Kobe is the player who's subjected to the most criticisms ever?<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LAS VEGAS -- Kobe Bryant's choice of pronouns was somewhat revealing Tuesday as he made his first appearance with Team USA.He didn't sound like a member of the team, even though he technically still is one.Bryant watched from the fifth row of the stands as the American team played its first scrimmage against another national team, looking especially sharp defensively in defeating Puerto Rico 116-82 behind 23 points from Carmelo Anthony and 20 from LeBron James.For most of the game, Bryant was seated with team director Jerry Colangelo and agent Rob Pelinka, and he did not interact with the players on the bench during the game, in the locker room prior to tipoff, or on the court following the final buzzer."The waves with which they play [are] something that's amazing and fun to watch. They come at you in waves, and it's non-stop, the pressure they put on full court," Bryant said. "The quick hands, the quick feet that they have, one through five out there on the court, everyone is extremely athletic and physically gifted. They're all playing well together, doing well defensively. I think defensively is really their area of emphasis."For those keeping score, that answer included six references to "they" and its variants, zero references to "we."Training camp rosterCarmelo Anthony, NuggetsGilbert Arenas, WizardsShane Battier, RocketsChris Bosh, RaptorsBruce Bowen, SpursElton Brand, ClippersKirk Hinrich, BullsDwight Howard, MagicLeBron James, CavsAntawn Jamison, WizardsJoe Johnson, HawksShawn Marion, SunsBrad Miller, KingsAdam Morrison, BobcatsChris Paul, HornetsLuke Ridnour, SonicsAmare Stoudemire, SunsDwyane Wade, HeatNot available for JapanChauncey Billups (personal reasons)Kobe Bryant (knee)Paul Pierce (elbow)Greg Oden (wrist)Lamar Odom (personal reasons)Michael Redd (personal reasons)J.J. Redick (back)Bryant's comments were his first public statements of the summer, coming nearly three weeks after he underwent what was termed as "minor" knee surgery to clean out scar tissue and "impingements," as Bryant described it.The news of Bryant's surgery came as a shock to Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski when they learned of it just three days before camp was to open, and some had questioned why Bryant waited until mid-summer to address the problem."It's been there all season, but it was something we didn't think was anything that was going to linger," Bryant said. "I had knee problems in the past and just played through it, and once I played through it, it felt great. This summer I started my training regimen, and the knee just wasn't getting any better. We had to take a look at it and found out we had to do a little tweak."A tweak? Not many people call surgery a tweak."It wasn't like I had to repair a damaged ACL or anything like that. But you've been in this league for some time, you've got some issues going on with your knee that need to be addressed," Bryant said. "So I had to go and take care of that."We didn't really know it to be something that required surgery until we were into the summer. It was one of those things that just continued to linger, and we jumped on it as early as we could."Bryant, Paul Pierce (impending elbow surgery) and Lamar Odom (death of his infant son) were the only three members of the 24-man national roster who did not make it to training camp, and Bryant was the first of that trio to make an appearance.When news of Bryant's surgery was first released, the announcement said Bryant still planned to travel with the team to China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. But those plans have changed."Mr. Colangelo and Coach K both thought it would be best for me to stay back and take care of my situation since it's a three-year commitment, making sure I get completely healthy to go next summer and hopefully in the '08 Olympics," Bryant said.Colangelo was quick to point out that Bryant is likely to join the team at some point when it gets to Japan for the World Championship, but only because he'll be doing promotional appearances there for Nike.The first day we'll finally see Bryant in a USA jersey (he had to withdraw from the team in 2003 and 2004) -- and the first time he'll call the team "we" instead of "they" -- will remain undetermined for at least another year.</div>How on earth does something like that get published on espn? Seriously, the guy can't even catch a break because he used They instead of we even though he hasn't trained with the team.
probably because he cant play a team game, he probably cant spell team, he cant pass, oh, and he's a cocky ***hole.
