I very rarely (in fact, never) blog on the NBA because there are other sports that hold my interests better (NFL, NASCAR, MMA, MLB). However I will make an exception because of the soap opera that is my Los Angeles Lakers/Kobe Bryant.
This is getting more ridiculous by the moment. Who's at fault? Is Kobe at fault? Shaq? Dr. Buss? Mitch Kupchak? The head trainer's dog? I will do my best to break this thing down to its very basics.
After the 2004 Finals, Shaq was traded. A lot of people thought Kobe was at fault for allegedly running an immensely popular, albeit aging, center out of town. When you look at it down to its core, it was a business decision. Question: who scratches those checks with all that jack? Dr. Jerry Buss. Shaq was due $33 MILLION for the following season. Dr. Buss balked at paying an aging, injury-prone center $33 million. Whether Shaq felt slighted or not, that's between him and Dr. Buss. I look at it factually--Dr. Buss didn't want to pay Shaq all that money, so he traded him. I don't think it was a "me or him" ultimatum. Yes it hurt to trade a Hall of Fame center but the team felt that Shaq was on the downside of his career and Kobe was just reaching his prime.
Any good GM worth his salt would have busted his #### to surround Kobe with better players right off the bat. Bring in a veteran center to mentor Andrew Bynum. Bring in a Sam Cassell to distribute the ball and bring floor leadership. Bring in a Ron Artest for rebounding and toughness. Kupchak sat on his #### the whole time--where's his share of blame in this soap opera?? He didn't bring in the necessary personnel to surround Kobe. He could have had Jason Kidd (a future Hall of Famer) at the trade deadline this season but didn't want to give up Bynum. No wonder Kobe is pissed.
At the end of the day he's not going anywhere. I predict heads will roll (Kupchak's). If that happens, it's long overdue. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Magic Johnson take on a larger role in the franchise, perhaps as a consultant. Personally I hope Dr. Buss one day decides to sell the franchise to Magic.
Jon-You are right on with most of what you say. The Kobe haters are reduced to "well, he didn't do anything to stop shaq from leaving!" As if he is supposed to. However, I have to say that I do pay attention to the NBA and NFL. Some of the sports(NASCAR,MLB) are full of cheaters and whiners, not to mention those sports are soooo boring.
mdeill--thanks. Unfortunately the Kobe haters tend to be blinded by their own hatred of the man. I happen to like Shaq a lot but I could see Dr. Buss's reasoning for trading him. I wish that Shaq and Kobe had been able to work out their differences but as Kobe has said he would handle it differently now.
I am from Central California. I am passionate about sports, particularly the NFL and NASCAR. My favorite teams are: Panthers (NFL), Lakers (NBA), Flyers (NHL), and Dodgers (MLB). I am also a Kevin Harvick fan in NASCAR. I am a Fresno State honk. (I'll admit it!) And I am also a fan of MMA. Jackie Robinson to this day represents what is right about baseball. I also enjoy discussing the relevant (and sometimes irrelevant) issues of the day pertaining to sports. I will never understand why televised poker is so popular. Who wants to see a bunch of people sitting around a table, muttering to themselves? I do my best to keep politics out of my sports discussions. That is why I recently created a nonsports blog, cencalscribe. blogspot.com. That is where I post my nonsports topics.
