Kobe; So What Else Is New?

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Well…looks like there is discontent in the “City of Angels”…

Looks like the ex “Golden Boy” wants to be traded, because he is being “unfairly” blamed for Shaq’s departure and the poor state of the Laker’s???(What’s new about that?).

I think Kobe has a few issues:

  1. These guys have egos bigger than their bank accounts. I think he sees that LeBron is the new “Golden Boy”, getting all the accolades, endorsements, etc…and LeBron’s Team is WINNING because of him! I think Kobe HATES that! He has that type of ego…

  2. His image already took one hell of a beating with the Rape allegations…and it’s taking another.

  3. He’s on a lousy Team!

I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

What do you guys think?

Will he stay? Will he be traded? Will he go insane because his Wife has him by the balls?

Discuss!

Mufasa

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I don’t think he’s going anywhere. He’s staying with the Lakers.

First off, no one has the money to pay him. He makes $136 million for 7 years (almost 20 million per year). He still has 4 years left on his contract, so his new team (if he goes anywhere) will have to pick up about $76 million.

Second, if Kobe does go to a new team, he has to establish team chemistry and a new style of basketball, according to the team. Then, whoever the star of that team is, they will have to take a backseat to Kobe, because Kobe wants to be the man.

Third, LA is a great place for him. Kobe is the man in that town in relation to sports. No one in baseball, football, hockey, or any other sport is even close to his stature in LA (except maybe Beckham, but he hasn’t started playing yet). Kobe likes the attention, and is in the right market to have attention on him.

Kobe, without question, is the best player in the league. (Great scorer, great defender, can turn it on at any time, first team all NBA Offensive AND Defensive team this year) Now, I’m not saying he is the best team player, but he’s the best individual player, hands down.

I agree with you Mufasa that he is probably ‘jealous’ of LeBron getting all the credit and being dubbed the next Jordan, but Kobe does have 3 rings (even if they are with Shaq). And even though the Lakers aren’t that good, he pretty much single handedly led the Lakers to the playoffs.

He’s pushed really hard for a better supporting cast (KG, Jermaine O’Neal, Jason Kidd, etc.) but the Lakers aren’t showing him the respect to build a team around him.

The only optimal solution, if he leaves the Lakers: Sign with the Clippers. That way, he’s still in LA, he can be the man there, he has a solid partner in Elton Brand, and Donald Sterling (Clippers owner) pushed really hard for Kobe before he resigned with the Lakers three years ago, so I’m sure he would welcome him now. (Plus that would just be kinda cool if he signed with the cross-town rival and makes them a better team)

Mufasa: What’s up with the old Kobe pic? He wears #24 now. Gotta keep up with the times. (Just messing with you, no harm intended, all in good fun).

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[quote]Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.[/quote]

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

He knew what he wanted, and he pursued it aggressively and with total, unwavering commitment. I don’t understand why that is a bad thing, simply because he is so fortunate.

Which is not to say that every millionaire worked to get to where they are, and probably don’t deserve pity or anything, but how could say that about any long-time professional athlete, especially an exceptionally talented one?

As for whether he will leave or not. I doubt it. He has already retracted his statements, and the whole deal seems to be more of a case of him being sensationalistic to get people’s attention.

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Here’s an article that discusses some doable trade possibilities. Personally I’d rather see the NBA’s version of A-Rod stay and suffer in LA.

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[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

…[/quote]

He works harder for 2 minutes than most people do in a year?

Kobe was born with that talent. Many people work harder than he does yet do not have his talent and make far less money.

This website is full of people that train hard for no money.

You can feel sympathy for this jackass if you want to but I do not. He is a whiny spoiled brat and always has been.

His whining about wanting to be traded is just more of the same from him.

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[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

He knew what he wanted, and he pursued it aggressively and with total, unwavering commitment. I don’t understand why that is a bad thing, simply because he is so fortunate.

Which is not to say that every millionaire worked to get to where they are, and probably don’t deserve pity or anything, but how could say that about any long-time professional athlete, especially an exceptionally talented one?

