Some more useful info...

I usually don't like Adande...

But dude, that's classic.

Actually, I would take the call and then go "If you're going to ask if I want to come to NY, I'm goign to keep saying "no" until you hang up the phone. No, no, no, no, no ,no ,no, no ,no 'click; "

kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....kobe stay.....!!!!!

.......WE ALL LOVE YOU KOBE!!....U ARE LOS ANGELES....

AK/BK

Please let people know about Kobe's interview on KLAC AM570. If people haven't heard it they should.

AK/BK

Please let people know about Kobe's interview on KLAC AM570. If people haven't heard it, they should.

What a sopa opera.

That's why I love the Lakers!
No other team in US sports history is so entertaining!

Gugy,

Agree and so with the bloggers giving their own twists and speculations. haha What do you expect from Hollywood? Create a story.......on a dull playoffs.

Why are people not talking about Lebron, Rasheed, Manu, Duncan, Bowen, Fish, Boozer, Deron.....it's all Kobe calling in,

Jim Buss talking back.

Mike T. decides.....haha!

is jerry west going to help after all this?

Kobe wants to win and beleive they have a chance,
(they don't and won't with this group)
he wants West back,
(hopefully Buss can kiss some butt and bring him back and say good bye to Mitch)
he wants KG now
(bad business move financially, so spend somewhere else but show some action Mitch)
he wants the big boss to share or take blame for sending Shaq on his way(refer to the boss- he who signs the check is never wrong and all the whinning in the world will never get Buss to admit he was to blame for Shaq leaving)
he wants the ball and a few players around him who also want the ball and know what to do with it.
(he doesn't have one player on this team who he can rely on in the clutch, a true game finisher)
he wants to see someone come in and be a go to guy- Bynum isn't it-
(Bynum-bad pick- has played enough games for any one who knows big men to already see he is just potental- never will be a huge star)

KOBE Wants it all and he wants it now- damn that Ray Allen for his frickin Nostrodamis jive - he called it and he was dead on!

Winning isn't everything it is the only thing!

Get him some help, Rashad Lewis is there and we were supposed to have money after Brian Grants bogus contract came off the books.
NBA office should be looking at the rules on Salary cap and how to make it more feasible to sign more than one big time player at a time. It seems like maybe the owners are going to get piched and have to start digging into the profits they certainly are making. Kobe should remain a Laker and he is right to put the pressure on the front office now! I hate his approach and selfish ways but thats Kobe, and he wants it all- Now. I would hate to see him leave unless we get some serious talent in return, and everyone here knows his talent is superior to anyone in the league- bar none. Tough trade.

gugy
"Agree and so with the bloggers giving their own twists and speculations. haha What do you expect from Hollywood? Create a story.......on a dull playoffs."

dull playoffs which don't include the Big Yesterday's News. Poor kob's not getting enough attention.

Here is my problem with Kobe.....
As I said before, I don't condone any player controlling the team, the team should above the player.

If Kobe knew in 2004 that he was being used in order to fire Shaq

Why did we come to know it only in 2207?

Why did he hide the truth? Isn't that not selfishness on his part? Was he trying to coddle with the Buss Family? You can't be embracing the devil before and condemn it, there has to be consistency if you are with the truth.

Now that you have revealed what you have been hiding all these years

You owe us an apology.

It is clear that Phil Jackson, Jenniie Buss, Magic Johnson and Kobe are trying to force Jim Buss out which will make room for the logo to return. I'm cool with that. Still I wonder what the chances are that dad will fire Jimbo. Pops hasn't been acting too bright lately. Working with family sucks. Hope it works out.

Here is my problem with Jerry Buss.

He is playing pocker while the Lakers are suffering.

This has been going on now for almost a week and he is not doing anything.

The Laker fans will forgive your morals, will forgive your perceived ignorance until proven guilty.

The Laker Fans cannot forgive you if you don't come out in the open.

Right now I compared Jerry Buss to emperor Nero, he is strumming his harp while Rome is burning.

This spoilt, selfish, brat just wants attention as the basketball world revolves around TD and Lebron instead of him.

He wants the power to dictate what the Lakers do.

If I were Jerry and Jim I would not hesitate to ship his sorry ass out of LA and get some decent young character guys in his place.

This guy is gonna continue to be a cancer throughout the 2007/8 season if he doesn't get the attention and the power he craves.

He hogs the ball or pouts when he's criticized. He makes so much money the Lakers can't afford to get anybody else and will never win a championship. Without him we'd have a better chance

I'm just praying the Buss family sees it my way

Do it Jerry. Get rid of this cancer! He'll pollute your locker room all year

So much....animosity.

Can't we all just get along?

I love Bill Plaske !

He's the only one who makes sense.

"Shut your yap up Kobe!! " says Bill

And trade him Jerry and Jim. Don't let this spoilt 29 year old brat and liar give you orders. He's one broken ankle or leg away from retirement.

He works for you, not the other way round !!

Do it and do it now.

what makes this story amazing and you can tell it's the truth, is that shaq said that kobe was telling the truth. The last person on earth i expected to say that was shaq.

wow the haters are loving this...

Here is my problem with Kobe haters:

You do not have any credibility in this blog because you have ulterior motives in your posts.

Hate does not accomplish any truth, it creates disharmoney and division.

Forgive, spread love and listen to reason.

We are all Laker fans with different beliefs, in that end we want mend, we want to win with Kobe, Phil, if possible the logo. Let's solve the Laker family problem in the most amicable way.

These are all temporal problems made by man and can be solved by man.

I think anybody starting their post with "it's clear that ..." is completely nuts. There is nothing clear about these entire shenanigans.

One thing I do know: I've been rooting for the Lakers since 1970, long before Kobe was born, and I'll be a Laker fan forever unless they decide to move the organization to St. Louis (yeah, that's a shout-out to those twin demons of deception, Georgia Frontiere and John Shaw). Through thick or thin, I'm a purple and gold guy. Or is that Forum Blue and Gold? Or is it more of a violet? Heck, who knows? It's just not clear ...

But "Lakers Forever"! Right? Who's with me?

Greek Dude: The funny part about the Shaq statement? All these newbies, 1st timers and lookey loo's clamoring for Kobe to get outta town have TOTALLY IGNORED THAT STATEMENT. Even KL, when confronted with the actual friggin quote, manages to spin that statement to more Kobe Hater rhetoric.

I said it before...I'll say it again: Neither Shaq nor Kobe is/was the cancer. The cancer is with those who make the decisions and write the checks. And all these blind trolls still harping on the Kobe Hater Bandwagon are taking the bait. Pathetic!

