Hangin' with the Kobes

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES -- Try as he might, Kobe Bryant just can't get his game right.

Standing on an indoor court in late August, the normally ice-cold Lakers assassin is well past the point of cocksure half-smiles and winks and popped collars. Forget that junk. It won't work here.

Bryant has already cast his purple-and-gold polo aside. Now he's in a gray tank top and on his heels, sweating and stammering and gyrating like a porpoise while tossing up earth-rattling bricks and rainbow airballs from way too far outside, generally forcing the issue and -- perhaps for the first time in his life -- getting beat with the orb in his hand.</div>

Full (and long) article

 

That's not good.....I hope he gets his game in place when the season rolls around.

EDIT: Oh come on dog. You got me scared there for a second.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club might be the site of Bryant's announcement as the game's cover athlete, but to the at-risk children who return here in times of need, the club is a shelter, a beacon of hope and a sanctuary free of the rap music that now blares from all the passing cars outside.


Still, for a big-ticket video game featuring a big-name star, today's announcement is surprisingly muted. Who's invited? Just the kids and some Sony suits. Les Jones, the club's executive director, says the under-the-radar jig is par for Bryant's course. "Kobe never wants press when he's here," Jones explains. "He wants to bond with these kids. To get to know them one-on-one."


Since his first no-frills visit in '03 for a health fair, Bryant has regularly returned to the club, hosting a sneaker design contest (he wore the winning sneaks for Game "81" and has kept in touch with the young man who designed them) and Christmas toy giveaways. Recently, Bryant donated $25K -- and had Nike match that -- toward a gym renovation, the same joint that Kobe and the kids now game in.


"Kobe's support is huge from the standpoint that this is Watts, which has a mostly negative reputation of poverty and crime," Jones continues. "We don't get a lot of people who are willing to extend themselves to us. And for him to actually come out is huge. People oftentimes send a check, and we appreciate that. But when you come out and you let these kids sit on your lap …"


Jones pauses for a breather.


"Kobe's special."</div>

That's tight man. This is one of the reasons I love Kobe. He is a good guy.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Yo, this ain't right!" Bryant says. "Ben Wallace can't handle the ball! If he can handle it, Kwame can handle it."


Kwame can't. When Kobe tries to penetrate with Brown, he's picked clean. There's more yapping, and now I'm just feeling bad for the guy.</div>



Hilarious!

 

This was a great article. I really liked it. Thanks Bahir!

 

Thanks, I wrote it myself

(I really didn't)

 

KObe is always done activities for the community ..its just that he never gets publicize like other All-Stars do. He does things out of kindness not for publicity. This is the difference between Kobe and an any other player in the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pablo23:</div><div class="quote_post">KObe is always done activities for the community ..its just that he never gets publicize like other All-Stars do. He does things out of kindness not for publicity. This is the difference between Kobe and an any other player in the NBA.</div>

How would you know about it, if it doesn't get publicized?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">How would you know about it, if it doesn't get publicized?</div>

Well not doubting you durvasa, but if you had read the article it says that he has done a lot and it never gets publicized and that's how Kobe likes it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Well not doubting you durvasa, but if you had read the article it says that he has done a lot and it never gets publicized and that's how Kobe likes it.</div>

Alright. I am suprised that he'd prefer it not be publicized, since he seems to have been really pushing to reconstruct his image the past few years. Maybe his work has been more in terms of giving donations and stuff rather than making appearances (and there's nothing wrong with that).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Alright. I am suprised that he'd prefer it not be publicized, since he seems to have been really pushing to reconstruct his image the past few years. Maybe his work has been more in terms of giving donations and stuff rather than making appearances (and there's nothing wrong with that).</div>


Well did you read the article durvasa? It says and it even gives a case where he goes in person rather than just sending money. He does go in person.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">

Well did you read the article durvasa? It says and it even gives a case where he goes in person rather than just sending money. He does go in person.</div>

I haven't read it fully yet. I figure if I keep posting random speculation here, you'll eventually fill me in on all the significant details.