Kobe Bryant MVP 2009 - Making the case

This year, there has been a lot of talk of awarding Lebron James with the MVP For this season. It's way too early for this kind of talk but, if people are going to do it, then please consider this.

In two match ups between Kobe and Lebron this year, Kobe's team won, Lebron didn't play well largely due to Defense played by Kobe Bryant, and Kobe's team has a higher winning percentage this year.

If the Lakers finish in 1st place in the west, and Lebron's Cavs are 2nd to Boston; How can you justify awarding Lebron James with the MVP? If the Lakers finish the season with the best record in the NBA, and the Cavs are 1st in the East but 2nd record-wise; How can you justify awarding Lebron James with the MVP?

You want to try the, "Lebron's team isn't as good as Kobe's, so they got as far as they did because of Lebron" argument?

Well, that didn't work for Kobe.

All those years Steve Nash robbed Kobe of his MVP when he had players like Kwame Brown and Brian Cook to pass the ball too - even though most of the time they fumbled it out of bounds, traveled, or turned it over in some way ... Kobe was able to guide a Very Less talented team into the playoffs, and they "almost" beat Nash's more experienced and more talented team.

If that argument didn't work for Kobe; How can you justify it for Lebron James?

Lately, the MVP has gone to the best player, on the best team - Last year, Kobe got it because the Lakers were in 1st place - AND - he had another phenominal year. He's having another one of those hall of fame seasons; His team is near the top.... Time to start the Kobe back-to-back MVP Talks for th 2008-2009 season, NOW!

Congratulations Celtics....

It's only right...

I said Lakers in 5, and boy was I wrong; Lakers did a good job this year, and they have nothing to be sad over; Except for how Soft they played in the Finals; Hopefully they learn from that moving foward.

Congrats Celtics, only right that I take a moment to say that .. and now, we return to our regularly scheduled blogging.. :)

Bring it On Celts.... Bring it on

We wanted this... they kicked our ass Twice during the Regular season; Both games were bad timing; The day after Thanksgiving ... according to coach Phil Jackson the Lakers were ... "Full of Turkey". Early in the season, teams are not playing their best; Then came the short-shorts - a good idea but, They should've warned the crowd; Find any footage from that event and you'll see, People Laughing; Not giggling, but Laughing Out Loud, ... really loud.

It was hard for them to concentrate on playing basketball; Hate to make excuses but, it was; By the time half time came, they were getting their asses kicked, and didn't have enough time to get back into the game; So... We wanted these mother $%$!^

Bring it On Celts!

images courtesy of Espn.com

Tonight ... it begins

Lakers Vs. Celtics ... Game 1

image courtesy of Espn.com

All about Closing....

best sales game ever....

Coffee is for Closers Only...

speaking of which.. The Lakers are looking Mighty Impressive....



Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers.... now... Bring on Boston...



If the Lakers can get One game in Boston.... Lakers in 5.

... ABC ... Always Be Closing

What a Night!! Kobe Bryant puts on MVP Performance

It was a great night in San Pedro, California, where I settled in with friends and fellow laker fans to watch David Stern give the MVP Trophy to the Best Player in the game; ... there was talk of past MVP award winners and how their teams, often caught up in the jubilation of the moment would be so excited that they would end up having a bad game; Often MVP's lose the same night they get the trophy; Same thing happens on Opening Night when the Champions get their Rings from the previous season; But Not Kobe Bryant.

It's a great day after too - The newspapers' sports sections are jumping with Stories about the Lakers, about Kobe - the hope is in the air, and everyone can feel it; Is this team good enough to win ... This year??

If Kobe keeps playing like he's been playing, and most importantly if his team mates keep playing like They've been playing, I dont see a team who can stop the Lakers from bringing home what is rightfully theirs; The Larry O'Brien Trophy.



This is a good start though; Kobe really put on a show last night; He made about 5 incredible shots; I used to really love watching Jordan play... but it seems like Kobe's in-the-game highlight reel is often Unreal.