ED,
"Why did he hide the truth? Isn't that not selfishness on his part? Was he trying to coddle with the Buss Family? You can't be embracing the devil before and condemn it, there has to be consistency if you are with the truth."

cuz it's a lie. it's kobe being kobe. making up $hit to get his way. just like the malone issue.

freaking HATERS get outta here...!

I don't get why it's new that Kobe did NOT orchestrate Shaq's departure. It's been there, in Roland Lazenby's book "The Show" this whole time...

I thought only the ignorant still believe that Kobe ran off Shaq...

There are still people who say he ran off Shaq, even now, after Shaq himself says he believes Kobe....

People like Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojaiojiojdicbnjpr seem like tabloid reporters, the way they report with unnamed sources, and personal speculation...

Kobe shows, though that he needs to control his temper, he is so impatient ...

TRADE THE BUM!!!!

Kobe Bryant is UNSTABLE!!! The Laker organization stuck up for Kobe while he was under investigation and during trial for sexual assault in Colorado. They provided him with a private jet to attend court dates. This is how Kobe thanks an organization that could have easily abandoned him in a time of trouble.

Kobe Bryant needs to be held accountable for his actions. He seems to place blame on everyone except himself. I am willing to bet that he blamed that small-town, broke Hotel clerk for 'backing' into his male member while in Colorado. Kobe even went on to tell investigators about Shaq who was not being investigated by Colorado Police regarding sexual assault.

If the media and Laker organization does not stop coddling this troubled man, they will create another OJ personality. Only this one will sexually assault small town, broke and ugly Hotel Clerks who don't change panties on a daily basis. Out of ALL the female celebrities and beautiful women in the LA area, this IDIOT goes out and has to FORCE himself on a small-town woman that does not change panties daily while not wearing a CONDOM!!!

Typical Kobe does not 'pass',...just goes straight to the 'hole'.

Don't create another OJ, hold Kobe responsible, trade him!!! The team is the LA Lakers,....not the LA Kobes.

OUT!!!!
The truth

I don't know if Kobe is doing this on purpose, but pretending to throw what is essentially a temper-tantrum is a perfectly legitimate negotiating tactic. In a multi-party negotiation, sometimes a certain level of agreement is achieved between some of the parties that does not serve the interests of one of the other parties. If the "out" party feels dismissed or ignored by the others, the "out" party or his advocate might employ the tactic by pretending to get angry, sad or otherwise very upset about where things are going and threaten or pretend to walk away and thwart any agreement. When used correctly, this can move the discussion away from the undesirable direction and towards a solution to which the "out" party can also agree.

I've actually used this technique successfully on a few occasions. Like I said, I don't know if he's doing this, but if he is, he's doing it the right way.

A little haiku for the blog summarizing the events of the past 2 days:

Kobe frustrated
Lashes out at front office
Phil Jackson calms him

the more i think about it, the more kobe reminds me of the dweeb who lies to get his way. i'm telling you, the guy is a sneaky, disingenuous fool....hence the Big Snake. i'd hate to be around this guy.

HEY KOBE APOLOGISTS,

I guess Kobe throwing Shaq under the bus in Colorado is not truth too?

Why didn't Stephen A Smith so-called interview with Shaq ask that question if that's true.

Why AM570 not ask kobe that question?

Kobe would have said, "I can't believe an Insider said that" That's not true either.

The guy is a BUM and his colors are showing!

I will never trade Kobe, it's so stupid. But if it has to be done, than I also would want him along side Andrew as well as Kwame Brown to be traded to Chicago for Ben Wallace ( Kwame's protege LOL) Kirk Hinrich, Ben Godon and their 9th pick... I would not want to see the faces of Kwame B and Andrew Bynum on this team after Kobe leaves.....

With
Kirk H
Gordon
Lamar

Kobe Apologist,

awesome haiku. lol.

it reminds me of that snl skit "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handey.

c'mon lake show!

3 weeks removed from the playoffs, and we're still the #1 nba story.

wow.

That's it! I've reached my daily limit on ignorant yahoos. KL, Mike T and now Steven all blogging at the same time. I just can't take that much negative stupidity all at once.

Later, real Laker fans!

Wow, some very different comments up here.

The Lakers cannot afford to make the same mistake they made in 2004 by trading Shaq. Everyone knows that when you trade a superstar, you can't get equal talent back (T-Mac, Shaq, Barkley, Kareem...).

So it is that simple, you DO NOT trade Kobe unless you are getting Lebron. You just DONT do that.

The Buss' family apparently has betrayed Kobe's trust so they now need to bring in a new GM (Jerry West). That organization just needs people who are willing to act and to act now.

You can't have the best player in the league being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round every year. That's enough. Enough for the fans, enough for the league.
I mean even buisnesswise, having him play during the post season would be great for the Lakers and the cheap owner (Jerry Buss) would be happy to get some more money...

The Lakers told Bryant they would build a championship caliber team but have not done anything except signing Phil Jackson. Now is the time to do something serious. We the fans have been waiting, and now Kobe is tired of waiting.

KL, Gunner24, Steven and all Haters repeat after Me!!!

Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!
Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!
Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!
Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!
Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!
Kobe has a no trade clause in his contract, He chooses where he goes!!!!

Hopefully you will stop already with stupid trade scenarios!!!

I doubt it very much!!!

Aaarrrhhhh!!

Angry_Laker

I've got 3 things to say:

1. Anyone who thinks Kobe is wrong is an idiot!!!! Now, a lot of y'all know how I post, and know that I don't usually do the name calling thing, but if you can listen to the interview Kobe gave yesterday, and then see today that the organization has NOTHING TO SAY, and you still can't put two, and two together then you are an idiot. THEY KNOW THEY ARE DEAD WRONG, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT DEFENDING THEMSELVES!!!!

2. The media makes me sick!!!!! I've been watching ESPN, and ESPNEWS since I've been out of work, and I keep hearing guys say "Kobe is selfish", and "Kobe is throwing the organization under the bus", and "Kobe put himself in this situation by not fighting to keep Shaq". This is some of the most bullsh**t I have ever heard. Kobe's been a good soldier for 3 years now, and when he finally feels enough is enough, and wants to defend himself he is selfish?!?!?! WOW!!!

3. Where is Magic? I want to hear what Earvin Johnson has to say about this. Barkley is about to talk to ESPN, we've already heard Mitch's "no comment", the owner of the team has issued a statement, but I want to know when the greatest Laker is gonna come out and say something. Everyone knows how much Kobe respects Magic, and if Magic hasn't come out and said something to Kobe to calm him down, or to the media, maybe Magic knows the truth....THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS USED KOBE TO SELL TICKETS WHILE THEY REBUILD!!!!! Kobe probably feels used, and we as fans should feel bamboozled, and hoodwinked.

