Here's the actual interview with Osama Bean Bryant, listen..

http://www.xtrasports690.com/media/Kobe.mp3

Just like I said, cats were making a big deal out of nothing. I listened to this interview and while I readily concede that the biggest Kobe Bryant fan in the world is Kobe Bryant ( ), he was in no way dissing or "backstabbing" Karl Malone.

Karl is coming off like a sensitive bitch and I don't care how any of you take this. Bottom line? Karl was NOT coming back anyway and is using this as an effective method to bow out gracefully. Knowing full well that every one will be empathetic towards him for having being wronged by Osama Bean Bryant.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know:

"Dude, his kids are in the LA school system, wouldn't it be better for him to be a Laker anyway?"

"Whatever Dre, your just a jaded Kobe Bryant fan making excuses for his selfish ass just like you guys always do."

"Hey, no disrespect Dre, but who the hell are you to say what Karl Malone is thinking? Now he has ulterior motives, aren't you getting him confused with your team's go-to-guy???"

"Fuck you Naismith, Karl Malone is a living legend and a class act. Why on earth would he do something like this?"

"You Laker fans kill me honestly, don't worry, one day you'll see exactly what kind of guy Kobe Bryant is and I'll be laughing my ass off too!"

"Kobe is a snitch, an accused rapist, a selfish player, he ran off a 9 time championship coach and one of the 50 greatest players of all time. This is just another example of what a bad guy he is!"

"Kobe is responsible for the Ebolo virus as well as world hunger, he must be stopped!"

"Kobe stole my lunch money as a kid and took naked pictures of my mom, I'm currently in therapy."


OSAMA BEAN BRYANT- if we don't act fast he will be the demise of mankind as we know it.

this post just got me thinking. It's kinda crazy what Kobe has done to the lakers organization. most teams in the league are trying to add talent to become a better team. everyone in the league would kill to have someone of shaqs talent to play alongside them. instead they are building down to make the lakers "kobes team" idk it just seems a little backwards to me.

this post just got me thinking. It's kinda crazy what Kobe has done to the lakers organization. most teams in the league are trying to add talent to become a better team. everyone in the league would kill to have someone of shaqs talent to play alongside them. instead they are building down to make the lakers "kobes team" idk it just seems a little backwards to me.

I'm almost afraid to respond to this because the subject has become so redundant, honestly. You're definitely not trying to attack anyone trubucksfan with this post, you're just thinking out loud. Just read the following points and give me some feedback.

- Dr. Jerry Buss our owner was interviewed on Sportscenter and said plain and simple that he was ready for a change. He wanted the team to return to an eighties style of ball where we'd get up and down the floor, etc. etc. We weren't going to do that with either Shaq or Phil around.

- Jerry Buss and Shaq had their own issues, mainly about money and how Shaq went about handling his business. Buss refused to give Shaq the max extension based on his age, work ethic and propensity to miss games because of injuries.

- Buss wanted to keep Shaq but not at the price tag that Shaq and his agent Leonard Armato were seeking, Shaq got upset about this and yelled at Buss who was seated courtside, "Now you gonna pay me motherfucka?!?" after a monster dunk in a preseason contest last year in Hawaii. That pretty much spelled the beginning of the end for their relationship.

- Shaq was without a doubt our best player every single year he was a Los Angeles Laker. I just wanted to get that out there to make cats understand that I'm not a Kobe fan who thinks he was just some "overrated fat guy who dunks all the time." I fully understand that basketball is a big man's game, and we had one of the greatest of all time.

- This notion that "you don't trade Shaq!" kills me, I mean it murders me. Kareem was traded and so was Wilt Chamberlain, what makes Shaq any different? Any good owner is always about the bottom line, and bottom line Jerry didn't want to mortgage the future and pay Shaq astronomical sums of money until he was 39 years old.

