Televised Obliteration: Mavs crush Kobe's LAL. Postscript - PJax, LAL fined 50K

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe-led LAL hit new team lows on ESPN -- *5th Links

Some final reactions from and about the Lakers as they prepare for their first game since Sunday's debacle:


- Kobe plays the 'insulting' card when asked to address the growing perception that he is a dirty player, courtesy the 'bows:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=5439620&siteId=205


- No contemporary story involving Kobe and Colorado can seemingly be complete without reference to Kobe's supposed 'rehabilitated' image:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_5419378,00.html


- Aaron J. Lopez, however, also pens an article detailing the public scorn and emotional agony 'alleged' sexual assault victims such as Katelyn Faber experience when they have the gall to bring charges against a celebrity:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_5419379,00.html

A disturbing piece, particularly in light of the cited expert's belief that Faber's experience has proven a setback for sexual assault victims everywhere.


- Those living under a rock the past 4 years can get more information about Faber and the sordid events which cost Kobe several endorsements by checking this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant's_accuser


- The Denver Post answers the Rocky Mountain News' Kobe puff-piece and goes them one better:

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5438226

NBA commissioner David Stern will be pleased with the Post today. Contrary to the 'The NBA has a conspiracy against Kobe' crowd's thoughts, The Commish understands there exists a large 'Kobe Apologist' community, one to whom he can successfully push product. Article's such as the Post's help convert a 'hard-sell' into a 'soft-sell.'


- mvn.com, in less depressing news, talks about former Lakers center Shaq O'Neal's late-season resurgence:

http://mvn.com/nba-endofthebench/2007/03/14/hate-to-say-i-told-you-so/

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(continued next post)​

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe-led LAL hit new team lows on ESPN -- *5th Links

(continued from previous post)​

Some final thoughts and reaction from this corner:


It is now apparent that Team Kobe made the cynical decision to switch Bryant's jersey number this season as part of a larger 'A New Kobe' campaign. Not only to try to distance themselves from Colorado and the Shaq breakup, but also in hopes of artificially stimulating the 'Kobe market' in terms of the public's (and most importantly, the advertiser's) perception of Bryant's appeal, post-Eagle and post-losing a 3-1 lead in last year's Suns series.

Team Kobe knew that any established player who releases a new jersey will see a boon in that jersey's sales, simply because that player's fans will want to have the 'complete' set of their hero's apparel .

Thus, Kobe's 'quitting' in the blowout game 7 loss against the Suns in last season's playoffs gets 'preempted' by the artificially-created new 'news' that Kobe is switching jerseys. How incredibly brilliant!

Yet people still fall for the hype...

Think it's a coincidence that #24 took the most shots in the All-Star Game, en route to receiving his obviously-coveted MVP award?

Me, either.

No, it was merely another phase of the '#24, New Kobe' campaign. And that's all it was. A cold, calculated business decision.

And there's nothing inherently wrong with that.

As long as you don't try to sell it as some touchy-feely, today's Denver Post, league-approved, Pravda bunk.

Don't spit in my face and tell me it's raining.

* * *

Kobe Bryant is the NBA's version of Alex Rodriquez.

Everything is pre-rehearsed, everything is scripted, for maximum effect.

And for those non-fanboys, it rubs people the wrong way.

There's a reason many in and around MLB don't like Rodriquez, including many of MLB's fans.

Same with Kobe, the NBA, and its fans.

* * *

Kobe wanted to be Michael Jordan. Well, you can't be Jordan without your Ahmad Rashads and Michael Wilbons.

Kobe has the genuine Ahmad, and he's also got his Ric Buchers.

The rest of us - we adults with our eyes open - see behind the charade, and we're not buying the company line.

I prefer the Michael Leahy's of the world to the Michael Wilbon's, at least as far as MJ is concerned. I want the truth, not the hagiography.

Kobe's coach (in The Last Season) told us plenty about Kobe Bryant, and confirmed much of what many suspected.

So did Eagle, and many other instances too numerous to recount.

* * *

Kobe Bryant is a magnificent basketball talent.

He is less gifted as a leader, and less gifted still, apparently, as a social being.

Which is perfectly acceptable.