Oh, man. The idiots are out in full force.

gunner24,

Please refrain from posting here. You don't have a clue.

utzworld,
"I said it before...I'll say it again: Neither Shaq nor Kobe is/was the cancer. The cancer is with those who make the decisions and write the checks. And all these blind trolls still harping on the Kobe Hater Bandwagon are taking the bait. Pathetic!"

this is the kobe mantra, "not my fault". i envision a cartoon of kobe pointing at a mirror on an island by himself. the botton of the cartoon reads "circa 2020" LOL

Here's what the Lakers need to do:

Send Vlad and Andrew Bynum to Sacramento for Ron Artest. The Kings would be willing to take on Vlad's contract considering they are getting a top big man prospect.

You basically have to come to the realization that Kwame and Lamar will have very little trade value coming off surgeries.

Plus, Kwame's expiring will look really good at the trade deadline, and Lamar's will only have a little more than a year on it.

If it shakes out and neither is moved, a Lamar (one year left), Kwame (expiring) and draft picks package would be likely to get a disgruntled star to LA at the trade deadline (if that star isn't Kobe). It will be interesting to see how the Baron Davis thing plays out next year. His stock is really high right now, but with Monta Ellis behind him and Biedrins both looking at extensions, one big contract or another is going to have to leave Golden State or they'll be well into the luxury tax. A quick cleansing of salary might be needed later in the year, especially if they're not continuing with the success they've had.

Hopefully both are playing well and we are in the thick of it for the playoffs.

Bringing in Artest adds talent and fire right away, even if his mental state is "unpredictable".

Why is Kobe so angry?

1. Ownership's deceit has robbed Kobe of three years of his prime!
2. Jim Buss Boy is planning for the future with Bynum. The future of Kobe's mega-ambitious basketball dreams rest at the hands of Buss Boy. Holy S**t!!
3. Management allowed Kobe to take the bullet for the Shaq trade. Not one "insider" has come to his defense. NOT ONE.
4. Laker "Insiders" are deflecting the blame on Kobe to the media.
5. Jim Buss stated that Kobe was not untouchable for trades.
5. Management has provided Kobe with garbage players after promising him a contender (Cook, Vlade Divac, Sasha, Smush, Aaron MicKe, Profit, Kwame, Luke) Need I say more?
6. Kobe has patiently kept silent for THREE years, hoping management will make the right decisions. It's obvious by now that "hoping" will not get him anywhere. Drastic measures are necessary.
7. The front office has turned into a complete joke. There is ZERO communication between Jerry, Jim, Kup, Phil and Kobe. It is absurd.
8. Kobe, the coaching staff and Magic want Jim Buss out.

KOBE IS NOT GOING TO BE TRADED. You can take that to the bank!
The trade demand is nothing more than a desperate, yet brilliant, negotiating tactic. It worked for Magic, it will work again for Kobe. Like Magic, Kobe is willing to absorb all the criticism for the sake of winning.

There is only one solution to right the ship:
BRING THE LOGO BACK WITH FULL CONTROL! Kobe and Shaq agree that there was nobody they could trust in the front office once West left, and rightfully so.
Kobe's demand to bring West back "with full control" was his initital plea when this whole crisis began. Having "full control" is the key here. If West is brought back and given authority OVER Jim Buss to make the "basketball" decisions, Kobe will be happy. If West does not want to deal with this chaos, Jerry Buss needs to offer him more than a consulting position, maybe Presidnt of Basketball Operaions with partial ownerhip. I don't care what it takes! West will make Kobe happy, and order will be restored. The Logo is the most important Laker in Laker history, and deserves more. He can save the Lakers again, if given the power. He will give Kobe and the Lakerland hope, and will ensure that Kobe is a Laker for life.

After the help given by Lakers organization to KB in his "Colorado crisis", this what you get from Kobe. No thoughts of gratitude whatsover. I think he is unstable. Better to get rid of KB and start anew.

Man trade some junks in lakers, like Kwame and stuff. spend some money and get good players in the free agent market.

And shaq is just stirring up the pot because he's forgiven kobe long time ago. But he knows what went down.

He knows Kobe threw him under the bus in Colorado.

Shaq is just happy because he got another ring and Kobe didn't and so, speak with Bill Russell he's able to move on.

And Kobe the Cancer comments on the radio are suspect too.

1) How can the Lakers be scaling back if they are paying PJ $10 million per year.

Answer that question. Kobe knows what they told him and I'm not buying that Phil told him they were scaling back. This guy is trying everything to destroy this franchise.

Aloha K.L

Your singular focus on Kobe on this is, I m sorry to say, kinda creepy. As this story unfolds and Shaq backs Kobe's version of events, its becoming more clear that Shaq, Kobe and Phil all were thrown under the Buss. Now you might think who cares, get rid of Kobe. Well the problem with that is, what other players will want to come here, if this is how Laker management operates now? Now this is the problem we are facing and its huge. What other stars will want to come here if the 2 biggest stars of the decade have been stabbed in the back by management. Dark days for Laker Fans.

MH

After Kobe goes!!!

Maybe KL, KL "Beast", Steven & Gunner24 and the rest of KLansmen will get of this board spread the hatred to which team Kobe chooses to join. Guess what, he will also get a $14mill sign bonus , that has just got to annoy you KLansmen. Ha! Ha!

Once the KLansmen are gone, we will be able to return talk about basketball issues to do with the Lakers and not this insane hatred!!

Kobe get your bags packed, thanks for the memories!!

Aaarrrhhhh!!

Angry_Laker
!

Weave-Man, all I can say is, RIGHT ON!

Kobe's recent tirade is one of two things: 1) calculated to manipulate himself closer to a ring or 2) a genuine gut reaction to front office ineptitude and offensive leaks.

It could of course be a combo, but If there's any "#2" to it, he'll be traded. However, #2 is, well, full of #2.

The timing doesn't make sense for it to be a genuine blow-up. This sort of thing would "naturally' occur only after the playoffs are over and the trading seasons is in full swing. Kobe's not media-friendly enough for this to just pop up in conversation. He doesn't hover around microphones. He's not exhibited foot-in-mouth syndrome ("Terrellitis?") before. Dude prides himself on his absolute control over his words and actions.

That means, we're watching Kobe theater - all designed to leverage the "no-trade" clause into a "build a champ around me or never sell another ticket" clause.

