It's amazing to hear some of the stuff people say about my boy Kobe Bryant and how he is a ball hog, not a team player, won't ever win a title without Shaq, etc. Y'all know who you are. What about the respect where respect is due?

This guy is the most committed "basketball player" in the world. Bar none. He is the first one in the gym and the last one out. Each year, there is something in his game that improves. The only thing I'd like to see is for him to increase his assists per game. But to be honest with you, he really doesn't have to when you've got Lamar Odom who nearly gets a triple double every game. I guess you could say that he's a walking double-triple (double figures in two out of three categories).

Kobe plays hurt all the time and never misses a game unless he absolutley has to. Shaq, on the other hand, will get a cut on his finger and take two weeks off. Talk about commitment to excellence. Mr. O'Neal has a commercial with Icy Hot heat pad and claims, "Just like you I work hard every day." Bunch of baloney coming from an out-of-shape so-called Most Dominant Ever. Shaq's game has gotten worse since 2002 and has no go-to move. The great ones, like wine, get better with age. Case in point: Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Jordan, Isaiah Thomas, and yes Kobe Bryant.

If Shaq were committed to his game, he would have developed the sky hook long ago and he would still be considered a top-tier player. The only reason Miami won last year was because the East stunk and Dallas, with no center, couldn't stop Wade after a 2-0 lead. Remember, Shaq averaged a dismal 13 ppg in the Finals. It was the comibination of Dwyane Wade, Walker, Payton, J-Will and their hunger that allowed Miami to win and not Shaq's dominance.

People just love to hate Kobe because they all wish Bryant was on their favorite team. I understand, so it's ok. But please give respect where respect is due. The infamous trial doesn't play into this because I'm talking strictly basketball on-court contributions. Kobe is by far in his own league. Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Nash, KG, Duncan, they're all superstars and worthy of being MVP any given year but as far as dominance is concerned, nobody does it like Kobe.

He gets off any shot he wants and can command free throws at any time, is a first team all-defense caliber player, can hit the trey, is an above-average passer and playmaker, is always in tip-top shape, is as good a dunker as any high-fly act in the league, and has a superb mid-range game. Above all, he is at the peak of his prime and is slowly starting to develop the leadership skills that made Michael Jordan great. Not to mention that he is also the best clutch player in the game over the last 5-plus years.

I'm most annoyed when critics say Kobe is a ball-hog. If you were that good and that confident about your ability to take over a game and you had the lineup the Lakers had last year, what would you do? Thought so. In 1987, Jordan average 37 ppg with a lineup that featured Charles Oakley, Dave Corzine, Brad Sellers, and Orlando Woolridge and finished 40-42. Not until '91 did MJ win a title with the key additions of Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. Last year, Kobe averaged 35 in his first full-year with the new-look Lakers and almost took them deep in the playoffs. In my opinion, had they defeated the Suns, they most likely would have beaten the Clippers because L.A.'s "other" team would have simply faltered under the pressure of the Laker mystique. Furthermore, we all know that Dallas not only lost the season series to the Lakers but they also had no answer for MJ, er Kobe, who put up 62 in 3 quarters against the Mavs.

Don't get me wrong, guys like Lebron and Wade will undoubtedly end up with storied careers and will have their time. But right now, Kobe is in a league of his own.