IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL WHAT KWAME ISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS COOKIN?

Well, time to throw in my two cents.

As far as the act of booing Kwame itself, like I told Mike T. in an earlier thread (which may have prompted BK to post this topic in the first place), I don't think booing Kwame for a bad game is in order. But that's simply because I think booing a guy who's legitimately trying but failing is pointless. It's a fan's right, no doubt. I'm just not sure what you're accomplishing. You're basically saying, "I don't appreciate your effort." If the dude's dogging it, fine. Boo until your throat's bleeding and raw. Otherwise, why? But again, that's just me.

But the logic that fans shouldn't boo Kwame because he may be oversensitive holds no water. He's a professional athlete making 8 mil a year. And he's in his fifth season, which means the training wheels are (or should be) off. The days of treating him with kid gloves are over. His job requires being under the microscope and he knew that going in. Bottom line? If this is something that truly bothers him (and mind you, I'm not even sure it is), then the problem is Kwame's, not the fans'. Because it's an issue that will follow him for the rest of his career, until he's more consistent. He needs to overcome it, and that's in his hands.

It's also very interesting, because a while back I wrote a post ("And a Mamba Shall Lead them... hopefully") about how I wished Kobe's body language and on-court demeanor would sometimes inspire more confidence within his teammates. Afterwards, many of you defended Kobe, saying that it's up to these guys to man up and find their confidence on their own. That it isn't Kobe's responsibility. And you're entitled to your opinion and I can see some of your points, even if I don't agree. But if it's not Kobe's job, as a teammate and freakin' team captain, to build Kwame's spirit, then it certainly isn't the fan's job, either. There's no possible way the onus falls in the lap of a guy who PAID to watch Kwame play. I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.

Great discussion, everyone. I'm really digging it.

AK

WORD OUT!

KWAME BROWN IS A LITTLE PU$$Y

TRADE KWAME FOR THE CAVEMAN! CHRIS KAMAN!

kWAME FOR KAMAN!

TRADE KWAME RIDICULOUS PIECE OF CRAP!

Listen, people who boo Kwame are fricken idiots.

Some joker on this blog earlier posted something to the effect of "I pay $200 for my tickets so I'll boo whoever I want."

I hate these kinds of people. They're not real fans.

This has more to do with being a quality human being than anything else. Also, it has a lot to do with pragmatism.

AK, you're sounding like your idiot brother, this whole "It's in a fan's right to ban crap" make me sick. Whatever.

The fact of the matter is AND IT SHOULD GO NO FURTHER THAN THIS IS THAT KWAME DOESN'T PLAY WELL WHEN BOOED. PERIOD. IF HE DOES'T PLAY WELL, IT HURTS THE LAKERS! WE NEED TO WIN NOW! WHY DO AN ACTION TO HURT YOUR TEAM? WHY? IT MAKE NO SENSE TO ME.

Put aside morality, ethics, the "right of a fan to boo"... Kwame doesn't play well when booed. We are sitting on the 8th seed in a playoff race.

Hurt Kwame (wimpy as he may be) and you hurt the team.

Hate him for his 8 million a year. Do it. I don't care. Don't boo him.

I want my team to win. I want to make the playoffs THIS YEAR. I want them to do well in the playoffs. That's all I care about.

All this booing individual players because they make mistakes is spouting of self-absorbed quasi-fans who don't care about their team or winning.

Go Kwame!
Go Lakers!

Jon Kavulic:

That's all I was trying to say from the start. Whatever you think, booing effects kwame so why boo him if it causes us to lose? Because it's your right? Well, gee, I can't argue with that.

mike

Listen, K Brothers, how long have you guys been involved in this whole sports media crap?

It seems to me that guys in the sports media invariably become jaded and take on this distorted critical view of the world and a weird kind of disdain for players, particularly players who struggle.

Its like they think they're owed something special by the players, and if those players express their human failings, as members of the media they feel they have a God-given right to crucify these people.

This is exactly what happened with Kobe, until 81 points and then people started changing their tune, because Kobe proved his super-humanness again.

