Kobe reportedly encouraged teammates to be unsportsmanlike:

[carrrnuttt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060508

• As you'd imagine, there was some interesting Kobe chatter in the desert in the wake of Game 7.

One story circulating among the Suns is that Bryant strongly encouraged teammates not to linger on the floor after the final buzzer for post-series handshakes. Suns ex Jim Jackson was one of the few Lakers who did stick around to congratulate his ex-teammates, as well as the L.A. coaches. "I got the handshake I wanted," said Suns forward Tim Thomas, referring to Lakers coach Phil Jackson, whom Thomas called "a legend."

Guess who's getting traded in the off-season?


While I'm at it, since I expect the groupies to respond in force, I'll quote myself from another board as a 'pre-response':

• Greatness •

Kobe might have been great at one point, and he has potential to still be, but a truly great player does NOT refuse to help his young teammates in the biggest game of their young careers, setting them up to shoulder the blame, while encouraging them, at least by example (I must note that local reports are saying that Kobe enouraged his teammates verbally to do like he did), to walk away without congratulating the team that whupped him fair and square. Something that even the heinous Ron Artest, and the much maligned Dennis Rodman have been able to do.

The fact that all of you, who are busy sucking on Kobe's sausage and eggs are laying it on thick with the apologies and counter-insults, doesn't show that Kobe's redeemable. It only shows that even you piss-ants are trying to justify your nut-hugging even to yourselves, as you tighten the blinders around your narrow heads.

 

[DeAnna]

Doesn't surprise me. He's a P.A.I.

 

[Renz]

While I'm at it, since I expect the groupies to respond in force, I'll quote myself from another board as a 'pre-response':

The fact that all of you, who are busy sucking on Kobe's sausage and eggs are laying it on thick with the apologies and counter-insults, doesn't show that Kobe's redeemable. It only shows that even you piss-ants are trying to justify your nut-hugging even to yourselves, as you tighten the blinders around your narrow heads.

And you have the stones to say that Kobe has no class?

 

[Card Trader]

Kobe is all class Renz....keep on believing!

 

[Renz]

Kobe is all class Renz....keep on believing!

The board hates Kobe. We get it.

 

[Billy Bob]

It took You long enough!

 

[Ryanwb]

The majority of NBA fans hate Kobe. We get it.

Fixed it

 

[Card Trader]

Kobe fans are funny!

 

[JS22]

The board hates Kobe. We get it.

This isn't a Laker board. Of course we hate Kobe.

 

[tlim]

The question is, would the fans hate Kobe if he donned a Suns uniform?

Unlike some people in other forums, I flat out respect players for their talent.

Lebron James. Great talent.
Tim Thomas. Money.
Boris Diaw. Going to be great, and expensive starting player. Currently, the expensive part doesn't qualify.
Steve Nash. Amazing passer, and handles beyond conceivable.

Giving props to other players just allows me to enjoy basketball. I clap on great plays, and amazing feats. I hope others do as well, instead of just pure hate.

 

[Renz]

This isn't a Laker board. Of course we hate Kobe.

Fine, but do we really need 10 new threads a day bashing Kobe? The Suns/Clippers series starts today and there are 10 times as many posts about Kobe than there are the Clippers series. The Suns won the series, you would think that would be good enough.

Maybe it's because Phoenix has never won anything that so many of their fans haven't learned how to win with class? Two days after game 7 there is still exponentially more hate for the Lakers than there is love for the Suns. Sad, really.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns/Clippers series starts today and there are 10 times as many posts about Kobe than there are the Clippers series.

How many Clipper trolls have we had to fend off? Oh, that's right, zero.

Laker fans brought it on themselves with their premature, childish trash talk. Stand up and face the music, or stay away from the board for a while.

 

[Billy Bob]

tlim

Not Me, Kobe turn My stomach, He's Punk. When Kobe was a free agent I shuddered at thought of Him coming here to be reunited with D'antoni. We signed Nash "thank God"

 

[Renz]

The Suns/Clippers series starts today and there are 10 times as many posts about Kobe than there are the Clippers series.

How many Clipper trolls have we had to fend off? Oh, that's right, zero.

Laker fans brought it on themselves with their premature, childish trash talk. Stand up and face the music, or stay away from the board for a while.

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.

 

[F-Dog]

The question is, would the fans hate Kobe if he donned a Suns uniform?

Hell yes! (Believe me, I feel much better about Kobe because he's not wearing a Suns uniform.)