You're a cocky ***hole and may I ask, do you actually believe the words coming out of your mouth?He can't play a team game? 5 assists per game for his career. he made his team in to the playoffs this year, he made it a team.When you're as good as Kobe Bryant, you're allowed to be as stubborn as he is.And, he can spell a lot better than you can. :happy0144:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Aug 2 2006, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>probably because he cant play a team game, he probably cant spell team, he cant pass, oh, and he's a cocky ***hole.</div>Lol, you know nothing about basketball. It's sad when someone in australia who gets less exposure than you knows more about the game. Really sad.And oh, if your a suns fan did you actually watch the playoffs? Because if you did, you would not come up with such a statement.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Aug 2 2006, 02:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>probably because he cant play a team game, he probably cant spell team, he cant pass, oh, and he's a cocky ***hole.</div>You should be banned just for your stupidity. Your a joke. Plain and simple.As for the article, nothing new, more hate towards Kobe. I guess people won't stop hating until not on the top anymore.
what a stupid article. I cant believe that was even allowed on ESPN or in the news paper or whatever.
Wow, what a douche. I agree, there is alot of hating on Kobe Bryant. But that is just part of sports. In every sport there is someone people just love to hate. In baseball, it's Barry Bonds. In football, it's T.O, and in basketball it's Kobe. You just have to get over that, and keep on walking.
KB deserves all criticism. I don't care if his team sucks, he rejected the Clips offer, so he should suffer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sham @ Aug 2 2006, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>KB deserves all criticism. I don't care if his team sucks, he rejected the Clips offer, so he should suffer.</div>He should suffer because he stayed loyal to his team?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bryant was seated with team director Jerry Colangelo and agent Rob Pelinka, and he did not interact with the players on the bench during the game, in the locker room prior to tipoff, or on the court following the final buzzer.</div> Oh really?..
The media really needs to find another person to pick on. Kobe is the best basketball player in the world bar non. As for the idiot that says he's not a team player. Check your stats kid before you make ignorant statements. One thing that really pisses me off is how they try to make Kobe seem so selfish but make Labron seem like he is one of the best team players in the game today. Has anyone compared their stats.....They are almost identical. YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG Kobe - 05-06 LAL 80 80 41.0 .450 .347 .850 .9 4.4 5.3 4.5 1.84 .38 3.13 2.90 35.4 Labron - 05-06 CLE 79 79 42.5 .480 .335 .738 .9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.56 .84 3.29 2.30 31.4 Why everyone keeps hatin on this guy is beyond me. He was the most exciting thing to watch or read about in the NBA last season (scoring 81 point in a game, 62 point in 3 quarters - more than the mavs scored as a team). Let the haters keep hatin'. What does not kill us makes us stronger fellas. 1 more thing - I read an article in the USA Today that compared this years Olympic team to the Dream Team. In that article they compared Labron to Magic. I love Labron, he is a beast but come on people.
LOLMagic >>>LeBronBut really, if people can find the smalled and unreasonable reason to hate a player, which is really just jealousy, cause no other team has a player like him, let them, the then again Kobe fans could find things to pick with LeBron, MJ ( maybe ), and all other players...Just not Sasha Vujacic...Kobe's shoes in that pic are amazing.PS Any more kobe bashing, and I will do my best to brutlly murder you and your family in their sleep, and spead their blood all over your driveway :happy0144: JP
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Aug 2 2006, 03:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>probably because he cant play a team game, he probably cant spell team, he cant pass, oh, and he's a cocky ***hole.</div> :g: here something to make u happy; It's just a bad day !!!don't get too excited over there, if i were u i'd pray for amare coz u've seen the last of him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Aug 2 2006, 02:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>BSpnEDIT: I just sent that idiot an e-mail,it was pretty brutal I hope he gets fired.</div>I highly doubt that he'll get fired, since ESPN probably told him to write the column.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Aug 2 2006, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> Oh really?..</div>That is during the practice.
