Trying to cover some of the key quotes and still catching up...
"It's been a long ride, coming here when I was 17 years old and standing here almost 30. I'm and old man, I've got tendonitis. I've just been through all the wars in front of all these people here. I'm very proud to represent this organization and represent this city." - Kobe
Kobe on being another Laker MVP: "The thing that is different about the Lakers franchise is that they aren't just Lakers that wore the uniform....you're talking about some of the greats of all time."
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 30009 Location: Likely nowhere near you
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject:
I can't wait for Game 2 now!!! Staples Center is going to be rocking!
So does this open up the flood gates and make it easier for Kobe to win MVP awards next season...and the following season...and so on? _________________ Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying...'I will try again tomorrow.'
I've been a Laker fan since the 60's when I was a little kid. I've watched the best, but when it became final today that Kobe finally won what should have been his years ago, a tear came to my eye.
Kobe is the ultimate competitor, sometimes a bit misunderstood, and yes he made a horrible choice years ago, but he's the best and after 12 years he's finally be given his due.. My hats off to him and his Laker teammates for this wonderful year.
There is just one more thing that could put the icing on this roller coaster, unbelievable ride of a year.... bring it home boys..
Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 986 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject:
Great intro on page 1 DB, that was some HOF writing.
I cant watch the presentation but hopefully i'll catch it on youtube later.
I didnt think i would feel this happy about Kobe winning the award after the way it has been somewhat tarnished over the last few years, but hearing about the team and friends that have come to support him is really heartwarming.
Congrats #24. _________________ "The advice I get from Magic, Michael and those guys, that's always sacred," Bryant said. "That's going to the mountain top and talking to Buddha, know what I mean? That's privileged information."
I never thought I would see the day that Kobe was awarded the MVP trophy. Sure he's been deserving but would the media let it happen. I'm still in shock that they did.
Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:
Huge smile on my face right now.... I really am proud of Kobe and the Lakers. There's something special about this MVP award this year, giving it to Kobe... I don't think it could have meant more to anyone else in the entire league.
I've been stuck at school, so missed the news conference... hopefully tach or JD2k will have this recorded. Thanks for the thread DB.. great day. _________________ LakersGround's Terms of Service
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 30009 Location: Likely nowhere near you
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:
I'd have to imagine NBA.com and kb24.com will have the press conference available online at some point.
And my stupid DVR stopped recording when it thought a new show cameon because the clock read 6:00. _________________ Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying...'I will try again tomorrow.'
That's a tribute to the fact that Kobe gives more than 100%... _________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel
That's a tribute to the fact that Kobe gives more than 100%...
wow i thought the voting was going to be a lot closer. kobe ran away with it. and who's the Denver chucklehead who gave Melo that vote? _________________ 14-5-3-12
Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:
Goosebumps on your write-up DB... seriously. They say heaven is no sweeter than while standing on a cloud looking down at hell. That's this Laker's season for me. _________________ LakersGround's Terms of Service
Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 9251 Location: Courtside
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Kobe Bryant - Our MVP
DancingBarry wrote:
In 40 or 50 years from now, when we're fortunate enough to be old men and women, one of us will take our grandchild to a Laker game. The kid will be wide-eyed and in awe as Grandpa points out the championship banners hanging from up high.
Looking up to the rafters, the kid sees No. 24 hanging among the Laker legends. "Grandpa, did you see Kobe play? What was he like?"
Grandpa stares at the massive jersey for a while. His whole demeanor changes, like he's just finished punching out a pipe-wielding heavyweight champ of the world in a bar fight and jumping a motorbike over a canyon that would make Evel Knievel crap.
Grandpa turns to the boy, and this being Hollywood and all, he says through clinched teeth, "Kid, you ever see the movie, Jaws?"
The dumbstruck stuck kid blinks his answer and Grandpa continues anyway. "He was like that shark. His court was like that water. You know what they told people in that movie?"
The kid shakes his head.
"Get out of the water," the old man says.