Listen, Kwame is human. Should he be able to take criticism of fans and booing? Hell yes! But if he can't, why make him suffer? Especially when that suffering causes him to play crappy basketball at a time when we are on the verge on being eliminated from the playoffs?

Some knucklehead explain that to me. I'd love for some idiot floor seat dick to explain how his financial investment empowers him with the right to sabatoge the play of a Laker simply because he feels the need to vent his personal dissatifaction.

And you guys criticize Kwame... You should be criticizing these narcissistic idiots. They're the ones who are disciplined. They can't even keep their mouths shut. They can't even make the extra effort to shout out something positive when Kwame performs well.

These people suck.

K Brothers, don't become one of these people.

Go Kwame! We're going to the playoffs, baby!

Go LAKERS!

Rocky makes a bonehead statement of "I wouldn't shy away from booing anyone" like that makes him more of a man or something.

Okay, Rocky, you're all tough in your seats, how about calling out Kwame or Kobe or even myself in an environment where you can't sue. Probably not so tough then.

Listen, aren't we Lakers fans here? Don't we want our team to do well? Why would we lay into a player on our team in a counter-productive way?

I want my team to do well.

I want Kwame to do well.

I want Kwame and the Lakers to succeed.

Go Kwame!

Go Lakers!

Go Team.

Jon,

You're taking this Kwame thing way too personally. Neither BK or AK is telling anyone to boo Kwame or anyone else in particular. Just saying he understands it under certain circumstances.

All this talk of being a real fan is ludicrous because everyone has a different definition it. Bill Simmons believes that you can't be a fan of two different teams in the same league, even if they're in the same city, like the Lakers and Clippers. Does that make you less a "true fan" in your own mind? No, it doesnt and booing a player on your favorite team doesnt make you less a fan.

Kwame is a grown man making as much or more than all the rich people you talked about going to Staples. He needs to be a professional, people pay good money to see quality play and if they feel someone is stinking it up they have the right to boo plain and simple. Kwame's the one that needs to get his head on straight.

I'm not much of a boo bird myself whether it's my team or the opposing team. But I have nothing against it and you've got no right to question whether people are fans or not. You're not here to legislate who's a fan and who's not, you're a fan like everyone else.

Kwame may be a wimp; he may not be.

You may not respect the fact that a kid thrown from a small town in Georgia can't handle years of being booed by DC fans and screamed at by Saint Nike (Jordan).

You may feel that you are so much more tough than that emotionally and spiritually.

You may feel you have a God/Jerry Buss-given right to insult your team's players because you make enough money to buy expensive seats.

You may be right. You may be wrong.

But Kwame has repeatedly shown that he doesn't play well when booed. So why boo him?

Didn't you just pay all this money so you could go to Staples? Don't you want to be entertained by a victory? Doesn't it make sense that if you want a victory to happen, that you'd want Kwame to play well. Then why boo him, so you can undermine your financial investment in a night of solid entertainment.

Where's the logic here?

When I attend a game, I cheer my heart out.

Because I love my team and I want them to win.

Maybe some of you guys are different, but that's where I stand.

Go Kwame!
Go Lakers!

Jon,

You were the one who called Kwame wimpy. And I wouldn't shy away from booing anyone. Because sometimes that's how I react as a fan when someone isn't doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Dude, I'll call you out anyday homie. You've turned into a ego-maniacal wacko with your posts lately. Easy on the myopia. I thought I was the biggest Lakers fan in the world until I saw your azz posting on this blog every waking moment of the day. Get a life dog.

I'd love to see a picture of you. You're probably a gump. And if it was Khan making the post, these words apply to you.

I want Kwame and the Lakers to succeed. We shall see what happens.

