<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It can be more than a souvenir, it can be a symbol. If Kobe Bryant plays this right, it can be more than just an endorsement from a hamburger chain, it can be an embrace from a city. You heard about Bryant's rise from the commercial graveyard, right? His first new and visible sales pitch since his legal troubles? A Southland-based joint that previously dumped him like cold fries will now sell Bryant's likeness on a bobble-head doll. Which is precisely what needs to happen this spring when the Lakers come to Bryant with the idea of hiring Phil Jackson. His head needs to bobble. Bryant, saying yes to the return of the only person who can clean up his mess. Bryant, buying the idea that a team can have more than one star. Bryant, agreeing he cannot do it alone. The season hit Kobe bottom Tuesday when Bryant scored 41 and the Lakers were still humiliated by the weary Clippers, 110-101. For all of Bryant's magic, the play everyone will remember is Lamar Odom's idiotic and dangerous floor-length toss into the stands after the whistle had blown. For all of Bryant's leadership, and he's trying, the Lakers stood around while the Clippers scored 33 points ? 33! ? in the third quarter. A winning season? Maybe. The playoffs? Please.</div> Source
