Plastic Man

^^I seriously hope he doesn't pull an Olajuwon or a Ewing on us. =) I think many athletes lack the feeling of when to stop; I mean even MJ made the mistake of coming back (twice even). I really respect those who know when it's best to retire - at the very peak of their careers or a couple years later. But I can understand those who don't of course, since that must be a really hard thing to do.

__________________
BasketBallBoards.net: where "sometimes you just have to realize that you have no clue what the **** you're talking about" happens.

afobisme

i don't understand why people say MJ made the mistake of coming back. he wanted to play, so he did... forget his legacy. if you would choose your legacy over your passion and desire, then you don't deserve to have that "legacy" anyways. and what do u mean two times? after the first comeback, he won 3 additional championships.

ewing going to the magic and other teams in search of his first title.. i can understand. same for karl. those guys never won their titles. olajuwon though, he already had 2 titles and spent his whole career with houston before going to toronto. i don't think he should have done that.

__________________

Tragedy

I would say I'm a Kobe fan. I'm in New York, and a longtime Knicks fan, and outside of the Knicks I don't really favor other teams, but I am a fan of certain players. Kobe has been my favorite player in the league ever since Shaq has been traded. Prior to that I was a Laker/Kobe hater - BIG TIME.

But I have appreciated his struggles and it changed my mind. That said I'm rooting for the Lakers to win it all. Would I be a fan if Kobe left? Not sure.

__________________

Quote:

"If I had to pick the best player in the game, he [Kobe] certainly is up there right now".. "It seems as though he's got the edge over anybody in that position, if not in the league right now."-Michael Jordan

Plastic Man

Nah, I didn't even mean legacy-wise. I just think that retirement shouldn't be forced upon you because of an injury or really old age (i.e. Mutombo?), but that's just my opinion. I don't count MJ's second return as a knock on his legacy. **** that, I consider him the best ever regardless. It just didn't feel the same and as much I enjoyed watching him play, he seemed so helpless playing for that Wizards team... meh, I don't know, he was my favourite player at the time so I guess my perception was different. (p.s.: I didn't mean that the first reactivation was a mistake, I have no idea why I wrote that in parenthesis)

Ewing I can understand to some extent, although playing half crippled on a mediocre team (I quite honestly can't even remember if Seattle was anywhere near the 'chip discussion in 01, but I rather doubt it; they didn't even make the Playoffs for one.. the same goes for Orlando in 02; bounced in the 1st round) is not something I'd equate to Malone (and Payton) who at least came to the title favourite. Olajuwon - I agree with you, that's why I named him in my post. I guess it's just a different point of view. But you at least have to agree that people should know when to call it quits; return to "normal" life, spend time with their families yadayada blah blah blah.

peace

__________________
BasketBallBoards.net: where "sometimes you just have to realize that you have no clue what the **** you're talking about" happens.

EHL

Bigger Magic fan than I am a Kobe fan, but I appreciate Kobe's dedication and tenacity. That said, Laker fan first and it's not even close. I have no problem with those that are Kobe fans first unless they're incessantly worried about creepy sh!t like whether his wife has forgiven him or how often his kids leave the house or something.

Silk D

I think it's safe to assume all of the regulars on the Laker board are Lakers fans first and foremost. Just check out the threads from last summer. People were pissed, but we weren't exactly shedding a tear at the idea of Kobe on another team. This franchise is 100X greater than any single player, and it will continue to be well after Kobe hangs it up.

I borderline dislike Kobe myself, but that might change since he hasn't been as much of a d*** lately. You can't help but have mad respect for someone who works sooooooo hard. He's amazing, and he deserves all the accolades and them some.

afobisme

well yeah, but in the end.. if jordan looks back and thinks his coming back was worth it, then i think he should have done it. besides, MJ did have some 50 point games.. as a 38 year old (or something like that). that's amazing.

__________________

Cris

Laker fan, All Day, Every Day.

__________________
Come Visit "Cris' Collection of Fantastic Crap He Found On The Internet" Here

jazzy1

well I've been a Lakers fan since the 70's when a close relative of mine played for the team.

I saw a couple season's of when kareem 1st got to the Lakers and saw the whole Magic era.