- Kobe is an arrogant jerk, I know this. But unfortunately, so were Shaq and Phil, they were ALL to blame for the demise of the dynasty in some regard.

- Shaquille demanded the trade, people seem to forget that fact. Even going as far as to provide a list of acceptable destinations.

- Personality wise, Shaq is a much better guy than Kobe. Much more gregarious, fun loving, sociable and inclusive. Once again, I'm a realist and not an apologist.

- Kobe is a lot of things but what he isn't is powerful enough to control an owner who was winning five championships when Kobe was playing with Transformers and G.I. Joe. His decision was made independent of Kobe but because his plan included Kobe, it makes Kobe look like the bad guy.

- Of course Kobe rather not play with Shaq, much like Shaq preferred not playing with Kobe. Even actively seeking deals on his own to get rid of him. Little known fact: Shaq attempted to push management to trade him in the '99 season for Penny Hardaway. His reasoning? We'll never win any championships with Kobe Bryant on this team.

Neither party wanted to play with the other, point blank. So why is it so bad on Kobe's end and not Shaq's? Had Kobe been traded to Miami instead of Shaq would their be the same level of outrage? Of course not, he's Osama Bean Bryant.

I have a lot more points but i'll let those marinate for a minute before wieighing in with more. I fully expect to be bombarded with ESPN influenced cliches that side with Shaq no matter what, I can handle it.

I personnally think that the Lakers were right to trade O'Neal, and above all that they make it at the right time. Even the following summer would have been too late.

And I also think that the Heat won't go anywhere with Shaq

Just my 2 cents, I'm not a Lakers fan though

i guess if the lake show didnt have enough money theres really nothing to be discussed, i mean either the moneys their or its not. Buss is just being kind of weird saying he wants to get taht 80's style back, i mean whats more important, looking good,or winning a ring? he coudl have got somebody real good in return for kobe to help his team win another chip' but i guess i can feel where buss is coming from. i wouldnt want to be shaqs bitch after he calls me out all the time and resign him, mans got pride. your prolly right, if bryant wasnt such a villianous individual people wouldnt be so white and black about it thered be some more grey in their. im ot one of those guys who thinks id be a great gm or something cuz there is alot of stuff taht goes on behind the scenes. your post makes me feel at least a little better about that situation. nice to see someone that knows their shit and isnt saying a bunch of senseless,emotional stuff.

GMs have to know how to type properly.

i did say i didnt think i could be a gm and did you really have to point out the 2 grammatical mistakes i made in the same sentence lol

Whats this Osama Bean Bryant thing? Someone fill me in please...
and Dre, where did you get those quotes from? whats the context?

Whats this Osama Bean Bryant thing? Someone fill me in please...

Kobe Bean Bryant. Sounds like "Bin". Osama Bin Laden. Bad guy.

@ me and my short sentences.

i guess if the lake show didnt have enough money theres really nothing to be discussed, i mean either the moneys their or its not. Buss is just being kind of weird saying he wants to get taht 80's style back, i mean whats more important, looking good,or winning a ring?

I don't think it was about "looking good" as much as it was just personal preference. He saw that the team was severely lacking the past two seasons, after you got past our two headed monster the rest of the roster was damn near NBDL material.

The team was built to win championships and for two years straight we failed to do that, Buss wanted to move in a different direction.

he coudl have got somebody real good in return for kobe to help his team win another chip' but i guess i can feel where buss is coming from.

Of course he could have gotten someone good for Kobe, if you were Buss who would you rather have than Kobe that's out there though? T-Mac? Vincent? Iverson? In a GM's poll taken before the start of the season 100% said he was the best perimeter player in the league as well as the guy that they'd want to have the ball in crunch time. 100%.

i wouldnt want to be shaqs bitch after he calls me out all the time and resign him, mans got pride. your prolly right, if bryant wasnt such a villianous individual people wouldnt be so white and black about it thered be some more grey in their.

