Grantland Article on Kobe Bryant-Good Read

[Speedlot]

Stopped at Grantland to be honest. The site is good, but anything relating to the Lakers the Bias is just filthy.

[Imadogg]

Ima can't read the gb, but either way anyone that's been on this site more than 2 weeks could predict which side the general gb population would take.

Yea and I thought GB is scum of the earth so what happens there is basically the opposite of what happens normally, no?

[leeprettyp]

Ima can't read the gb, but either way anyone that's been on this site more than 2 weeks could predict which side the general gb population would take.

Yea and I thought GB is scum of the earth so what happens there is basically the opposite of what happens normally, no?

100% agree

[Dr Aki]

meh, kobe had to do a lot of growing up between 2004 and 2007 as el primo supremo on the lakers

he first tried the MJ d*ckhead route, that didn't turn out too well

kobe then (finally) read a few books given to him by PJ about leadership, about carrots and sticks and finally he came around, started teaching instead of being demonstrative and pouting about the place

[AcecardZ]

How come Jordan gets a pass for being a dick but not Kobe? Double standard in full effect.

Both players helped lesser players get places they never would have been able to go if they weren't on the same team. If you asked every player in the league what's more important, making friends or winning championships, I'm pretty sure we all know what the answer is going to be.

[Father Time]

^ I think one answer is that Jordan doesn't get a pass. A lot of people consider him to be a dick as well.

[dub81]

I think the reason why Kobe get's a pass is because MJ didn't have alot of teammates bashing him when they go to other teams. It seems like alot of players that were his teammates had negative things to say about him.

I mean it is what it is. I don't have a problem with it but I do dissagree to what Kobe said about Smush if it's true. You just don't tell a player not to talk to them because he's not in their league. That's pretty bad and it tells you what type of person he is if you have to disrespect a player like that. But like I said, I don't know if what he said was true or not.

[leeprettyp]

I think the reason why Kobe get's a pass is because MJ didn't have alot of teammates bashing him when they go to other teams. It seems like alot of players that were his teammates had negative things to say about him.

I mean it is what it is. I don't have a problem with it but I do dissagree to what Kobe said about Smush if it's true. You just don't tell a player not to talk to them because he's not in their league. That's pretty bad and it tells you what type of person he is if you have to disrespect a player like that. But like I said, I don't know if what he said was true or not.

This goes on in sports alot more than it seems you realize. Superstars/stars/allstars have always talked down or looked down upon rookies/unproven players. Its an issue because its Kobe thats why. Smush was a lazy bum that didnt want to get better and tuned out teammates and coaches (look up old LA TIME articles about his character) . The issue with this is more on the lines of MJ-oholics who want to use any fuel possible to continue to bash Kobe. Real Laker fans already know how Kobe is and have accepted it so why every week ESPN/YAHOO (kevin Dwyer) has an article about the SAME EXACT TOPIC. Its kinda crazy cuz I got a few buddies who are currently league players and every single one of them all respect Kobe's greatness and have nothing but good things to say about the guy (from their personal experience with him) and who he is as a person regardless of how the media precieves him. Its not like they plan to or care that Kobe isnt in the club poppin bottles with them. People need to seperate personal hate from the guys on court greatness, cuz you'll end up missing out on a good thing!!! Players lead in different ways, Some by mouth, some by pattin people on the back and then some by work ethic and example

[Slava]

I think the reason why Kobe get's a pass is because MJ didn't have alot of teammates bashing him when they go to other teams. It seems like alot of players that were his teammates had negative things to say about him.

I mean it is what it is. I don't have a problem with it but I do dissagree to what Kobe said about Smush if it's true. You just don't tell a player not to talk to them because he's not in their league. That's pretty bad and it tells you what type of person he is if you have to disrespect a player like that. But like I said, I don't know if what he said was true or not.

A lot of who? Please name one player other than Shaq & Smush.

People like Payton, Malone, Eddie Jones, Devean George and most of his USA teammates etc went out of their way to compliment Kobe.

Heck, T-Mac went out of his way in his retirement note to include Kobe's name ahead of his own cousin, Vince Carter.

[leeprettyp]

Watch he name a bunch of lazy bums who were just in it for a paycheck and didnt have any type of work ethic. It doesnt take Einstein to figure out what the bigger issue is here

[Father Time]

I think the reason why Kobe get's a pass is because MJ didn't have alot of teammates bashing him when they go to other teams. It seems like alot of players that were his teammates had negative things to say about him.

