Kobe "Up Close" interview with Kimmel

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Currently going on is Kobe's sitdown interview with Jimmy Kimmel. Apparently its a packed house.


[tweet]https://twitter.com/mcten/status/368209242194313216[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/368212767385210880[/tweet]

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first question:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mcten/status/368214634823553024[/tweet]

shelburne and mcmenamin are tweeting updates, so follow them for the info

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its on the AXS channel btw, just realized it. channel 167 for those with DISH.

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Kobe says he would've gone to North Carolina if he went to college, not Duke. Would have wanted challenge of going up against Vince Carter every day.

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Says that during draft workouts Clippers told him he had the best workout they've ever seen but told him they couldn't draft him cause they didn't think anyone would take them seriously if they drafted a 17 yr old kid.

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learned the most from: michael jordan

toughest matchup: tracy mcgrady

[leeprettyp]

is it still on?

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is it still on?

finished like 2 minutes ago.


i thought the question that got the most emotion out of him (he was very relaxed) was when he was asked how much it bothered him that pau is constantly in trade rumors. he looked upset thinking about it.

when asked about howard, the most in-depth thing he said was that he and howard had a very different idea of what it takes to win.

[leeprettyp]

If you look at that whole DH12 and Kobe thing, I can honestly say Kobe really is taking the high road on that divorce. Hasn't said anything negative just focusing on moving on.

[kblo247]

Most telling thing:


Quote:
ESPNLA 710 Radio ‏@ESPNLA710 1m
Kobe: It never bothered me when other people said I only won because of Shaq, but it bothered me when HE said that

https://twitter.com/ESPNLA710

[kblo247]

Quote:
Lakers Pulse ‏@LakersPulse 6s
"Who's one player you want on the Lakers, right now?"

1 second later, Kobe says Derek Fisher.

https://twitter.com/LakersPulse

[kblo247]

Dave McMenamin @mcten 15 Aug
Some of the faces in the crowd for the Kobe event: Jim Buss, Dave Winfield, Terrell Owens, Robert Sacre, Wes Johnson, Ryan Kelly

Janis Carr @janiscarr 15 Aug
Kobe Up Close: Really look forward to them (younger guys) carrying the weight.

Dave McMenamin @mcten 15 Aug
Kobe when asked if he'll play less minutes next season: "That's the goal ... I could sit out until June, I just want that jewelry"

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe says he doesn't know if he will be back on opening night but is trying his best.

Janis Carr @janiscarr 15 Aug
Kobe on tweeting "I thought it was pretty damn cool"

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe said he said he will never accept the honor of being the greatest Laker from Magic because he learned so much from him.

Gary Lee @LakersNation 15 Aug
Kobe said he met Larry Bird for the 1st time last year. That's kind of strange.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe said when he sat with Magic at the Dodgers-Yankees game it was the first time they've ever sat down and talked that long.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe said he probably would have gone to North Carolina if he went to college. I always thought he'd go to Duke.

Dave McMenamin @mcten 15 Aug
Kobe on giving advice: "I'm not the patient type to try to give advice. Get your [Swearing is not permitted at Clublakers. You must edit this post prior to submitting.] in gear. If you want to do something, do it."

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe was shown famous photo with him in Celtics shirt and said he want to annihilate Dennis Johnson.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe said he had a good workout with the Clippers but they said they wouldn't draft him.

David Brickley @DavidjBrickley 15 Aug
Kobe: "The Clippers said they couldn't draft me." Kimmel: "They always make the best decisions."

Janis Carr @janiscarr 15 Aug
Kobe addresses Shaq situation: Started looking at different teams as FA, including Clippers "but purple and gold special to me."

Dave McMenamin @mcten 15 Aug
Kimmel on Kobe potentially leaving the Lakers for the Clippers: "Wouldn't that be like signing an endorsement deal with RC Cola?"

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe said he was close to signing with the Clippers but in the end chose the Lakers for Dr. Jerry Buss. #TheCloser

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Charlotte told Kobe they really couldn't have used him and really didn't want him and traded him to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Shaq and Kobe's first meeting was at Jerry's Deli in Beverly Hills and Kobe thought Shaq was cool because he had a big cell phone.

Gary Lee @LakersNation 15 Aug
Kobe joking about Kimmel saying that Shaq used to watch Kobe practice without a ball: "You can't listen to have the sh*t Shaq says."

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 15 Aug
Kobe on Shaq: "He was an absolute force. He was doing some super natural stuff we haven't seen in the history of the NBA."

Janis Carr @janiscarr 15 Aug
Kobe on 3 titles with Shaq: No. 2 was his favorite. Still bother us to this day that we let that Game 1 drop

David Brickley @DavidjBrickley 15 Aug
Kobe on Michael Jordan: "It's a big brother type of relationship. Michael has giving me phenomenal advice."

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 11 minutes ago
Kobe says he learned most about the NBA was from Michael Jordan.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 10 minutes ago
Kobe says his toughest opponent may have been Allen Iverson but "the guy that gave me the most problems was Tracy McGrady."

