You have to understand you are merging two "issues" -- one, that the player is trying to get an extra edge in another player and two, the perception of a fan about that player's actions. If by doing things like that, Kobe and KG think it makes them better players, well, to me, that says a lot about their attitude. Yes, they are very talented, gifted players and I respect that. But I could actually like them as players (and people) if they would do without their previously mentioned actions. Call it "getting in the head of the opponent," but it's disrespect for the opponent. And disrespect does not help one's image. And rox -- here's the reasoning on Tebow: Great player, absolutely. Great humanitarian off the field. I compared him to Garnett and Kobe for a very specific reason. From what you know of Tebow (gifted athlete, great person off the field), you would have to deduce that he would be a humble athlete on the field as well. Not entirely. There's an attitude he has on the field that sportscasters call "intensity." Here is one example of many: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6A4U216fG_8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6A4U216fG_8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Now I'm not one to criticize every single thing a player does on the field, especially in the heat of the moment. But for a guy who is so humble (supposedly), you wouldn't expect "in your face" cockiness. He's done the same before. To use a relevant comparison for Texas fans, did Vince Young go out of his way to gloat directly at an opponent? That example is why I compare silly, unnecessary, unsportsmanlike antics to the many displayed by professional prima donnas, such as Kobe and Garnett. I would LOVE to have Tebow on my favorite college team, but it bothers me that he is showcased as Jesus but, on the field (the reason why we know his name), he goes over the edge on occasion. That's beyond intensity. Personally I'm a guy who likes consistency.
Watching him play you just have to love it and admire it. I don't care what ever you say, he's just the most complete basketball player right now and no one is nowhere near him. I just don't like when he shows that on the Rockets.
agree, im no kobe fan, but he is a incredible player, and hes cocky, but so is almost every other star in the league..........and man if youre a star in the nba, you can be cocky .....
And as a fan of the game, I choose not to respect him because of his unnecessary actions. I respect his game, but don't care for his act.
I personally like a little smack talk on the court/field. So in your point of view Yao's famous "You can't f***in stop me" to Chris Kaman is unacceptable? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jss1xEzh5b4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jss1xEzh5b4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I was pretty juiced when I saw that.
ha good point on the yao's thing, its just a part of competition and swagger, even the most humble guy in yao has a ltitle bit in him..and we can't liek, if kobe was a rocket...wow, that kind of defense, intensity, will to win, the whlle mentality, playing through injuries(ahem ahem) dedication to the game, we would just love this guy... but yea teh saddest thing that one of the best players of this generation only has one mvp bc the hate affair with him
yeah, if he had class then I'd care. Kobe is a great player but never will have what it takes to be a real man.
I still laugh when I think about all of the people who said the Lakers were dumb for getting rid of fat Shaq instead of Kobe. lol
Quite possibly the worst post ever. What does that even mean? Ok. Robert Horry has 0 championships as the #1 option. Who cares? Should we take them away from him? lol And you are probably one of those people who said the lakers were fools for keeping Kobe over Shaq. lol
Jordan and Pre-Muslim Dream were extremly competitive players. (not saying Muslim Dream wasn't) When they got in that mode they let it be known they weren't going to be bullied.. They weren't sneaky with their displeasure with other players. Kobe on the other hand. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ljc9EPujKcc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ljc9EPujKcc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PsPATt5_DA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PsPATt5_DA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eveaL7wFxes&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eveaL7wFxes&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> Kobe seems to get his jabs in on the side.. Dream and Jordan aren't accurate comparisons.
They aren't accurate but they serve as a basis on what my point was--which is that all superstars aren't immuned to being a little b*tch on the court. You go through all of the 80s star players and tell me which one never got into a scuffle or two. Hell, even in the 90s you had bloodbaths here and there. At least he's not punching or kicking people in the nuts like Paul or Pierce or Terry does. I disliked Kobe's act a few years ago when he would kick out his leg after a jump shot to draw a foul and I don't support what he did to Battier in that clip but he is one of the last of a dying breed of tough players on the court. By tough I don't mean "crawling on all fours" tough; tough by the definition that he'll create space for himself by any means like a Jordan or a Reggie Miller back in the day. These players now, like Wade, MCGRADY (I went there), etc wouldn't last in the NBA 10-20 years ago.
that artest video is hilarious. that show's you how great kobe is. Elbowed artest in the throat made them call the foul on artest lol. now who else can do that?
I think in the play it was more about the bad reputation of artest more than anything else, the refs always were going to do calls against artest.
yea as much as kobe cries for fouls, all stars do bc of the treatment this nba babies them with....but he is a dying bread of intense defenders and guys who could play successfully in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, bc he has the skills to deal with handchecking of then, which playersl ike lebron who flat out just could not bc these handchecking rules were changed(suspiciously) right when he got in the league and he has an inconsistent jump shot, so i mean we just gotta appreciate kobe while we can, 4-5 years hell be the last one left