There is something in Sports called "addition by subtraction" - Kobe has always been a great player; but his Team was not always great. This year two Great Subtractions took place for the Lakers. They Dropped Smush Parker, an obvious cancer to the team, with a piss poor attitude about everything - if he was having a bad game, his sour faces and play would infect others on the team; I think he pissed Kobe off tremendously;

Then you have the ill-fated career of Kwame Brown - what a sad story this is gonna be; You all know he's done playing right? After this year, no team is going to sign him; I at least hope no GM out there is foolish enough to do that; If so, give me his job please. Now ... Kwame Brown's leaving was just as good as Pau Gasol's arriving. Even when Kwame was injured the Lakers were immediately a better team; The guy was just sad, and like with Smush, his terrible play would often cause others on the team to play bad also.

It's infectious, this game of basketball; When it's going good for a player, the crowd feels it, they yell, they scream, and the other players on the team can feel it, it motivates them, focuses them, and next thing you know they're making shots and making plays, and as Stu Lance always says, it's a game of Emotion, a Game of Runs, and a Game of MOmentum.

So in that light, you can understand why having a BAD player on your team, can really effect your team - A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. Replacing those weak links with Pau Gasol, and Derrick Fisher doesn't hurt either; D. Fish Is the Lakers; He won 3 Championships here; He knows what Phil wants out there on the court from his Point Gaurd, and he's transferred that knowledge to Sasha and Jordan Farmar.

For the Lakers this year, it's been both Addition by Addition, as well as Addition by Subtraction. Let's see how they do in Utah... usually in the playoffs home court Does play a role in how the game goes; the crowd really gets the home team going; but something tells me the MVP will not be worried about that; To quote Kobe from his post game press conference last night ... "It's just noise."

Photos Courtesy of Espn.com & The Daily Breeze Newspaper Sports Section

Congratulations Kobe - the 2007-2008 MVP

You Knew I was gonna do it right??

Finally, the greatest basketball player in the NBA got his due.


photo courtesy of espn.com - AP Photo/Ric Francis

Click on that photo to read an article by one of my Favorite journalists, J.A. Adande; though I do disagree with some of his stuff, he usually gets it right; and to quote Jim Rome from his show this morning, The NBA got it right too.

Chris Paul had an amazing season and he's clearly going to be a force in this league for some time to come; and as I've been saying to friends, and anyone who'll listen, the NBA is full of talented players.

Lebron James, Dwayne Wade (when he comes back from injury), Chris Paul, Deron Williams, K.G., the list goes on and on; and when it comes to the younger players the best is yet to come; We haven't even seen Greg Oden yet... or a Full Season of the steadily improving Andrew Bynum; The future of the NBA looks great - but where as Kobe is Concerned, he's been robbed of at least 2 MVP's - and it's obviously due to his troubles in Colorado.

I'd even argue the 3rd Finals they were in, against the Nets, Kobe should have gotten the Finals MVP for that because he was just riddiculous during the playoffs, and those finals.

The Year Kobe rattled off a string of 40 point games, or the year he rattled off a string of 50 point games ... and 81 points in One game, you could've easily given him MVP for that. But I guess they couldn't deny him this year. In the past the argument was, "well those other guys helped their team win First Place."

If that was the criteria, then naturally, this was his year.

Congrats again to Kobe Bryant, MVP of the league... Simply the best, of the best.

A more just society...

I was reading about the Pope's Visit to the USA and his meeting with our President, and was inspired to share a few words on what the pope would like the USA's leaders to do; to govern in a more Just and Moral way.

Sounds great doesn't it?

This is however the precise problem with people who address the USA - who claim to be shocked by the war in Iraq; from the threat of terrorism we have taken over a country and every day we kill innocent Iraqi's who had nothing to do with 911, who don't support terrorism, and who just wanted to live their lives; Every day we help those who do want to harm us, to recruit the relatives of those innocents killed by the USA.

What we are doing over there is no surprise.

See, that's just the problem - People fail to realize that the USA has never been a just, moral nation. I'm so glad that in 1964 they were able to draft the voters rights act, allowing black men and women who had contributed SO Much to the American Society, to finally have a voice in who the leaders would be in their communities, and to have a say in who leads this nation.

Great!

After 400 years of Slavery and Segregation, time enough to mentally disable the majority of black people in this country to be nothing more than followers of what was given to them, great! After breaking the very humanity of these people - great! After ripping any knowledge of their past from them, after destroying any unity they could have as a people - Great!

This is precisely the problem in this country.

Sure we've got the potential to do what's right - to be a great nation - to be the very best in the world; We've got freedoms that other nations don't have But keep in mind that Many of these freedoms were denied to black people for 400 years... that when black people finally got the freedom to speak their mind, that many were shot and killed for what they had to say; that freedom for black people, is not the same as freedom for whites.

