Kobe Bryant took time out to visit patients at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. A poignant picture of Bryant hugging 5-year-old Morgan Fogakoldyke appeared in the local newspaper Monday. Bryant has made several hospital visits this season and regularly meets with sick children before games but has not sought publicity for any of it." -Ross Siler, daily news During the past 2 years, Kobe Bryant has been mercilessly assaulted, a subject of ridicule, coffee-talk fodder, an opportunity to be held a scapegoat for every type of malaise, from race to religion, from the judicial system to class tension, from morality to basketball. Surprisingly, through it all, Kobe has generally refrained from responding. He hasn't lashed out, blown up in frustration, fight the media through the media (to the media's frustration). Why, is the most pertinent question. Like this journalist noted, kobe hasn't sought publicity for any of the GOOD things he's done. He hasn't used publicity as a way to combat the horrid image sensationalistic journalists have created, not even to defend himself. Why stay silent, when the media unjustly questions the very credibility and moral fiber of somebody who has been deemed innocent by law? So I'd like to dedicate this post to Kobe Bryant's character. Mad props bro. It is undeniable the media are a bunch of bastards trying to exploit kobe as a story to sell newspapers. "Who knows whether Kobe did it or not" "Do we really know kobe bryant," virtually creating some nefarious villain in both basketball and real life. Firmly espousing the belief "He with the megaphone wins," the media manufactured a perception of kobe bryant that would create not only drama, but generate more readers, more sponsors; the more sensational they depicted bryant, the higher the interest, the higher the profit. In a time when the media created and sold a villain to the people, selling a president's private war, concurrently, the media created a sold another villain to the people, sellling a public whipping boy, a scapegoat for a restless nation. "Who knows whether kobe is guilty or not," these former athletes cum sports analysts speculate, trading uniforms for suits, replacing basketball dreams for analyst promotions. All this airtime for speculation, despite the prosecution dropping charges against him, despite his legal innocence. Innocent until proven guilty? Apparently not, in the judicial sensabilities of basketball has-beens, and never-weres. "He chased shaq and phil out of town," these smug backup point guards declare, from their lofty seats in new york. "Kobe is a selfish player," these weasly sports journalists claim, typing on their laptops while watching The Bachelor, still smarting from their being cut from their jr high basketball teams. All the while, the closest these talking heads got to actual journalism was watching themselves talk on their own syndicated network shows. They know how it works: if you say anything enough, people will believe it. Ay, there's the rub, the true irony: not everybody is trying to promote their own damn self-interest. If these hypocrites weren't so busy making a circus out of journalism, trying to bury kobe to get some more airtime, a little talkshow sleaze to boost ratings, maybe you would actually get to know who kobe bryant really is. Maybe if you paid a little attention, stop participating in the circle jerk called sports journalism, and took a little closer look at the man, you'd realize what type of person he is, who wouldn't cheapen compassion and philanthropy by seeking a public forum, something everybody in the media could learn from. His silence alone, of not playing into their hands, of keep integrity something sacred, of keeping kindness personal, that should be a blazing testament to his magnitude of character. People are wrong in thinking they need to learn more about kobe. They need to learn more from him.
Good Post man. People however will only say "Oh kobe is tryna fix his image by visiting sick kids". And thats the reality of the world. I dont care though, im a Kobe Fan and SUPPORTER 4 Life. Alot of people like kobe and hate kobe, i take a different course. I once hated him for stupid reasons, no longer tho. Kobe is my alltime PERSONAL favorite basketball player. Hopefully one day people will see that one mistake doesnt make you a horrible person, EVERYONE has done something they wish they could take back and noone is perfect.
Good post. I think he has been smart this year in not saying too much (aside from the Ray Allen thing but he was just defending himself.) and I respect him more for that. Yes, the Lakers now have a losing season and all of Shaq's predictions did come true so right now, this is when the wolves of the world come out. Trust me, every major athelete has been through this period. The whole world against you. When you're winning, it's there but it's numb. But when you're losing, and everything is just AGAINST you, that's when you show your true characters. I think journalists should not be faulted for doing thier jobs, which is to report truth but when you repeat stories over and over and connect any little relevence to the past, it gets to the point where you brainwash your readers and your viewers into believing your point of view. Everyone used to make fun of Shaq a couple of years ago as well. People hated Shaq and the Lakers. Now that Shaq has moved, he's suddenly less of an enemy for the media? The media feeds off general vibes from the public and generally speaking, many view Kobe as a criminal still. A rapist o nthe loose. Because we all know to Joe Blow that he's just a thug of an NBA player, makign too much money and reaping what he sows because he's losing and deserve to be made fun of and scrunitized. Among all of this, the media and many of the people (including MANY on this board) fail to realize that in the end, he is human and not just some thing we can point fingers at and blame for every little thing. I can't really speak for Kobe, but I will always support him. I realize that he's losing now but the good part is, it can't get any worse then it is already. That is my perspective on things. Winning changes everything. Even thoughts.
In the end we shall see who has the last laugh. The Kobe-Haters or the Kobe-Fans. I think we all know who it will be. Great post.
This story is going to end up as "the story of a modern hero." He gets knocked down and beaten, everyone doubts him, he works even harder and comes back better than ever, winning the precious ring.
Alot of people forget.... Kobe Bryant was: The youngest player to ever play a NBA game Youngest ever to Start an NBA game. Youngest ever to Play in the All Star Game. Youngest to Start an All Star game. He was part of a world Championship team @ 20yrs old. He had 3 rings by age 23. Things have come easy for the 26yr old Bryant, thats until now. Right now is really the only test bryant has had to overcome, and that test is....Being Humbled. Being humbled by LOSING. Something bryant has never really experienced. To say Kobe bryant arguably the best player in the last 4-5 years will never win another championship being only 26 right now, is utter foolishness. BUT! it was proven this year, that its gonna take alot of hard work...alot of hard TEAM work. NOONE in the history of team sports has single handidly won a championship.... and noone will. Last year it was proven a <u>Good team</u> beats a GREAT duo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The youngest player to ever play a NBA game Youngest ever to Start an NBA game. </div>no that's J.O'Neal
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">no that's J.O'Neal</div> He said Bryant was, not is the youngest player.
Speaking of modern day tragedy, Kobe didn't play in the last game because his wife lost a baby, the egg cell never made it where it was supposed to be, so it had to be taken out, thus along with the baby, if it stayed there, Vanessa could of died also...I think it is called an Optopic pregnancy (someone correct me because I know I didn't spell that one right) My prayers are with the Bryant family, hate him or not, losing a child like that has to be really tough.
good looking out Laker_fan... i did say "WAS" because he was teh 1st. Anyways, good post KB8ball. Big up's to Kobe for manning up, and my heart goes out to KB8 n Van.