I hope it works. I also agree with those who see it as a Magic/Phil/Jeannie/Kobe (a/k/a "winners") ploy to ditch the plodding Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchack (a/k/a "losers"). Would love for West to sweep in and make things right, but I don't see it, at least not in a full-on role.

Marty,
"One thing I do know: I've been rooting for the Lakers since 1970, long before Kobe was born, and I'll be a Laker fan forever unless they decide to move the organization to St. Louis (yeah, that's a shout-out to those twin demons of deception, Georgia Frontiere and John Shaw). Through thick or thin, I'm a purple and gold guy. Or is that Forum Blue and Gold? Or is it more of a violet? Heck, who knows? It's just not clear ... But "Lakers Forever"! Right? Who's with me?"

i'm with you bro, i've been rooting for th lakers since the late 80's (we showing our age or what?), so either way, i'll root for the lakers once the Big Manipulative is gone. BTW, i was secretly rooting for the Rams..haha.

I think Lazenby is right on target when he says Jackson likely planted the seeds for Kobe's latest outburst. PJ certainly wasn't above using his superstars against management during his days with the Bulls. And note that Kobe's trade demand came after talking to Phil and learning that the FO told Phil they were not interested in renewing his contract because they were going to go young, etc. Then Kobe calms down somewhat after talking to Phil again today. I can't believe PJ didn't know how angry Bryant was after that insider quote was published. Bottom line: Jackson got pushed around by Jim Buss in public and now he's pushing back in kind through Kobe.

I would prefer that Kobe stay and that we build a winner around him. Not sure what that would entail.. maybe Kwame for Artest.. then we can upgrade the point gaurd situation either via trade or free agency.. I see that as an upgrade to the current team, however, I don't know if it is enough of an upgrade.. the way I look at it, there isnt really a dominant force in the NBA.. when looking at how good the current laker team was earlier in the year (when healthy), imagine adding Artest's toughness and an improvement at the point to that mix..

On the other hand, if this whole demand to be traded saga forces the lakers to actually consider trading him, what do you guys think about this proposed scenario??:

amare + marion + marcus banks for odom + kobe

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=110~617~2165~510~1727&teams=21~21~13~13~13

then trade kwame for artest and you have the following:

laker lineup:
banks
artest
amare
marion
turiaf

phx lineup:
nash
raja
kurt thomas
kobe
lamar

what do you guys think?

I am taking a break from the lakers until the end of the draft. Aint No way I will let this drama drain energy from him. I already have to much to worry about. I think all of us should take a vacation from the lakers, until the dust settles. And I figure the dust will settle when the draft is over. SO UNTIL THEN SEE YALL LATER.

Cant stand all this DRAMA!!!!!

KL, GuMMer24, Steven and all Haters

I bet wherever Kobe goes you guys will folow him and will pretend a fan for that team and again will throw all your hate in him....

May be KOBE will just let you guys suck his dick to satisfy your desire for him.

Edwin,
"If Kobe knew in 2004 that he was being used in order to fire Shaq
Why did we come to know it only in 2207?
Why did he hide the truth? Isn't that not selfishness on his part? Was he trying to coddle with the Buss Family? You can't be embracing the devil before and condemn it, there has to be consistency if you are with the truth.
Now that you have revealed what you have been hiding all these years"

I don't think Kobe saw it as him hiding anything as much as it was him just biting the bullet and trying to take the high road. Again, he didn't actually suspect this was a Laker front office thing. He's said he let it slide off his back as it was just the media blaming him. The reason Kobe is so angry now is that yesterday he reads that this stuff came from a Laker "insider" and therein lies the main problem.

It's as if your girlfriend's friends that hate you always talk crap about you to your girlfriend and you let it go. Then one day you find out that one of your own good friends is doing the same thing....that's when you get mad.

Kobe is being disengenous. If he wants to be traded, be a man, talk to Laker management face to face. Go wake Dr. Buss up out of his alcohol induced coma and tell him. Don't go on a one man media campaign trashing your team. Kobe has campaigned harder this week than Fred Thompson.

1) This "lie" that offends Kobe was 3 years ago and Phil told him about it then, so it is hardly a shocker which would make him suddenly want to leave.

2) The Jerry West demand is a ruse. Jerry West is 69, hated the pressure of LA and the politics of the Lakers, and left it behind for a horrible basketball job. He is close friends with Mitch. Why would he come back now, offending Mitch and jumping into the Kobe pressure cooker? Not a realistic demand. And why didn;t Kobe go talk to Jerry and to Dr. Buss to see if he could make it happen rather than hit teh media with it?

3) Even if Kobe thought the Lakers were going to compete NOW, how the hell did he think that would happen? News flash, when dynasties break up it takes years to get back on top. Celtics - not back yet. Sixers - haven't won since fo-fo-fo. Pistons - came back and won, took 15 years. Lakers - Showtime to Shaq-Kobe was 12 years - yes 12 years Logo lovers. And they had Worthy, Scott, Vlade and for awhile Magic to rebuild around. Bulls - haven't won since MJ. It is damn hard to rebuild. Not because Mitch is stupid, because it is hard, even with Kobe. The Lakers' core got old, Shaq went away. This is a rebuilding project, how could Kobe not get that?

4) No, Kobe didn't tell them to trade Shaq - in so many words. But Kobe and Shaq - both of them - were selfish and unprofessional in their conduct. They should have learned to play together and won 6 titles. A wasted opportuniity and finally the Lakers had to make a move or Kobe goes and they have an aging Shaq and no compensation for Kobe. So no, he didn't do it, but he contributed to it. He could have said he would only stay if Shaq stayed, if he really wanted to be a champion and not just the center of the team.

Kobe has worked hard and improved his game and tried to be a team player. He didn't have teh best supprting cast, but it is better tha most folks think and injuries played a huge role this year. Still, Kobe as a team player has to work at it, not like the leaders of some of the more successful teams in teh NBA - Nash, James, Duncan. The front office failed ot build an instant winner, but Kobe was on teh floor and he has to take some of teh blame.

Trade him, keep him, whatever, I'm a Laker fan, he is a great player, I love wtaching him. But this is bush league, it is beneath a player of his stature.

FACTS

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6866924

michael h,

"Your singular focus on Kobe on this is, I m sorry to say, kinda creepy. "

ah, my favorate you're "creepy" insult.

dude, kobe's the biggest manipulator of all. that's all this guy does, first with shaq, then with malone, now with laker mgmt and finally bring shaq into the fold again. shaq did the right thing by placating the Kobe-manipulator. i see right throught he Big Snake. haha, the only fools are kobe defenders. you all will be sorry. dude's like kobe are the ones i placate as much as possible, but stay the hell away from. karma has a way of coming full circle. i hope the lakers rid of the Big Cancer and start anew.

