Memo to the Kobe Haters: He is still the best
Written by Bamababe2k9, Sunday June 07 2009
I know you guys saw this coming, but I just had to respond to another Kobe Hater. I never understood exactly why Kobe is hated. Let me take that back; I kind of do understand it.
Kobe first of all is rich. He is one of the richest athletes in the world. Who wouldn’t want his life? He lives in the second biggest market in the world, plays for the second most honored basketball team in NBA history and considered one of the best if not this best in his profession.
Why the hate? Because he wants to model his game off one of the best of all time Michael Jordan. God forbid that that he actually wanted to be like his idol growing up. He wants to be called one of the greatest players of all time and that for many is a sin.
He’ll never be like Michael is the cry, I got news for you people; he is the Michael Jordan of this generation. I know it’s hard for some people to accept, but let’s take a closer look shall we. He has three rings, going for his fourth and he isn’t even 31 yet so he has a few more years left in him to do it with a fairly young team so for those of you who think this is it, think again.
He is the best closer in the game period. When it’s crunch time, Kobe is the best. Whether it’s taking the last minute shot or carrying his team to victory when needed. Michael use to do that as well. In fact, you can argue as he has gotten older, his game has gotten better because he has learned to share and trust his teammates more. Michael had to do that with Scottie Pippen.
He also has Michael’s old coach in Phil Jackson. Jackson also gets a bad rap for winning with talented players though people refuse to say or recognize at times that Kobe,Shaq,Michael or Scottie never won without Phil either. Kobe also wants to win. What player doesn’t play this game without wanting to be the best and wanting to win?
Kobe is not perfect. He has acted like an ass at times, but consider how old he was at the time too. He made mistakes in his personal life as well, guess what? So did Michael. It has been reported for years that Jordan had girlfriends in different cities; difference is the media protected him because of who he was. Not to mention his gambling habits as well.
So, for those of you who don’t think Kobe will never been Michael Jordan, newsflash: He already is.
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26 comments
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My take on the Kobe and MJ comparison. I grew up watching MJ play and NOBODY I have ever seen can compare to the man. Its not because I hate Kobe or anything like that, it's simply because he is clearly NOT MJ to anyone who has actually seen MJ play. Line em all up in a pick up game, MJ, Kobe and LeBron and who would you pick first? MJ made me and my friends want to go out and play after watching a Bulls game! Sorry but Jumpshot Johny aka Kobe Bryant doesn't do it for me. Yes, he has 3 rings but we all know MJ has 6 and would have killed with Shaq! Didn't the Bulls go like 82-10 or something like that in their record setting season with Scottie, Dennis and the gang? Just think of what he would have done with the most dominant player in the league! Newsflash: Kobe < MJ. LeBron < MJ. When MJ was playing... you knew who was gonna win a game, series, or finals. The verdict is still out on Kobe. While he is a great player and perhaps the best in the game now, you are not always sure that he will lead his team to a win or win an NBA finals. In fact, he still has to prove that he can win his first title being the undeniable leader of his team.
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I had not even read this article when I started commenting on Daniel Doyle's and Nolan's articles, fortunately for you...I have not commented on your grammar, or lack thereof, and I will not start; however, "....newsflash: He already is" may be the most mind-numbing, gut-wrenching, vomit-inducing, silent fart-smelling, head-scratching, bowel moving, heart-breaking, moronic sentence ever written or spoken in English language history. And that is saying something considering I read your article about how the BCS system for college football is a good thing. Barf!....but keep up the good work, as a journalist your job is not to agree with your readers, only to keep them reading
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Good one... dumbass
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Like I said SON if you think you man enough to take me on, let me know. I'll be waiting on you, but you probably won't. You scared a woman will show you up?Ooops I'm sorry I did that already today. lol
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This is my last comment. I have become bored arguing with complete ignorance. First of all, it is pointless for me to contact you on any messenger because I wouldn't be able to understand much of your broken English. Secondly, I sometimes get frustrated by the stereotypes southerners receive as being ignorant and uneducated. However, with people like you posting public thoughts and opinions in forums such as this it certainly validates every negative bias that has ever been associated with people from the south.
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Haha. Get-er-dun. Maybe you understand that. "Son"
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Is that the best you can do? I mean seriously you can't even argue your own points about your article so rather then do that, you want to go for the old spelling and grammer trick which is fine because knowing people on this board the way I do, as soon as you make your next mistake, they will be on you like flies on shit. Trust me when I say Daniel for your sake, don't go there because you have NO idea how brutal this board can be. Now you want to argue your point fine, I'll even give you my yahoo ID and me and you can go at all day, but I'm not going to tie up this thread any more with this bullshit. You got a problem with me, you can take up with me in private son.
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Don't you mean someone, instead of "some"? Just some advice, you misuse "then" and "than" more often than you use them correctly.
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When some points out your mistakes Doll, I hope you'll be the bigger man then you are now.
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Daniel, really grew up? Don't you mean grow up? Wow. Another example of your mastery of English. The only criticism I do not take well is ignorant criticism, which abounds from you. Your sentences really crack me up. Another classic- "I'll ask this question again, who is better THEN Kobe and who has accomplished the most?" I may have given you too much credit when I said you wrote like a sixth grader.
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There we go again, resorting to putdowns. Didn't your Mom ever teach you "if you don't have anything nice to say...?" It's one thing to disagree with an opinion and argue about it, but c'mon, clowning someone's work? That's uncalled for. I thought we got past that... Very disappointing.
