As The Al Turns...
The "Al Harrington to Indiana talks are dead" talk is dead! Long live the "Al Harrington to Indiana" talk!
Who knows what the hell is going on with this ordeal? Frankly, I'm starting to doubt there actually is an Al Harrington. I think the whole thing's been a hoax to sell papers.
By the way, it's now official that there aren't two teams less talented at putting an NBA transaction into motion than the Hawks and the Pacers. The Hawks' last sign and trade (Joe Johnson) led to a court battle. And the Pacers frittered away half of last season before trading Ron Artest to Sacto for Peja Stojakovic, who was not only the most glaringly obvious one-for-one swap option available, but was rumored to have on the Pacers' radar before the brawl, much less Artest's trade request. It's only fitting that these guys would be struggling so hard to pull triggers with each other. Honestly, I'm shocked everything's progressed this quickly.
—AK
Finally we'll be able to move forward. But this deal to me was never really there. Al wanted to be a Pacer again, he said it over and over again, and it seems he'll get his wish.
Posted by: lakofan | August 21, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Huh?
Posted by: Grady | August 21, 2006 at 10:10 PM
As much as I've loved the Harrington talk, I'll be fine with being done with all of the speculation.
Posted by: Xodus | August 21, 2006 at 10:25 PM
Lakofan,
We've finally found something we agree on! (haha) Yeah, I've never bought that Harrington would end up with the Lakers, either. Until I see him hold up a purple and gold jersey, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 21, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Hey, is this Al Harrington guy worth all this? he was a 18pt per guy on the HAWKS! LOL That'll probably translate to 9pt per on a GOOD team. If Mihm healing right I'd KEEP HIM!
Posted by: Die Hard Laker | August 21, 2006 at 10:33 PM
after this ordeal, what are the odds of harrington having an injury like Nene on opening day and is out all season.
IMO, quite high (I think god hates the pacers)
Posted by: scott | August 21, 2006 at 10:50 PM
:'(
"It ain't over til it oooo vaaa"
Posted by: Ken | August 21, 2006 at 11:00 PM
oh well, it is what it is now, but how 'bout Lakers trying 2 get Miles huh?i think it's still possible,i mean some people here said that we do still need a back-up shooting guard right? so i guess Darius would fit in to that category compared 2 Mckie who's getting older and older....sorry 2 say that but it's just the truth.
Posted by: ponz | August 21, 2006 at 11:02 PM
AK,
I know, can you believe it? We agreed on something.
I was trying to find something to debate you, but I could not find it, oh well. Just kidding.
All the talk about Al was just that, I think it was just a strategy for him to get more money. Is he worth 10mil a year?
Posted by: lakofan | August 21, 2006 at 11:03 PM
Not to worry. Harrington wouldn't have helped you against the Sacramento Kings next season anyway.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 21, 2006 at 11:23 PM
Well I guess its almost a done deal.
LETS START THE "BRING KG TO L.A." DISCUSSION NOW.
LOL.
It was fun while it lasted I guess unless this is all a front by the Pacers to try and get other teams to pull out. Conspiracy??? LOL
Ok so I say we package Mihm, Vlad, Cookie, Walton and MckIe for KG. LMFAO
Posted by: Shady | August 21, 2006 at 11:24 PM
ponz-
darius miles at the 2? compared to mckie?
darius miles is a 3 and we picked up mckie as a 1.
i just want to remind you that we have the best 2 in the fricken world. EVER HEARD OF KOBE BRYANT. THE BALLER FORMERLY KNOWS AS OCHO?
Posted by: sixonezero | August 21, 2006 at 11:32 PM
AK
You actually think THIS (Al Harrington) is more interesting to the blog than Kobe's Sony deal and the re-birth of his marketing appeal?
AK I don't mean to be disrespectful to the blog by changing subjects but I just read your entry from the last thread.
Do you really think 6 years of "being around the team" qualifies you to PROPERLY evaluate Kobe? "In your mind" you are qualified? What? What standard should I or anyone use to examine your subjective mind?