Kobe is being disengenous. If he wants to be traded, be a man, talk to Laker management face to face. Go wake Dr. Buss up out of his alcohol induced coma and tell him. Don't go on a one man media campaign trashing your team. Kobe has campaigned harder this week than Fred Thompson.

1) This "lie" that offends Kobe was 3 years ago and Phil told him about it then, so it is hardly a shocker which would make him suddenly want to leave.

2) The Jerry West demand is a ruse. Jerry West is 69, hated the pressure of LA and the politics of the Lakers, and left it behind for a horrible basketball job. He is close friends with Mitch. Why would he come back now, offending Mitch and jumping into the Kobe pressure cooker? Not a realistic demand. And why didn;t Kobe go talk to Jerry and to Dr. Buss to see if he could make it happen rather than hit teh media with it?

3) Even if Kobe thought the Lakers were going to compete NOW, how the hell did he think that would happen? News flash, when dynasties break up it takes years to get back on top. Celtics - not back yet. Sixers - haven't won since fo-fo-fo. Pistons - came back and won, took 15 years. Lakers - Showtime to Shaq-Kobe was 12 years - yes 12 years Logo lovers. And they had Worthy, Scott, Vlade and for awhile Magic to rebuild around. Bulls - haven't won since MJ. It is damn hard to rebuild. Not because Mitch is stupid, because it is hard, even with Kobe. The Lakers' core got old, Shaq went away. This is a rebuilding project, how could Kobe not get that?

4) No, Kobe didn't tell them to trade Shaq - in so many words. But Kobe and Shaq - both of them - were selfish and unprofessional in their conduct. They should have learned to play together and won 6 titles. A wasted opportuniity and finally the Lakers had to make a move or Kobe goes and they have an aging Shaq and no compensation for Kobe. So no, he didn't do it, but he contributed to it. He could have said he would only stay if Shaq stayed, if he really wanted to be a champion and not just the center of the team.

Kobe has worked hard and improved his game and tried to be a team player. He didn't have the best supprting cast, but it is better tha most folks think and injuries played a huge role this year. Still, Kobe as a team player has to work at it, not like the leaders of some of the more successful teams in teh NBA - Nash, James, Duncan. The front office failed ot build an instant winner, but Kobe was on teh floor and he has to take some of teh blame.

Trade him, keep him, whatever, I'm a Laker fan, he is a great player, I love wtaching him. But this is bush league, it is beneath a player of his stature.

Deepak -

Shouldn't you be looking for that poor girl in Aruba?

KL, GuMMer24, Steven and all Haters

I bet wherever Kobe goes you guys will folow him and will pretend a fan for that team and again will throw all your hate in him....

May be KOBE will just let you guys suck his dick to satisfy your desire for him.

Posted by: DaxxMD | May 30, 2007 at 04:34 PM

AK AND BK,

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS POST AND THE WORD SPELLED "D--K"

YOU MIGHT WANT TO REMOVE.

Mitchell,

How are they ever gonna get West back now?

1) He's close to Kupchak and wouldn't be keen on doing anything that results in Kupchak's ouster or a perceived demotion. And after Kobe's meltdown, I don't see how even a quiet role for West wouldn't be construed as the latter.
2) Given his intrusion into personnel matters, why would Jim Buss want to add another competing voice to the mix?
3) West wasn't all that interested in continuing to work w/Phil Jackson when things were a lot rosier than they are now.

The Lakers should cut their losses and let the crybaby go. Nothing in the news is new. Dr. Buss stated 3 years ago that he was responsible for trading Shaq. The media as well as the public always assumed that Kobe was responsible, no news there. A Laker insider is meaningless if the person does not identify himself. Kobe failed, plain and simple. He had the team for 3 years and failed. Like OJ Simpson, if he wants to find out who is responsible for the Lakers woes, he does not have to look beyond his mirror. Trade Kobe and start playing basketball!

LAKERS WILL GET JERMAINE ONIEL, KOBE WILL STAY. THAT'S IT FOLKS!

LAKERS WILL GET JERMAINE ONIEL, KOBE WILL STAY. THAT'S IT FOLKS!

LAKERS WILL GET JERMAINE ONIEL, KOBE WILL STAY. THAT'S IT FOLKS!

LAKERS WILL GET JERMAINE ONIEL, KOBE WILL STAY. THAT'S IT FOLKS!

"Yeah, Kobe said something like this:

I'm not trying to throw Lamar or Luke under the bus but....

You see that BUT?

That means they are under the bus.

mike"

NOW KOBE HAS SPREADED HIS POISON AMONGST THE REST OF THE TEAM. DO YOU THINK LUKE WILL RESIGN NOW? NO

WHAT WOULD LAMAR THINK NEXT YEAR? THIS TEAM IS POISONED NOW AND THAT MEANS KOBE HAS TO GO!

AND I KNOW HE WOULD WAIVE HIS NO TRADE CLAUSE IF WE SEND HIM TO CHICAGO AND THAT'S A GOOD MOVE!

WE WILL GET GOOD YOUNG TALENT AND GET RID OF THE POISON IN OUR TEAM.

lakers insider or not wasn't kobe always going to be blamed for the shaq leaving thing? I mean theres no way people andt he media were not going to speculate and put it on him....so a lakers insider happened to talked at the time...so what? can someone please explain why this should be such an issue? I just dont get it.

Even if it is an issue and there is one rat in the organisation cant kobe see it as such? I mean this stuff happens all the time to rich famous people....they get sold out by people they should be able to trust...Kobe knows the score.

I still find it hard to imagine he will go...but I wonder how much Kobe has had a dose of reality as far as the lakers situation.Hes realised they dont have too much scope to get alot a better? hed rather sling mud and leave with a bang than face the embarrasment of quietly asking for a trade.
if was just genuinely trying to get some action on the lakers behalf theres no need to say some of the stuff hes saying...

This just doesnt add up...he must want out

I don't get the problem.

Just do your job, Lakers Front Office, and get Kobe a little bit of help.

Then the Lakers will be contending for titles.

Kobe only needs some help, he's not asking for miracles. An All-Star, maybe someone consistent, that's all.

I have to admit, I was irritated with Magic when the whole, "Get rid of Westhead" was going down. I'm Old School that way: Players should toe the company line and not make waves. That's who signs their checks.

