<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">From Peter Vecsey: ONE thing's for damn sure; nobody can say they're remotely shocked that Kobe Bryant says he was shocked by his two-game suspension for treating Mike Miller's gullet to some elbow macaroni. The NBA, the Lakers, their fans, the L.A. media and national suppositories, his wife and apparently the Colorado judicial system has allowed him get away with uncivilized behavior for so long we all figured Bryant was immune to punishment. Of course, Kobe was "very surprised," in fact, "very, very surprised" when informed the league was lifting almost 290G from his pay envelope and had no intention of dropping the charges. Here is Jerry Buss' Chosen One being worshipped nightly at Staples Center, placed on Pinnacle Peak as Jerry Colangelo's most coveted recruit to represent the USA in the World Games and Olympics, carrying on a full-court love affair with Coach K. and, in his view, bam, out of nowhere, David Stern suddenly turns on him for simply committing premeditated brutality on a defenseless opponent. The audacity of VP of Violence Stu Jackson to upgrade the viciousness of his flagrant foul! How dare the commissioner tack on a (insufficient, it says here) penalty! How discourteous not to follow the lead of the three blind mice working last week's Lakers-Grizzlies game and close his eyes to the Lakers' latest crime against humanity! Of course Kobe was shocked; like everyone else he was operating under the distinct impression he had papal permission to headhunt trespasses in the paint, challenges for position in the occupied area, or anyone judged to having hit him intentionally. Anyone who knows anything about the game realizes that wasn't the case when Miller drove the lane and got fouled by Kobe, who caught a flapping arm above his eye. As he left the court to get a required three stitches, Kobe loudly and vulgarly alerted Miller, one of his staunchest supporters during Bryant's sexcapade, he'd be back (shades of Latrell Sprewell and P.J. Carlesimo) for retribution. Afterward, Kobe was quoted as saying he hit Miller on purpose. That's automatic grounds for suspension. Retaliation makes it that much worse in the league's view. The fact it was the fourth elbow he planted into an opponent's chest or above it in less than two weeks only reinforced the need to launch Kobe into suspended contamination for far longer than a measly two games. Apparently he learned more dirty tricks and grubby behavior than we thought from hanging around Karl Malone. Shockingly, Kobe sees himself as a victim. How come the league didn't suspend Josh Howard when he clotheslined him in his 62-point, three-quarter detonation, he demands to know? No argument there; Howard should've been instantly ejected and suspended for such a serious cheap shot. But that would've meant Kobe had to go, too, for throwing two air punches at Howard, who had paid back Bryant for an earlier 'bow to the face of Dirk Nowitzki. It might've also meant being compelled to suspend Kobe for the second Christmas Day meeting with Shaq two games from then; no sense in stunting ABC's ratings, eh? When pleading his case, Kobe conveniently failed to mention that part of it. Shockingly, LA's media and national suppositories let him slide. Same way they allowed him to "squash the rumor" that he and Lamar Odom nearly came to blows (the report they had a fistfight was bogus) outside their D.C. locker room following a loss to the Wizards and had to be separated by security. FYI: You'll never see the word "rumor" in this space. Rumor is a word used by fans for the incessantly guessing members of the press who have no credible sources regarding sordid situations, trades and other inside info. Despite the downplaying of the incident by Kobe, Odom and Chris Mihm, I know perfectly well what went on outside that locker room. I also know what went on inside it. I also know Kobe and Odom were separated by security at the start of the team bus to the airport. And I know Lakers management and coach Phil Jackson are at wits end regarding the uncontrollable Kobe. Afterthought, Part I: Miller's teammates should've been suspended by Memphis management for not coming to the aid of their partner. I'm not saying they should've immediately slapped the spit out of Kobe, or blindsided him later on, but someone needed to put his hands on him, the way Richard Jefferson grabbed Nate Robinson after he roughed up Jacque Vaughn. I don't even think anyone so much as woofed at Kobe, clearly illustrating what the going-nowhere-worthwhile Grizzlies are lacking. Afterthought, Part II: Kobe's flagrant foul cost the Lakers two points. L.A. lost to Memphis by one. This just in: Kobe is petitioning to relocate league headquarters to Spread Eagle County, Colorado. </div> Source
Well, not sure what I can say, another Kobe-bashing article. He brings up some legit points, and some faulty ones in my opinion. I will drop my thoughts later on.
Well someone please tell me, Who in gods green hell this guy is? I could bet you he was eagerd for kobe to do something stupid so he would just write an article. Well kudos to you my friend. Well written, but kobes used to that and you and I and everyone else knows that kobe will be back and 290 grand isnt something to him. It might be your 18 year salary but to him its just another t-shirt.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Empra!15:</div><div class="quote_post">Well someone please tell me, Who in gods green hell this guy is?</div> He's not the most legit or credible of sports writers. Still I found this part of his article interesting: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone who knows anything about the game realizes that wasn't the case when Miller drove the lane and got fouled by Kobe, who caught a flapping arm above his eye. As he left the court to get a required three stitches, Kobe loudly and vulgarly alerted Miller, one of his staunchest supporters during Bryant's sexcapade, he'd be back (shades of Latrell Sprewell and P.J. Carlesimo) for retribution.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Empra!15:</div><div class="quote_post"> Well written, but kobes used to that and you and I and everyone else knows that kobe will be back and 290 grand isnt something to him. It might be your 18 year salary but to him its just another t-shirt.</div> ...and to the lakers its a 2 game losing streak.
