Kareem for years and was just as happy to keep bringing home rings year after year. No matter how good of a player Kobe is, he is still a selfish player and will never be the next Micheal Jordan until he learns that respect is earned and that real champions have the ability to make the players around them play better instead of demanding the ball on every possetion and going 1 on 5. Oh and by the way, champions never quit on their teams. Can you imagine Jordon throwing the same game 7 temper tantrum that Kobe threw? Jordon would have done whatever it took to try to win the game, not stand out on the three point line and bounce pass to his team mates for the entire second half.

 

[D-Dogg]

The difference between Kobe and Jordan is Jordan EARNED the respect of his teammates and the rest of the NBA, then became a mega star. Kobe is demanding Jordan like respect while treating his teammates and others in the NBA with total disrespect. I hold a different opinion of Jordan then you do, frankly I think that Jordan's main motivation in the NBA was to win Championships and he would have taken a back seat to Shaq if he had had a shaq like player on the bulls when he came into the league. Magic Johnson (another champion) took a back seat to Kareem for years and was just as happy to keep bringing home rings year after year. No matter how good of a player Kobe is, he is still a selfish player and will never be the next Micheal Jordan until he learns that respect is earned and that real champions have the ability to make the players around them play better instead of demanding the ball on every possetion and going 1 on 5. Oh and by the way, champions never quit on their teams. Can you imagine Jordon throwing the same game 7 temper tantrum that Kobe threw? Jordon would have done whatever it took to try to win the game, not stand out on the three point line and bounce pass to his team mates for the entire second half.

Kobe DID take a backseat to Shaq.

Shaq treated him like crap anyway.

Name one player in the league that has adjusted his game to fit the situation as much as Kobe. He's incredibly versatile and patiend.