Until him and Team Kobe tries to shove a different story down my throat. For profit.

Then it's muckraking time, for the targeted consumer demographic's good.

* * *

Kobe Bryant will be booed tonight in Denver. Every time he touches the ball.

He will never be Michael Jordan.

Never would have been, anyway, but now he assuredly will never be. The clock is ticking on his next championship, as well.

Kobe Bryant has been suspended twice in the past several weeks for throwing elbows at an opponent.

He is now openly being discussed as a dirty player. Raja Bell, among others, welcome the discussion, I'm sure.

If you're Kobe Bryant, the question is: Do you look at the mirror and say 'How did I get myself here?', or do you go to the press with "I'm insulted" about being called a dirty player?

If you're Kobe Bryant - the new, team-oriented #24, who is all about teamwork - why are your coach and teammates taking thinly-disguised shots at your apparently-selfish offensive approach through the media, right now? Today. That's all behind you, correct?

If you're Kobe Bryant, how does a LA franchise-record 36-point home loss fit in with the supposed 'New Kobe' image? How is it reconciled?

And if you're Kobe Bryant, finally, when you see the 'New Kobe' brand failing amidst an 18-losses-in-25-games stretch, do you start displaying your frustration through elbows to your opponents' heads?
Remember, none of these elbow incidents occurred before the Lakers' current streak of futility was underway.

Kobe Bryant is by all accounts a strong-willed man. And I do mean 'all.'

What happens when such a person doesn't get his or her way? Do elbows start flying?

You tell me.

Or better yet, go research some pertinent court documents.

* * *

We live in a capitalistic society.

There is a product being marketed and sold here. Consciously.

Millions of dollars and one man's legacy goals are at stake here.

Many Kobe fans and/or Shaq haters want to dismiss legitimate criticisms and questions as 'hate,' one of the more meaningless and overly-used words of our time.

Now, in the midst of the sustained bombing of the 'New Kobe' multimedia marketing campaign, true journalism and probity is needed regarding Mr. Bryant, lest the beancounters dictate the discussion.

Will such journalism be undertaken? Let's hope so. But even if it is, it will be more than balanced out by the Ric Buchers of the media world.

And that being the case, all consumers, writers and newspaper perusers remember:

Buyer, journalist, and reader: Beware.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts

I'd love to see Kobe throw an elbow at somebody like, say, Zach Randolph -- a 300-pounder with a history of brawling. You'd see a New Kobe then -- probably one with a wired jaw.

The immortal Ron Ron or Rasheed Wallace would probably do the trick, too.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

Is RokSki a secret lover to Kobe? The reason I ask is that's the only possible explanation for this obsession he has with Bryant.

Should we tell Kobe he might need to get a restraining order against this guy?

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

Couldn't agree more, Starman. Ron-Ron would be my first choice.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

Restraining order definitely needed.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

I think so. Just seeing RokSki post makes me uncomfortable because I can almost imagine him howling Kobe's name into the wind.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

It really is creepy. Rok, you need help.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts

Ok, just made some quick changes to my last post. Had to touch up a few things and added a bit more to the final segment.

Thanks for all the contributions, both positive and negative.

I'm really looking forward to tonight's game, to see how the Lakers will respond to setting a new 47-year-old LA franchise record, as well as how Jackson will coach in the face of his first career 7-game losing streak. Also, are the Nuggets ready to assume 6th place? Can they land a KO blow on the reeling Lakers? Should be interesting.

Peace.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

No!

Peace!

Till you stop posting!

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts#

Judging by his obsession, I see plenty more posts coming soon.

 

Re: Televised Obliteration: Kobe & LAL rocked by Mavs -- #Final Links + Thoughts

Stu Jax and the NBA league office laid a Mavericks-esque $50 K smackdown to both P. Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers today, in light of Jackson's 'witch hunt' comments.

Jackson made the comments in an attempt to publicly defend his embattled superstar, Kobe Bryant. Bryant has been involved in 3 separate elbowing incidents over the past several weeks, 2 of which cost him game suspensions. The most recent elbow by Bryant to an opponent got him a retroactive flagrant 1 foul. The story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2799820