Kobe interview on AM 570.....THIS IS REALLY BAD...

Discussion in 'Los Angeles Lakers' started by illmatic, May 29, 2007.

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  1. Mamba
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  1. Fiyah

    Fiyah JBB JustBBall Member

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    Betrayed is not the word. Kobe Bryant is by and far one of most eloquently, intelligent players in the NBA and he showed it in that interview. He was frank, and honest, and passionate without being disrespectful to a single person. I agree with Shape... the most alarming thing here is that they have not reached out to him during this entire debacle. Does this mean they are already working out a trade? Maybe. If they are ... so be it. I think I will always be a Lakers fan and will always wish the franchise well... but sorry... if they trade Kobe (either because there was a plan for mediocrity or because they would rather trade him than man up and make some decisions towards current improvement) then they have officially traded this fan as well.
     
    Fiyah, May 30, 2007
    #21
  2. bbwtrench

    bbwtrench BBW Member

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    Its had to say it, but if Kobe leaves, I might just stop being a fan of this franchise after 20+ years of being true to them. I can't cheer on an organization who treats their players like this and have hidden agendas. Be straight with the guy. If they had no intention of helping Kobe win a championship, why tell him that????. How can they lie to Kobe like that and keep a straight face???? This really pisses me off....

    Im just venting right now. Never figured I'd be this upset about a sport! I really am. This is disheartening.
     
    bbwtrench, May 30, 2007
    #22
  3. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Its had to say it, but if Kobe leaves, I might just stop being a fan of this franchise after 20+ years of being true to them. I can't cheer on an organization who treats their players like this and have hidden agendas. Be straight with the guy. If they had no intention of helping Kobe win a championship, why tell him that????. How can they lie to Kobe like that and keep a straight face???? This really pisses me off....

    Im just venting right now. Never figured I'd be this upset about a sport! I really am. This is disheartening.</div>

    This is why Kobe is pushing for Jerry West. He mentioned it in the interview, "West shoots from the hip." He doesn't speak with a forked tongue, he's always been upfront with Kobe and Kobe respects him for his sometimes brutal honesty. I'm sure Kobe is surrounded by a lot "yes men" and it's refreshing to have people around you who aren't afraid to tell you to your face, you're screwing up, and this is the reality of a situation. PJax has done it for Kobe and West has done it for Kobe.

    The trust has been broken between Kobe and the front office. They weren't upfront with him on building a team around him and this "insider" tried to throw Kobe under the bus for Shaq being dealt.

    Last night on ESPN Stephen A. Smith asked Shaq what he thought about Kobe's interview and Shaq said he believes Kobe is telling the truth.
     
    Shapecity, May 30, 2007
    #23
  4. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

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    Does anybody have any theories about who this insider is? At first I figured it was some low-level front office employee with a grudge against Kobe, but he's taken the comments very personally and I think he considered it to be from the top. Some people in this forum have also hinted that it was someone at the top.
     
    Chutney, May 30, 2007
    #24
  5. notmuchgame

    notmuchgame JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Does anybody have any theories about who this insider is? At first I figured it was some low-level front office employee with a grudge against Kobe, but he's taken the comments very personally and I think he considered it to be from the top. Some people in this forum have also hinted that it was someone at the top.</div>

    I imagine it is somebody mid-level, not high enough for any of us to know him/her by name, but not low enough where kobe could just brush it off.

    I know we all hope its jim buss because he's an idiot, but i dont see why he would be telling LA times writers these type of things
     
    notmuchgame, May 30, 2007
    #25
  6. Mamba

    Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Well from all the radio I've been listening to since we've been eliminated, they keep mentioning Jim Buss wanting to build his own legacy, that Bynum was his plan for his legacy, yadda yadda yadda. If he wanted to build for the future, would be to run Kobe out of town so you could trade him for outstanding young talent.
     
    Mamba, May 30, 2007
    #26
  7. notmuchgame

    notmuchgame JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well from all the radio I've been listening to since we've been eliminated, they keep mentioning Jim Buss wanting to build his own legacy, that Bynum was his plan for his legacy, yadda yadda yadda. If he wanted to build for the future, would be to run Kobe out of town so you could trade him for outstanding young talent.</div>

    yeah but i dont imagine he would do it at the expense of his father's legacy.
     
    notmuchgame, May 30, 2007
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  8. Dark Hero

    Dark Hero Can't Tell Me Nothing

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    So far they have been treating Kobe Bryant like crap like if he was a no one. They said they were going to rebuild but nothing has happen they have waisted three years of Kobe career by bringing crap like Smush and Brown. They lied to his face and hve lied to all the Lakers fans...
     
    Dark Hero, May 30, 2007
    #28
  9. GatorsowntheNCAA

    GatorsowntheNCAA Omaha Bound 2010!

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    I understand that they have "lied" but come on. It's not like the Lakers organization is trying to decide the best way to screw Kobe Bryant and their fans. They are trying to build a championship team without expensing their future. You need more than 2 stars to win a championship and the Lakers don't want to have 2 stars taking up 4/5ths' of the salary cap and having absolutely ZERO wiggle room with the cap while still not winning. It's not like they can snap their fingers and get a superstar for Luke Walton and Chris Mihm.

