In my opinion, Kobe deserves the 1 game suspension he received for his elbow to the face of Manu Ginobli.
Anyone who claims that the contact was a total accident isn't being objective. All you need to do is ask yourself when the last time was that you saw Kobe throw his arm out like that after having his shot blocked. The answer is never. He may not have known who it was that blocked it, but he did know the direction the pressure came from, and lashed out after he was blocked.
If it was any other top 10 star player, I'd probably give him a pass. But this is the guy that downplayed a brilliant performance by Gilbert Arenas earlier in the year when it upstaged his own game. This is the guy that minutes earlier was punching the air and bltching at refs for an uncalled "foul" while the ball was still in play and precious seconds were counting down, as the rest of his team was still playing and trying to win the game. (Thanks to Radmonovic, who kept his head on the game and not his individual glory, the Lakers stayed alive with his 3 pointer). And you could see Kobe pouting on his way back to the bench after the game-tying 3-pointer. He may have been happy that a teammate tied the game, but he was plssed that it wasn't his 3, or "and 1", that tied the game. This character trait is the same reason that he says that he'd rather have a superstar carreer with no championships like Barkley, than a role-playing carreer with lots of championships, as Robery Horry has.
Which brings me to my final point. When Kobe's final shot was slyly blocked from behind, I believe Kobe was frustrated that someone had the nerve to try and stop him from being great. And the whipping of his arm was as if to say, "Get these insects away from me. Don't they know who I am?" I know who he is. Do you?
I just saw the clip and it appears that it was intentional. I think he lost it for a split second. I agree with your description of the incident. I think you have called it correctly and objectively.
Dusty,
I do not necessarily agree with the other things jay says about Kobe so don't get on me for that. But after further review, the contact appears intentional.
He said he was sorry to Ginobili, to the coaches, and to the press. It was an accident, he was trying to clear the way becasue he knew there was only seconds left on the game.
Sisko is dead on! It's unfortunate really. As great of a player that Kobe is, he occassionaly pulls s#$& like this that will always tar his legacy. Play the game Kobe.
bad officiating on behalf of the game, however Kobe's acting isn't all that good on "accidents" he should probably take lessons from Jack Nicholson, and who cares if he saids sorry.. of course he's sorry!! he let his emotions flow than thought about it afterwards.. If I shoot a guy in the head and say sorry do I pass go and collect $200 dollars.. no sir I don't.. another disturbing act from a good player with a junior high bball mentality grow up Kobe..
Last edited by jakester719 on January 31st at 1:20 AM.
I disagree I don't think it was intentional. I he was trying to draw contact in a Desperate attempt to make something happen. Ginobili knows this, Coach Pop knows this, thats why the both agreed the supension was not nessary. because he was trying to make something happen in the final seconds of the game. Kobe not a dirty player this was simply an accident.
Sisko- You told it like it is, and all these people that put Kobe on a pedestal need to open their eyes and see the play for what it was: an intentional act because his shot was blocked! I din't see the game, only saw the replay this morning and immediately recognized it was intentional! You're right with your statement about the last time you saw Kobe throw his arm out after a shot... How stupid does Kobe think that we are? The boy needs to grow up and act like a man! Admit you made a mistake Kobe, otherwise you're just dissin' our intelligence.
kobe is a master at this and usually gets away with it. this was magnified because it was at the buzzer.
don't you remember the events leading up to the raja bell clothesline in last years playoffs.
kobe trying to gain position by drawing contact. and for some reason raja bell continually slammed his face and neck into kobes elbows, forearms, and hands.
This blogger is a New Yorker, born and raised. I'm a huge sports fan, following pretty much every major sport out there. Sadly, this does not include hockey, NASCAR, or boxing. Hockey lost my affection during the lockout, NASCAR is not a sport, and boxing has become incredibly boring since the dawn of MMA. If you want to talk football, baseball, basketball, or MMA, then I'm your man. I could also debate NASCAR with anyone, but we would probably end up just going around in circles...