But virtually every superstar comes down on management these days. Jordan was no different.

But this too shall pass. If Kobe stays, I'm a Laker fan. If Kobe goes, I'm a Laker fan.

Hey, if Chick Hearn passing away hasn't dimmed my loyalty, nothing will. And one day, when we've all gone to that great refrigerator in the sky, we'll know that this Laker stuff was just a nice little diversion along the way.

And the Jell-O is jigglin'...

TRADE THE BUM KOBE!!!!

Hopefully all of you that have been BLINDED and HOODWINKED by the BS Kobe spews can see there is NO DRAMA in Miami with Shaq. It is ironic that Kobe still mentions Shaq's name in the media even though the BigFella is on the opposite coast.

Shaq has won a Championship in Miami and made DWade famous, while Kobe just creates tension and Hollywood DRAMA. Kobe Bryant is very unstable he is throwing his teammates and Laker management under the Bus. Maybe the Laker team could be better if Kobe would stop shooting the ball so much.

The media and fans better wake-up before they create another OJ by coddling this BUM Kobe. Any newly married sports celebrity who needs to 'FORCE' himself on some broke, small-town, ugly, disgusting female Colorado Hotel Clerk who does not change her panties on a daily basis, while wearing NO CONDOM what-so-ever, has SERIOUS ISSUES.

OUT!!!!
The Truth

KOBE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE! tHIS IS JUST A GAME TO GET jERMAINE ONEIL NOW! AND YES JERMAINE IS COMING AND YES KOBE HAS SILENT BACKERS.

SOME STUPS LAKER FAN REALLY THINK KWAME BROWN IS GOING TO RUN THIS TEAM. YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND!!! YUP UR NAME IS MIKE!

Kobe Haters = racist, feminists, dumbazzes

wow

I'm taking a week off as well. I'm going on the road for the business and I think it will do me some good to just think of nothing but my job.

Whew !! What a day.

Fatty

Had to come holla back at my Laker bredren! I've listened to all the interviews and have summized that Kobe waited three years and finally bursted! I agree with those above that the trade me/don't trade me play is an attempt to get the front office going in the KG/JO direction! I applaud Kobe for waiting as long as he did cause I expected him to burst during the course of our slide this season. Granted, I am a Kobe fan and tend to believe what he says, specifically in this case because he seemed to be thinking through each word as he was talking!

As a fan, I'm not concerned with luxury taxes cause I don't have to pay'em and we've all had to sit through the last three years with Kobe and the team! It's time to roll the dice cause playing it close hasn't cut it! There's talent out there that the Laker's could have gotten and Kobe had faith! Now with his media tirade Kobe isn't trying to go thru anymore "could have gotten scenarios" and wants the help!

Dr. Buss, quick drinking and driving with little girls and handle your business!!!

DaxxMD
"I bet wherever Kobe goes you guys will folow him and will pretend a fan for that team and again will throw all your hate in him.... "

actually Dr. D, i hope the lakers trade kobe to Seattle for Allen and the #1 pick. i would like nothing more to have the next Lebron or Dwade in LA. I've never liked kobe since the day one. i remember the stupid punk a$$ who jacked up the 3 pointer late in the Utah series. i tolerated kobe during the championship run because kobe was under control, but i noticed that in 2003 and 2004, things began to change. in 2004, kobe tried to be the "man" too early and cost us a championship. so "no" i won't be following kobe anywhere. i want the lakers to do well.

I'll take credit for being the first one on this blog to see this all coming. I called it over a month ago. While everyone was still blogging about the playoffs, I mentioned that the Buss family was in a mess and that this thing was going to explode, and Kobe was going to walk. Check the old blogs if you don't believe me.

With that said, I will also stand by my earlier prediction that Ron Artest will be a Laker this year. Kobe is not going anywhere by the way.

To Tom Daneils,

Are you really that clueless?

1."his "lie" that offends Kobe was 3 years ago and Phil told him about it then, so it is hardly a shocker which would make him suddenly want to leave"

Jerry Buss told Phil the exact opposite of what he told Kobe to bamboozle Kobe into signing with the Lakers three years ago. However,. Kobe was made aware of what was said YESTERDAY, not three years ago. Stop manipulating the facts to get your ridiculous point across.

2.. "And why didn;t Kobe go talk to Jerry and to Dr. Buss to see if he could make it happen rather than hit the media with it?"

He has talked to management regarding many possible trades to no avail. Talking has been unsuccesful for three years, something drastic had to be done, before Jim Buss continues to build around Bynum. Magic used the same public strategy for the sake of WINNING, and we all know how that turned out.

3. "Even if Kobe thought the Lakers were going to compete NOW, how the hell did he think that would happen? "

He thought the Lakers would compete NOW, because that was what the front office promised him. You're going to blame Kobe for trusting management, instead of blaming management for deceiving him? What a joke! First thing would have been to trade Bynum for a player that can contribute NOW. By refusing to trade Bynum, management is making it clear that they are building for the futureand thus not coming through on their word. You are never far from contending when you have the best player in the league.

4. "He could have said he would only stay if Shaq stayed, if he really wanted to be a champion and not just the center of the team."

Jerry Buss was NOT going to pay Shaq $30 mil for the next five years, especially a player that is never in shape and getting older. An aging Shaq and Kobe would take up $50 mil in cap space. Again, it's comical that you are blaming Kobe again for Jerry Buss's decision.

It's amazing how the haters are so blind to the faults and misdeeds of everybody else in the organization besides Kobe. Shame on you idiots!

I'll take the Phoenix Suns braggarts over these dumb b*tches who hate on Kobe any day. We got the best player in the league and a group of stupid ass bloggers, lead by the racist white male media still pissed off over the Denver situation, want to run Kobe out of town, effectively lynching him.

Who was the dumbazz on this blog who actually wanted to keep Kwame and trade Kobe? That is the ultimate symbol of how stupid the Kobe haters actually are.

nice catch gunner, i guess Dr. D stand for Dr. Di*k.

Weave man the best post of the day... A lot of so called long time laker fans that have been around since the 70s ( JJ, Mike T, Kiwi, haters) are thinking just like the current Laker Organization is..... I'm no Kobe apolagist, but the fact that we have a team full of softies that plays along side Kobe is so unfair I can't believe Kobe took 3 years to voice his furstration......

Solution:
Send Jim Hit-By-A-Bu(s)s to Gitmo!!! And while we're at it, send all the mouthbreathing morons spewing feces on this blog with him! Scrolling past all the KLs, Gunners and Tenientes is tiring.