In order to gain some reasonable understanding of why Kobe is such a "polarizing" figure with his former teammates (6 years ago) requires a much more indept study than just 6 years with former teammates and NBA players and writers most of whom suffer from the disease of envy, jealousy, and just plain ignorance. Why do I say this?
6 years ago would place you smack dab in the middle of the problem.....and interviewing individuals does you no good unless you can uncover and understand the prevailing MINDSET and culture that has infected everyone involved and tackle the root or genesis of the issue. Does that make any sense?
Interviewing these people without a total understanding of the MINDSET would be like examining a diseased tree by looking at all the symptoms that occur on all the different branches......without ever going to the tree's roots......you would be on that tree forever looking at all the branches....until you get smart enough to go to the diseased root.
Have you interviewed Kobe's highschool coach? What did he think of Phil Jackson saying Kobe "sabotaged" games in highschool?
Have you interviewed Kobe's highschool teammates? Did he exhibit leadership skills at that level when he led them to a championship? This would be interesting reading for the average fan if journalist were not so lazy in uncovering facts. Don't you think?
I think most people on this blog would be interested in hearing the answers to those questions.
Have you talked to Kobe's Dad?
Have you done your research?
Finally, in regards to the Brian Shaw interview which I would like to see again, what do you expect Brian to say? This guy has to adopt the "triangle mindset" even if he doesn't agree with it.......if he hopes to advance any further in that system.
You would get a better answer from someone like Jerry West who has the knowledge but no longer has a vested interest in this "mindset" or system.......do you agree?
Most of Kobe's problems with the media go back further than the rape charges but directly to Phil Jackson and his masterful manipulation of an unsuspecting press.....in this regard Phil Jackson was evil incarnate.....and he still may be, but that's another story.
These are some things to think about when you examine Kobe.....maybe you will have a paradigm shift if you go to the root and leave the branches alone.
Posted by: pfunk36 | August 21, 2006 at 11:42 PM
this has been from day 1 a 1-team race. All the various rumors including especially the 4-team trade - were tellem's attempt to get the pacers to go for six years instead of four.
LA never really had a chance,
Posted by: Eric Pincus | August 21, 2006 at 11:44 PM
Sixonezero-
i know, of course, i couldn't agree more. But what im tryin' 2 point out is when Kobe takes his 2 min. rest or so in the game, perhaps we could use Miles out for spot 2. It wouldn't really matter if he's 3, he'll prbly adjusts. Not 2 mention he's a good shooter.
Posted by: ponz | August 21, 2006 at 11:49 PM
Harrington is making this thing a show, I keep hearing that the Pacers are done then back on again - what gives.
Now we can focus on Bonzi or ??? The Kings might be willing to pick up Mihm, some garbage like McKie and hey maybe JJ is still our property- he played great up there. Future Draft pick, whatever maybe even Bynum- we need to win now. Musselman and Bonzi - is not going to work.
The Warriors are still desperate so maybe we can wrestle away Monta Ellis or my big favorite Chabarkaba, and speaking of desperate why not look up Mateen Cleaves. Guy has tons of energy and moves better on D than any of our guards.
We are probably set and in the season of wishful thinking... IF everyone elevates their game you just never know. Something special has to happen for this team to really play up to its potential and surprise the West. Bynums development is key if we are going to baby him along.
Posted by: Peter Maguire | August 21, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Trades, deals and gotchas! beyond scope or imagination (which is saying a lot to a La La Land crowd) may still lie ahead, even before the season starts. In a nine, no make that 14 team deal, imagine picking up KG, and an all star defensive stopper or guard for lets say, the Saint.
Think about it. How would you like your chances? You could watch -spectacular Kobe- score 82 points on another team which you know, because of him, will be pretty good but is doomed to never climb higher than a 6th or 7th seed.
No doubt, there is some wheelin' and dealin' going on somewhere. It is unfortunate for Brokebackers that the Saint probably isn't on the table, but one cannot be certain of that. In Hollywood, it is never over until the fat lady stinks.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 21, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Whoa there Funk36,
Take er' easy there big guy.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 21, 2006 at 11:59 PM
Furthermore AK,
I want to know what kind of toothpaste Kobe uses, how often he brushes and if he suffers from the heartbreak of scoriasis.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 22, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Pfunk 36,
Yes, I do think it's more interesting, but maybe that's just me (and the hundreds of comments Harrington discussions have generated). And I've personally talked about Kobe's marketing rebirth before, for what that's worth.
