Hate to admit it but I am on the side of Kobe Bryant in this issue. I see nothing wrong - and all together appropriate - for a player to point out to management when they need to do better. I have never been a Bryant fan - not because of his talents and skills which are undeniable and considerable - but because of other things. I feel very strongly that high school players need to go to college and their lack of team fundamentals hurt the game. I have never seen an exception to this. I have always despised the Lakers the way others despise the Celtics or Yankees. The whole Colorado business was disgraceful. So Bryant was no favorite of mine. I bought into the idea that he was a whining little ***** who sent Shaq packing at the expense of the team. Now I find out otherwise.
But now we discover that he had little or nothing to do with the departure of Shaq. It was a pure money decision that came from Buss. And we find out that Bryant was a more than honorable man in shutting his mouth and allowing the world to think he was at fault when he was not.
Bryant has given ten years to the Lakers. He is entitled to step up publicly and ask for better. Not for himself but for the team he has given his career to. That is admirable. I hope he gets his wish and is traded. I do not see Dr. Buss giving up on his own son. Blood is thicker than that. Jackson may come out and say to Kobe that it can be worked out but I think that is a fools hope. It may take a year for this to play out and Kobe could still be there a year from now. But this is the beginning of the end for the Lakers and Bryant.
But now we discover that he had little or nothing to do with the departure of Shaq. It was a pure money decision that came from Buss. And we find out that Bryant was a more than honorable man in shutting his mouth and allowing the world to think he was at fault when he was not.
Bryant has given ten years to the Lakers. He is entitled to step up publicly and ask for better. Not for himself but for the team he has given his career to. That is admirable. I hope he gets his wish and is traded. I do not see Dr. Buss giving up on his own son. Blood is thicker than that. Jackson may come out and say to Kobe that it can be worked out but I think that is a fools hope. It may take a year for this to play out and Kobe could still be there a year from now. But this is the beginning of the end for the Lakers and Bryant.
