The internets are alive with posts on Kobe Bryant, in honor of Hardwood Paroxysm declaring today to be Kobe Bryant Blog Day. What does that mean? It means we all set aside the negatives, and write things simply appreciating the talents of the NBA's most polarizing player. My contribution will be to put up videos of my three favorite Kobe moments that I was fortunate enough to experience in person, so here they are, in reverse order.
Number 3: 52 Points against Utah, November, 2007
This one was great for me because it was one of the rare occasions that I had lower level seats, (usually I'm up here) and seeing Kobe tear up the Jazz like this -- especially his 30-point third quarter, which starts at about the 3:30 mark -- was truly amazing.
Number 2: Game 2, 2004 NBA Finals, Kobe's three-pointer to send the game into overtime
The Lakers eventually lost this series to the Pistons, but Kobe gave Laker fans a glimmer of hope when he hit this three that allowed his team to go to overtime to take Game 2. Playoff heroics are a key part of what makes Kobe such a special player, which is why my favorite moment was ...
Number 1: Game 4, 2006 Playoffs, Kobe hits two buzzer-beaters -- one at the end of regulation, one at the end of overtime -- to beat the Suns.
The way that this game ended was complete insanity. At the end of regulation, Smush Parker and Devean George -- two of the worst Lakers in recent memory -- are involved in a steal that gets Kobe the ball with a chance to tie the game. He has the composure to make a tough floater over Boris Diaw to send the game into OT. Then in the extra period, Kobe ends up with the tip off the jump ball, and calmly dribbles down and nails a 15-footer to win it. The Lakers had no business winning this game, but thanks to Kobe's heroics, not once but twice, they were able to pull it out.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-11-2008 @ 1:48PM
Julian said...
And the Brett Edwards ballwashing of Kobe continues. Shaq's an egomaniac for trying not to injure small children, but Kobe's the man. I get it.
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3-11-2008 @ 1:57PM
Sam said...
Too bad in 2 of the 3 videos posted they ended up losing the series huh? You'd think "the greatest player alive" could have led them to a few more victories...Lebron single-handedly beat a MUCH better Pistons team...
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3-11-2008 @ 2:58PM
black death said...
Kobe isn't the NBA's most polarizing player. Brett Edwards, and other Laker fans, just think he is polarizing because no one agrees with them that he is the second coming of Jesus.
Fans of the other 29 teams just think that he is a very good basketball player, but refuse to fellate him because we acknowledge the few flaws in his game and the numerous flaws in his personality.
Polarizing? No, just a bunch of Southern Californians worshiping a celebrity and the rest of the country seeing him for what he truly is; nothing new.
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3-11-2008 @ 3:09PM
Dead Weight said...
I have read over 50 different blogs today on Kobe, still can't get enough. I am about to be fired, but I have to share my view on this Kobe day. It's always been Kobe v (anyone else having a good season that year); it's been Wade, Mcgrady, Lebron, even Vince Carter, whoever else the flavor of the month at the time was. He has always played with passion, never had a down season, even as all the contenders somehow always managed to fall by the wayside, he has kept pushing ahead to the next great "better than Kobe". So for one day at least I say let the man have his due.
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3-11-2008 @ 3:25PM
Dave said...
Don't know if you guys have seen Kobe's video in support of the victims in Darfur. Here's a link to it www.AidStillRequired.org . It's awful what's going on over there and I give Kobe lots of props for bringing it to everyone's attention.
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3-11-2008 @ 3:50PM
mrhammerstein said...
@sam : "...Lebron single-handedly beat a MUCH better Pistons team."
and yet he gets swept by a Western Conference team in the Finals. and keep building up the Pistons every year. they're an average Eastern team. they were last year as well. if they were in the West, they would be hovering right around where Golden State is.
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3-11-2008 @ 4:28PM
Sam said...
mrhammerstein you are an idiot. I don't even like the Pistons...or any team in the East. Go back to third grade and get some reading comprehension skills.
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3-11-2008 @ 5:14PM
mrhammerstein said...
if you would calm down for a second, you could understand that you commented on how LeBron single handed beat a better Pistons team than Kobe lost to and then i commented back that i thought the Pistons were overrated last year and therefore not better than when Kobe played them.
then i commented that if LeBron was so great, how come he couldn't win one game against the West.
no where did i mention you like the Pistons or any team in the East.
it seems my reading comprehension skills should not be in question, but yours instead.
good day, sir. i said good day.
