I’m not a particularly intelligent man, in fact, only when the ‘misspelled word’ indicator appeared on my screen, did I notice that I misspelled the word, ‘intelligent’ prompting me to go back and make a correction. That being said, it boggles my mind that I seem to be one of the few that sees what is going on when it comes to Kobe Bryant.
Let’s go back to March. Bryant, dispite putting up his usual superstar numbers, was nonetheless having a fairly undistinguished campaign, overshadowed by the MVP duel between Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash and Gilbert Arenas nightly, game winning heroics. Then boom! Bryant went on a scoring rampage, the likes of which were rarely, if ever seen before in NBA history. Two 60 point games, two 50 point games. A 56 points per game average in what must be haled as the greatest fortnight by an individual ever.
Skip ahead to the present day. Is it just coincidence that Kobe’s ‘should I stay or should I go’ theatrics roughly coincide with Lebron James’ masterful performances in Games 3 and 4 vs the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Final?
No, and this is why:
Nobody is doubting Bryant’s abilities. At 29 he may already be on the shortlist when discussing the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant, however, is an insatiable ego maniac. It was his ego in large part, that was to blame for dismantling what may have become the greatest dynasty in sports history in the Lakers of the early millenium. Like a child acting out when they crave attention, Bryant’s 4 game binge, though spectacular, was an attempt to re-focus the eyes of the NBA back upon him. Then sensing that James might be preparing to further his legacy by single handedly carrying his team past the perennial Eastern Conference favourite Pistons, and into the finals, a rarified air that Bryant himself has failed to reach in the post Shaq era, Kobe once again manages to steal the headlines.
While James is looking ready to provide NBA fans with some of the greatest basketball theatre in recent memory, Bryant continues to add to his reputation as a selfish, ‘me first’ athlete who with his actions is, ironically, driving more fans King James’ way.
Gotta go, ‘Melrose Place’ is on.
Let’s go back to March. Bryant, dispite putting up his usual superstar numbers, was nonetheless having a fairly undistinguished campaign, overshadowed by the MVP duel between Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash and Gilbert Arenas nightly, game winning heroics. Then boom! Bryant went on a scoring rampage, the likes of which were rarely, if ever seen before in NBA history. Two 60 point games, two 50 point games. A 56 points per game average in what must be haled as the greatest fortnight by an individual ever.
Skip ahead to the present day. Is it just coincidence that Kobe’s ‘should I stay or should I go’ theatrics roughly coincide with Lebron James’ masterful performances in Games 3 and 4 vs the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Final?
No, and this is why:
Nobody is doubting Bryant’s abilities. At 29 he may already be on the shortlist when discussing the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant, however, is an insatiable ego maniac. It was his ego in large part, that was to blame for dismantling what may have become the greatest dynasty in sports history in the Lakers of the early millenium. Like a child acting out when they crave attention, Bryant’s 4 game binge, though spectacular, was an attempt to re-focus the eyes of the NBA back upon him. Then sensing that James might be preparing to further his legacy by single handedly carrying his team past the perennial Eastern Conference favourite Pistons, and into the finals, a rarified air that Bryant himself has failed to reach in the post Shaq era, Kobe once again manages to steal the headlines.
While James is looking ready to provide NBA fans with some of the greatest basketball theatre in recent memory, Bryant continues to add to his reputation as a selfish, ‘me first’ athlete who with his actions is, ironically, driving more fans King James’ way.
Gotta go, ‘Melrose Place’ is on.
posted by average john at 12:06 AM
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