Exactly, any other boss would feel the same way after being disrespected publicly by one of their employees. Especially if that employee has all the work ethic of a welfare mother. An employee who has only played 67 games the past two seasons and has had a history of missing games for injuries.

You're right, if Kobe wasn't such a pompous prick sometimes, I think the general public perception wouldn't be as skewed. But when you have networks like BSPN who ride Shaq's dick no matter what he says or does, there are a lot of guys who feed into that. No doubt Kobe has done a lot of wrong but Shaq has as well. Too bad cats will give Shaq a pass and not Kobe, the duplicity of their behavior gets on my nerves.

im ot one of those guys who thinks id be a great gm or something cuz there is alot of stuff taht goes on behind the scenes. your post makes me feel at least a little better about that situation. nice to see someone that knows their shit and isnt saying a bunch of senseless,emotional stuff.

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad you see me for what I really am. Make no mistake about it I am a Kobe Bryant fan to the core, but I don't let it get in the way of seeing things for what they're worth. BSPN seems to be on a mission to detract from him every step of the way this season, never truly giving him his due. That really irritates me but what really gets me are these fans who buy into their bullshit hook, line and sinker. They're like sheep and Screamin' A. Smith is the shepard.

lol,BSPN,i dont put much weight into anything their b-ball shows say. maybe im arrogant but most of the time i think i can formulate a better, less unbiased opinion than they give.

Whats this Osama Bean Bryant thing? Someone fill me in please...
and Dre, where did you get those quotes from? whats the context?

I came up with that nickname for Kobe because it's outright ridiculous the way he gets villified and lambasted by the media and fans alike. I once mused: Who is more hated in America? Osama Bin Laden or Kobe Bryant? The scary shit was as ridiculous as the question sounded, I really didn't know. Hence, Osama Bean Bryant was born, "Bean" is actually Kobe's middle name.

The quotes? I came up with those myself, they were what I envisioned the responses would be from certain members of this board. So I saved them some trouble, all they had to do was cut and paste. That's how much of a great guy I am!

BTW, Charles Barkley and Kenny the Jet Smith agree that Karl is bullshitting! They also agree with me that NOTHING Kobe said was wrong. I just heard them weigh in on this about 30 minutes ago on their half time show.

Charles said, "I love Karl Malone, he's one of my closest friends....but he's wrong. Nothing Kobe said was disrespectful in anyway, as a matter of fact he was right. You know what it is Ernie? Karl is using this as an excuse, he saw a team that wasn't winning no championship and wanted to go elsewhere. He should probably go to San Antonio or Miami......."

Way to weigh in Chuckwagon, Fuck BSPN!

yeah this thing has gotten way out of hand,from the headlines about this topic you would think that kobe said karl malone was a terrorist or something. the only thing he was trying to say is that with all the speculation about malone.its hard for his teamates not to be distracted and look over their shoulder everytime a new report about him coming back to the lakers leaks out.

lol,BSPN,i dont put much weight into anything their b-ball shows say. maybe im arrogant but most of the time i think i can formulate a better, less unbiased opinion than they give.

I'm sure you can, unfortunately there aren't more non-Laker fans like yourself. Take a look at a guy like Screamin' A. Smith, he's riding Shaq's dick so got'damn hard you'd think his nickname was Shaunie O'Neal!

The network itself has sided with poor Shaq, the big dominant crybaby who's still whining about getting traded 5 months after the fact. I'm a huge fan of sports talk radio and The Dan Patrick Show is my hands down favorite but today I had to turn him off. He was acting as if Kobe said "we don't want Karl's old ass around here!" The poll question today was: Would you want to be Kobe Bryant's teammate? And 91% said no. Surprise, surprise. He ripped him for about three hours on the program, so of course all of those sheep are going to say no!