Seriously, man, I respect you, but this is getting ridiculous. If you don't agree with me, fine. Whatever. I don't care. But your levels and steps for "justifying" my opinion are absurd. I would only need to do all that if I was looking to pyscho-analyze Kobe on a deep level, which I'm not.
For example, I have no need to track down Kobe's HS coach and find out his opinion on Jackson's statement about Kobe tanking games back then. Why? Because I find the notion of Kobe tanking games to be ridiculous. And since I've never actually accused Kobe of tanking games (and likely never will), that particular phone call seems like a waste of my and the coach's time. Just because I've been critical of some aspect regarding Kobe doesn't mean I automatically buy into everything bad ever said about the guy. And that should be pretty obvious from the way I've written about Kobe since the blog began.
I simply said that a condition of distance has existed between Kobe and various factions (teammates, coaches, the media), which it clearly has. If you don't want to acknowledge it, don't acknowledge it. You obviously don't, anyway.
Also, I find it a little ironic that you're more or less accusing me of being lazy, yet you're automatically dismissing B. Shaw's comments in the blog interview without being familiar with the interview itself or what Shaw said.
I've never presented myself as the ultimate authority on Kobe. I'm not. And if you want to treat my opinion as worthless, treat it as worthless. But I've done enough research and talked with enough people to come up with my opinions and observations. I feel plenty confident saying that.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 22, 2006 at 12:22 AM
Psycho-analyizing Kobe? Hmmm. Sounds like a challenging yet worthy project. I've seen some pretty good starts right here. So how about it Brokebackers? Let's get to the bottom of PJ McMurphy (a famous Brokeback fan), so to speak.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 22, 2006 at 12:46 AM
Kobe is Kobe. The best player without front office help in the league. When are you guys going to blog Mitch for doing the worst GM job in Laker history. How do you trade Shaq and get nothing? How do you keep Slava on the payroll? How do you pay Brian Grant that much money? Where is his strategy? clearing Shaq and or Grant off the cap will not help Kobe compete against Duncan, Nash, Lebron, Melo, and Wade. Lets wake up and tell the Laker management to eith step up and pay some talent or sell the team.
alos while I am on it. tell Phil that in a big game if Kobe scores 70. it would be better than seeing Kwami score 4 and getting blow away by 30 to Nash and the Suns.
Posted by: Anthony Carter | August 22, 2006 at 05:57 AM
USA won against Slovenia 114-95. This is the country of our Sasha Vujacic, they're good and fast that includes Nesterovic and in fact, they were leading in the 2nd quarter but proned to turnovers by equally fast moving USA. Our team was steadier with a deep bench and widened the lead to 30 in the 3rd quarter. The USA team has the markings of the Dream Team I, more agile, good teamwork and good three point shooters. I think they just missed too many free throws especially D'Wade.
Perhaps, the Laker Front Office should be taping and watch over and over again these FIBA games since Kupcake hates traveling to scout european players, he can be FRUGAL by just relying on the TV feed of ESPN. I'm not an expert but I saw a good point guard by the name of Lakovic and a power forward, Brezec. They should be in the radar of Mitch K. and asked V. Divac to shadow their games throughout the year before the Spurs get them. These are the type of players that falls on the Lakers budget - CHEAP, fast, good shooters and reliable in guarding.
Much has been said about Al Harrington, hey if at the end of the day, he's still available, then I can only quote Abe: "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." If the fate of Al is Pacer, so be it tho' I'm just curious why he would accept $35M for 4 years when there was a previous offer of $57M for 6 years? The fate of the Lakers must be on the hands of Chris Mihm, he must have a purpose driven life destined for him on this team. Having said that, be ready to pay him more before his contract expires at the end of next season. Going back to the USA team, Lakers should also watch Dwight Howard PF of Orlando available in '09 and Kirk Hinrich SG of Bulls in '08, they're playing exceptionally well for USA team. I doubt if their teams would not extend their contracts before they become F/A but Lakers should always have a grand strategy in attracting these type of players in trying to fill the best players per position rather than engaging in swap meat shopping or continuous development of scrubs. lol!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 22, 2006 at 06:14 AM
I've always said that if the Lakers don't get Harrington it isn't a big loss. You can't lose what you never had to begin with. However, if they have a chance to get him, they would be foolish to not make an attempt, especially for what we would be exchanging.