    You guys should be fortunate that you root for a team like the Lakers who are always in contention and win a lot. Try being a Magic fan, it's 10x worse than being a Laker fan.
     
    GatorsowntheNCAA, May 30, 2007
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  10. Mamba

    Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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    <div class="quote_poster">notMuchgame Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">yeah but i dont imagine he would do it at the expense of his father's legacy.</div>

    What if he wants to step out from his father's legacy? As of right now, Jim Buss is going to be remembered for his power struggle with Phil...
     
    Mamba, May 30, 2007
    #30
  11. amador08

    amador08 JBB JustBBall Member

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    I'm a kobe fan not a laker fan, so wherever he goes im there rooting him on.
    GO KOBE!
     
    amador08, May 30, 2007
    #31
  12. Bahir

    Bahir User power factor: ∞

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    Jim Buss will be remembered by me as one who was part of the demise of the Lakers.
     
    Bahir, May 30, 2007
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  13. notmuchgame

    notmuchgame JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What if he wants to step out from his father's legacy? As of right now, Jim Buss is going to be remembered for his power struggle with Phil...</div>

    Somebody on CL threw out the name Magic .... i love the magic man, so i hope its not true .. but if you think about it, Magic has strong ties to the organization, magic also has strong ties to the media ... and of course, Kobe loves magic, so if magic were to say something like that about Kobe, that would be enough to hurt Kobe's feelings enough to seek a trade
     
    notmuchgame, May 30, 2007
    #33
  14. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I understand that they have "lied" but come on. It's not like the Lakers organization is trying to decide the best way to screw Kobe Bryant and their fans. They are trying to build a championship team without expensing their future. You need more than 2 stars to win a championship and the Lakers don't want to have 2 stars taking up 4/5ths' of the salary cap and having absolutely ZERO wiggle room with the cap while still not winning. It's not like they can snap their fingers and get a superstar for Luke Walton and Chris Mihm.

    You guys should be fortunate that you root for a team like the Lakers who are always in contention and win a lot. Try being a Magic fan, it's 10x worse than being a Laker fan.</div>

    Kobe understands it takes time, but the issue he has is the organization isn't committed to winning now and making deals to win now. If they don't plan to make a title run with Kobe, than what is he there for? He didn't re-sign to just sell tickets, jerseys, and give Laker fans a false sense of hope the management painted for everyone. That's bush league on their part.

    Why are you stringing Kobe, PJax, and the veterans along, when your intentions are not winning a championship?
     
    Shapecity, May 30, 2007
    #34
  15. Mamba

    Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I've always been iffy about Magic on Kobe. I've got the feeling he isn't to fond of Kobe's aggressive attitude. Do you think he'd stoop this low to force Kobe out of the organization....or at least cause a rift?
     
    Mamba, May 30, 2007
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  16. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">notMuchgame Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Somebody on CL threw out the name Magic .... i love the magic man, so i hope its not true .. but if you think about it, Magic has strong ties to the organization, magic also has strong ties to the media ... and of course, Kobe loves magic, so if magic were to say something like that about Kobe, that would be enough to hurt Kobe's feelings enough to seek a trade</div>

    Makes a lot of sense, Magic is also out of the loop it seems with a lot the "behind the scenes" activities. He has so much on his plate, I'm sure he's not around to hear what's actually being said. He just gets the cliff notes version and bases his opinion off that.
     
    Shapecity, May 30, 2007
    #36
  17. GatorsowntheNCAA

    GatorsowntheNCAA Omaha Bound 2010!

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    <div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe understands it takes time, but the issue he has is the organization isn't committed to winning now and making deals to win now. If they don't plan to make a title run with Kobe, than what is he there for? He didn't re-sign to just sell tickets, jerseys, and give Laker fans a false sense of hope the management painted for everyone. That's bush league on their part.

    Why are you stringing Kobe, PJax, and the veterans along, when your intentions are not winning a championship?</div>

    I don't think any player in basketball right now on the trade block would make the Lakers a contender in the West. You need solid all around teams and not just 2 superstar players. The players the Lakers want have MONSTER contracts. Why would you give up your entire future and any hope of ever making another move for the next 3-4 years to become the 4th seed AT BEST. (and probably move like 5th-6th seed at best)

    I don't see JO and Kobe being able to get past SA, Phoenix, or Dallas. They might not even get through Utah or Houston. I understand you want to win now and that is all Laker fans want, but there is a reason why the management isn't doing some of these moves and it's not because they want to screw Kobe or the fans. It's because they realize that they would be in cap hell for the next 4-5 years with little flexibility to make any moves and they realize that a 2 player team typically won't win it all and pass teams such as Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio. So they would likely be worse off then they are now. They would have 1 promising season and then everyone will realize that htey aren't good enough to win and the Lakers management wouldn't be able to make any changes. Basically if the Lakers make a move to get JO the fans would be even more upset then they are now in 2-3 years, IMO.