So Dan has Screamin' A. on and they are talking about how no one in the NBA wants to be Kobe Bryant's teammate. What a bunch of fuckin' idiots? Tell you what, why not head on over to RealGM or hoopshype.com and see Jason's Kidd's preferred destinations? Minnesota, Denver, Dallas and *duh-duh-duhh!* LOS ANGELES! See what I'm saying?

BSPN- The World Wide Leader in propaganda.

yeah this thing has gotten way out of hand,from the headlines about this topic you would think that kobe said karl malone was a terrorist or something. the only thing he was trying to say is that with all the speculation about malone.its hard for his teamates not to be distracted and look over their shoulder everytime a new report about him coming back to the lakers leaks out.

Osama Bean Bryant

- Dr. Jerry Buss our owner was interviewed on Sportscenter and said plain and simple that he was ready for a change. He wanted the team to return to an eighties style of ball where we'd get up and down the floor, etc. etc. We weren't going to do that with either Shaq or Phil around.

No but they were going to win champinships and pretty much have certain playoff success which means extra games, extra tv exposure, and extra money. Now what do you think is more important for the owner: playing uptempo or success, fame and money?

BTW, Charles Barkley and Kenny the Jet Smith agree that Karl is bullshitting! They also agree with me that NOTHING Kobe said was wrong. I just heard them weigh in on this about 30 minutes ago on their half time show.

So you must be right if Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith agree with you. Charles also said last year the Spurs were going to beat LA and we saw what happened. He's also a guy who said he was misquoted in his own autobiography so he's not exactly a credible guy.

The bottom line is this: Kobe and his court problems were a much much bigger distraction last year and guy who constantly showed his support for Kobe was Karl Malone. Even after LA traded Shaq and Kobe signed his big contract, Malone supported him. Now when the situation is reversed, what does Kobe do but backstab Karl. And if you don't see it, then learn to read between the lines. As for Kobe's apologies, John Rocker also apologized after his comments but that didn't mean his attitude changed; he had to do it for PR, just like Kobe.

- Dr. Jerry Buss our owner was interviewed on Sportscenter and said plain and simple that he was ready for a change. He wanted the team to return to an eighties style of ball where we'd get up and down the floor, etc. etc. We weren't going to do that with either Shaq or Phil around.

Robby: No but they were going to win champinships and pretty much have certain playoff success which means extra games, extra tv exposure, and extra money. Now what do you think is more important for the owner: playing uptempo or success, fame and money?

We hadn't won for two years straight and there were no guarantees that we'd win anymore. Yeah, sure those guys would have been contenders for years to come but Buss decided to look at things critically. It wasn't just the aesthetic appeal of uptempo basketball, your points come off a bit inane.

Did he want to pay Shaq an inordinate amount of money until he was 39 years old? A sum of money because of Shaq's grandfathered contract status that would guarantee that the supporting cast would be of the Mark Madsen, Slava Medvedenko, Kareem Rush variety? Thanks but no thanks.

BTW, Charles Barkley and Kenny the Jet Smith agree that Karl is bullshitting! They also agree with me that NOTHING Kobe said was wrong. I just heard them weigh in on this about 30 minutes ago on their half time show.

Robby: So you must be right if Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith agree with you. Charles also said last year the Spurs were going to beat LA and we saw what happened. He's also a guy who said he was misquoted in his own autobiography so he's not exactly a credible guy.

No that wasn't my point at all, I was merely pointing out that I wasn't standing on an island with my thoughts and views. It wasn't about giving Charles of all people this bulletproof credibility but showing that there are in fact members of the media who don't feel that Osama Bean Bryant did anything wrong. I agreed with their assessment and shared their views in the thread.

The bottom line is this: Kobe and his court problems were a much much bigger distraction last year and guy who constantly showed his support for Kobe was Karl Malone. Even after LA traded Shaq and Kobe signed his big contract, Malone supported him. Now when the situation is reversed, what does Kobe do but backstab Karl. And if you don't see it, then learn to read between the lines. As for Kobe's apologies, John Rocker also apologized after his comments but that didn't mean his attitude changed; he had to do it for PR, just like Kobe.