As for those that jumped on my earlier post about the Lakers looking to fill holes, they took my post all out of context. I didn't mean that all the Lakers have need of right now is a couple of hole fillers.
If you read the whole post you would see that I first said that it starts with getting Harrington. Many times what people miss is by adding a player that is going to contribute, it shifts everything else around. If we were to get a player like Harrington that can handle 35 minutes or so a night, that would free up the need to possibly have 2 guys play for those minutes........
As far as the Harrington talk is concerned, it still isn't over for the Lakers to get him, but it doesn't seem very likely at this point. However, because it doesn't seem likely, doesn't change my feeling towards wanting it to happen. Sometimes people on here change their stance on things simply because the likelihood of it happening changes.
One other thing, for those thinking that the Lakers need a second superstar of the caliber of a Kobe Bryant or something, you ae asking for too much. How this whole talk of having loads of top shelf talent has gotten to be considered a necessity escapes me. You need a team.....all parts filling their roles. Some roles are larger than others, but yet all roles are significant. John Salley played a significant role in the Lakers first championship under Phil yet he only played possibly 48 minutes TOTAL all season. That's because his presence on the bench and in practice, was the most important part of his role to the team.
Posted by: JJ | August 22, 2006 at 06:24 AM
ponz-
even if you had darius miles on the squad, there is no way you would sub him in for kobe at the 2. i know anything is possible...but no. miles is more of a weakside shot blocker. not a face up lock down defender. he isn't a good shooter. he is an open court, slasher type player. i know mike t will argue with me until armaggeddon about this, miles does not necessarily fit the triangle offense. our best bet would be having RADMANOVIC start on the 3 and have LUKE come off the bench for him. if MILES miraculously developed a reliable mid range jumper...then yeah he'd be a good pick up.
Posted by: sixonezero | August 22, 2006 at 07:25 AM
Pfunk36,
A paradigm shift? Wow! Now that was a good thing. You wrote a pretty good piece. It's mid August and were bored for some basketball but, again, I can see where you're coming from as far as from a psychological point of view. It's rare that I see someone write something and use "maybe you will have a paradigm shift if you go to the root and leave the branches alone." LOL! You did well in making that the conclusion of your post.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | August 22, 2006 at 07:52 AM
I loved today's article on Wilt Chamberlein.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | August 22, 2006 at 07:56 AM
Pfunk36,
You said eloquently what I was trying to say on the last thread.
AK,
I read the b. shaw interview and he didn't say he had any issues with kobe. More like kobe can be stubborn, and i understand that and get that it's what makes him great. Look no one is saying write fairy tales about kobe, but the whole anti-social he needs to be more friendly angle is so played out.
And most of the articles have very little credibility. E.g. with team usa he was accused of not going on the court to mix with teammates. Two different ways to make that better, as a journalist if you're going to condemn him in that manner, get a few sources ( i.e. team members ) that say they felt that was snobish...or add more balance by saying that's your interpretation of events and maybe he'd talked to them earlier or didn't want to try and steal any of their glory since he wasn't going to be joining the team. Either way shows the reader the journalist is trying to be objective, option 1 does this by getting someone elses opinion besides the journalist, option 2 does this by allowing the journalist to play both sides of the fence. Mind you option 1 can be misused if the journalist only seeks opinions that corraborate his own, i.e. a little i tried to talk to 10 guys on the court, 3 responded and this is what they said, also tells the reader, hey i didn't just hand pick em.
You've repeated that you've had good posts about kobe. No one doubts that. But I think what i was trying to say before is each article needs to be balanced on it's own. i.e. one overly positive and one overly negative article doesn't suffice. What's better is each article on it's own should be objective.