I don't think Kwame is a wimp...I think he's frustrated by the way his coaches have used him throughout his professional career. Come on, do you think Doug Collins and Eddie Jordan really tried to develop kwame's offensive game? Heck no! Especially Eddie Jordan...he was and is always under pressure to win and so he threw his offensive schemes towards Gilbert Arenas, just like PJ is doing with Kobe Bryant. If I were Kwame I would demand a trade to a lousy team so he can truely be needed to score and then build a reputation as a scorer and get a max contract by the time he's 25 years old. Kwame needs to tell PJ...go to h*ll! I'm not going to let you ruin my career by having me do all the dirty work and not have plays called for me. I'd say trade me to a losing team that can use my offensive skills which would benefit both the team and Kwame as a professional.

mike

Jon is a freakin loser get a life
Loser stop posting so many damn comments on here

after playing around with the trade simulator on espn, i just realized something. kwame is freakin making $7 million a year!!!

if kwame really cant take the critisism, i have one option for him. he could rework his contract with kupchak, take a huge paycut so he only makes $2 million. when the city of LA sees this, the high expectations will go away and he will be cheered for taking one for the team.

am i right?

Jon,

I thought you were a little sensitive when you complained that someone was using your name. Well with in your rights, but sensitive. My deepest apologies. I know it isn't you and this is ridiculous. There should be a password, or something.

On this topic, I have a 7 year old son. It is my job t ake sure he grows up to be a man. When he stands on a drawer and breaks it then "we" have to fix it and have a "talk". When he does it a second time the punishment needs to increase. Why? So that he will not do the same thing. So he will grow up. If I din't punish him I would be hurting him for the rest of his life.

Kwame probably never had a responsible dad. Someone that can help hi grow up and be a man. Jordan didn't help. But he has been give many many second chances. Now it is trial by fire. Boo away.

On a bigger picture outlook, I don't want someone that is that sensitive on the Lakers. I want championships. I want rings and glory. If you can't play cause you droppped your 14th pass of the day and some drunk from El Segundo started calling you names, well maybe you should play for the Clippers. I will live through the lean times.

I will cheer Mihm and even Slava. I think they work hard and try. See that is my opinion. It is my right to choose who I like and who I don't. Kwame will never be good. He can't take it, I'm ok with that. ot veryone who wore purple and gold was a real Laker. Get on the bus and move on.

Lot's of big men in the league who are no good. Portland's Kim Ju Ha comes to mind. That doesn't mean that they should be a Laker. Bring me the ard minded, competitive, hungryplayers. Those will get a championship.

No one ever did better when they were BOOed. Reggie Miller, Michael Jordon, Thomas, Barkley, Bird, and Kobe. They all fed off it. Bring me a guy who wants to be booed. That's what the Lakers need.

Jon,

You make it sound like I boo every Lakers without a reason. Booing terrible plays is and has been a part of the game. It's easier to fix one person Kwame's sissyness than suppressing booing rights of millions of fans.
I begin to think you are actually Kwame Brown posting here to defend yourself... and if you are indeed Kwame... GO PRACTICE rather than posting here.

Jon,

First of all, everyone needs settle down. I haven't heard Kwame ever say that this stuff bothers him to nearly the degree that you and others claim. This whole notion is coming from, I think, an observation some people made that Kwame doesn't play well when he's booed. Well, frankly, he didn't play all that well when he wasn't getting booed, either. To be blunt, he's much too inconsistent a player to boil down all his problems as something that simple. Thus, I think this is all getting blown out of wack.

Second, as I already said, I DON'T think Kwame should be booed, assuming he's working hard. I wouldn't do it. But the idea that fans should censor themselves for the sake of one player is absurd. They have every right to express displeasure, even if they're doing it in a way I personally find pointless. Besides, if getting booed truly damages Kwame's psyche enough that it causes him to "suffer," as you so dramatically put it, he's not tough enough to handle the pressure of helping the Lakers get the 8 spot, anyway. So it's all a moot point.

Along these lines, how far should fans take your philosophy? For example, let's assume players actually read this blog. Should negative comments be off limits, because it might affect their confidence? What if Kwame's thinking about them as he steps on the court? You've criticized Kwame many, many times on this blog. Should you be taken to task for that? In my mind, of course not. But where do you draw the line? Negative comments are the written version of booing, more or less. If one is allowable, the other should be, too.

I also think it's a little presumptious of you to act as if your rules for being a true fan are the only ones that count.