As for whether he will leave or not. I doubt it. He has already retracted his statements, and the whole deal seems to be more of a case of him being sensationalistic to get people’s attention.[/quote]
“fall in to it” hahahaahahahaha.

he was just walking home from work one day, bored out of his mind with paper work when he saw a pick up game developing, and that was it folks. he made a friend who placed him on the lakers the next day.

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[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

He knew what he wanted, and he pursued it aggressively and with total, unwavering commitment. I don’t understand why that is a bad thing, simply because he is so fortunate.

Which is not to say that every millionaire worked to get to where they are, and probably don’t deserve pity or anything, but how could say that about any long-time professional athlete, especially an exceptionally talented one?

[/quote]

I don’t care how ‘hard’ he worked at becoming a great basketball player, considering the majority of that ‘work’ came from playing/practicing basketball, which is something you’ll find people doing all over the country for hours on end, for free.

Professional athletes are overpaid for what they do. Unfortunately, their pay rate makes sense considering how much money a premier athlete brings in for the team in which they play for.

So, if you pay the athletes less, the team owners/management is just making even more of a killing than they already do.

As long as professional sports are popular in the world, there’s no way around the ‘unfair’ pay rate. With that in mind, however, there’s no reason to ever feel bad for a professional athletes ‘career’ situation/treatment.

If it’s something completely unrelated (i.e. losing a family member), then yes, treat them like a human being. However, if you’re getting paid millions of dollars a year to play a sport, shut your fucking mouth about how ‘unfair’ you’re being treated.

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What about his right to be content?

If I was stuck working in a place that I didn’t feel comfortable, then I would seek employment elsewhere. Isn’t that what he is doing?

The media just loves to get shit stirred. They even brought Shaq into all this and he has been gone from LA for, what, like 3 years now.

ESPN just has me pissed off right now with their reporting. Between Kobe and their whining about A-Rod yelling in the basepath, they seem like the instigator on the playground.

Oh, and what came on next after these wonderful stories this morning, A FUCKING SPELLING BEE.

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
Malevolence wrote:
Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

He knew what he wanted, and he pursued it aggressively and with total, unwavering commitment. I don’t understand why that is a bad thing, simply because he is so fortunate.

Which is not to say that every millionaire worked to get to where they are, and probably don’t deserve pity or anything, but how could say that about any long-time professional athlete, especially an exceptionally talented one?

I don’t care how ‘hard’ he worked at becoming a great basketball player, considering the majority of that ‘work’ came from playing/practicing basketball, which is something you’ll find people doing all over the country for hours on end, for free.

Professional athletes are overpaid for what they do. Unfortunately, their pay rate makes sense considering how much money a premier athlete brings in for the team in which they play for.

So, if you pay the athletes less, the team owners/management is just making even more of a killing than they already do.

As long as professional sports are popular in the world, there’s no way around the ‘unfair’ pay rate. With that in mind, however, there’s no reason to ever feel bad for a professional athletes ‘career’ situation/treatment.

If it’s something completely unrelated (i.e. losing a family member), then yes, treat them like a human being. However, if you’re getting paid millions of dollars a year to play a sport, shut your fucking mouth about how ‘unfair’ you’re being treated.[/quote]

You are absolutely correct man. All these athletes get paid shitloads of money. And alot of athletes like bodybuilider, powerlifters, weightlifters, gymnasts, olympic wrestlers, and martial artists get paid shit. Those type of sports are a million times tougher than basketball or baseball.

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Can you still be a fan if you don’t agree with all the stupid shit he does?

Kobe is one of the hardest working guys in the NBA, when others are out partying he is practicing and training.

Unfortunately, talent and hardwork isn’t everything in a team sport. Some people are just CRAZY, theres nothing you can do, they resist all efforts to work in harmony. Kobe doesn’t understand people and how to get them to do what he wants. Unless he changes or a real leader comes to the team he will never win a championship.

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I don’t understand how people, on this site especially, cannot respect someone who made something of himself through hard work and dedication.

Just because he is a multi-millionaire, suddenly, he no longer applies with all that ‘what it takes to be a man’ criteria, you don’t judge him the same as anyone else, and you are quick to make up excuses for why his accomplishments aren’t all that special, or are undeserved.

What is that horseshit? Suddenly, because he is wealthy, anything he says about his life and career, he is whining and bitching? I can see why you will never make close to the money he makes with an attitude like that.