I love the Lakers and consider Magic the greatest player of alltime.

But Kobe's the 2nd greatest Laker ever.No doubt about it.Better than Kareem, and Shaq and better than Jerry West.I think Kobe'scontributions during the Shaq era are vastly overrated,I personally don't think without Kobe against the Spurs each time we win any of those titles because Shaq was basically neutralized against those Spurs it was Kobe who dominated.Shaq carried other series mainly in the Finals where he had huge mismatches. But the Journey to get there Kobe was underrated.


I think because of the era in which Kobe plays with ridculous media scrutiny his rep has gotten messed up and a whole legion of haters have popped up.

And I think the Haters claims are 95% bogus when talking criticsm of Kobe.

I love Kobe. Had Magic played in this current climate early in his career he might have built a legion of haters as well, Magic basically cost the Lakers the 84 title by his mental lapses in that Final single handily. He's my alltime favorite player but his gaffe's that whole series is something I still hold a grudge with Magic for today.The Lakers were better than those Celtics and Magic screwed it up.Magic didn't exactly get along with all of his teammates either and he got a coach fired and I still contend he got another favorite of Mine's traded in Norm Nixon.

Back to Kobe I understand where he comes from,the arrogance doesn't bother me all greats have it, the whole Shaq fiasco don't blame him solely Shaq deserves alot of the blame as well. The selfish label was created by Shaq, he saw a young lion growing into his own got jealous and forced a team full of players closer to his age relatability to side with him. Phil Jackson had no choice but to side with the best player at the time so it put Kobe on the outs on his own team. When you're an alltime great player how much sense did it make for Kobe to supress himself for the sake of a dominant undedicated to the game center when Kobe was killing himself to be great.

Add in Colorado,Phil Jackson's book, and Kobe who was wrong to go postal on Bynum and management.

Kobe was wrong to go postal on management and Buss when they stood by him during Colorado. That was dead wrong he should have stayed behind the scene's griping.Not publically slammed young teammates and Buss.

I think of Kobe as the Lakers not necessarily something I need to be sepearating.Kobe bleeds purple and gold, he was a Lakers fan growing up and beaome a Lakers legend, he plays both ends carries the load and lays it all on the line to win.

The selfish label is dicey with me, he was a great scorer being asked to smother his game and legacy for the benefit of Shaq's pride,part of being great is wanting to be considered great, having goals and accolades.

Was he selfish at times during that period Yes, but I understood why, MJ couldn't have played with a great center like Shaq when he was a youngster before he was able to establish his legend he would have chaffed at the same things.During this current squad the last few years I never thought of him as selfish the team sucked and he did everything he could to keep us relevant.

I will always be a Lakers fan but if Kobe left I'd follow him to his new team as well. Kobe I don't know if people realize is one of the greatest players of alltime he's pushing for MJ's fantasy throne. Pushing hard and if he gets more rings he could be right there.

The test for Kobe could be the reverese Shaq/Kobe situation, when he see's the young Lion Bynum growing will he stand in his way of greatness or will he as an aging player gracefully fade to lesser status on the team for the sake of winning and ride the wave to end his career.Or will he gripe criticize and be jealous of Bynum's growing stardom.

It could be funny how life goes full circle for Kobe we shall see.

Eternal

I'm a huge fan of Kobe's, but obviously a Lakers fan first.

CubanLaker

Im a Laker fan for life! That will never change. WIth that said, im a huge Kobe fan but im not ignorant to his faults. He pissed me off to no end last summer but i cant hate on the mans passion for the game, and the professionalism he bring in regards to his preparation during the summer. Id say Magic and Kobe are my 1a 1b favorite players of all time.

__________________

Rumble, young man, rumble...

lingi1206

wow iam like that too i root for Kobe and don't care about Shaq at all. BUT KOBE is the man some of you guy hating on him a little we'll take him but yea Kobe is good and before Yao came into the league i was a laker fan because of Kobe

PS: you guys are spoil i think with all the great players you guys have a guy like Kobe may not even be in your top 5 best lakers ever......man....

__________________
Reporter : "Yao whats your favorite Finals moment?"
Yao: "I Haven't been there yet"



22

afobisme