Kobe; So What Else Is New?

Off Topic
21

[quote]Malevolence wrote:
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.

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? [/quote]

He is the one that chased away Shaq. It seems to me he got exactly the team he wanted and when he could not make it work he starts bitching about it.

22

In Bryant’s defense, it must be exceedingly frustrating to bring tremendous intensity on nearly every possession only to have your teammates consistently concede uncontested layups.

That matador nonsense was tough to watch even from off the court.

23

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
He is the one that chased away Shaq. It seems to me he got exactly the team he wanted and when he could not make it work he starts bitching about it.[/quote]

Nah, Kobe and Shaq are cool now. The consensus “villain” now is the owner Dr. Buss.

24

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
He is the one that chased away Shaq. It seems to me he got exactly the team he wanted and when he could not make it work he starts bitching about it.

[/quote]

You don’t just chase people away from big money franchises. Kobe might not have helped any with things he has said, but since when has Shaq ever listened to anyone?(which, btw, Shaq has expressed his support for Kobe over this latest issue) Kobe isn’t the management, and the vast majority of the time he doesn’t pretend to be it either. He only has one card(the “if things don’t change, I want out” card) and he has played it. Outside of that, and the vast majority of the time, he just plays his game, he works hard, and he consistently improves.

He never wanted a team of scrubs. He wanted a championship team, and that is not an outlandish or unrealistic want, this is the Lakers we’re talking about, one of the biggest and most important franchises in NBA history.

25

“…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…”

(sigh; I must be doing something wrong…I’ve been getting “Straw Manned” to DEATH lately!)

Kobe hasn’t paid one damn bill of mine at no point in my Life; so I really don’t care what he makes or how he made it…

I was merely pointing out some facts. What people choose to make of those facts is up to them.

One thing I will tell you (and my Dad was a prime example):

Hard work does not always equal monetary success…and monetary success does not always mean that you worked harder than the man who still struggles.

Mufasa

26

“…He (Kobe) never wanted a team of scrubs. He wanted a championship team, and that is not an outlandish or unrealistic want, this is the Lakers we’re talking about, one of the biggest and most important franchises in NBA history…”

Agree!

Mufasa

27

People refuse to see the truth.
Kobe did not chase Shaq away, and the lakers had no choice but to trade shaq.

Shaq is a suparstar with an ego bigger than his body, while kobe did not chase shaq away, he did not love and make a home for shaq either. Shaq being the egocentric beast that he is, decided to be childish and go to work every day unmotivated.

Having possibly the greatest player ever on your team is pointless if he refuses to get in shape or put out effort. Because he felt unloved this was the case. What are the lakers supposed to do?, the begged him to get in shape, he was not short on money but he wasn’t producing. He went to miami and won a championship, so what he wasn’t going to do it for the lakers he made that clear.

28

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
People refuse to see the truth.
Kobe did not chase Shaq away, and the lakers had no choice but to trade shaq.

Shaq is a suparstar with an ego bigger than his body, while kobe did not chase shaq away, he did not love and make a home for shaq either. Shaq being the egocentric beast that he is, decided to be childish and go to work every day unmotivated.

Having possibly the greatest player ever on your team is pointless if he refuses to get in shape or put out effort. Because he felt unloved this was the case. What are the lakers supposed to do?, the begged him to get in shape, he was not short on money but he wasn’t producing. He went to miami and won a championship, so what he wasn’t going to do it for the lakers he made that clear.[/quote]

Shaq brought in three championships with the Lakers. How can you say he wasn’t going to do it when he already did it three times?

Kobe told the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq.

Don’t you guys remember all this?

29

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Kobe told the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq.

Don’t you guys remember all this?

[/quote]

That’s what this is ALL about. Kobe is saying he NEVER said that but someone in the organization leaked that he did. It’s like 90210 V2.0

30

Ummmmm…

Mufasa

31

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:

Kobe told the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq.

Don’t you guys remember all this?

[/quote]

That never happened. Members of the media ASSUMED that’s what took place because it sells newspapers. According to Kobe, Phil Jackson and Shaq himself that assumption is false. Dr. Buss didn?t want to pay an aging, out of shape and injury prone Shaq 30 million dollars a year.

32

I THINK we can all agree on the following:

Give Kobe a) A solid “right hand man” (i.e. Scottie Pippen) and b) a solid “supporting cast” (like Jordan was always given) and the Lakers and Kobe win Championships.

Otherwise, he’s just a one-man Highlight Reel, who scores points.

Mufasa

33

By the way…

I would be willing to bet that the Cleveland Owners and Executives are considering how to best make sure that Lebron keeps a solid Team around him…

Mufasa

34

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Airtruth wrote:
People refuse to see the truth.
Kobe did not chase Shaq away, and the lakers had no choice but to trade shaq.

Shaq is a suparstar with an ego bigger than his body, while kobe did not chase shaq away, he did not love and make a home for shaq either. Shaq being the egocentric beast that he is, decided to be childish and go to work every day unmotivated.

Having possibly the greatest player ever on your team is pointless if he refuses to get in shape or put out effort. Because he felt unloved this was the case. What are the lakers supposed to do?, the begged him to get in shape, he was not short on money but he wasn’t producing. He went to miami and won a championship, so what he wasn’t going to do it for the lakers he made that clear.

Shaq brought in three championships with the Lakers. How can you say he wasn’t going to do it when he already did it three times?

Kobe told the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq.

Don’t you guys remember all this?

[/quote]

He brought in 3, the next 2 years came in 50 lbs overweight and not running up and down the court.

His presence alone doesn’t = championships, he does have to play too. He showed exactly NO desire to continue to do that.

The goal for the managers is to keep winning not reminisce on your past championships and keep people out of “Respect”

35

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Airtruth wrote:
People refuse to see the truth.
Kobe did not chase Shaq away, and the lakers had no choice but to trade shaq.

Shaq is a suparstar with an ego bigger than his body, while kobe did not chase shaq away, he did not love and make a home for shaq either. Shaq being the egocentric beast that he is, decided to be childish and go to work every day unmotivated.

Having possibly the greatest player ever on your team is pointless if he refuses to get in shape or put out effort. Because he felt unloved this was the case. What are the lakers supposed to do?, the begged him to get in shape, he was not short on money but he wasn’t producing. He went to miami and won a championship, so what he wasn’t going to do it for the lakers he made that clear.

Shaq brought in three championships with the Lakers. How can you say he wasn’t going to do it when he already did it three times?

Kobe told the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq.

Don’t you guys remember all this?

He brought in 3, the next 2 years came in 50 lbs overweight and not running up and down the court.

His presence alone doesn’t = championships, he does have to play too. He showed exactly NO desire to continue to do that.

The goal for the managers is to keep winning not reminisce on your past championships and keep people out of “Respect”
[/quote]

I don’t remember him getting in shape when he won one in Miami. Did he?

36

His first season he dropped nearly 35+ lbs of fat, second season he added 15 lbs of muscle. Amazing what motivation can do.

37

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Airtruth wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Airtruth wrote:

I don’t remember him getting in shape when he won one in Miami. Did he?[/quote]

Pat Riley made Shaq lose 30 pounds before the start of the 2005-2006 season, get in shape, and start running so he can get up and down the court with his teammates.

If he didn’t, Pat Riley said Shaq doesn’t start, and he comes off the bench every game.

End Result: Shaq did it, won another NBA Championship.

Pat Riley: master motivator.

38

Exact reason I won’t wear a freakin jersey
Having another mans name on your back is just dumb