This country STILL has a long way to go before it can ever claim to be a just, or moral nation. Specifically I put the blame ... or the responsibility on white people, to stop referring to this nation as great already, as if it's already accomplished great status; and refer to it as Potentially Great.

We've patted ourselves on the back too much in this country; and it takes away from the work that still needs to be done; it causes anger at remarks of a pastor who's only speaking the truth; but it's perceived as Hate Speech, because so many white people feel this nation is Already Great.

This perception causes a problem.

It's like when people come up to me talking badly about Kobe Bryant; The man is already great, and sometimes I percieve anyone with anything negative to say about Kobe, which may sometimes be true, as Hate-Speech.

It's not hate speech when it's true.

It's not a great country, till it's a great country, till it truly becomes a more just, and moral country; We've got work to do folks; I hope you're up to the challenge.

Let the Hype Begin.... Lakers vs. Suns - Kobe vs. Shaq

Although both players have put their past disputes behind them, the media continues to have fun with this one; Trying as hard as they can to pit one versus the other; and I suppose I can understand why.

I'm a Laker fan, and the potential that these two players had together to win an Incredible Number of Championships together was just so scary; It's kinda like what the Lakers have assembled now by Adding Pau Gasol, to a team full of players who are finally playing as if they belong in the NBA.

This current team, truly has the potential to win 3 to 5 championships in a row; Yea, you read that right; and I truly believe it from my Extensive Experience in watching the game of Basketball; So I can see why the Media loves to play up the drama between Kobe and Shaq.

Together these guys could've easily carried 8 or 9 teams to the Final round of the Playoffs, and walked away with 7 or more Championships; Easily... especially with the Zen Master leading the way. So when they couldn't do it, when they couldn't get along with each other, when the Little Brother wanted more 'shine' and the Big Brother didn't wanna give up any of his, the clash created a series of events, that saw Shaq win his 4th Championship in Miami, with Dwayne Wade ... who's been drawing comparisons to Kobe and Jordan, who's possibly got the ability to become a dominating Gaurd on his own someday; Meanwhile Kobe struggled - getting bounced from the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns 2 years in a row... largely due to Kobe having NO Help on his team ...

But both times they gave the Suns a scare; While undermanned, Kobe's performances were so awesome that they almost pulled it off... Twice; out of that developed a new rivalry; Something else for the media to play up - because it truly was an exciting battle; And it's as if everyone knows eventually Kobe is gonna have enough help to get over the hump; So it's been exciting to watch.

Now, Shaq has joined that very same Suns team - and Kobe's finally got Help.

What more can we NBA Fans wish for....



Don't expect the Suns to win it all this year because they added Shaq; Instead, watch for the Lakers to make a historic Run for their first championship in nearly 5 years.... Let the next Dynasty begin... now!

Jordan: Still the greatest ever?

Many people still think so. I am a Huge Kobe fan, and even I have been quoted as saying that by the time it's all done, Kobe will go down as the greatest basketball player ever; But, I have to share this - the other day I was watching some highlights from Jordan, when he went for 55 points on the Knicks, wearing #45.

Jordan was pretty cold blooded; He still may be the best ever - even though Kobe is a very close second. Here's a recent Interview by ESPN with Michael Jordan, talking about his New role with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Wrap it up - send the trophy to Boston

With their move today to acquire Kevin Garnette from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics have pretty much solidified their return to glory. Not many teams in the east will be able to withstand the 3 headed monster of K.G., Paul Peirce, And Ray Allen....

JESUS!

Don't forget about what K.G. did when he had Latrell "the choke artist" Sprewell and Sam "I Am" Cassel - who's back was not 100% - they got all the way to the Western Finals and fell because they came up against Kobe, Shaq, and the championship form Lakers.

The East is not as strong as the West was then ... So we can at least book them a trip to the Finals for the 07-08 Season; If they face the Spurs or the Suns, they have a really good shot at hosting that Parade in the city where the Tea Party got it all started...

And yes, once again, the GM for the Lakers sat back and did nothing. Boston sends a very good prospect in Al Jefferson, and another with potential due to his athletic ability in Gerald Green to The T-Wolves; Truthfully right now, Green is more like a Ricky Davis than a budding Superstar - so we'll see how that works out. Gomes? .. yea, he's Ok - Futre draft picks and cash may turn into something.