Now your crime was going...oh i've been around kobe six years...that's enough for me to tell he's aloof and needs to try more. To us, it's like here we go again. What's wrong with us going, fine give examples from does six years that justify your opinion. E.g. the fellas always play card on thursdays, they'd invite kobe and he'd say no. And look i'm not just picking on that one incident, this happened and that happened, and hey it's not just my opinion, this is what so and so had to say ( option 1 ). Or you could have added more balance, hey he needs to be less aloof but then again he's already doing a, b, and c and should be commended for that, it's just given his superstar status, adding d would be nice. Mind you the rest of us bloggers do not have to be balance or objective, we dont carry press passes and that's ok...but i do think we should at least be willing to admit when we're just going on that blind love you refer to.
Lastly, seems you're getting tired of being attacked on being overly critical of kobe. Multiply that by a million and you still wouldn't get what it's like to be kobe hearing what the media has to say about you. Maybe take that into consideration next time you put pen to paper about my boy. Then again you're not making 15 million a year like Kobe ( see that's balance or being objective ... lol )
In Kobe we Trust,
Go Lakers
Posted by: Taliq | August 22, 2006 at 08:37 AM
AK,
"I think the whole thing's been a hoax to sell papers."
I'm with you. I think this is one of those "Wag the Dog" or "A Long Kiss Goodnight" episodes.
Creepy.
On the other hand, this speculation has not only sold papers, but sparked, "AH is alive" or, "AH is dead" or "who the heck is AH, anyway?" talk on this blog.
Of course, there's been that silent debate as to whether to abbreviate his name AH or Al. That one has been running neck-and-neck for the past couple of days. Everyone knows which side of the fence I stand on THAT one!
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | August 22, 2006 at 08:52 AM
My big question is Why haven't the Lakers aggressively gone out for a big man (he can be good and a team player)? the stiffs that we have played lousy against Boris Diaw. We need a big that can give us at least 15 and 10. Not potential. we need some who is a presence defensively. If Mitch can not do it fire him. Their are only two GM's worse Isiah and Billy King. The reason Miami won was as Fat Shaq got tired Zo gave them energy. Mitch never gave Shaq a decent backup. My thought for years was that Kobe needed a quick young team in th e second unit. Mitch never got a big man to help Kobe. Now the team is suppossed to be around Kobe well get him some athletic big guys that can play 35 minutes and contribute before he is gone.
Posted by: Anthony Carter | August 22, 2006 at 09:01 AM
Edwin G,
To add to your comments about D. Howard or Heinrich, if west could get shaq from orlando, anyone can be had. We just need to ensure we put ourself in a position to make a good offer.
In Kobe we Trust,
Go Lakers
Posted by: Taliq | August 22, 2006 at 09:10 AM
Taliq,
I brought up the Shaw interview because someone had asked me to provide specific examples of Brian Shaw saying that he had clashed with Kobe in the past. I pointed one out (the blog interview). It's really that simple. But again, nothing I said about Kobe was all that damning in the first place.
You admitted to the blind love many of Kobe's fans feel towards him. I think that love often feeds an overreaction towards anything ever said about the guy short of "KOBE RULES!!!". I think it should be obvious by now that I'm not a writer on a "Kobe burying" mission. So it just surprises me that some readers never take that into consideration whenever they read something I say that may not be 100% positive of Kobe. Just because you ciriticize an athlete doesn't mean you automatically have an "agenda" of sorts. Sometimes, it's just your opinion and that's it.
I think people sometimes take "Love me or Hate me" a little too literally. It's just a marketing slogan. It doesn't represent the ONLY two accepted ways to feel about Kobe.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 22, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Pfunk36 and Taliq,
Listen, I think Kobe does some good stuff and is genuinely a good guy, AND SO DOES AK!!! The dude is more than fair in anything he has said or written about him, and yes, his being around the team extensively for the past six years gives him GREAT credibility in the matter. In a profession where "team" and "hanging with the boys" is probably the norm, Kobe's introverted personality and propensity to come off aloof during his career has caused him some trouble. What about that don't you agree with? All AK has said from Day 1 is that Kobe would do himself a favor if he opened up a little. He doesn't say he's a bad guy or anything, he just keeps to himself and that's fine, but he could make his life way easier by just coming off as a more normal guy. Anyway, AK made a great point that if you're not bowing down to King Kobe then you're a "hater". That line of thinking is ridiculous.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 09:49 AM
AK,
Umm dont see where B. Shaw said he had any major clashes with Kobe. All he said is sometimes we disagree, that's normal for any relationship in this world.