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3-11-2008 @ 6:26PM
Bitch Please! said...
Black Death...
No I'm not from Southern California, Detroit actully. And the Lakers are really only my second favorit team. But I recognize that Kobe, despite the boos and hisses he hears from almost every internet blogger, misinformed fan, and misinformed victims rights activists on a day to day basis, has continued to play at a level above nearly everyone in the league year in and year out.
It is quite amazing that he has never even finished SECOND in the MVP balloting (carried out by the media) because he is somehow a statistic hound "ballhog" who can't lead a Shaq-less team to a ring. Yet, the media darling himself, Steve Nash, has 2 MVPs (while leading a supporting cast greater than A.I., Kidd, Lebron, or Kobe EVER had) to NOTHING, not even a Finals appearance - all because of his STATS.
Kobe is polarizing. No other player in the NBA garnishes the hate, and at the same time admiration that Kobe does. No player can have NBA Players almost unanimously say that he is the most talented player in the league, and yet have so many in the media and irrelevant jealous fans try to dismiss him as a "ballhog"...
THAT BY DEFINITION IS POLARIZING...
P.S. Plus he plays Defense better than your favorite player.
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3-11-2008 @ 8:07PM
Phil said...
B-PLEASE, U R THE ONLY NORMAL PERSON ON THIS BLOG. THESE OTHER U KNOW WHAT, JUST DON'T LIKE THE GUY. BY THE WAY, HE HAS A BETTER BIG MAN NOW, THAT CAN PLAY INSIDE AND OUT. SMARTER, NOT A FAKE, NOT MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING DUMB ASS RAP ALBUMS IN THE OFF SEASON INSTEAD OF WORKING ON HIS GAME AND GETTING IN SHAPE, U GET THE DRIFF. GOOD JOB ON THE BLOG.
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3-11-2008 @ 9:31PM
G said...
Kobe is a polarizing figure. however, i've been reading this blog for a while and Brett is a huge kobe fan (apologist). but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate kobe for the great player he is.
@Phil - kobe also made a "dumb ass" rap album back in the day (i remember tyra banks on the single). or rather he tried to. it was so bad that it was never released.
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3-11-2008 @ 11:56PM
The great jon chan said...
Kobe is the greatest player I have ever seen. When you read these article about LeBron James being the best just think well doesn't age effect how you play. Kobe is alomst thirty when LeBron is around five years younger. His points per game doesn;t even match Kobe's 35.4 record. Also people are praising LeBron for his record made at New York, well its doesn't matter look at the team he beat, the New York Knicks. His team only wins so much because his is in the sucky Eastern Conference, look where Kobe has been for alll this time, the West. There he has to compete with Nash,Duncan,Iverson, and etc. But who does LeBron compete with? Wade.Garnett,Pierce. and etc. Seriously which player looks better.
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3-12-2008 @ 12:45AM
DM said...
Hmmm, while the Rockets are in the middle of a historic 19 game winning streak, Brett is back kissing Kobe's arse. Please change your blog to KobeFanHOuse, then I'll understand.
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3-12-2008 @ 9:23AM
The Cooler said...
If his name wasn't Kobe Bryant, everyone would appreciate a player who plays hard at both ends of the floor, especially when hurt. However the true reality is there are many people out there that are not happy with their lives, so they use kobe as an excuse to vent. Oh well, any true basketball fan knows the truth! Kobe has paid his dues, time to reward him with an MVP award.
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3-12-2008 @ 12:55PM
seen one eat a rocking chair one time said...
There was a nice piece about him on the "Guys Who Paid Off A Woman To Get Her To Drop The Rape Charge" blog.
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3-12-2008 @ 2:06PM
sdp said...
I saw the 3rd video live. Kobe clearly travels in the first highlight.
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3-14-2008 @ 11:59AM
Thegr81 said...
This blog and the comments that follows are even more proof that Kobe Is the most polarized player in the league. You read blogs on any other player and you wont have this much hate thrown at them. LeBron has done nothing different that Kobe has been doing for quite some time in the league and yet he gets praised for it while Kobe gets labled as a ballhog and glory hound. Two years ago it was Wade. Now its Lebron (not for nothing because he's a out-of-this-world player) but you people have a double standard towards Kobe. Its called HATE!! Just embrace the fact that Kobe is the best player in the game today (and tomorrow for that matter).
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