Dave McMenamin @mcten about 9 minutes ago
Kobe on the toughest guys he ever played against - Iverson, Marbury, Arenas, Melo, Durant - but put Tracy McGrady as the toughest

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 6 minutes ago
Kobe on Diwght: Hes a great kid. "No his not" Kimmel said. "Yes he is. We have different perspectives than I do," Kobe said

David Brickley @DavidjBrickley about 6 minutes ago
Kimmel: "Would you be happy if Dwight Howard was homeless?" Kobe: We have different perspectives on what it takes to win and be successful.

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 6 minutes ago
Kobe on convincing Dwight: "It wasnt about me, it was about the organization and setting up the organization for when I retire."

David Brickley @DavidjBrickley about 5 minutes ago
Kobe said he wanted to help Lakers organization to set up future after he retires. That's the reason he was in pitch meeting.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 4 minutes ago
Kobe said it didn't bother him when others said he couldn't win without Shaq it bothered him when Shaq said he couldn't win without Shaq.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 3 minutes ago
Kobe said he loves Phil. He learned how to win with Phil as his coach. "That came from Phil's direction."

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 2 minutes ago
Will Kobe miss MWP? "Tremendously."

Dave McMenamin @mcten 2 minutes ago
When Kimmel asked Kobe about the Lakers potentially getting LeBron in 2014, the L.A. crowd booed heavily. Don't want a 4-time MVP?

Janis Carr @janiscarr now
Kobe said funniest player he ever played with was Shaq and Gary Peyton. Said he would take DFish back of any other player.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 12 minutes ago
Does Kobe think @Chris Paul should be a Laker? "Legally speaking? Yeah. David Stern speaking? No."

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 11 minutes ago
Kobe said CP3 called him after the Lakers deal went down and he was excited and then called him after Stern nixed it and he was upset.

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 11 minutes ago
Did it bother you when Lakers tried to trade Pau? "It bothered me a lot."

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 11 minutes ago
"Everybody forgot how we won in the first place," Kobe said.

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 8 minutes ago
Picture me coaching? No, no, no no," Kobe said. Would jump at ownership

Dave McMenamin @mcten about 8 minutes ago
Kobe says Kareem's scoring record isn't his goal. Championships are: "People don't understand how obsessed I am with winning"

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 8 minutes ago
When asked for a prediction this season. Kobe deadpanned, "I think we'll finish 12th" #ESPNForecast

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi about 7 minutes ago
Kobe said he prefers Vino to Mamba at the moment as far as nicknames.

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi 4 minutes ago
Crowd is loudly booing a kid wearing a Dwight Lakers jersey. Kobe says, "He got that jersey for sale."

Dave McMenamin @mcten 2 minutes ago
Kobe on the young players he like: Westbrook, Harden, Kyrie Irving and ... Nick Young: "They all have that gene."

Janis Carr @janiscarr 1 minute ago
Magic, MIchael, Bird, Russell and Kareem would be on Kobe's all-time team

Janis Carr @janiscarr 1 minute ago
Terrell Owens asks about technology has aided in his recovery from Achilles tendon injury

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi now
Kobe: "I was fortunate. We did the surgery the next day."

Dave McMenamin @mcten 3 minutes ago
Kobe says his recovery has been aided by consulting with a neuro muscular scientist, Barrence Baytos, for years. Calls him a "genius"

[tugs]

did the kid wearing a Dwight jersey cry? hostile audience man.

interesting take on Nick Young. dude could be on his way to be a mainstay. wonder how Wes feels.

[kblo247]

He chucked it up like a good sport. Boy Dwight got hate at the slightest mention, even when Kobe tried to take the high road. It was a damn good interview with an amazing turnout. Jeanie and Jim reacted to his Laker for life comments with agreement. First time I've actually used the Axs channel lol

[Desiderium]

did the kid wearing a Dwight jersey cry? hostile audience man.

interesting take on Nick Young. dude could be on his way to be a mainstay. wonder how Wes feels.

Everyone booed him until he turned around and people saw he had a big X through the entire back of the jersey haha. I was there

[TARIQ]

Can I watch this somehow?

[iamworthy]

This comment is gold:

David Brickley @DavidjBrickley about 6 minutes ago
Kimmel: "Would you be happy if Dwight Howard was homeless?" Kobe: We have different perspectives on what it takes to win and be successful.

Translate:

I have 5 rings and he has none.

When a guy has been a key contributor to 5 rings you may want to listen D12.

[stunnar0b]

Or this one

Janis Carr @janiscarr about 6 minutes ago
Kobe on Diwght:Hes a great kid. "No his not" Kimmel said. "Yes he is. We have different perspectives than I do," Kobe said

[MagicMamba88]

found the entire interview.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dj9g-zN_3U[/youtube]

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grantland had a great piece covering this event. if u have the time, check it out

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... rantland33

this little part was spot on

I won't speak for everyone, but I used to loathe Kobe, and now I kinda love him more than anyone. This happened for a lot of people, I think. Somewhere along the line Kobe went from being the NBA's Alex Rodriguez to the NBA's Derek Jeter. I think it's because at some point we all stopped fact-checking his ridiculousness, and just started savoring it.