Also you didn't address the notion that just maybe you're obligated to have something to support your opinions since you carry a press pass. Where's the proof in the pudding?
And it's more we the fans are allowed to love him or hate him, however we dont expect the same from journalist. We just expect nicely written articles that are fair. Again I repeat, just because you've been on point 9 times, doesn't mean you get a pass when you fall short the 10th time. So for that one post where you go Kobe needs to be less aloof...blah blah...we're like says which one of his teammates, do they all feel that way....or if u dnt have supporting evidence, then why is that the only opinion you're stating...what about those of us that feel that he's ok as he is...are you just going to dismiss us as crazies, or maybe go in your article...umm but there's a 2nd school of thought that goes blah blah blah.
Come on dude, man up and admit you get the point i'm trying to make. Maybe wahat you're trying to say is umm...hey dude this is a blog and i dnt have time to ensure each post is balanced, if it was an article, then sure. But on the blog i just expect my posts to be accumulative and not have 1 singled out. Talk to me AK, tell me where ya comin frum ;)
In Kobe we Trust,
Go Lakers
Posted by: Taliq | August 22, 2006 at 09:58 AM
Andrew Z,
What "introverted personality"?? Am I the only dude on here that thinks it's not that simple and it's just media hype this whole kobe doesn't get along with teammates. Why is it ok to state this like it's fact. Hell even "genuinely a good guy", how do you know?
If it's just an opinion, cool, but if so then if you carry a press pass like AK, pls make sure to offer a different side in your article/posts ( and umm i dnt care if you had 10 posts in november 05 that were overly positive, if no one checked you then to ask why you as the media take that stance, then whatever )
This is my blog, our blog. And I'm throwing down a gauntlet. Anyone out there that feels kobe in 2006 is more introverted than his peers, pls argue your case. I say '06 cuz sure you can find clips from the past, but in my opinion he was young and his team wasn't very understanding of who he was because Shaq set a bad tone from day 1. If you want to argue that, that's ok too, just take into consideration stuff like Shaq slapping this kid in practice and no one standing up for him. As for the present day I saw him hugging Smush Parker in a manner my own bro hasn't ever done with me, saw him stand up for 7foot bynum in a way no one on his old team did when he got into it with chris childs, can give you a link with odom saying he and kobe are friends on and off the court. I do not see an introvert...aloof...doesn't get along with guys...or that whole bs about him not having street cred, I live in crown heights brooklyn, kobe's jersey get's rocked as much as the next guy. If any blogger here want's to call him an introvert, cool, but if AK ( i got a press pass ) jumps in the mix then I'm holding him to some standards ( see my prior post )...it's same as when sonny calls kobe a r*pist, fine it's his opinion, but if our friends with passes make the same comment, then I'm like whoa...where's that coming from
In Kobe we Trust,
Go Lakers
Posted by: Taliq | August 22, 2006 at 10:16 AM
sixonezero-
LUKE it is, but i doubt it though cuz Luke has never been known as a defensive stopper(probably he will someday). So, tell me, if Kobe gets banged up you would likey say put Luke on 2's spot and expect to guard all-star guards like T-mac, Ginobili, Hamilton , or Richardson?? Sadly 2 say, he'll get schooled by these guys especially if they play in the playoff. Nevertheless, i dont really care if Lakers won't get any back-up 2s, as long as Kobe is fully HEALTHY...we're ready to roll.
Posted by: Ponz | August 22, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Ponz
Evans is our back up 2 guard. Don't forget about this guy. He is a very solid basketball player. He is our best backup 2 and I am glad that he is aprt of our team this year. Upgrade from George.
Posted by: Zakee | August 22, 2006 at 10:26 AM
Shaq never slpped Kobe! Or did he?