In your life, when you are unhappy with what you are doing(in your job, in the weight room, in relationships…etc.), do you let it keep you down, or do you DO something to make it better?

Kobe is trying to do the latter, using whatever means necessary, (which, for a high profile athlete, the threat of being traded is about the only bargaining chip he has) and suddenly that’s a bad thing because ‘boo-hoo the millionaire is upset’?

12

It sounds like they made lots of false promises to Kobe. I am also glad he finally mentioned it was not him who wanted Shaq to leave, and Shaq believes him. Kobe wants to win…that’s it. I think he just tried to scare them into doing something and I hope they do. Go Kobe!!!

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[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
…

He works harder for 2 minutes than most people do in a year?

Kobe was born with that talent. Many people work harder than he does yet do not have his talent and make far less money.

This website is full of people that train hard for no money.

You can feel sympathy for this jackass if you want to but I do not. He is a whiny spoiled brat and always has been.

His whining about wanting to be traded is just more of the same from him.[/quote]

He is paid more in 2 minutes because he is a professional athlete. What he does is bigger than him. It affects millions of people on some level, with hundreds(if not thousands) of individuals and companies having economic attachment that is directly linked to his success or failure.

Professional athletes might get paid too much, but that is a debate for another thread, they’d still be millionaires either way, and you would still be trying to find ways to make excuses for their success, so it is pointless to split hairs over it.

Natural talent is not going to make you a millionaire. It will put you amongst the elite of the elite when you get there, but to act like Kobe(or any other professional athlete) is where he is because of ‘natural talent’ is just kind of pathetic. I thought this was T-Nation!

I also thought you were a republican, or at least conservative, you know, believing in hard work, and capitalism and all that. Where is your integrity?

14

[quote]mahwah wrote:
What about his right to be content?

If I was stuck working in a place that I didn’t feel comfortable, then I would seek employment elsewhere. Isn’t that what he is doing?

The media just loves to get shit stirred. They even brought Shaq into all this and he has been gone from LA for, what, like 3 years now.

ESPN just has me pissed off right now with their reporting. Between Kobe and their whining about A-Rod yelling in the basepath, they seem like the instigator on the playground.

Oh, and what came on next after these wonderful stories this morning, A FUCKING SPELLING BEE.[/quote]

He didn’t have to sign a contract. He could retire and earn a living doing something else.

15

[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
…

He works harder for 2 minutes than most people do in a year?

Kobe was born with that talent. Many people work harder than he does yet do not have his talent and make far less money.

This website is full of people that train hard for no money.

You can feel sympathy for this jackass if you want to but I do not. He is a whiny spoiled brat and always has been.

His whining about wanting to be traded is just more of the same from him.

He is paid more in 2 minutes because he is a professional athlete. What he does is bigger than him. It affects millions of people on some level, with hundreds(if not thousands) of individuals and companies having economic attachment that is directly linked to his success or failure.

Professional athletes might get paid too much, but that is a debate for another thread, they’d still be millionaires either way, and you would still be trying to find ways to make excuses for their success, so it is pointless to split hairs over it.

Natural talent is not going to make you a millionaire. It will put you amongst the elite of the elite when you get there, but to act like Kobe(or any other professional athlete) is where he is because of ‘natural talent’ is just kind of pathetic. I thought this was T-Nation!

I also thought you were a republican, or at least conservative, you know, believing in hard work, and capitalism and all that. Where is your integrity?[/quote]

He can earn whatever he earns. I think it is too much and the NBA product is too expensive so I don’t go to games.

If the market bears his salary then it is what it is.

What bothers me is the man signed a contract to play for the Lakers and then has the nerve to demand a trade after they did exactly what he wanted them to do.

He is a spoiled brat. He gets no sympathy from me for his professional problems.

16

i think it will be tough to trade Kobe… the Lakers would have to get another superstar in return or else it’ll be a ripoff. but if the issue is forced it will probably end up like the Shaq trade

Kobe should go to the eastern conference if he wants to get deeper into the playoffs. but which team could make a trade for him?

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[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
mahwah wrote:
What about his right to be content?