Anyway, ROTFLMAO at Kobe for this stunt. When did he decide to orchestrate this--after the crowd chanted "Kobe sucks"? When Cedric Ceballos unveiled his "Beat L.A.--Clippers" sign, after the third quarter? After Burke's three?

 

[ARZCardinals]

F Kobe...say it a million times and keep saying it (Kobe Sucks, Kobe Sucks repeat and repeat it over and over)

BECAUSE IF THE SUNS LOST WE'D HAD NEVER HEARD THE END OF THE KOBE F'N LOVE SESSION.

JOIN IN WITH ME KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS!!!

 

[devilalum]

I'll quote myself from another board as a 'pre-response':

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JS22]

Fine, but do we really need 10 new threads a day bashing Kobe? The Suns/Clippers series starts today and there are 10 times as many posts about Kobe than there are the Clippers series. The Suns won the series, you would think that would be good enough.

Maybe it's because Phoenix has never won anything that so many of their fans haven't learned how to win with class? Two days after game 7 there is still exponentially more hate for the Lakers than there is love for the Suns. Sad, really.

*yawn*

 

[devilalum]

F Kobe...say it a million times and keep saying it (Kobe Sucks, Kobe Sucks repeat and repeat it over and over)

BECAUSE IF THE SUNS LOST WE'D HAD NEVER HEARD THE END OF THE KOBE F'N LOVE SESSION.

JOIN IN WITH ME KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS, KOBE SUCKS!!!

Word

 

[tlim]

What about other players? Lots of people _hate_ Tim Duncan. Look at the Nuggets, and Ruben Patterson. The dude's a _convicted_ rapist, and yet they boo Kobe for the allegations for it. They applaud Ruben, and boo Kobe. So people's minds are messed up in that manner.

There's no way you would not be rooting for Kobe. Imagine Nash going in there, and giving Kobe free reign? Kobe in the open court?

You're telling me that if, given the choice between getting a ring with Kobe, and not getting one without him, you'd choose the latter?

I do have to admit though, that I do hate players.
1) Gary Payton. Unprofressional, and screwed up the Laker's Banks trade.
2) Alonzo Mourning. Reamed other teams, and sat out with hang nail problems because he didn't like them until he got a contract buy out so that he could play for another team.

Those guys, I loathe. Unprofessional in every manner. For me, I gotta respect skills, no matter what the team.

 

[Billy Bob]

You put Nash in LA and the team beats the Suns with Kobe. BRRRRRRRRRR!!!

 

[elindholm]

Time to move on, unless you consider me, D-Dogg, A-Bomb and BIM to be trolls.

BIM? Of course. He's the biggest troll here, except when he's banned. Maybe you meant LSM, who is cool.

You're a troll too, but D-Dogg and A-Bomb are fine.

 

[D-Dogg]

Maybe it's because Phoenix has never won anything that so many of their fans haven't learned how to win with class? Two days after game 7 there is still exponentially more hate for the Lakers than there is love for the Suns. Sad, really.

More funny...when the Suns won the game did the crowd chant Pro-Suns stuff? Did they chant Let's Go Suns? Did they chant MVP? Did they even chant Clippers Suck?

No on all counts. They chanted "Kobe Sucks." That's pretty lame, IMO. I happen to hate all the "So and So sucks" chants personally, however.

I wish they would have just cheered on their team that kicked the hell out of the Lakers...but DAMN does Kobe elicit a lot of hate.

 

[D-Dogg]

You put Nash in LA and the team beats the Suns with Kobe. BRRRRRRRRRR!!!

LOL...I don't think so. You saw the Lakers bricking open shots to the tune of 35 percent in game 7. You saw the suns hit 61%. Nash wouldn't have gotten the Lakers any better looks, and he damn sure wouldn't have made the shots for them.

Nash is great, yeah, but you have a fantastic coach, an open offense and guys who can simply shoot the hell out of the rock...pure and simple. Did the Suns EVER shoot 35% in a game this season?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The question is, would the fans hate Kobe if he donned a Suns uniform?

Unlike some people in other forums, I flat out respect players for their talent.

Lebron James. Great talent.
Tim Thomas. Money.
Boris Diaw. Going to be great, and expensive starting player. Currently, the expensive part doesn't qualify.
Steve Nash. Amazing passer, and handles beyond conceivable.

Giving props to other players just allows me to enjoy basketball. I clap on great plays, and amazing feats. I hope others do as well, instead of just pure hate.

I would stop watching the Suns if Kobe was a Sun.