I could respond to a lot more of your posts, but I'll just say that there's no reason Kobe can't still be better than Jordan in a few years. I read all your posts. I disagree with some of it. I'll leave it at that.
Kobe is a great player..but this extra acting ruin his image..i'm just disappointed..i hope he realizes that people know he's acting and stop..back to the old kobe again...
The thing i meant was. i do not care for personality. i care if they play basketbal. ofcourse i think it is stupid if someone fakes injury or illness. If they where my friend or something i lose respect. But If they are professional basketbal players i do not care they are no rolemodel. They just have to play basketbal. If the media tries to make someone look good or bad that is there problem. I don't know Kobe as a person so i can't judge his personality. I can only judge how he plays the game because that is what i see. And he is a good player. (not the MVP IMHO)
Whenever I played sports when I was hurt, I always found myself performing better for some reason. I think it involves staying more focused mentally due to being injured physically. I don't doubt Kobe's injury, and while I do think it's a little exaggerated, I've no problem with it. In the end it's still basketball. Any side stories have no real relevant meaning to me, especially when it's an injury called "jumpers" knee.
I sense Kobe is not in as much pain as the media described. He looks really good with that injury. He's also a egotistigal selfish person that put his personal glory ahead of a team's success.
DavidS, I was really going to agree with you, as I thought your early post about Kobe and Jordan was a very good one. But then you just started, well, hating. Your hatred is blinding you to the point where you're being just downright rude to people for supporting players that they like. Kobe is a really, really great player. And within a couple years, I really think he'll be Jordan-esque, but of course, never as good as the original. But the best player in the league, I think.
I was looking for the obligatory Tmac/Kobe thread, but this will do. http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...,1,3966684.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba Tmac is real clever. It puts that whole VC All Star thing in perspective. Hating on Kobe because he "fakes injury" or "fakes Jordan" is pretty weak considering that he makes clutch shots and is one of the top 5 players in the NBA. I'm sure there are several players who don't play under injury (Vince) and many others who want to be Jordan (Me). Why not just hate Sportscenter for what it is, and then watch it one hour later after you've made your peace...
I really don't understand "Kobe tries too hard to be like Mike." as criticism. He's a shooting guard. Why in the world would he not aspire to be like Mike? They are about the same height, weight, play the same position and are both unbelievable athletes. I don't care if you're a basketball player or a construction worker, you're generally going to emulate the person who does the job best. They set the standard of how the job should be done. Of course Kobe grew up idolizing MJ. 90% of our generation did! Of course if he can play like MJ he's going to. He's still only 24 though and I think he still has time to develop his own game. furthermore, you guys forget that when MJ came into the league it was to comparisons of Dr. J who I believe came into the league with comparisons to Oscar Robertson. It's inevitable that we're going to compare each new great player to an old great player just as it's inevitable that each young player is going to strive to be like an old player that they grew up idolizing. i just really don't understand this criticism. what it all comes down to it, all that matters is Kobe is an incredible basketball player who is really just getting started. (and already has three rings)