http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stor...marc&id=1961438 ***I think I'm allowed to link this article. If not I'm sorry. I had to push the puke back into my stomach after reading this. Mark Stein's stock just plummeted from writing this article and me actually reading it. Forgive Kobe?? LOL Let me list his unforgivable transgressions: 1. He cheat on his wife 2. He sold out his best "friend" to the cops and thus the media 3. He did not stand up and say he wanted Shaq and Phil to stay in LA. In my mind had a lot to do with their departure. Sorry Kobe...you made me a hater for life. Good luck with that PR.
The wife, granted. But Kobe didn't shrink from his responsibility on court. I think we've beaten this to death. What he did was wrong, he knows it, he admited it publically, and he's paid for his mistakes. Sell out of the "friend" granted. But this was talked over before the season began. The police contacted shaq and told him what Kobe said. Kobe apologized to him then then, and he apologized again. But the friend and the coach? I'm sick and tired of hearing people bashing Kobe about this trade. This is the same "friend" who said, and I quote "I got injured on company time, so I'll get better on company time." Nice friend to leave you hanging for 20 plus games in a season, on purpose. Not by accident, it was a choice. The same coach who said that he's harder on Kobe because he can take criticism better and he's more easy going on Shaq because he's more "sensitive." Are you serious? Be truthful, if Kobe had said trade me in June, like Shaq did, would anything be different. The headlines would have been, Kobe Breaks Up Dynasty by Requesting Trade. No one sees Shaq and Phils shortcomings in this matter. Phil says, hey Kobe doesn't listen, he won't stay in the triangle. Gary Payton and Karl Malone had issues with the same system. Coincidence? The blame falls on more than just Kobe. Look at the whole picture. This is a new season that's almost halfway done. It's time we get back to the present.
