by Chris_23 on Sat Feb 19, 2005 12:03 pm
not proper to tie Michaels name here again. Michael never insulted other players in media, nor did he have to ride through the bandwagon of rape-charge and ego that was so high couple of years ago.
However, I find it hard to believe that there is "hatred". Hate is such a radical word, such an extreme. For me it takes alot more than what Kobe has done to actually start hating someone.
And he received the most all-star votes for his position, so I again find it hard to believe that he is hated.
In fact I totally disagree that he is hated by so many.
Perhaps youve not noticed that the extremes of people are the ones saying things. You can put one man saying such a load of nasty words about some player, and others believe that there were ten people saying that. Most people say nothing.
Id personally draw strong parallels between Magic, Kobe and LeBron. Kobe, like Magic came into the team as a man with a great and interesting personality, and knowledge of the game. Took time to prove his worth. LeBron also entered the league in great terms, with hype and love following him. Just as it was with Kobe and Magic. Ill not list here Larry Bird nor Michael Jordan since media accepted them differently at first, changing rapidly and fast for their first three-four years of the career.
Now, think of this... Isnt it so that there is one extreme that can create the opposite extreme? Kobe entered the league, was loved by so many, then some bad things happened and those bad things received major negative feedback. Drama, the thing media is after. Kobe and Shaq were a trademark of NBA for the slump years that were created after the Bulls dynasty and the shortened season.
This resulted in the clash of Kobe and Shaq since for some internal reasons things went very wrong in the Lakers. Malones hard work was not appreciated by Kobe and it was a thunderous turmoil for the last season.
So media had the opportunity to play the ball again, directing things the way of more hype and attention. As the duo faded, LeBron emerged, just like Kobe, into the hotspot of media attention.
Remember last year, LeBrons play was at some point even overshadowed by Carmelo Anthony. Aka, two stars coming in, in one season, both strong competitors and being compared game after game. Like Magic and Bird at their time in 79-80. Neither of them made the all-star team.
However, even it LeBron was toe to toe with Carmelo last season, it was LeBron who managed to avoid the sophomore slump that has struck Carmelo. Now the second dream-boy, Anthony, got struck by media since a flaw was caught, and LeBron got hyped for his good start in the second season.
But it takes and extreme to create the opposing extreme, and at some point in the next few years Im afraid LeBron will hit the obstacle, and be unfairly punished by it by the media. If he wont, then he cant learn from it, and not become stronger through it. Its always good to go through that phase at the beginning of his career. This was so with most great players in the history of the league.
Including Kobe, who similarly to Larry Bird didnt hit the media obstacle at the beginning, but after some years in the league. Larry's line was crossed by the competition with Magic. However Larry was mentally a very strong player, and did some strange things to boost his teams morale. Nevertheless, he lived through his hype, just like Kobe should do in the future. By many Kobe is still considered the best player in the league today (heidy ho flamers @ me). If he can get the Lakers together like Bird got Celtics together, then some great things may happen. Kobe isnt strong enough to carry the team on his shoulders like Isiah did, so he needs to follow a different route and get the team running.
Lakers IS championship material even without Shaq. In fact the team is similar to late 90s Bulls, with no superb centre, with gameball going through SG and SF. Difference is that they also have a PF who can rebound massively, but also score (compensating the Scottie Pippen feature with Butler-Odom).
WHats issing right now is the mind making it work. One cant expect coach to do that alone, so Kobe needs to play a factor there. On court, media should not matter, leadership should.
So, Kobe, lets see some...
I'm looking forward to Geroge's return!
