I have heard it all now. In what only could be described as a the greatest case of amnesia and audacity and rewriting history since President G.W. Bush tried to make the case for a war in Iraq, Kobe Bryant demanded to be traded away from the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe? Demanded to be traded, you say? Really? Before you rush to judgment, there must be a good reason for such a strong demand...
From FoxSports
Bryant became infuriated Tuesday when a Los Angeles Times columnist quoted a Lakers "insider" as saying it was Bryant's insistence on getting away from O'Neal that prompted the trade to Miami.
What? Some columnist said out loud what every other, non-comatose apprehender of reality has said for years. Of course he insisted on getting rid of Shaq. The consensus has always been that Kobe forced Shaq out. Tired of sharing the spotlight with the Diesel for years, Kobe and Jerry Buss agreed that 'the Big Aristotle' had to go.
Bryant made the clear statement that he wanted to be traded on Stephen A. Smith's ESPN radio show in Los Angeles today. It should also be noted that he seemingly retrated those comments on his website later in the day. Who are we to believe? What professional athelete goes on the radio with a semi-professional (though totally infuriating) radio commentator like Smith without knowing exactly what he would say before being asked? Come on...
From Kobe's website
(note, his comments were modified from their original version throughout the day, what fiollows are the original comments)
I have NOT asked to be traded, I don't want to be traded and I have given no ultimatums or demands of being traded.I love it here in LA, my family loves it here.
I've been a Laker fan my whole life. A REAL Laker fan! I'm talkin Silk Wilks days, and know the history of the Lakers going back to George Mikan era. I WANT to retire a Laker and contend for titles.
It is my opinion that Mr. Clutch, one of the greatest GMs the game has ever seen would be able to get us to back to that level sooner rather than later.
If he is available, then it makes sense to give him the reins and let him do what he does BEST. I KNOW I can trust him to build us an elite team.
I'm tired of losing and I'm sure you guys are tired of it as well.
Now is the time to step up and make some things happen. We have all have waited patiently for three years ... Let's GO!
Who are we to believe? What professional athelete goes on the radio with a semi-professional (though totally infuriating) radio commentator like Smith without knowing exactly what he would say before being asked? Come on...
But wasn't there a time when the Lakers were pretty good, nay, even unbeatable? Yes there was. It was 2000 - 2004, a 5 year run with 3 NBA championships in a row (with Shaq the series MVP) and a loss in the finals in 2004. For some reason after the loss to the Pistons in the finals, the Lakers (or Kobe) thought the team needed an overhaul. Kobe signed a gargantuan $136 million contract the day after Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat. The rest is history.
Other factors, undoubtedly, are playing a part in Kobe's dissatisfaction with the Lakers and their dismal team. He does have a point there. The starting five of the Lakers, not including Kobe, could not get starting jobs on any team in the NBA. But who put the team in that position? Great players followed quickly after Shaq was shown the door: Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Rick Fox all left or retired.
So it seems that the last public virtue Kobe had going for him, the trait that stalwart fans held on to amidst all the abuse hoisted by myriad Kobe haters: loyalty to the Lakers and the fans that stuck with him through the rape trial and kicking Shaq out of town, has finally evaporated as well. Now he is just another spoiled, self-absorbed millionaire athlete who cares only about himself.
Brabo Kobe! You kept appearances up for a while but in the end, we were sure we were right about you all along.