Posted by: Zakee | August 22, 2006 at 10:27 AM
This is pretty funny. Al Harrington isn't even worth this trouble. Granted I don't even like Joe Johnson, but atleast he was worth some kind of trouble. The Hawks want to get rid of salary cap so bad. And aparently Al Harrington doesn't want to stay. They should just not resign him and let him sign some low ball deal with whoever has cap room. That's what him and his agent get for being so stubborn.
Posted by: Rubin | August 22, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Taliq,
I agree, Kobe has made some strides post-Colorado as coming off more approachable, but I don't think it's fair to throw out who he has been his entire career and just look at the last 12 months or so. I like Kobe, don't get me wrong, but at a certain point you have to think that some of his personality traits that have been mentioned numerous times in the media are true. Hell, he and his marketing team even came up with his biggest commerical ever and the theme was "Love me or Hate me". Can you create a more polarizing message?!?! I think Kobe's image is better now than it ever has been, and the only thing that's going to keep improving it if he wins, because basically, I couldn't care less if he was Mother Theresa or the biggest A-hole in the world, I just want Laker wins.
My whole point is that you attack AK with claims that he is giving opinions with no credibility or reasons to back them up and I found that completely false. Of the hundreds of sports writers I have read, especially those that are diehard fans of a team they cover, both K Brothers have been nothing but outstanding and professional. To attack them on their journalistic credibility is absurd.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Taliq,
Please drop this. It's getting ridiculous. Plenty of Kobe's teammates have come out on the record and said that he'd distanced himself from them in the past. Here's one from Fish (last year's ESPN The Mag NBA preview issue) in reference to Kobe and Phil's new relationship and Kobe starting to open up around teammates during the preseason.
"That never, ever happened when I was there. I'm 90% happy, while 10% of me is, man, "I wish that was the Kobe I spent 8 years with." I hope he takes himself out of the way and lets his greatness shine. Be the kid Jerry West saw in Pennsylvania who just loved to play."
Fish is saying that Kobe often stood in his own way and it often made his life more difficult than necessary. That sentiment is exactly what I was talking about in sparking all this. And it's reminiscent of things I saw while around the team and heard from various people while being "AK (I got a press pass)", as you put it. You're acting like I'm making this crap up, which is frankly, pretty insulting.
As I also said (and has been TOTALLY ignored by everyone on "Kobe-worship" alert), he's getting better with this. But I still think he has issues of trust to get over. Again, my opinion and I think I've stated clearly why I feel this way.
But I imagine that article is just an extension of ESPN's agenda against Kobe. And you'd like me to cite another 100 examples of this before my opinion means anything, since it's all one big media conspiracy, anyway. None of it has even a sliver of truth.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 22, 2006 at 10:46 AM
If Al isn't coming to LA then so be it. I have not been a big Mihm fan of late but I will be happy to give him another look at PF. If that is my only choice.
Am I correct that this was his natural position prior to wearing P&G??? Someone please correct me if wrong. If so, what were his stats like at that position? (I am still a newbie in basketball history) Will he make a good starter there? Will he fit better there than he did in the middle? These are things that need to be known now heading into the year with the current roster.
I do agree about getting something more than McKie and even Cook, though I like Cook.
Always the Walton fan though, enough talk of throwing him under the bus already. He is getting better every year and it shows. We need a passer who can see the floor with a great BB-IQ.
T-Woody
Posted by: T-Woody | August 22, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Zakee,
I think the Evans pick up was the move of the off-season for Mitch. In the small amounts I've seen him play I like what he brings, and the fact that we got him for a second rounder is even an added bonus. With Kobe averaging 40 minutes a game, we don't need a superstar as a back-up, just a guy who can go in and not screw up. I think we got that in Evans. The upside of it is if he turns out better than we thought, we might see him in the line-up with Kobe, which sounds promising.
And I don't think Kobe got slapped by Shaq, although I remember stories of them almost getting into it in practice.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 10:58 AM
I think ESPN shot JFK.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Blah, Blah, Blah...it's always someone trying to make someone else conform to their idea of what life is all about. Fish was, is and will always be a follower. Bryant is a ALPHA-MALE! That's why he was to himself. I was waiting for his time to lead. As long as Shaq was there we were never going to see Bryant in his true greatness.
