Post by rogworld1991 on May 18, 2009 13:51:26 GMT -4
Found this great read on a Lakers board.
Growing up in the 90s as a fan of the game of basketball, you were either a Michael Jordan and "Da Bulls!!" fan, or you were a leper, didn't know what you were talking about, or simply never watched basketball. The 80s had belonged to Magic and Larry, but Michael's time was now. He'd effectively made the casual fan forget the names Magic Johnson and Larry Bird with his high-flying, one man act, and game-winning jumpers. As a Lakers fan, I hated Michael Jordan. Despised him and everything he meant to the game of basketball. "How dare he receive such hype as though he were winning games on his own, clearly Rodman's rebounding and Pippen's defense are the difference makers!" I'd scream to myself and anyone that would listen. Those listening were usually my cousin and his dad, both big MJ fans.
With each passing championship won, my "Magic is better than MJ" argument became a little less hollow. I found myself searching for higher levels of demand from MJ each passing year. Well, he didn't do this, can't do that. And each year, I was left to build up a new case against Michael's greatness.
In the summer of '96, I'd seen ESPN commenting on rumors of Shaquille O'Neal wanting to be a Laker. I was absolutely giddy. No way can Michael continue winning now, what with Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel, Elden Campbell, and a host of other nice talents with Shaquille O'Neal, the game's pre-dominant big man, joining that cast? Shoot. MJ won't know what hit him.
Then during the draft, The Trade happened. Vlade Divac traded for high school star Kobe Bryant in a cap clearing move for Shaq. It was happening. The Lakers and Jerry West were making their mark again!
My first memory of seeing Kobe Bryant was a clip of him walking around school with a Deion Sanders jersey draped across his chest. Being a fellow Deion fan, instantly, I was attached. An NBA player that is simply a fan and kid like me. I immediately proclaimed to my cousin, Matt, "There you go. There's MJ's competition." to a room full of laughter and applause. Matt looked at me and said, "No way. Magic isn't better. Nor is this guy. Nor will he BE better or greater."
A year passes with Kobe Bryant gaining more and more hype as MJ's heir apparent. With each passing article, ESPN segment, or great play made by Mr. Bryant, my cousin would fight the good fight. Kobe can't win like Mike. He's just a ballhog trying to get his and ACT like MJ. He don't know how to play within the team frame. Shaq's doing everything for him.
The year's halfway point, All-Star weekend, was held in New York City's Madison Square Garden. Full page banners were everywhere with Michael and Kobe adorning the advertisements. Michael vs Kobe. Air vs Heir. Like a great wild west showdown and everyone in town come to see the duel, Michael and Kobe went shot for shot that day. Kobe played like a man who knew his destiny. With the world watching his every move, he went after Michael like a lion viciously attacking it's prey. Michael, being the competitor that he is, accepted the challenge and won MVP honors, but Kobe had stole the show. He had put on a performance so few had when staring down Michael's barrel.
At the end of the day, he still stood tall.
My cousin was not impressed. He argued that the West had lost because of Kobe's duel with Michael. That Michael had shot a better percentage. That this and the other had happened, all in a failed attempt to discredit young Kobe as I had so often done Michael.
Michael's Bulls went on to win the championship that year over the Jazz, ending on Michael's game-winning jumper. The storybook ending for the game's greatest. As I listened to Bob Costas say, "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but if that is to be Michael's last shot in the NBA.." my eyes welled up. I'd spent a decade trying to discredit the man and missed out on the joy of it all. My most hated villain no longer part of the NBA. How can NBA life go on?
I quit watching the game of basketball for a couple years after that, returning at the news that Phil Jackson had been hired as coach of my Lakers and Kobe Bryant.
I'd always adored Phil as a coach. His demeanor was a calming influenece to his teams and myself. If the coach is calm, what reason do I have to worry. It will all work itself out in the end.
The Lakers ran through the competition before hitting a snag in the Western Conference Finals that season against the Portland Trailblazers. The series had went 7 games, ending with the improbable 15-point comeback and "Bryant to Shaq" alleyoop. Kobe had played one of his finest NBA games to this day. Did absolutely everything needed to win, posting 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and great defense all game long. And what was my cousin's reaction to all this?
"MJ didn't have a Shaq to pass to. He just hit the shots himself."
Seriously!? You're going to undermine the game Bryant had just played? I was livid, but so goes our sports discussions. Neither giving an inch, both hating to be wrong.
The years pass as Kobe Bryant ascends to the game's best player. With each passing year, the arguments change in an attempt to downplay Bryant's greatness. Each year, he succeeds at knocking down a new wall and argument. The hate rises to the point that Bryant becomes the NBA's guy you love to hate. No player in the game gets more of a rise out of fans that Mr. Bryant. You either love him, or you hate him.
Like the hero in a great epic, Kobe has risen from the ashes to acclaim his spot in the hearts and minds of basketball fans. HIs haters watch in hopes of seeing him fail. His fans watch in hopes of seeing him rise to the mountain that he was destined to climb.
In the past year, my cousin, Matt, has grown to appreciate Kobe. He likes the way he plays the game. Says he's no longer chasing his stats, just wins. Yet, he still refuses to give Kobe an inch toward Michael's greatness.
With the playoffs upon us, the Epic of Kobe will find it's conclusion. No player stands to gain more than he from winning a title. Should the Lakers win the championship this year, Kobe steps one foot into Michael's Chambers. I've always felt comforted as a Laker fan knowing that Kobe will not stop in his quest to be the greatest, but time isn't really on his side anymore. If he is to become who he was born to be, the time is now.