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Daniel, really grew up. You won't last long on this site if you can't take the criticism from fans or your fellow writers.
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Once again the brilliance of Bamababe is simply blinding. I have been on this website less than a week "hunny." I would hope you have more articles selected than me. Looking through a few of your articles it is obvious you are not a good writer. Other people have pointed it out as well. I remember when my quality of writing resembled yours. Sixth grade.
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Daniel let me tell you something, first of all sweetheart my stories I believe have been featured more times then yours so before you open your month about my writing, you check and see how many of mine have been featured compared to yours not to mention the number of times my stories have been an editor's pick. And I predict before the week is out, I'll have another story picked up before another one of yours. When you start writing my checks, then come talk to me about my writing. Second, if you can't take someone disagreeing your work, then what the hell are you doing on this website? Someone disagrees with you, you take it as a personal attack on your work. You should be flattered that I help generate people to your article. I was just pointing out the simple fact that your dislike of Kobe is personal issue which is fine but at least own up to it rather trying to down play his talent. What Homer said made sense to me not to compare Kobe to Jordan just yet until Kobe retires. But to say he is not close or never will be on that level is not true and I just like the people who agreed with you just pointed out the facts. Now, if you can't take the heat then don't come into the kitchen.
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Well. Newsflash: Bamababe just came off of her statement that Kobe is already on Jordan's level by saying he is getting there. I was going to write a long thought out post when I first saw the title to this article but it would be useless. You are an average sports fan, with a below average grasp of the English language. Every commentor has already said that Kobe is not on Jordan's level. Enough said.
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I can agree with that Homer that it would be better to compare to the two after Kobe's career is over but I will say Kobe is getting to Jordan's level and that bothers people because they don't like him and act Jordan will never be replaced. Didn't we all think that when Magic and Bird retired no would replace those two? And then who came along? Jordan. A lot of people think that now that no one will replace Jordan and it could be Kobe.
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Bama, I am a Kobe fan, you know that, and I will usually stick up for him when people start raining on his parade (a parade that might be happening as soon as a week). Rings don't mean anything to me, besides how great the TEAM is/was, as Tribefan said. I will say Kobe is the only current player with the same killer instinct that made MJ so great. Kobe is also by far the best closer in the game, but he is not on his 'Airness' level, yet. No matter what Kobe does in the future or has done in the past, he can't be compared to Jordan for the simple fact that Jordan's work is finished, Kobe's is not. Maybe we can compare them when Bryant is done playing, but to compare any athlete who is still playing to one who had as fantastic a career as MJ did, is an injustice to Jordan. Let's compare them when Kobe is done, shall we? I think too few people realize, that to be the best of the best, you have to have that arrogance that comes with it. It might not always be so 'in your face', but don't doubt that every 'best ever' athlete had/has a little 'I'm the best' attitude in him. Jordan had it. Jerry Rice had it. Barry Bonds definately had it (not to say he was the greatest baseball player ever, but cheater or not, he wasn't exactly a slouch). Even to be any professional athlete, it takes a certain level of self-absorbtion. You have to know (not think) you are better than your opponent, that's why many people associated with professional sports say the game is 90% mental.
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Homer I think he is on Jordan's level to a certain extent because he has won rings, has been an all-star several times over and is the best closer in the game all things Jordan was back in the day so to say he isn't close is wrong too. The only difference right now between him and Jordan are the number of rings. I do agree though that fans don't want to give him his props because they don't like him personally. I hated the 1985 Chicago Bears but that doesn't mean they weren't one of the greatest teams of all time. I think sometimes as fans we get caught up with our own personal dislikes of a player which clouds our judgement or whether or not they are good at what they do.
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Here it is in a nutshell. The people who dislike Kobe, do so because they don't like the person. If they say they dislike him because of his talent on the floor, they are smoking somethin' mighty powerful. That said, Kobe is NOT on Jordan's level, but that isn't a knock, because no one (not even everyone's precious Mr. James) is on that level. Benn, about Wade... This might be the most ridiculous comment I've read on this entire site. Want a heated debate? Let's do this homie. I swear I saw like 13 other dudes getting rings the same time Wade got his... hmmm, must have just been those cheap plastic rings you get out of the gumball machines from the grocery store as a kid. Secondly, didn't they play the Mavs? Wow, that series was a barnburner! How many people watched, like 8? What an honor to beat that pile of (insert explicit word) team from Dallas. Wade is a fantastic talent, maybe the most exciting player to watch in the game, there's no denying that, but really? Where will the tally read "1-1 if Lakers win this"? Only in Benn's imagination... I'm pretty sure everything else will read 4-1, but that's just a guess.
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I'll ask this question again, who is better then Kobe and who has accomplished the most? See a lot of this a personal issue is why Kobe isn't like. Not because he isn't good it is because personally a lot fans don't like him. They think he is fake,ran off Shaq which FYI at the time Shaq wanted to go too and yes he pitched a fit a few years ago with the Lakers because he wanted to win and wanted to be surrounded by better players and you know what? IT work. Alias Sports report says Kobe is only second behind Jordan as the all time best shooting guard in the GAME. Who is better? If you ask Jordan honestly if he thinks Kobe is good what do you think he'll say? No because he has only won 3 rings or he won't those rings with another great player? Kobe calls Jordan for advice but fans can't accept that because their own personal feelings about him.