As far as BK and I being "jaded" journalists, as you're suggesting, that's ridiculous. You and many others have said countless times that we're pretty objective when it comes to evaluating the team. So now your whole opinion since mid-October has changed because of one post? Seriously? If so, that's pretty silly. It seems like anyone or anything you don't agree with inspires you to throw a furious hissy. Of course, that's your right. We'll print every last one of them. Have at it. But it's a little ridiculous, if you stop, take a breath and think about it.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but you took some pretty large swipes that I don't think were even remotely warranted.

AK

How do we know booing doesnt help Kwames game? How can you prove he plays better when fans dont boo?

This isnt fricken little league basebal; were talking about professional sports here. In sport, coaches yell at players, they dont have time-outs and discuss the "consequences of their actions" with them.

People like John K. (dude take a chill pill) who would "slap a fan next to him who booed kwame" is the reason why we need to boo players, bc if you coddled them like a 10 month old infant all the time, theyd end up being even more sensitive...hyper sensivtive. and thats the last thing id want in a Laker.

Yea, dont boo the guy like hes a Rasheed, Chauncy, Brad Miller or T. Parker. But a few well deserved boos are exactly that, well deserved.

Hey AK/BK I posted about an hour or so ago and I just checked back and it's not up yet? What's goin on/

Any way I've got one last comment about this tif that has arisen about Kwame.

Kwame is a grown man paid millions to play a game and play it well. As fans we have a right to show our displeasure. And as someone said earlier if Kwame can't take some booing how's he gonna go on the road, and how can he help the Lakers in any capacity?

There's a fine line between being a die-hard fan and fanaticism. You've leaped so far over that line Jon that I think if you took a step back at what you're doing you'd find yourself in Khan country.

I think we've beat this kwame thing as much as we can. Lets see what happens over the next few games.

mike

Wow. Sorry I tuned in late for this one. Stimulating, kind of.

Hey, while on the subject, anybody know what Kwame's "go to" move is?

He really doesn't have a go to move...he has a quick first step, from what I understand he has excellent feet, which doesn't get used much because he has no plays called for him.

mike

I have an idea, tomorrow we play the kings. Lets see how many times Mike Bibby burns Smush Parker by driving to the basket. Let's see how it causes other Laker player to leave their man and get scored on. Then we can blog about that.

mike

Jon Kavulic,

I just lost a lot of respect for you (or your posts, since I don't know you). You have officially joined my "Gloss over" list. Your argument is idiotic (ironic isn't it? considering that you are busy calling everybody else idiots.) and pointless. Kwame plays badly whenever kwame plays badly, the booing only points out the fact. You obviously are jealous and indignant about your personal situation as compared to the fans that sit in the lower seats. You said your job sucks fine, if you suck at your job trust me, you will be fired and then booed. I don't care what Kwame's mental makeup is, if he can’t play and can't handle adversity he is in the wrong business. It's a fan's right to boo or cheer or both.

The Fear.

this thread is dead please burn it and start over

I will boo the entire team if they are not playing well. Why? Because I expect them to win. I love the Lakers, but I expect them to play well. I can handle losses if they play the right way. Too many times, the entire team, not just Kwame, Smush, Luke or whoever, but everyone doesn't have their heads in the game. So I boo.
Does that make me less of a Laker fan? I don't think so. I expect excellence. I support it financially, so in many ways I have a stake in my team. If players are not performing up to par, as a "shareholder," I must voice my displeasure. If they cannot handle that, then honestly they should not be a Laker. When you wear the purple and gold everyone relates that to excellence. It is one of the reasons why the Lakers are one of the best road attendance teams.
I encourage all of you to take a look at game 7 of the 2000 WCF. When the Lakers were down by 15 late int he 3rd qtr, you can hear the boos very loudly. If it is wrong to boo under any circumstance, then those who booed at that game can't be true Lakers fans. Are we ready to say that about 20,000 people?
If I boo, it is because the team is not doing what they SHOULD be doing. Really, these are professionals who are getting a lot of money to play this game. As a teacher, I am ridiculed, cursed at (underneath the kids breath), looked down upon by the public for test scores, yet I manage to hold my head high and continue to do my job to the best of my abilities. What is wrong about expecting the same from them?