Kobe Has the Swine Flu

Mamba · May 3, 2009

Kobe Bryant missed Sunday afternoon’s practice with a sore throat, according to Lakers spokesman John Black.

Bryant, who averaged 28.3 points on 53 percent shooting against second-round opponent Houston in the regular season, is listed as day-to-day.

Black said that Bryant will be re-evaluated on Monday, and that last season’s MVP will attend shootaround should he feel better in the morning.
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http://my.lakers.com/blogs/2009/05/03/bryant-misses-sundays-practice/

Mamba · May 3, 2009

He'll be fine ;]

Lost One · May 3, 2009

Kobe would play with his arm ripped off he ain't gonna let no stupid swine flu effect him.

Bahir · May 3, 2009

I heard he's sleeping with a mexican.

Denny Crane · May 3, 2009

Explains why he's a ball hog.

huevonkiller · May 3, 2009

I've heard the Swine Flu might not even be more lethal than a normal flu strain.

After a week of alarming reports of a new strain of swine flu and the likelihood of a pandemic, Obama administration officials today said there are indications that the influenza will not prove to be as lethal as initially feared, and said there is no reason for healthy people to avoid traveling or to wear protective masks.

"We're seeing encouraging signs that this virus so far is not looking more severe than a strain that we would see in seasonal flu," said Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on "Fox News Sunday."

Later, on "Meet the Press," Besser suggested that the widely reported high mortality rates for the swine flu in Mexico may be incorrect, based on an underestimate of the number of infected people there.

"We've started to see that there was widespread flu in Mexico," Besser said. "As we learn more about how widespread this is, it may be that the rates of severe disease in Mexico will end up being not different than what they were here."

The deaths in Mexico, he said, "may have been the tip of the iceberg, with a large number of cases that were less severe."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/03/AR2009050300791.html

huevonkiller · May 3, 2009

Sore throat not expected to slow Bryant

40 minutes ago

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP)—Kobe Bryant missed practice Sunday because of a sore throat, which raised few worries among the Los Angeles Lakers.

If anything, it might just mean a little less trash talk between Bryant and Ron Artest when the Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night.

“We know when it’s game time he’s going to come out and be ready to play no matter what’s going on,” teammate Shannon Brown said. “It’s definitely going to take more than a sore throat. “He’s got to be missing some limbs for him not to come out there and be ready to play the game.”

The top-seeded Lakers were off a week after eliminating the Utah Jazz in five games and waiting for the fifth-seeded Rockets to finish off Portland in six games. Houston advanced to the second round for the first time since 1997.

The most intriguing matchup, of course, will be Bryant, the reigning league MVP, against Artest and Shane Battier.

Bryant and Artest shoved and jawed their way through a 102-96 Lakers victory at Houston on March 11.

“It wasn’t much of a battle,” Bryant said after scoring 37 points that night. “I kicked his (butt) tonight.”

Los Angeles won the season series 4-0, dominating the fourth quarter of each game. Bryant averaged 28.3 points.

“I can see us playing better. The first time we played them T-Mac was hurt,” Artest said, referring to Tracy McGrady. “One time we played them at home I didn’t play. The next time we played them in L.A. we just got rid of Rafer (Alston), a new team. The last time we played them in L.A., that was a good game. We finally had our team, but they still got us in the fourth quarter.”

The Rockets were all but written off when McGrady had season-ending knee surgery in February.

“I think we’ll do it now,” Artest said. “It wasn’t only the Lakers, it was also Memphis and Minnesota, Dallas, Chicago where we didn’t execute in the fourth.”

In a recent TV interview, Artest called Portland guard Brandon Roy “the best player I’ve played against.” Better than Bryant and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James? Artest reiterated his initial statement.

On Saturday, Bryant remained relatively quiet about playing against Artest.

“It’s fun,” Bryant said. “He’s obviously a great defensive player so I look forward to it.”

The Rockets talked about their late-game struggles against the Lakers.

“They really took it to us in the fourth quarter,” coach Rick Adelman said. “We were in every game at the end of three and the fourth quarter they dominated. They really turned it up a notch. Usually in all four games Kobe really got aggressive. So it’s pretty constant.

“You have to make him work for everything. You’re not going to stop him, you’re not going to shut him down, but you’ve got to make him work. That’s the advantage we have, throw both guys (Battier and Artest) at him and maybe we can wear him down a little bit.

“It’s a team thing. The team has to be in position to help.”

On the flip side, the Lakers had three second-half letdowns against the Jazz, including blowing a 13-point third-quarter lead in Game 3 and losing by two points. Even in the clincher, with a number of subs in, they let the Jazz shave a 22-point lead down to six before winning 107-96.

Derek Fisher, for one, is sure the Lakers won’t be overconfident and complacent.

“I just think the way our season ended last season, just all puts us in the same boat of not wanting our season to end where we lost our last game,” Fisher said, referring to losing the NBA finals in six games to the Celtics. “So even if there are moments of complacency or where it appears there’s not a sense of urgency, we believe strongly and collectively that that’s not the case.

Andrew Bynum, the Lakers’ former starting center, could see more playing time to help defend Yao Ming. He played just 15 minutes per game against Utah as he tried to regain form following a long absence because of a knee injury. His performances were subpar.

“I think he’s really revved up for this,” coach Phil Jackson said. “He’s excited about it and we hope that he stays under control and remembers his principles about defense and rebounding, and the offense will just come.”

Yao’s pumped, too. Asked if he likes the Rockets being big underdogs, he asked, “What is an underdog?”

When told it meant people expect them to lose, Yao said: “I’m used to that. Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.”
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http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...uB0bYF?slug=txrocketslakers&prov=st&type=lgns

Umair1 · May 3, 2009

Agree with me or not, IF the Rockets can get past the Lakers, they WILL win the championship. They can beat the Mavs/Nuggets and Cavs!

huevonkiller · May 3, 2009

The Lakers are the team to beat, I'll agree with that.

On another note, the posts at CL have gotten ridiculous over this, it is getting funny.

Shapecity · May 4, 2009

For a guy who works out and keeps in such tremendous shape, Kobe sure gets sick a lot.

huevonkiller · May 4, 2009

Update. :O

LOS ANGELES -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Monday that Kobe Bryant told him he's "fine, and we'll go with that" after the star shooting guard missed practice Sunday with a sore throat.

Bryant got a workout in and went through most of the shootaround with the team and "seems OK" for Monday night's Game 1 against the Houston Rockets.

"I don't really have any concerns [about Kobe]," Jackson said. "He says he's fine. Obviously it's a big challenge. The defense will orient around his game."
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4137165

Moo2K4 · May 5, 2009

Denny Crane said: ↑

Explains why he's a ball hog.
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Right. Kobe is clearly a ballhog because of a sore throat

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Kobe Has the Swine Flu

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Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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