Now you're comparing Kobe's comments to John Rocker of all people? Very vacuous on your behalf wouldn't you say? Yes Kobe apologized but because he was surprised at the outrage and fervor his remarks caused. Karl is full of shit, and if you don't see it then learn to read between the lines Robby.

How did Kobe backstab Karl Malone? Did you even listen to the link provided by yours truly? Where in those comments would you deem it being a backstab move on the part of Osama?

Charles also said last year the Spurs were going to beat LA and we saw what happened.

Robby, you're really reaching here my brother. I just noticed this remark and I take issue with it. So what? He was wrong, umm....and? Should we now disregard Peter Gammons, Harold Raynolds and virtually every baseball analyst in the country because they predicted the Yanks would best the Boston Red Sox? C'mon Rob, you can do better than that....

And what about Kenny the Jet? What do you have to say about him? Is there anything you have on him to undermine his credibility in this regard?

Yo fellas just wonderin wat kinda a team u want to see more...

a) A winning team
b) A show team

What we have with Current Lake Show is more fast break team who likes to show off I guess. The old Laker dynasty of Shaq/Kobe was winning team.... wat would u rather see?

I guess Buss must have anted a change but also a team that could make $$$ even in rebuilding stage...

Interesting. First Kobe was very respectful towards kareem rush and him leaving, wishing him the best and all that. With Malone though..

Question:"Your newport neighbour, Karl Malone, I know you guys run into each other when you two meet outside in your purple and gold bathrobes, to pick up the morning paper. Uh Whats Karl told about when he is going to return or if he is going to return?"

Kobe's reply: "Uh you know what I really don't know Mike. Umm, yeah, I don't think he's commin back though"

Ok this is really nothing. But lets be honest here, did kobe need to even say the last sentence? He said he didn't know... and then he says he doesn't think he'll return. Its a minor cheap shot. I personally would not be offended by it, and Karl has been known to take exception of things taken out of context.

But the whole situation is a whole lot of nothing. If Malone wants to go elsewhere, fine. Nothing can stop him and nor does he need an excuse. But did he really find it insulting? Maybe, who knows what Malone thinks. Kobe did apologise, but he didnt need to say it in the first place. Its a "situation" that could have totally been avoided.

Interesting. First Kobe was very respectful towards kareem rush and him leaving, wishing him the best and all that. With Malone though..

Question:"Your newport neighbour, Karl Malone, I know you guys run into each other when you two meet outside in your purple and gold bathrobes, to pick up the morning paper. Uh Whats Karl told about when he is going to return or if he is going to return?"

Kobe's reply: "Uh you know what I really don't know Mike. Umm, yeah, I don't think he's commin back though"

Ok this is really nothing. But lets be honest here, did kobe need to even say the last sentence? He said he didn't know... and then he says he doesn't think he'll return. Its a minor cheap shot. I personally would not be offended by it, and Karl has been known to take exception of things taken out of context.

But the whole situation is a whole lot of nothing. If Malone wants to go elsewhere, fine. Nothing can stop him and nor does he need an excuse. But did he really find it insulting? Maybe, who knows what Malone thinks. Kobe did apologise, but he didnt need to say it in the first place. Its a "situation" that could have totally been avoided.

Ahhh yes, a voice of reason and I'm not surprised that it's Matt. You're 100% coorrect, Kobe just should have just shut his damn mouth. Just like you said, he should have left it at "I don't know", though I disagree that he was taking a cheap shot at the Mailman.

The frustrating thing about Kobe is the fact that he really lives in his own little world, a "Kobe World" if you will. And in that Kobe World where he resides often times common sense never enters the fray. I'll never deny that he came off sounding like a jerk, especially with that "guys are giving ME 100%" bullshit. C'mon, Kobe! I thought maybe, just maybe you'd grown up a bit and realized that the planet earth will continue to rotate on it's axis even when you're dead and gone. But no, he's still as arrogant and self-involved as ever.....