I hope the drunk an' dirty ol' Buss already has called Kobe and BEGGED for his forgiveness!

And then we have the West-issue. Could his love for this team really overpower common sense and bring him back to this mess? I hope so. But then I guess we'd see a tag team of him and Kupchak. But that would be just fine - as long as Jimbo Buss(tard) rots in Gitmo!

Ex-Knicks Fan~
your name explains it all, fair weather fan a.k.a LOOSER! And the O.J. comparison was even worse... though I love the way he hasn't paid them one thin dime. Which bring us to the question, is the pen mightier than the sword?

Kobe isn't going anywhere... The LAKERS will do what it takes to correct the current situation and we'll rise above.

To all these people that keep bringing up Colorado and the hotel clerk -

Shut up!

You guys are so fast to point guilty at Kobe for this. Crazy as it seems, people do lie and try to get settlements from the rich. Crazy huh? Like you guys! Now go away.....

I better fix that crack in my driveway before someone trips on it and tries to sue.....

janaya

Fire Kupchak NOW... he's the root of the entire problem. Mitch"elle" can't communicate, doesn't make trades, is a terrible evaluator of talent, and has the makeup of a mouse.

PS: Kobe would never have resigned if Shaq was still around. He resigned the day after the Big Championship was wrongfully shipped to Miami.

all you kobe-loves are on the defensive becuase kobe's making you all look like fools and the boy's going to bounce.......we might as well get something out of it.

Hang your head high, Kobe. Ignore these jealous b*tches who hate you. You got fans all over the world. Even Shaq's got your back. Bless you and your family, Kobe.

TreacherousBalloons:

I have the same feeling about Jackson and Kobe agenda... This is waht it is... It's a Jackson and Kobe agenda to get it their way and make the Buss boys act and act now to get this team to compete... Mark my words I said this and I said this 2 months ago... Bynum, Kwame, Cook have seen the last days on a Laker uniform... BRING ON ARTEST< ARTEST.....

Idiana will take Odom, Bynun, Cook and Sasha as well as their 19th pick in a heart beat for JO and Foster.... BUSS GET IT DONE.... Why doesn't this make any sence....

And than if we can deal Kwame sign and trade Luke and next year 1st round pick for Artest and Kenny Thomas or Shareef , than we have what we need.... This will allow us to keep the people minus ODOM that really deserved to stay in the first place ( Turiaf, Kobe and Farmar maybe luke )

BUSS GET IT DONE already, I can't believe why this will not work... All teams will want this deal to be made, maybe it is true where in rebuilding mode... I can't believe that I can make better GM decisions than these ass@$@@ that we have in the FO.....

well said, mitchell

"Who was the dumbazz on this blog who actually wanted to keep Kwame and trade Kobe? That is the ultimate symbol of how stupid the Kobe haters actually are."

HMMMMMMMM Troy I think that's Mike T... What an idiot... I bet his a softie like Kwame on the hardwood himself.....

Kobe's not the "poison" of the team, poison harms you.

He's more like the blood of the team, keeping it alive, even though the body is decaying. If you want to get rid of the blood of the team, well, you're going to have a dead-as-a-doornail team.

Gino, and Rick Friedman,

Thanks for the love. I'm just saying what I feel, and what I see. Stephen A. said a few minutes ago that he just got off the phone with Magic, and he believes that Magic is on the phone with Kobe right now. I don't think we'll hear anymore major news, but in a couple days (or maybe tommorrow) the organization will come out and say "everybody is on the same page" which will be followed by, or preempted by somebody getting fired.

janaya
"To all these people that keep bringing up Colorado and the hotel clerk - shut up!"

ah, my favorite defense strategy, the "shut up" strategy. it always works like charm. i won't speak anymore...... :-)

troy,

"Hang your head high, Kobe. Ignore these jealous b*tches who hate you. You got fans all over the world. Even Shaq's got your back. Bless you and your family, Kobe."

does kobe's a$$ smell nice today. shaq's friggin laughing at the Big Manipulator.......

Artest-JO- Kobe ( Warriors and Dynasty in making)
We need to get these guys and get them now... At least Artest if we can't get JO....

As you might know Kobe said magic was calling him and he would listen to him.

Well magic spoke to Stephen A Smith and told him Kobe WILL NOT be traded that he will not allow for KObe to be traded.

He said Kobe is a Laker for LIFE and like him he WILL only wear purple and gold.

He said Kobe is RIGHT about what he is saying and that he will make sure Dr. Buss and Kobe work things out.

Magic said he will NEVER sign to trade Kobe(as you know he is a minority owner)

He said he will try to fix this mess.

Kobe is a laker for life......... Magic Johnson!

Kobe Bryant,
"I'm so tired of talking," Bryant said. "It's tough. I always dreamed about retiring as a Laker. I just hope and hope that something can be resolved. Something can be figured out. Just something so I can stay here and be in this city and be with the team I love."

The Big Liar. First he want to be a laker for life, then he would never come back, now he wants to reitre a laker, the team he supposedly "loves". Kobe=Britney Spears, starved for atttention now that the Big Loser is out of the playoffs. Kobe hating on the conference final participants. typical kobe.

Gotta give another blog some love, it's too juicy not to share with you guys, but I won't directly link out of respect for this blog, if that makes sense.

Lang Whitaker, a blogger at SLAMONLINE.COM, writes this:

"Anyway, what could Phil Jackson have told [Kobe] to keep him around?

How about this? The Lakers are going to get Jason Kidd.

At least, that’s what I’m hearing from someone in the know.

Kidd goes to L.A., and Bynum goes to Jersey. Soon. The Bynum Brigade might need to establish an East Rutherford chapter.

(And while we’re at it, I hear Vince is going to be heading to Orlando.)

Could this all be wrong? Of course. Maybe I’m getting played like the rest of the media was. But I don’t think it’s wrong. If I’m right I’ll remind you about it often. If I’m wrong, I’ll delete this post.

So Kobe gets Kidd, Orlando gets Vince, and the Nets get Andrew Bynum and a reduced payroll while they prep for their move to Brooklyn.

Discuss… "

Now I know he's a blogger, and not bound by the stricter rules of journalistic integrity, but Lang is a pretty trustworthy writer from reading his columns. Pete Vescey and Sam Smith he is NOT. If this is true, I'm doing a little dance for joy, and another for the swift healing of Lamar's shoulder and Kwame's ankle. Oh, ok, and Luke's ankle. But nothing of Smush's.