But the Lakers could have sent Lamar Odom, (ok, not that great - gets injured often), Andrew Bynum (I was willing to wait, till I heard that Kobe was not...), Kwame "no hands" Brown (hey, he's a lil better than Gomes... maybe...) Javarious Crittenton, a new gaurd with lots of potential, equal at least to Green... Jordan Farmar - who I love in a Lakers Uniform but ... do what you gotta do to bring K.G. to L.A. - and they could've added some draft picks cash, whatever - but ... nope.

However I'll give ol' Mitch some slack; Truth be told I doubt Kevin McHale would do anything to help the Lakers; a team that he had to battle almost every year for the right to take home a Championship - so, he did a deal with his team mate, and a good friend of his, Danny Ainge. Makes sense... logically speaking.

So now, Let's talk about Kobe.

Kobe may just leave... which really sucks; but the Lakers MUST sign someone BIG at the end of this season, Or bring in someone DURING this one to even give the Lakers a shot at having the Best Players in the League around for the remainder of his career.

Al for GM campaign officially resumes... stay tuned for more entries on this topic...

One dude can't do it all.

There is a lesson to be learned from the trials of my Lakers ... yes, My lakers.

I'm a true fan; a true fan who feels the lakers are doomed - My prediction? The suns SWEEP the lakers 4-0.

Before this playoff season began I was hoping my Lakers would lose! Why? Because I'm a true fan, and as a true fan I am not misled by hope. I am forever guided by reality. We've got the best player in all of basketball, and that's where it stops.

The lakers would have been much better off, missing the playoffs, getting a Good draft pick in the next seasons draft, and re-tooling the squad with a free-agent, maybe... K.G. - or someone else able to make an impact; someone to Help Kobe out.

The consensous is, if Kobe doesnt' score 50 ... or 60 .. the Lakers are doomed. So what happens when the Suns won't LET Kobe score 50 .. or 60? That's right - 4-0 Sweep. Bring out the brooms ladies and gents.

One man cannot do it all; maybe for a game or two, a stretch during the regular season; but in the playoffs? It's a whole new level ... teams are playin for a Championship; They can smell it - can almost touch it, and ONE man cannot stop a TEAM from getting closer to that goal.

So, with that being said, here's to hoping for a better year next year.

The sooner the Lakers get rid of Mitch Cupcheck, the better.

Check out TNT's coverage of the Lakers' loss the other night; along with other NBA coverage and insight from Charles, Kenny, and Ernie.

Not much...

I haven't had much to say this year - but much of that will change very very soon.

sit tight folks...

Want more Kobe? Of course you do...










Ok here's my Super Bowl Pick - I'm goin with Da Bears. Not tied to either team really and could care less who wins, but, that's my pick. Why?

Defense wins Championships...

Off to another great season

I'm still making the argument - best player to ever play the game... so far.



Lebron James may just be on his heels... we'll see how it all turns out.

However, the question I raise also brings up another question; Who was better - Magic or Micheal?

feel free to leave your thoughts below.

What if it were real?

What if Chat rooms were real...



An excellent short film - and an hilarious look at the world that is, online chatting.

SO really... who's better?

Kobe has some of the best highlights I've ever seen, and this video really shows that off. But finally I have found comparison footage...



and a more entertaining comparison... you make up your mind.

Whoa - taking it all in?

I hope you all are enjoying thaShow!

The new format is pretty nice wouldn't you agree? Some heavy stuff I've been sharing with you all - I hope you get a chance to watch the videos in this blog, and think about the topics being put forth.

It's good to think.

The faster we become a nation of thinkers the faster we avoid becoming a nation of sinkers. I don't want to rock the boat; just keep the boat afloat!

stay tuned for more awesome videos about all sorts of topics - sure to keep you entertained - Speaking of which, I wanted to take a moment to share a great collection of poetry in motion - aka the best basketball player on the court today - Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Mix

Fresh Az I'm Iz

You've really gotta be a laker fan to understand the significance of some of the plays in that highlight reel - but so long as you're a basketball fan you can really appreciate the in-game, riddiculous performance - Is he better than Jordan - at this point in his career?

You tell me.

Can anyone Gaurd him? Can Bruce Bowen?