I don't hate Kobe for petty reasons: for his talent, for instance, which is beyond dispute and often gorgeous to watch, or because he sold out Shaq, or because he's an adulterer, or because his face looks like a weasel.This is all irritating but peripheral. The true source of my rage is much, much deeper: I hate Kobe Bryant's rotten and derivative soul.
The Jordan myth-a morality play about how dedication, respect for the game, and loving your parents makes you the undisputed greatest person in the world-has stifled an entire generation of great players. But, as Jordan's most talented immediate successor, Kobe has been uniquely warped. He's plagiarized MJ's game so expertly that, in many ways, he's ahead of the master's curve-Kobe is stronger than the 27-year-old Jordan and has a deadlier outside shot. But for all his miraculous skills, Kobe is painfully bad at mythmaking. Since he's a Jordan-like talent, Kobe clearly thinks that he's entitled to the Jordan mythology, but he doesn't have any of Jordan's charisma or imagination. As melodramatic and managed as Jordan's career was, there was some authentic core-it was original and seemed to mean something. Kobe exists entirely within quotation marks.
Jordan was a master of pantomime. He built his empire largely on iconic celebratory gestures: ex. "the tongue-wag". Kobe's dramatic gestures are all either borrowed or embarrassing. He wiped a pile of imaginary dirt off of his shoulder for a while, then added a schoolmarm finger waggle while making the least convincing tough-guy face I've ever seen.
In the carefully scripted after-school special of Kobe Bryant's career, this playoff series is the part where he "selflessly" "matured" into a "leader." For example, during TV timeouts, he seizes his teammates and shouts intense Jordan-esque lectures directly into their ears, carefully exaggerating his gestures so people in the cheap seats can admire his leadership. To the untrained, this looks like progress, but you could see him mentally adding another line to his resume. Fact is that his "untainable" behavior will continue to proceed him. And sooner or later.. those 81 point one man circus shows will be back!
Please note that my hate for Kobe Bryant is almost like hating a fictional character in a movie or book... my opinions are carefully contained within the parameter of "the game" which is Basketball. So relax with all the inane and angry posts. They dont really matter to me, the same way LA doesnt really matter to Kobe!
xoxo
Wow. I didn’t know someone out there had your ability; the ability to venture into someone’s mind and know their true meaning behind their words and their reactions. All this time I thought Kobe’s reactions on the court, such as the finger waggle, chest thump, head nod were natural; a mere release of emotion by a competitive player with a cocky personality. I thought the intense exchanges between Kobe and his teammates had to do with the fact that Kobe is a 12 year veteran with championship experience providing insight to the young and inexperienced players on the court; what a veteran leader is supposed to do. Now, with your natural X-Men like ability I know I was wrong. It was an act to fool and appease his critics. All staged and probably rehearsed. I now wonder about my reactions. When I laugh is it because it’s funny or because I want people around me to think I have sense of humor? When I say ouch is it because it hurts or because I want people to know that I feel pain too. What about when I tell my friend that the girl by the bar is fine, is it because I believe that or just want him to make sure that he knows I like women?
NanizmI think you are trying to dig too deep to find a reason to hate Kobe. Put away the shovel and just admit you hate Kobe for every other reason that other people hate him: adulterer, greatness, closing in on Jordan’s greatness, cockiness, aloof, plays for someone other than your favorite team. All of those one word explanations make a lot more sense than yours.
01:24 PM PST