But that isn't the issue here. The issue is whether or not he "Backstabbed" Malone like BSPN wants us to believe. And to that I give an emphatic and resounding NO. On to the issue of Malone now, it's just my personal opinion and frankly an assumption but I think Karl is full of more shit than your average port-o-potty. He realized that this was the perfect springboard to leap away from this team without looking disloyal to Laker fans.

Now, one might retort that he's a grown ass man who can do whatever he wants, so why would we need an excuse to go elsewhere??? That he's long in the tooth and his window for winning a championship ring is smaller than actor Verne Troyer, so why shouldn't or couldn't he go elsewhere to win that elusive hardware? To that I say check back a few months when he promised Laker fans that he wouldn't play anywhere else but Los Angeles Shaq or no Shaq. He's obviously a man of his word and didn't want to appear disingenuous, so now he gets a "pass" from his earlier comments as he weighs in one where he should go now to win.

I'm not angry at Karl, but I'm annoyed that he'd use Kobe's damaged reputation for his own agenda. I'm really annoyed also that the media is feasting on this like Oliver Miller on a bucket of hot wings, and the fans who follow them like sheep in the pasture. What did Osama say that would lead anyone with an iota of common sense to say that he backstabbed Karl Malone? Nothing of course, but when you're Kobe Bryant nothing is always something!

OSAMA BEAN BRYANT

Maybe cheap shot is too harsh. I meant cheap becuase it wasnt needed, but it was such a nothing thing. He didn't say Karl isnt welcome or tell him to go away when setting a screen (ok i couldnt resist with that one).

The frustrating thing about Kobe is the fact that he really lives in his own little world, a "Kobe World" if you will. And in that Kobe World where he resides often times common sense never enters the fray. I'll never deny that he came off sounding like a jerk, especially with that "guys are giving ME 100%" bullshit. C'mon, Kobe! I thought maybe, just maybe you'd grown up a bit and realized that the planet earth will continue to rotate on it's axis even when you're dead and gone. But no, he's still as arrogant and self-involved as ever.....

But, I think thats whats made him great. Think about this, if kobe had hit those shots in utah, would he have become such a hard worker and put all those hours in? I honestly believe thats why kobe is the best perimeter player in todays game, he simply outworks everyone in the league. I think when he came into the nba, he knew he was good. He knew how talented he was, but those shots in utah might have been a harsh kick up the ass that ignited a fire underneath him to be the best. Think about Jordan, he often says getting cut from varsity in high school drove him to prove people wrong. Is kobe the same? and if so, i bet you it has to do with his ego. The man has alot of pride and thats why he works so hard.

I could be totally wrong with that, but its just a thought for any nba fan to think about. I'm not a kobe fan, but he is entertaining becuase of his skills and how good he is, so i can live with his (massive) ego.

But that isn't the issue here. The issue is whether or not he "Backstabbed" Malone like BSPN wants us to believe. And to that I give an emphatic and resounding NO. On to the issue of Malone now, it's just my personal opinion and frankly an assumption but I think Karl is full of more shit than your average port-o-potty. He realized that this was the perfect springboard to leap away from this team without looking disloyal to Laker fans.

ESPN makes a living off sensationalisim. The BSPN is hilarious becuase its so true. I'm sure anyone with some kind of common sense can see what Kobe said was virtually nothing.

Now, one might retort that he's a grown ass man who can do whatever he wants, so why would we need an excuse to go elsewhere??? That he's long in the tooth and his window for winning a championship ring is smaller than actor Verne Troyer, so why shouldn't or couldn't he go elsewhere to win that elusive hardware? To that I say check back a few months when he promised Laker fans that he wouldn't play anywhere else but Los Angeles Shaq or no Shaq. He's obviously a man of his word and didn't want to appear disingenuous, so now he gets a "pass" from his earlier comments as he weighs in one where he should go now to win.

