Future ESPN 30 for 30--Kobe Bryant--an appreciation

What if I told you a 17 year old kid from Italy, via Philadelphia would change an NBA franchise and spark a debate for years to come?  Ok, I had to start off like that!  Seriously, 17 year old Kobe Bean Bryant decides to go from high school to the pro's; gets drafted 8th by the Charlotte Hornets then traded to the LA Lakers draft day for Vlade Divac and thus began a history making career that will end with countless comparisons to Michael Jeffery Jordan--revered as THE greatest NBA player ever...or is it just me?

Let's compare (stats are through 4/2/2013)

Name (championships)	Seasons	GP	GS	PTS	ASST	REB
M Jordan (6)	15	1264	1264	32292	5633	6672
K Bryant (5)	16	1234	1086	31457	5853	6544
Difference (1)	1	30	178	835	-220	128

Jordan played 3 years at UNC before going to the NBA.  He "retired" for a season, came back and won three more NBA championships before retiring again.  He then came back for 2 more forgettable years with the Wizards.  In total Jordan played 15 seasons was a starter since being drafted.  Jordan completed his career in 2nd place in all time scoring.  Since retirement he has dropped to 3rd (behind Karl Malone and Kareem).  Jordan holds 6 scoring titles.

Kobe came to the Lakers in 1995-96 seasons.  He played in 71/82 games that year, starting in only 6.  Following year he played in 79 games and started 1.  It wasn't until the strike shortened season of 1998-99 that Kobe became a full time starter. Kobe didn't become the Lakers first option until 2005-06 seasons (Shaq traded to Miami).   Kobe holds 1 scoring title. Kobe will finish his 16th season in 4th place all time on the scoring list.  At this point he trails Jordan by 835 points to move into 3rd all time with 1 more year on his contract.

I'm a big Kobe fan, but NO ONE has ever matched Jordan competitive mentality--his killer instinct.  Jordan admitted in a recent article he created a rivalry with his own brother convincing himself that his father favored his brother (Larry) more than him. This drove him to compete and dominate on the highest levels throughout his career.  Kobe is close--but I would say he's still #2 in competitive nature.  Kobe has played through numerous injuries such as broken fingers, damaged knees, back problems, sprained ankles to name a few.  He, just like Jordan wants/demands the ball when it's clutch time.  He (like Jordan) was known for delivering in the clutch as well.  Jordan would dominate on defense as well as on offense which is the difference in the two.  Kobe has always been a very good defender, but his gift to the game has been his offense.  His uncanny ability to create his own shot when there doesn't seem to be one.  He's been labeled as selfish and a ball hog, but when you're 4th in the NBA in scoring all time that comes with the territory.  Jordan/Kobe have both been described as "hard to play with" by some team mates but both have also been described as "driven" by the same.

Last night Shaquille O'Neal got his jersey retired from the Lakers (rightfully so).  Shaq and Kobe's feud was much publicized.  Both (one retired and the other on the door step) reflect back on their feud and admit they wished they were able to work things out for the betterment of their careers.  If they were, we could be talking about Shaq catching the great Bill Russell with 11 rings and Kobe would have likely surpassed Jordan's 6 at this point in his career.  Instead Kobe offers this explanation to why it didn't work out.

     "Me and Shaq are two alpha-males. We both are dominant and need to be the dominant presence on our teams.  We would eventually have to part even if it was on good terms.  It would be like Jordan (Michael) playing alongside Wilt (Chamberlain) during their careers.  Eventually they would have to part ways."

TRUE.  Kobe has been vilified in the media.  He's earned some of it.  Some of it not so much. Jordan was/is beloved.  To suggest someone in this lifetime would be close to the icon that is Jordan is uneasy for some.  That gets manifested in different ways.  it's easy to pick apart someone's flaws--especially someone you don't like.  What's difficult is to respect those accomplishments w/o bias for what they are.  Jordan was compared to NBA legend Julius "Dr J" Erving early in his career.  Sacrilegious for those of us who loved watching the Dr work.  Over time though we came to appreciate Jordan for what he was.  Kobe's career isn't over with yet.  He may/may not catch Jordan in scoring/championships.  EVERYONE who knows anything about Kobe knows that's his mark. He chooses the best at his position to emulate.  Love him or hate him, whether it's 5 rings, 6 rings or more Kobe is still in the conversation as one of the greatest to play the game of all time.  We may never see another one like Jordan, but I would venture to say we'll also never see another one like Kobe Bean Bryant either!

What happened to the middle ground?