He didn’t have to sign a contract. He could retire and earn a living doing something else.

[/quote]

You are right, he didn’t have to sign anything. There has been reports that he was misled about a rebuilding status when that contract was signed.

You are also right, he could quit and do something else (and then be labeled as such).

He also, in my opinion, has the right to ask to be traded.

I’m not saying I agree with the way he, or the Lakers, or the media, is handling this situation. I’m just saying, put yourself in his shoes. Yes, they are paid for entertaining the masses. However, everyone has a right to be happy in life and if he is pushed to quit, like you suggest, that will be a sad day for the already floundering NBA.

18

What is new with Kobe? How about fixing it as sashimi covered in wasabi. Yum.

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[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
What bothers me is the man signed a contract to play for the Lakers and then has the nerve to demand a trade after they did exactly what he wanted them to do.

He is a spoiled brat. He gets no sympathy from me for his professional problems.[/quote]

Which is what, exactly, in your eyes? His whole beef centers around how they did exactly the opposite of what he wanted them to do. He wanted the management to continue to build a championship team, instead, they built a development team.

The Lakers have gone from being one of the most dominant teams in NBA history to barely making it to the playoffs and getting snubbed in the 1st round. That is exactly what Kobe has not wanted. It’s not his fault that his Team is inexperienced and young, it is the fault of the management for picking players with ‘promise’ versus picking players with stats.

I agree that he signed a contract, and you can’t piss away something like that and keep your integrity intact. I don’t believe Kobe seriously wants to be traded, but he knows that is the only way he can make anyone take the situation more seriously. He has a right to voice his opinions, and a right to do whatever he can to improve his situation.

I think it is silly you are trying to vilify him so much. He never let this beef sully his performance on the court. He did not compromise the season to try and prove a point. He waited until the offseason to voice his opinion.

He’s kept quiet about this for a long time, but now enough is enough. What exactly can he do in your eyes to not be a spoiled brat? He gave the team the benefit of the doubt, he never faltered doing his job, busted his ass and worked harder than any other Laker(with the noted exception of Lamar Odom), and now after years of putting up with exactly the shit he was (allegedly) promised he would not have to put up with, he is having words about it and trying to make something happen.

What is the margin that you keep for when someone has to take matters into their own hands?

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
Malevolence wrote:
Mufasa wrote:
I have NO pity for these multi-millionaires and their egos, who make more in a MINUTE than a lot of people make in 2-3 years of work…but it makes for good discussion.

This is curious to me. Are you suggesting that he didn’t bust his ass to get to where he is? that he just kind of fell into it and doesn’t deserve his fortunes? what is that if it isn’t the epitome of manning up and making something of yourself.

He knew what he wanted, and he pursued it aggressively and with total, unwavering commitment. I don’t understand why that is a bad thing, simply because he is so fortunate.

Which is not to say that every millionaire worked to get to where they are, and probably don’t deserve pity or anything, but how could say that about any long-time professional athlete, especially an exceptionally talented one?

I don’t care how ‘hard’ he worked at becoming a great basketball player, considering the majority of that ‘work’ came from playing/practicing basketball, which is something you’ll find people doing all over the country for hours on end, for free.

Professional athletes are overpaid for what they do. Unfortunately, their pay rate makes sense considering how much money a premier athlete brings in for the team in which they play for.

So, if you pay the athletes less, the team owners/management is just making even more of a killing than they already do.

As long as professional sports are popular in the world, there’s no way around the ‘unfair’ pay rate. With that in mind, however, there’s no reason to ever feel bad for a professional athletes ‘career’ situation/treatment.

If it’s something completely unrelated (i.e. losing a family member), then yes, treat them like a human being. However, if you’re getting paid millions of dollars a year to play a sport, shut your fucking mouth about how ‘unfair’ you’re being treated.[/quote]

who says that athletes are paid too much?

in america we have a market driven economy. in a nutshell, if people pay for kobe bryant, kobe bryant is worth the money they pay.

who says what kobe or anybody is worth? who really has the right?

the lakers, his fans and lakers fans in general.

where do you really place a cap?

at the end of financial line or where some joe schmo says so?

maybe you are being paid to much for your job and should have a pay cut.