Karl has a history of that. Remember in the lockout, he vowed never to play for Utah again, and he wanted to be a laker. How good of a team would the Lakers have had if that went through: Shaq, Malone, Rice, Kobe, Derek Harper (or fisher). But thats off the point. Malone has a long history of going back on what he has said, and im not hating on him. I think he has had the best career any power foward has had in the nba's history. He doesnt need to make excuses, although it looks like he has here.

Nothing of course, but when you're Kobe Bryant nothing is always something!

That is so true... just let these guys play. Its sorta funny how Peja can say how he doesnt want to play in sacramento, and espn hardly follows it. Kobe says one thing about malone, and look at what happens.

"Bean" is actually Kobe's middle name.

So... is this to say that his pops real first name was Jelly? since they called him Jelly Bean Bryant... and his son is Kobe Bean Bryant.......

Now, one might retort that he's a grown ass man who can do whatever he wants, so why would we need an excuse to go elsewhere??? That he's long in the tooth and his window for winning a championship ring is smaller than actor Verne Troyer, so why shouldn't or couldn't he go elsewhere to win that elusive hardware? To that I say check back a few months when he promised Laker fans that he wouldn't play anywhere else but Los Angeles Shaq or no Shaq. He's obviously a man of his word and didn't want to appear disingenuous, so now he gets a "pass" from his earlier comments as he weighs in one where he should go now to win.

Karl has a history of that. Remember in the lockout, he vowed never to play for Utah again, and he wanted to be a laker. How good of a team would the Lakers have had if that went through: Shaq, Malone, Rice, Kobe, Derek Harper (or fisher). But thats off the point. Malone has a long history of going back on what he has said, and im not hating on him. I think he has had the best career any power foward has had in the nba's history. He doesnt need to make excuses, although it looks like he has here.

So true, I forgot about what he said during the lockout. I'm not angry at Karl whatsoever just annoyed and disappointed.

Nothing of course, but when you're Kobe Bryant nothing is always something!

That is so true... just let these guys play. Its sorta funny how Peja can say how he doesnt want to play in sacramento, and espn hardly follows it. Kobe says one thing about malone, and look at what happens.

YES, my point exactly. I haven't heard a murmur about the Peja situation, BSPN kills me, they really do....

"Bean" is actually Kobe's middle name.

So... is this to say that his pops real first name was Jelly? since they called him Jelly Bean Bryant... and his son is Kobe Bean Bryant.......

Jelly? No, his fathers first name is Joe. But you know how egotistical these professional athletes are. Like Roger Clemens for instance, all of his kid's names begin with the letter "K". In baseball the letter "K" is used to represent strikouts in boxscores.

I guess since his nickname was Jellybean he got the grand idea of annointing his son with the middle name Bean. Wait a minute here, "Kobe" is also a type of steak. Steak Beans Bryant??? His name represents almost all of the four major food groups!

Forests of paper, miles of videotape and months of audio recording have been devoted to singing Karl Malone's praises. Oh, he took a few hits for not closing the deal on a title in Utah, especially with Michael Jordan literally plucking the ball, and thereby the trophy, from his grasp in '98. Some opposing players also have suggested he plays dirty, a justifiable allegation with all the knees and elbows he's laid on them over the years.


Other than that, though, it's been one long, 19-season lovefest.


And still it's not enough.



Who is more to blame in the Kobe Bryant-Karl Malone feud?
Kobe Bryant
Karl Malone

Proving that the Lakers are like "Law & Order" -- the names change, the drama remains -- Malone has replaced Shaquille O'Neal in the role of the Big Sensitive. Kobe Bryant is once more the protagonist, (note from Dre: shouldn't this be antagonist? Sorry...) this time for suggesting Malone's indecision about whether to play -- and where -- is unfair to the Lakers players he might displace. Bryant also said his "intuition" tells him Malone isn't coming back after undergoing knee surgery last summer.