Grandpa continues to ramble on with hyperbole as if he's describing the biggest bad ass of all superheroes and supervillains combined into one being. "He was forged of molten steel, ate it for breakfast, too. While the sun slept, he woke and worked out with the Devil. He called it his 666 workout. Know what game he scored 81? His 666th. He once outscored an entire team in three quarters before they called him off. He was a one-man pack of wild dogs. He was the black mamba. He was..."
Of course, now the kid thinks Grandpa has lost his mind. While Grandpa rambles on, the kid thinks back to the first thing that he said, "Get out of the water." Yeah, the kid thinks, I bet that's what Kobe was like.
Meanwhile, Grandpa's lost in memories of the 2007-08 season when Kobe won his first MVP.
"Legends leave their footprints, boy," Grandpa says. He continues on and the kid gets the gist of what the old man is saying. It doesn't matter the job, the industry, the competition. Whatever the realm, the true legends leave a mark of greatness.
Kobe Bryant is Legend. You may not like him, you may hate that he can drive you crazy a thousand different ways...or you may love him like a brother. Regardless of your opinion, you cannot argue that the man is legend.
You can try to argue away three rings. You can try to argue away 81. And now you can try to argue away MVP.
At some point people just need to admit that Kobe rubs them the wrong way. It will save a lot of time and effort. Admit it and be done with it.
The haters said he couldn't win MVP when his team was barely above .500. This, despite dropping strings of 50-point and 40-point games on opponents to keep an overwhelmed team afloat. Turn the tables on the haters and give Kobe a team with one of the best records in the NBA and the haters start to look for new excuses.
It doesn't matter. Kobe is the best player in the sport of basketball. Everyone has known it for years. Not only that, the man is the most fierce and feared gladiator in the game. I don't think you could say that about a lot of MVPs, especially in recent years.
Now you can.
He has channeled that fierce drive, that personal pride, fury and will to win into MVP.
Some of us already knew he was the best. We knew he was the game's best gladiator.
Kobe signs off the messages on his website with "Strength and honor," a line quoted from Maximus in the movie, Gladiator. These days, however, he refers to Pau Gasol as Maximus Decimus Meridius, The Spaniard.
But there is really only one gladiator. Kobe Bryant is Gladiator. Kobe Bryant is Legend.
It wasn't a glorious ride, this MVP season. In fact, it started off ugly -- all good epics do. There was carnage in Laker land. As Phil Jackson described the first home game, "I turned to one of my coaches and said, 'Are those boos?' And one of them said, 'Yeah, those are boos.' I was surprised."
A good portion of Laker fans were steamed about Kobe's demand to be traded. You almost wish you could hear Kobe screaming back at the crowd like Maximus, "Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"
But he, too, wanted a separation from the franchise Laker fans love. He was willing to put down the golden armor and battle in another arena.
As we now know, cooler heads prevailed. Afterall, you don't trade Kobe Bryant. Even if he wants it.
The Lakers have come a long way from private meetings in Spain this summer with Jerry Buss and Kobe, and remarks by Buss from Hawaii about looking into trades. These were the worst of times.
And Laker haters loved it. They drank it up.
Who knows what Laker players will wear the golden armor years from now? May they be great and bring many rings. But, right now, we get to enjoy one of the greatest to ever suit up.
Guess what Laker haters? The MVP is wearing the purple and gold.
* Kobe Bryant - won following his 12th season
* Karl Malone - 12th season
* Hakeem Olajuwon - 10th season
* Charles Barkley - 9th season
* Kevin Garnett - 9th season
* Steve Nash - 9th season
* Dirk Nowitzki - 9th season
* Magic Johnson - 8th season
* Shaquille O'Neal - 8th season
* Bob Cousy - 7th season
*First MVP Award
MVP's by position:
Centers: 26
Power Forwards: 9
Small Forward: 4
Shooting Guard: 6
Point Guard: 8
The Shooting Guards? Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