I mean it is what it is. I don't have a problem with it but I do dissagree to what Kobe said about Smush if it's true. You just don't tell a player not to talk to them because he's not in their league. That's pretty bad and it tells you what type of person he is if you have to disrespect a player like that. But like I said, I don't know if what he said was true or not.

A lot of who? Please name one player other than Shaq & Smush.

People like Payton, Malone, Eddie Jones, Devean George and most of his USA teammates etc went out of their way to compliment Kobe.

Heck, T-Mac went out of his way in his retirement note to include Kobe's name ahead of his own cousin, Vince Carter.

This. I don't recall hardly any but Shaq and Smush.

Also, I think it's a myth that Kobe is an unlikable douche bag all of the time. He has friends in the NBA like Melo, T-Mac, Ariza, Pau. He's really close to Melo and Pau, and Fisher, and pretty close with T-Mac and Ariza. Those are off the top of my head, took me like 3 seconds to think of them.

[dub81]

I think the reason why Kobe get's a pass is because MJ didn't have alot of teammates bashing him when they go to other teams. It seems like alot of players that were his teammates had negative things to say about him.

I mean it is what it is. I don't have a problem with it but I do dissagree to what Kobe said about Smush if it's true. You just don't tell a player not to talk to them because he's not in their league. That's pretty bad and it tells you what type of person he is if you have to disrespect a player like that. But like I said, I don't know if what he said was true or not.

A lot of who? Please name one player other than Shaq & Smush.

People like Payton, Malone, Eddie Jones, Devean George and most of his USA teammates etc went out of their way to compliment Kobe.

Heck, T-Mac went out of his way in his retirement note to include Kobe's name ahead of his own cousin, Vince Carter.

ummmm........Phil Jackson did write a book about Kobe you know that right? Shaq, Karl Malone, Chucky Atkins, Smush, Rick Fox just to name a few off the top of my head said some unflattering things about Kobe. I mean some people act like Kobe is God..He's a great bball player. But just like every person I ever met. He's human and he made some mistakes.

[leeprettyp]

Once again your missing the key point here.. People forget Kobe didn't go to college and missed out on developing people skills that most develop during their college years. Also, add on top of that he practically grew up around 3 of the MOST egotistical people in the HISTORY OF SPORTS.... MJ, Shaq, Phil, I'm sorry you seem to idolize these players as role models (which I never will). I just respect him for what he is, one of the greatest players to ever lace them on court! What he does off the court and in his personal life doesn't bother me. But I refuse to read the same damn article's that have no content in it and are based off of nothing but assumptions. Trust me in no way am I saying Kobe is perfect. Same goes for Magic, Bird, Shaq, Cap,Wilt, Lebron. Every athlete has skeleton's in their closest, so why harp on this subject every single days/weeks. Its about hits, conversation, viewers and to me that takes away from the main focus...the craft and integrity of the game of basketball

[dub81]

Sir,

We would not be having this conversation right now if Kobe did not decided to call Smush Parker the worst player in the NBA by defending himself to Steve Nash. I'm sorry but it is what it is. Kobe brung this upon himself bro, and just like any other person in Smush's position would, he decided to defend himself which he should. Now your reasoning for this behavior is because Kobe did not go to College and missed out on developing people skills correct? But if I am correct, the man is 34 years old now. I'm pretty sure he developed communication skills thru his life expereinces by now. It seems like you are making excuses for his behavior. Like I said if what he said to Smush was true about him not talking to him because he doesn't have any rings or whatever, it's just plain wrong. No iff's and or butts about it.

[leeprettyp]

Sir,

We would not be having this conversation right now if Kobe did not decided to call Smush Parker the worst player in the NBA by defending himself to Steve Nash. I'm sorry but it is what it is. Kobe brung this upon himself bro, and just like any other person in Smush's position would, he decided to defend himself which he should. Now your reasoning for this behavior is because Kobe did not go to College and missed out on developing people skills correct? But if I am correct, the man is 34 years old now. I'm pretty sure he developed communication skills thru his life expereinces by now. It seems like you are making excuses for his behavior. Like I said if what he said to Smush was true about him not talking to him because he doesn't have any rings or whatever, it's just plain wrong. No iff's and or butts about it.

IF you must know this is where it started sir

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7adyWRtWoFM&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]


And maybe yah boi Smush should stop hatin on Kobe and worry about himself instead of working harder and focusing on his own personal game he ended up turning into this

[leeprettyp]

The guy always blamed Kobe and no matter what he says ALL REAL LAKER FANS remember when he even tuned out Phil Jackson and stopped even playing hard for his teammates (why he ended up on the bench). Smush is one of the guys who points the finger at someone else when he really has himself to blame for his shortcomings