Kobe: "Who Am I to Judge?"

[milesfides]

Rome: Kobe, how did you make [the relationship with Phil Jackson] right?

Kobe: You know, who am I to judge? You know, everybody makes mistakes...I'm not going to hold it over his head. I'm going to look at it as water under the bridge and move on, and that's what we were able to do.

Rome: Would you approach your relationship with Shaq the same way?

Kobe: I always have. I always have. You know, in fact, before the latest incident, we actually talked on the phone. He actually called me and said, you know, he was proud of the way I was playing and how well I was playing in the playoffs and that sort of thing. But I've always approached relationships that way; you forgive, move on, and give people second chances.

Rome: What do you make of that? Was he being insincere when he picked up the phone and called you and said he was proud of you and then laid down that rap?

Kobe: I don't know, you know I just try to focus on things I can control. At that time I had the gold medal to focus on; now it's about trying to get a championship, so I try to keep my eyes on the prize and not worry too much on what's going on over here.

-partial transcript of Kobe's interview with ESPN's Jim Rome

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/vid ... 3&n8pe6c=3

[laka4life]

It's just hilarious to me how Kobe is always made out to be the immature one. This interview just proves how much growing up Kobe has done in his career, while it seems that Shaq just continues to get more immature as we go along.

Even with Odom being inconsistent, I can honestly say I do not regret a single thing about how the Kobe Shaq relationship ended. We got by far the better end of it, while Phoenix is now burdened with a immature, overpaid, overweight attention grabbing P.O.S.

Thanks Mitch, we owe you for the judgement we may have passed a few years ago

[milesfides]

I think this is a remarkable interview.

I'm sure this will prompt some to laud his maturity...but, I think that's implying that Kobe is/was particularly immature. I'm not sure if that's the case. Especially considering all the ink spilled on Kobe's maturity, even as a teenager.

As far as I can remember, Kobe had exactly two outbursts: one was an interview with ESPN's Jim Grey as a response to Shaq's public comments in 2003 (available here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648431) and the infamous parking lot conversation caught on a cell phone.

Really, I think Kobe's overall done a pretty good job of showing his maturity. In general, I've always felt he conducted himself fairly well, particularly in relation to Shaq and Phil (who can be surprisingly immature for a zen master), two people who have publicly and intentionally humiliated Kobe.

Without a doubt, Kobe's made some big mistakes in his life, specifically the Colorado incident, but unless one is willing to consider all mistakes in life as acts of immaturity, I think it was a irreducible act of immorality, not of immaturity, which served a costly lesson that Kobe has chosen to bear for the rest of his life.

That's what I give props to Kobe for. Whatever people want to say about Kobe, one thing they can't call him is a hypocrite. His unconditional acceptance of Phil Jackson and openness to Shaq are perplexing to many, especially in this day and age, especially given the high profile celebrity world Kobe lives in. It's very easy for people to delude themselves with wealth, power, and adoration, and shield their ego and preserve their pride.

Instead, Kobe's been humbled, and he has embraced that humility by not judging other people who have hurt him.

In short, he's living in a state of grace.

That's as inspiring as a four-point-play for the gold.

[Big Bird]

^^Great points.

Everyone who hates Kobe for being selfish, immature and druving Shaq out of town, should be forced to read the first link for 1000 times. While the "Bynum situation" was bad and incredibly uncareful if not anything else, I've never held the Jim Gray interview against Kobe.. it truly was time to speak up, especially because Shaq took the liberty of washing the dirty laundry in public to himself.

[laka4life]

I agree. I actually thought that the Jim Grey interview was Kobe's first moment of showing true leadership. Did he do it in the most respectful manner?? No, but all he did was say EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS THINKING AND WANTED TO SAY!

Kobe shouldn't be judged for actually having a set unlike some people.

[Dexmor]

I always thought it was obvious Kobe was the clear choice and anybody who was upset and thought Shaq should have stayed instead is an idiot. I still do. So if that applies to any of you guys yes that is right your all idiots (the ones that would have wanted Kobe gone over Shaq)

[magic1fan]

the people who dooged kobe were mostly shaq first fans. they were NOT laker fans. as you can see real laker fans still filled the staple center when shaq left. they still supported kobe and the team. kobe has been the better person imo throughout the entire ordeal(minus telling on shaq). shaq has always been a snake. he was a snake in orlando blaming penny and everyone else. he was a snake in los angeles blaming kobe,and everyone else. he wanted to show his true colors in miami but he couldn't,because he knew then everyone would know it was him and not kobe.

[TonyMontana]

Good read miles.........Props
All I can say is even though I have been a Shaq fan, this statement by Kobe (His phone conversations with Shaq) just makes me sick to my stomach that Shaq can actually sit here and talk to Kobe and give him props and then go on some childish bashing on TV talking about how Kobe couldnt do it with him and disrespecting Kobe with his childish games.
Shaq was a dominating force, he was one of the greatest, but I think Shaq has lost it, he has lost his image and talent he once dominated and now he trys to attract attention negative attention towards him so he can still stay in the spotlight but all he is doing is making himself look like an idiot and loosing a lot of his fanbase.
But props on Kobe for not allowing Shaq to get the worst part of him.
Kobe has matured and he has taken himself above the superstar status into becoming one of the elite to ever play this game, his hunger and desire to be the best.
He has broken most records that hasnt been touched in years/decades, he has his rings, he has his Gold Medal, and now hopefully he will get a couple of titles before he retires, but props on his respond to Shaq and all his critics.
Again good read Mang.

