Kobe criticized for comments

[TNBT]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... g_comment/


I didn't see this anywhere so I figured I should post it. If it has been posted or should be in a different place then feel free to merge/lock/delete if needed.

I just wanted to post it though because it was a great example of one of the things that I hate most about pro sports and the media. NBA players are great basketball players; that's what they do. No one is paying them millions per year to teach children what is right and wrong. That's a job for parents and teachers. I get sick of the NBA and other sports acting like NBA players are supposed to be role models and teach kids how to act. They're there because they can play basketball well. That's it. I'd love to see the league and media just give these guys a break instead of acting like they're all supposed to be perfect just because they can play a sport.

I'm not even a Lakers fan (although they are one of my 2nd teams) and I don't particularly like Kobe either but I have to say that in this case, they should just leave the guy alone. I was curious to know what you guys think. Anyone who is relying on NBA players to raise their kids needs to take a long hard look at themselves as parents.

[magicfan4life05]

Honestly, I think the guy was just trying to make a joke and try to make the depressing mood a little lighter, so he tried to crack a joke, but did he say something that maybe went a little too far? yes

But at the same time, this man can do no right, and is always criticized no matter what he does, but I've seen popovich talk about wine a couple of times during their coach thing timeout, and even last year don nelson HAD A BEER in the press conference room, but did the president of SADD say anything then?

Obviously he is a star unlike those, but theres a double standard and people cannot wait to jump on this guy.

And one last thing, where are all the criticisms of Garnett constantly yelling profanities all game?

Don't people get offended by that too and arent little kids influenced from that like they are from kobe drinking comments?

Hmm guess not, Garnett is such a nice guy so we can let it slide...

And it's drinking alcohol is a crime, but I seriously doubt kids will go drink after a loss because kobe said he does (even tho he was being sarcastic) BUT if they do, they got a lot more problems than that, and the real blame is on their parents...

[JazzItUp13]

what a joke....kobe can do no right...they would never get on MJ about his gambling or late night partying but an innocent comment like this? bs

[Profound23]

what a joke....kobe can do no right...they would never get on MJ about his gambling or late night partying but an innocent comment like this? bs

They got on MJ about his gambling all the time. In fact I think it was a big part of the reason he retired the first time. There were rumors every post season they won the finals that he was out gambling the night before playoff games. The difference, if true, is that he didn't say it was how he would handle a loss publicly.

As much as these players don't want to be, they are role models. Kobe has said 100's of times he enjoys being a role model. So to come out and say something, with a serious look on your face, about drowning your sorrows in a bottle of wine, beers and 20 shots is going to get some criticism.

You guys see his face all the time when he is joking, that was a serious face he had and I feel bad for the guy if that is how he feels he must deal with a loss. And saying "he can't do right" is not correct, any true leader usually says "well we just have to realize we have to take it one game at a time"...and..."it's not over". That would not have been hard.

[LLcoleJ]

I got drunk.

[Basketball Fan]

Profound you would have a point except that its just flat out hypocrisy to condemn Kobe for what he said about alcohol and conveniently ignore how Don Nelson a couple years ago after eliminating the Mavs had a beer can in his hand during the PC.

Or how teams who win titles celebrate with champagne, and the many ads of alcohol that are featured during games.

They also promote alcohol consumption as well. Why isn't anyone getting on their case? I'll tell you SADD is located in Waymouth Massachusetts which is 30 minutes from Boston. You can figure out the rest.


If anything they did all this for publicity because before they criticized Kobe how many of us would've known of these people right off the bat?

Yeah I thought so.

[Minhee]

How lame, as if the young generation wouldn't go out and get drunk in public or continue to get DUI on their own. Yeah, from now on any alcohol abuse problems can be blamed on Kobe's statment. Stupid.

[TonyMontana]

I got drunk.

[The Laker Kid]

I didn't like the comment either.. I thought that was weak. But hey the man is disappointed and upset. I think I would have said some way worse things if that was me

[RJM]

I didn't like the comment either.. I thought that was weak. But hey the man is disappointed and upset. I think I would have said some way worse things if that was me

No doubt man. No doubt...

[c2asante]

The comment was inappropriate for one who is a leader and role model in the NBA. Irresponsible drinking is no joking matter and he should not have implied drowning disappointment in excessive alcohol consumption was an effective way to handle a tough loss. With that said he is human and given the timing and circumstances, he should be cut some slack for not being as politically correct as he should have been.

[Erik Eleven]

Is this really how stupid and insecure we are in this country? An athlete makes a sarcastic remark and people are not only dumb enough not to recognize it for what it is, they're obviously dumb enough take it to the press? Wow. How pathetic. If you have that little trust in the intelligence of our country's youth, maybe we should look to complain about the school system instead. If one sarcastic remark from one athlete can overthrow what morals the school system and society has built up for our kids, then we're in deep trouble. Go ahead, blame Kobe.

Funny or not, it was just a joke. If Shaq would have said it, would the same guy complain? If he did, would he get the press? I don't think so. It's time to let the Kobe witch-hunt die, folks. This is pretty damn unbelievable. Cro-Mag.

[8'sReverse]

Is this really how stupid and insecure we are in this country? An athlete makes a sarcastic remark and people are not only dumb enough not to recognize it for what it is, they're obviously dumb enough take it to the press? Wow. How pathetic. If you have that little trust in the intelligence of our country's youth, maybe we should look to complain about the school system instead. If one sarcastic remark from one athlete can overthrow what morals the school system and society has built up for our kids, then we're in deep trouble. Go ahead, blame Kobe.

Funny or not, it was just a joke. If Shaq would have said it, would the same guy complain? If he did, would he get the press? I don't think so. It's time to let the Kobe witch-hunt die, folks. This is pretty damn unbelievable. Cro-Mag.

Excellent post.

I was going to ellaborate, but try as I might I couldn't sum it up better than EE.

[IEcelticfan]

isnt he using too much cliches/quotes from products/media? i.e.: beer/alcohol/shots, march madness, harry potter to name a few. he's trying too hard to compare situations to ....

just sayin ...

[milesfides]

isnt he using too much cliches/quotes from products/media? i.e.: beer/alcohol/shots, march madness, harry potter to name a few. he's trying too hard to compare situations to ....

just sayin ...

Actually, nothing he said was a "cliche" or "quote" from a "product" or the "media."

The correct word you're looking for is "analogy," and using analogies is one of the classical ways to illustrate a point.

Otherwise, guess what? Post game interviews would be exactly the same after every game:

"Both teams played hard."
"It was a tough loss."
"It was a great win."
etc.

Which is actually how post game interviews usually go.

But people obsessed about Kobe usually do over-analyze everything he says.

Maybe you can entertain the possibility that Kobe actually says funny and interesting things, which is why you read or watched them, remembered them, and typed them in this forum.

[IEcelticfan]

miles,

aha. there we go. thanks for correcting me. that was the verbiage that i was lookin for, analogy. it just seems he uses it too much imo. i just find it a bit forceful/odd thats all. hey, it's a free country i know.