"Best team ever!"  "This is the team to beat!"  "Long season for..."  these were the headlines after 1 week of football.  I wondered how true would people be if things were reveresed in week 2.  Sure enough the tune changed completely.  Let's look at some examples
Jets put a whoopin on the Bills week 1.  They score an NFL high of 48 points and everyone is ready to annoint them the beasts of the East.  Fast forward to Sunday and the Jets lose to a good Pittsburgh team.  Now the headlines are filled with "Calls for Tebow to start with Jets."  take the Cowboys.  They beat reigning super bowl champs the Giants in the season opener.  Sunday they get beat soundly by Seattle.  The same ones who were ready to have a part for Dallas's ceremonious return are the same ones asking if "they have the right QB for the team." 
Where is the middle?  Is there anyone who believes in a win is a win and a loss is a loss.  A win (this early) isn't the catapult to a 16-0 season and promises of future greatness.  Nor is a loss (this early) the begining of the Apocalypse for your team. No one has perspective anymore.  I guess because society is used to the sensationalism.  People want the extreme story. Nobody wants to hear the truth--really?  Truth is the vast majority of teams have work to do.  Some more than others.  For other teams (like my beloved Raiders) there's a lot that needs to be done but not much to do it with.

Shaq V Howard

It's been a while since I posted. A lot has taken place.  I've felt like writing a couple times but that's not when I want to write--when I kinda felt like it.  I wanted my next post and any post from here on to be inspired.  I wanted to "want" to write.  I'm a self professed sports junky who isn't trying to get cured. 
With that said I just read an article by Scoop Jackson on ESPN.  Pretty decent article.  Scoop, like most writers/fans/ex-players was/is calling out Dwight Howard for his play.  Scoop contends that D12 needs to "prove all of us wrong (fans/writers/players)." That's the part I don't agree with.  He doesn't HAVE TO prove anything to the fans to make his money.  Writers neither.  Players--kinda. He has to prove his worth to the GM and Owner of the team.  Right now, the public message they're sending is he is.  He's got an open invite to a max contract at the end of the season.  if he chooses to go elsewhere there are other teams waiting to offer him the max they can offer (which is 1 year and some millions less than the Lakers could).  All that adds up to he doesn't have anything to prove to them to make THAT money.  Howeva' if he wants jersey sales, shoe contracts, endorsements, acting roles all that other stuff that comes with being a superstar in a major sport--he has to convince us!
The most common comparison is Shaq and Howard to each other.  You already know the background and similarities (position, size, former team, etc...)  Both are physically gifted and love to have fun--big kids.  Difference is Shaq LOVED to Dominate on the court! You come at him and he's putting in 40 pt and 20+ boards THEN give you a sound byte in the interview to let you know WHY you brought this on yourself! D12...no so much. You go at him and he sulks. He doesn't get mad and he doesn't take ANYTHING out on the court. THIS is what EVERYONE--GM/Owner included are waiting to see from him.
Scoop talks about D12 not smiling so much on the court.  I get that, but I can take that if he DOMINATING you with a smile. Let's be honest, he can still dominate.  You see glimpses of it.  If he's planning on staying with the Lakers, that means living with Kobe another year or two (maybe more).  He can't wait until Kobe is gone before he decides he wants to assert himself. Do it now! Demand your spot as an equal--even if you're not. Kobe is hard to play with--no question.  BUT, you'll get his respect if you earn it--demand it! Kobe AND Shaq will freely admit (now) that both needed each other.  If they were able to figure out a way to co-exist, the potential was limitless.  When Phil retired in 2005 after the finals, Jerry Buss/Mitch had dinner with Pat Riley about coming back to coach the Lakers.  Riley said yes on one condition--he could talk to Shaq and Kobe about staying together.  He was denied.  At that point Shaq was going to be traded.  What could've been...
To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Dwight needs to take hold of "the fierce urgency of now." Now is the time to dominate!
Now is the time to demand your respect!
Now is the time to prove to yourself that you belong in the conversation as a dominant player!

If I could tell Dwight something directly it would be this:
D12 you have all the game in the world but you're not showing it. Kobe wants to win above everything and everyone. You have to deal with that. It's the price a champion pays. If you're not paying that price, you're not winning championships or at least you're not a factor in it. Basketball gives you the vehicle for everything else you want to do--movies, endorsement,etc...Most are saying the NBA center is going away.  First proof is the all star game eliminating voting for positions but front/back court. Show the world (because that's your stage) the dominating center is STILL in the NBA.  he's rare and he's the catalyst for a championship.