[LLcoleJ]

I always thought it was obvious Kobe was the clear choice and anybody who was upset and thought Shaq should have stayed instead is an idiot. I still do. So if that applies to any of you guys yes that is right your all idiots (the ones that would have wanted Kobe gone over Shaq)

You will not find too many people here who would have taken Shaq over Kobe at the time of the seperation.

That being said, don't call people idiots because they dont agree with your opinion. Consider this a warning.

[TonyMontana]

You will not find too many people here who would have taken Shaq over Kobe at the time of the seperation.

Ya, I think even though I missed Shaq and I felt bad that he left, as a basketball fan first I agreed with the decision that the Lakers F.O had made since I saw Shaq desire and performance started to decline.
So it was clear to me as a fan who I prefered staying in LA.

[DEEP3CL]

I think Kobe has found an inner calm about himself now. After awhile you realize you can't defend yourself every time somebody says something about you. People are always gonna think negative of him but so what we know the real deal because we see or hear him more then others anyway.

I don't regret one bit how it ended between him and Diesel, now look how far they've come. Shaq stopped caring about winning big weather he wants to acknowledge it or not and Kobe always cared.

[TonyMontana]

I think Kobe has found an inner calm about himself now. After awhile you realize you can't defend yourself every time somebody says something about you. People are always gonna think negative of him but so what we know the real deal because we see or hear him more then others anyway.

I don't regret one bit how it ended between him and Diesel, now look how far they've come. Shaq stopped caring about winning big weather he wants to acknowledge it or not and Kobe always cared.

Deep I know you heard that saying with envy comes jealousy, thats what Kobe is dealing with............. FTW.

[kno]

I always thought it was obvious Kobe was the clear choice and anybody who was upset and thought Shaq should have stayed instead is an idiot. I still do. So if that applies to any of you guys yes that is right your all idiots (the ones that would have wanted Kobe gone over Shaq)

Werent you the one who wanted to see Ariza at the 4 and Crittenton at the 3?

Lets not go off calling people idiots just yet...

[milesfides]

I certainly didn't want to kick Shaq while he's down.

True, I do feel somewhat vindicated for defending Kobe and Buss while Shaq was attacking them via the press, but only a little bit. To know that I, along with the Laker faithful here, were right all along.

But I think this is far bigger than Kobe v. Shaq.

You know, people always attack athletes for being crappy role models. When they stumble, they get torn apart. This myth that athletes should be great human beings just sets up athletes for failure. Of course, the media inevitably promotes the myth, celebrates these athletes in moments of triumph, demonizes them when they're down, because drama sells.

Yet, when an athlete quietly demonstrates the power of good in human nature, which is not perfection but redemption, not spotlessness but forgiveness, it goes largely unnoticed.

You know, a big deal was made about Who Kobe Bryant Really Is, because the media and fans felt it their right to know everything about him. But he was reserved, he kept to himself, he played by the rules, and when he did stumble, everybody thought the worst of him. There was no benefit of the doubt with Kobe. He ran Shaq out of town, he was a rapist, he threw games, he was a team cancer, he was everything that was wrong with the Lakers, the NBA, basketball, professional sports, the legal system.

And yet, whenever he opens up and shares some insightful, inspiring, remarkable aspects to his character, that not only sheds light on the past but illuminates what kind of person he is now, all you can hear are crickets and some posters talking about it on an internet board.

It's ironic, because this interview is so surprising. People expected Kobe to oppose the return of Phil Jackson after he wrote the book, not embrace him. People expected Kobe to fire back at Shaq after the video, not forgive him.

And yet, Kobe's revelations about who he is as a person goes largely unnoticed, and people continue to perpetuate the myth that Kobe is an inscrutable villain, a cocky, arrogant, immoral, ruthless phony. I guess people choose what the want to believe, hear what they want to hear, see what they want to see. People aren't curious about Kobe, so much as they want him to be the unknown, and it's easy to demonize what you don't know.

Not everybody will make the same mistakes as Kobe. Not everybody will commit adultery or be charged with rape. Certainly the world wouldn't know about it. But we all will stumble in this life, we all will suffer guilt and shame. We all will undoubtedly hurt people around us, and there will be times when the world is turned upside down, and you will be forced to face the man in the mirror. Naked. (This naked man is actually you, I meant this metaphorically, like Michael Jackson's song. Ok, just forget it).

I wonder how many people would have the fortitude to suffer humiliation, to prevent it from crushing you, not by dodging it, but by embracing it. To allow all that pain to transform who you are as a person, to make you a better person.

"Who am I to judge?"

Who are we?

[2Trill]

I Respect kobes growth as a man he has come full circle from the days past when he wore the number 8 and he displayed such character in the last interview on espn when asked about phil and shaq however kobe and shaq are two men who will always have a realationship that us fans will never understand from the outside looking in what the big man did this summer was not something i would expect from a 4 time champ but we are all human and do make mistakes the way i view things is they both are two great playes from this generation and they played together and reached the ultimate goal 3 times now there careers have taken different paths shaq is @ the end of his and kobe is in his prime they play for rivals in the same division it should make for some interesting basketball sit back and enjoy the ride not need for the hate