Kobe loses? There's simply no chance of him becoming the greatest ever. Too many blemishes on his resume. Too many failures. No matter the circumstances on why he lost or anything, the greatest ones find a way to overcome it all.
Is Kobe the greatest player ever? We may very well have our answer in less than 2 months.
With each passing championship won, my "Magic is better than MJ" argument became a little less hollow. I found myself searching for higher levels of demand from MJ each passing year. Well, he didn't do this, can't do that. And each year, I was left to build up a new case against Michael's greatness.
In the summer of '96, I'd seen ESPN commenting on rumors of Shaquille O'Neal wanting to be a Laker. I was absolutely giddy. No way can Michael continue winning now, what with Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel, Elden Campbell, and a host of other nice talents with Shaquille O'Neal, the game's pre-dominant big man, joining that cast? Shoot. MJ won't know what hit him.
Then during the draft, The Trade happened. Vlade Divac traded for high school star Kobe Bryant in a cap clearing move for Shaq. It was happening. The Lakers and Jerry West were making their mark again!
My first memory of seeing Kobe Bryant was a clip of him walking around school with a Deion Sanders jersey draped across his chest. Being a fellow Deion fan, instantly, I was attached. An NBA player that is simply a fan and kid like me. I immediately proclaimed to my cousin, Matt, "There you go. There's MJ's competition." to a room full of laughter and applause. Matt looked at me and said, "No way. Magic isn't better. Nor is this guy. Nor will he BE better or greater."
A year passes with Kobe Bryant gaining more and more hype as MJ's heir apparent. With each passing article, ESPN segment, or great play made by Mr. Bryant, my cousin would fight the good fight. Kobe can't win like Mike. He's just a ballhog trying to get his and ACT like MJ. He don't know how to play within the team frame. Shaq's doing everything for him.
The year's halfway point, All-Star weekend, was held in New York City's Madison Square Garden. Full page banners were everywhere with Michael and Kobe adorning the advertisements. Michael vs Kobe. Air vs Heir. Like a great wild west showdown and everyone in town come to see the duel, Michael and Kobe went shot for shot that day. Kobe played like a man who knew his destiny. With the world watching his every move, he went after Michael like a lion viciously attacking it's prey. Michael, being the competitor that he is, accepted the challenge and won MVP honors, but Kobe had stole the show. He had put on a performance so few had when staring down Michael's barrel.
At the end of the day, he still stood tall.
My cousin was not impressed. He argued that the West had lost because of Kobe's duel with Michael. That Michael had shot a better percentage. That this and the other had happened, all in a failed attempt to discredit young Kobe as I had so often done Michael.
Michael's Bulls went on to win the championship that year over the Jazz, ending on Michael's game-winning jumper. The storybook ending for the game's greatest. As I listened to Bob Costas say, "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but if that is to be Michael's last shot in the NBA.." my eyes welled up. I'd spent a decade trying to discredit the man and missed out on the joy of it all. My most hated villain no longer part of the NBA. How can NBA life go on?
I quit watching the game of basketball for a couple years after that, returning at the news that Phil Jackson had been hired as coach of my Lakers and Kobe Bryant.
I'd always adored Phil as a coach. His demeanor was a calming influenece to his teams and myself. If the coach is calm, what reason do I have to worry. It will all work itself out in the end.
The Lakers ran through the competition before hitting a snag in the Western Conference Finals that season against the Portland Trailblazers. The series had went 7 games, ending with the improbable 15-point comeback and "Bryant to Shaq" alleyoop. Kobe had played one of his finest NBA games to this day. Did absolutely everything needed to win, posting 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and great defense all game long. And what was my cousin's reaction to all this?
"MJ didn't have a Shaq to pass to. He just hit the shots himself."
Seriously!? You're going to undermine the game Bryant had just played? I was livid, but so goes our sports discussions. Neither giving an inch, both hating to be wrong.
The years pass as Kobe Bryant ascends to the game's best player. With each passing year, the arguments change in an attempt to downplay Bryant's greatness. Each year, he succeeds at knocking down a new wall and argument. The hate rises to the point that Bryant becomes the NBA's guy you love to hate. No player in the game gets more of a rise out of fans that Mr. Bryant. You either love him, or you hate him.
Like the hero in a great epic, Kobe has risen from the ashes to acclaim his spot in the hearts and minds of basketball fans. HIs haters watch in hopes of seeing him fail. His fans watch in hopes of seeing him rise to the mountain that he was destined to climb.
In the past year, my cousin, Matt, has grown to appreciate Kobe. He likes the way he plays the game. Says he's no longer chasing his stats, just wins. Yet, he still refuses to give Kobe an inch toward Michael's greatness.
With the playoffs upon us, the Epic of Kobe will find it's conclusion. No player stands to gain more than he from winning a title. Should the Lakers win the championship this year, Kobe steps one foot into Michael's Chambers. I've always felt comforted as a Laker fan knowing that Kobe will not stop in his quest to be the greatest, but time isn't really on his side anymore. If he is to become who he was born to be, the time is now.
Kobe loses? There's simply no chance of him becoming the greatest ever. Too many blemishes on his resume. Too many failures. No matter the circumstances on why he lost or anything, the greatest ones find a way to overcome it all.
Is Kobe the greatest player ever? We may very well have our answer in less than 2 months.