Karl somehow took all that to mean Kobe didn't want him back. How, I'm not sure, but his response, via his agent, Dwight Manley, was: That's it, I really wanted to come back and play for the Lakers but now I can't because Kobe doesn't want me.



Malone would like the whole world to give him a hug.
What?


Now, I've known Karl for a while. We've had our share of private one-on-one conversations over the years. He's even taken me for a spin in a monster truck outside of Vegas and grinned like a madman after gunning it up a dirt ramp and catching air. I didn't scream, nor did I lose control of any bodily functions, but he got me and he knew it. I respect that he's made the absolute most out of his God-given talents, that he has a variety of interests outside of basketball.


But none of that leaves me any less perplexed at his need -- no, make that demand -- to be appreciated to the fullest.


This is certainly nothing new. Malone has routinely taken great offense to slights, real and imagined. Remember when he made it known that his hotel or transportation at the '97 All-Star Game were beneath him? Remember how he lost his taste for All-Star Games altogether when Kobe then waved off his pick?


Malone and Jazz owner Larry Miller routinely jousted, the dispute always being that Miller was taking Malone for granted. It was either an insulting contract offer or ignoring his trade demands or disrespecting him with a skit last January in the Delta Center that insinuated Malone missed being in Utah.


I chalked all that up to being in a small market and the lid coach Jerry Sloan keeps on individualism of any kind. Malone's transformation when he reached L.A. seemed to confirm that notion. He not only took an $18 million pay cut to join the Lakers, he accepted $1.5 million while Gary Payton took the bigger available free-agent slice of $4.9 million. His thin-skinned reaction to questions deemed critical disappeared. He subjugated his game without complaint, so much so that Kobe felt compelled to remind him he was the league's second all-time leading scorer. He openly talked about his and the team's struggles. He talked about how incredibly blessed he felt simply to be playing. He sounded sincere -- and secure.


He doesn't sound like that anymore. He sounds like someone who feels he's being overlooked again, which is extraordinary -- and a little sad -- coming from an 11-time All-NBA selection, two-time league MVP, 14-time All Star and member of the league's 50 Greatest Ever Team.


Truth is, Kobe's comments were exactly right. Malone is being unfair to the other Lakers by not making his intentions known. They are a young team coming together. It would help them to know if a player of Malone's caliber will be joining them. In fact, it's easy to hear Malone in his team-leader days saying the same about someone holding the Jazz hostage.


Besides, what's left to ponder? Manley says his client has recovered 100 percent from surgery and is ready to go. Who puts himself through the kind of rehab required to play again, at 41, and then opts to retire anyway?


Every indication from Malone, meanwhile, is that he doesn't want to move his family or play for another team. If he wanted the best shot at a championship, he would've signed up with San Antonio months ago. If he wanted to be a big fish in a smaller pond, he would've gone to Minnesota. If he wanted to play last year's role, he could've gone to Miami.


So why not simply end all the goofy intrigue? (And if it weren't still a mystery to everyone, including the Lakers, Kobe never would've felt compelled to say what he did.)


This comes off as another ruse to squeeze every last bit of courtship and love from all concerned. Malone even reopened the door that Manley slammed shut, essentially saying he wouldn't use such "strong words" about not returning. Which means for the right amount of additional love he'll go ahead and do what he planned all along.


No matter what Malone does, his official accomplishments as a player won't be diminished. His place among the 50 Greatest is secure. He'll have a plaque in the Hall of Fame. But in the unwritten annals, in the minds of those who keep their own scorecards on what players were, this latest little outburst assures that his thumbnail sketch will include: Great Player. Manly Man. Drama Queen.

"Aww 'cmon, I had that kid's back and he shitted on me! Right, Stephen A.? Right, Dan Patrick? Right, Shaq?....See....they agree with me so there!"