    I agree that they should trade Kobe so that they can reach their dream of rebuilding if that's their dream, but come on you don't know what would have happened with Boozer/Artest/Baron in LA. They could have been horrible flops in the triangle offense and you would be even more screwed then you currently are now.

    Sorry for being harsh, but I'm trying to be realistic on this from an outsiders point of view. You guys are acting like you are the worst run franchise ever and that your franchise is pathetic, etc. I'm a Magic fan, we haven't made it out of the first round in 10 years and we are still loyal to the team and you guys are complaining you can't get out of it for 3 years? You at least got something for Shaq, the Magic's organization has been set back 10 years(so far) since Shaq left. You Laker fans have it good, you know how it feels to win, your owners actually care about the team. You have a GM that actually knows basketball and not drafting someone that you talked to once from Spain(Fran Vasquez) with a lottery pick. Lakers are certainly one of the top 10 organizations right now. (not history or anything). They want to win, they know how to win, but sometimes you have to rebuild and trading Kobe will allow them to rebuild.
     
    GatorsowntheNCAA, May 30, 2007
    #37
  18. notmuchgame

    notmuchgame JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I've always been iffy about Magic on Kobe. I've got the feeling he isn't to fond of Kobe's aggressive attitude. Do you think he'd stoop this low to force Kobe out of the organization....or at least cause a rift?</div>

    Nah, if indeed it was Magic, I doubt that was his intentions. I bet he kind of reacted to Kobe's complaining without realizing what it would do. Of course, we're just speculating here.

    Magic's name never crossed my mind before I read it on CL, but like Shape said, it would make some sense..
     
    notmuchgame, May 30, 2007
    #38
  19. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think any player in basketball right now on the trade block would make the Lakers a contender in the West. You need solid all around teams and not just 2 superstar players. The players the Lakers want have MONSTER contracts. Why would you give up your entire future and any hope of ever making another move for the next 3-4 years to become the 4th seed AT BEST. (and probably move like 5th-6th seed at best)

    I don't see JO and Kobe being able to get past SA, Phoenix, or Dallas. They might not even get through Utah or Houston. I understand you want to win now and that is all Laker fans want, but there is a reason why the management isn't doing some of these moves and it's not because they want to screw Kobe or the fans. It's because they realize that they would be in cap hell for the next 4-5 years with little flexibility to make any moves and they realize that a 2 player team typically won't win it all and pass teams such as Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio. So they would likely be worse off then they are now. They would have 1 promising season and then everyone will realize that htey aren't good enough to win and the Lakers management wouldn't be able to make any changes. Basically if the Lakers make a move to get JO the fans would be even more upset then they are now in 2-3 years, IMO.

    I agree that they should trade Kobe so that they can reach their dream of rebuilding if that's their dream, but come on you don't know what would have happened with Boozer/Artest/Baron in LA. They could have been horrible flops in the triangle offense and you would be even more screwed then you currently are now.

    Sorry for being harsh, but I'm trying to be realistic on this from an outsiders point of view. You guys are acting like you are the worst run franchise ever and that your franchise is pathetic, etc. I'm a Magic fan, we haven't made it out of the first round in 10 years and we are still loyal to the team and you guys are complaining you can't get out of it for 3 years? You at least got something for Shaq, the Magic's organization has been set back 10 years(so far) since Shaq left. You Laker fans have it good, you know how it feels to win, your owners actually care about the team. You have a GM that actually knows basketball and not drafting someone that you talked to once from Spain(Fran Vasquez) with a lottery pick. Lakers are certainly one of the top 10 organizations right now. (not history or anything). They want to win, they know how to win, but sometimes you have to rebuild and trading Kobe will allow them to rebuild.</div>

    This is also not the same managment team who lead this franchise to glory.

    Dr. Buss replaced by Jim Buss
    Jerry West replaced by Mitch Kupchak

    Both are tremendous downgrades, let's keep that in perspective when you want to contrast this management team with the Lakers past. The Lakers are also rank near the bottom in money spent on scouting.

    What other management team has run off two superstars and 1st ballot hall of famers?

    I agree, it takes a lot more than one superstar for the Lakers to compete. I would even argue they don't need another superstar, they just need a character change in the locker room.

    However, this management team was never upfront about the direction of the team, and a lot of the moves they made didn't make any sense.

    The fact no one from the Laker organization has called a press conference and do some damage control and reach out to Kobe says a lot about how f'd up things really are, doesn't it?
     
    Shapecity, May 30, 2007
    #39
  20. Magic 32

    Magic 32 JBB JustBBall Member

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    2 things, first if that was the case with Bryant then I really do feel sorry for him. Usually I don?t like players asking for a trade in public but in this case I give him a pass.

    Second, not being a Laker fan didn?t even cross my mind. They can be the next Atlanta Hawks, I?ll continue to support them. You can laugh at me all you want, I don?t care. I just don?t see myself cheering for another team. I will die a Laker fan and never abandon this team. With that said, it doesn?t mean that I tolerate what the front office is doing. I am very very disappointed with our management right now. I am praying it works out well for both the Lakers and Kobe.
     
    Magic 32, May 30, 2007
    #40
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