What Fisher is saying is: Come on Kobe, just go along, go with the flow. It's what "followers" always say when they're around alpha-males who are in position to the alpha.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | August 22, 2006 at 11:03 AM
correction:
"What Fisher is saying is: Come on Kobe, just go along, go with the flow. It's what "followers" always say when they're around alpha-males who aren't in position to the alpha."
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | August 22, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Doesn't look like Harrington is signed yet- crazy stuff!
Crazier yet is this jive about AK - lay off him his reporting is fine and lightly biased towards King Kobe so give him a break here. The Blog is great almost always- Thanks AK / BK!
Kobe has had faults and will have more, so will AK and all of us, let it be. Kobe is working it out and doing a great job of re-upping his value. Whether its a PR move, or out of the goodness of his heart - who knows. WE DON'T!
Kobe is growing up and has been in the spotlight since 17, it has to be rough. He gets snagged by some dumb blonde in Colorado and she goes off to live out her new millionaire lifestyle and Kobe is never going to live down this tramps-"girls gone wild" night at the expense of Kobe. He blew it, she must have been pretty hot- cause Kobe's wife is gorgeous, dumb move Kobe, whatever happened its over. Thank God his wife forgave him.
The thing is he is getting better always with his game and in his communication capabilities. The team allows him to lead and Shaw gets it, John Salley understood and still gets it- all kinds of dudes give Kobe props in the League as the best in the League and that goes for former players too. That is where it is at, its about the play of the player. I mean who cares how bent he is, Charles Barkley is dumb as a box of rocks, but he is funny and his charm is in his knuckleheaded demeanor. Ron Artest is a thug and a straight up idiot for ever going into the stands but IF he or Barkley would be playing for the Lakers - I would be rooting for them.
Forget about head games and all this babble and gossip nonsense, lets get a few new players that boost the level of play to the Western Conference Finals.
Amazing story about Dujuan Wagner and what he has overcome to make a return to the NBA. This guy can ball and is an offensive bonus if any team will allow him to go off. 2009 is too far off to be waiting around for another player. I think we need to be heavy into what is out there if we truly are going to compete. Europe and some of the Free Agents have to have something that helps this team. Kupchak might think MEvans and VRadmonivic is enough but I don't. OH yeah Shammond - nice move Mitch, what was that anyway. Any package for a decent guard who can handle some tough D and get the ball across the line without turning it over and be able to dish 7-8 assists would be a godsend. Monta Ellis.
Posted by: Peter Maguire | August 22, 2006 at 11:09 AM
ponz,
why in the world would you trade for miles and they pay him 9 mil a year to be a 2 min/game back up for kobe? yea he would be better than mckie but mckie isnt kobes backup! mo evans is. thats why we picked him up. hell sasha or smush could fill in at the 2 from time to time as well as luke.
sonny,
you said the lakers wouldnt get any higher than 6th or 7th with kobe? so you propose a trade for kg... have you seen where minnesota has finished the last couple of years? unless you know of a defensive stopper or all star guard currently on minnesota that i dont know about then the wolves dont have the pieces to make that work. do you really have nothing better to do than check the lakers blog? and this whole brokebacks thing? enough with it. the correlation you draw is a stretch and you say it has nothing to do with homosexuality but you know it does. there are tons of other films you could have used.
Posted by: taka | August 22, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Mike T,
In a team sport, it helps if the "alpha-male" or one who wants to be the leader, is able to relate to his teammates and develop enough trust in them to convince them to follow him. Fortunately, like AK mentioned, Kobe is getting better at this. In years past, he's been bad at it. It has nothing to do with "followers" other than the fact that someone is a sh*tty leader if no one follows.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 11:11 AM
Mike T,
In addition, I think Fisher was saying that he could see the greatness in Kobe, but Kobe basically got in his own way and ruined his potential (at the time) to lead. I don't think in any way he was tellng Kobe to just be a "follower".
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 22, 2006 at 11:15 AM