Magic Johnson, my all-time favorite athlete

...stepping in to save my all-time favorite franchise.

this whole mess has reverted me back to some weird 5-year-old huddling in the corner when their parents are yelling... this all sucks but it can be repaired.

kobe's new message on the web site is back on the "trade me" side, i can only hope that magic, jerry buss, whoever can rebuild this relationship

Enough with the overused metaphors, too. I think 23-year-old girls are the only ones getting thrown under the Buss.

Lakers Forever!

At last a Hater (Gunner24) understands

"AND I KNOW HE WOULD WAIVE HIS NO TRADE CLAUSE IF WE SEND HIM TO CHICAGO AND THAT'S A GOOD MOVE!

WE WILL GET GOOD YOUNG TALENT AND GET RID OF THE POISON IN OUR TEAM.""

But then again he might not choose to go to the bulls!!! The choice is his and not yours!! I have got get similar clause in my contract of employment!!

Haters keeping hating and squirming your time on this blog is up!!
Where Kobe be goes you go, but he will decide your next destination!!!

Please no more stupid trade scenarios!!!

P.s. The Bull will pull a Miami on the Lakers and send PJ & Big Ben & Ben Gordon. If the trade was to go through, there is now way on earth Paxson is a stupid as Mitch, thus Thomas will not be heading this way!!! Haters keep living in a dream world!!!

Kobe see ya!!!, thanks for the memories
Haters good bye!!!

Lakers start a fresh and build a championship team!!! (Laker for life Est:1979)

Aaarrrhhhh!!

Angry_Laker

KOBE MVP next year!

LAKERS with KOBE champions again!

No more Smush and Kwame!

I'm not sure anyone on this current roster wants to play with Kobe anymore.
It's a team sport. So far this summer, it's all about Kobe.
I hope his teammates are more forgiving than he is.

On the brighter side KWAME AND SMUSH ARE GONE! FOREVER!!!!

Kobe Bryant,
"Promises made to make this team better have not been kept," Bryant told Smith. "So where does that leave me?"

me, me, me. kobe should be the spokesperson for DQ, drama queen.

Reading some the trade proposals today. And its like ya, trade Kobe for every good player on such and such a team. Reality check guys it wont happen. The worst thing the Lakers can do is trade kobe right now. Even if they plan to move him it cant be ASAP because we wont get anything for him, and unlike the haters out there I think we trade Kobe to get better, to build something and not just get rid of him.

MH

that was HILARIOUS, marty...

a little laugh on an otherwise emotionally schizo day

I feel that Kobe is being manipulated by the various factions of Laker's management with Jerry, Jim and Mitch on one side and Phil and Jeannie on the other.

Next, Mitch has no credibility. If he had stood up to Jerry B. when he wanted trade Shaq and said if he (Shaq) goes, then I go Mitch would have some respect from every B-Ball fan. West's strenght cam from his ability to stand for something (i.e. the Shaq and Kobe deals, Phil Jackson hiring). The irony is now Mitch wants to be the good guy, not a leader and the Lakers need a leader.

Finally, The Lakers should trade Kobe and just start all over. At least we know what we have, because as of the Draft Lottery Portland and Seattle have just replaced the marginal play-off teams in the WEST Conf.

D-Rave

Guys,
Kobe will stay and Jerry West is coming back.

Now, Mitch and Jim Buss are another story. Mitch might become West's puppet and Jim might move to a new position without interfering with the basketball decisions. We will see.

Dr. Buss WILL NOT allow Kobe to leave because that will be a HUGE blow to the Lakers revenues in many fronts (tickets, broadcast, jerseys, advertising, etc.) So Buss will do whatever it takes to please Kobe and get major help to make the Lakers a contender in the next couple of seasons.

In the end it is a bu$ine$$ decision, so Kobe will stay.

Mark my words.

I heard from a sports reporter the Lakers are bringing in someone to clean up the front office mess.The person is unnamed, but my guess its Magic. He is already working the phones and seems to be in charge right now.

Lakers and Kobe forever !

Fatty

AK and BK,

What's up with the "Message Board" on LATimes.com? Why wouldn't they just make the most of our Blog.
Seems crazy that they're featuring all these posts from people who never show up here.

It's obvious that Jim Buss is the culprit. This man has driven his own father to seek solace in a glassful of vodka and the arms of one of his many 23 year old exotic prize hos. Jeanne, meanwhile, distraught by her father's arrest and her ongoing feud with Jim, has fled in tears into the arms of her father-figure boyfriend, Phil Jackson, who must now play daddy to both her and Kobe. Kobe meanwhile will await a late night meeting in a lonely darkned office with one Jim Buss, the mole, to settle things finally.

I knew Jim was going to tear this team apart. Hang in there Kobe. Jeanne, please leave your contact info on this blog so that a younger, real man like me can, well, take your mind off things, if you know what I mean. Jerry? I won't call you daddy just yet, but I know of a few Kobe hating bi*ches on this blog whom you can add to your stock of backup hos.

To the Haters,
Pleeeeeeeease listen to what Magic had to say. He agrees with everything Kobe has gone public with. (Shaq does too). Magic knows that Kobe has the same basketball DNA when it comes to their obsesssion with winning. They are in the same mold as the Jerry Wests and Michael Jordans of the league. Magic is also very aware that this public demand for change is an effective strategy for superstars. Kobe now has important allies - Phil, Magic and THE FANS.

Let's not forget that everything Kobe is demanding, we, the fans, should demand as well. If he has to resort to making crazy trade demands and aborbing even more criticism, so be it, as long as the Lakers become winners once again.

Thank you Kobe for doing everything in your power and sacrificing the recovery of your public image to fight and claw for a higher cause. If your demands are met (and based on Magic's comments, I am confident they will be), you will forever be remembered as the sacrificial lamb that became the Laker savior.

angry,
“Haters keeping hating and squirming your time on this blog is up!!
Where Kobe be goes you go, but he will decide your next destination!!!”

buzz, wrong again. once kobe’s gone, lakers can begin to truly rebuild. for now, it’s jersey and ticket sales and 2 more years of pimping the Big Crybaby.

Staples 24,
“KOBE MVP next year! LAKERS with KOBE champions again!”

agreed, another all-star MVP and another scoring championship for the Kobester. good analysis.

gugy,
“Dr. Buss WILL NOT allow Kobe to leave because that will be a HUGE blow to the Lakers revenues in many fronts (tickets, broadcast, jerseys, advertising, etc.) So Buss will do whatever it takes to please Kobe and get major help to make the Lakers a contender in the next couple of seasons.”

first intelligent thing you've said today…….just kidding. for reals, you’re okay in my book. I agree and disagree with you. kobe will remain a laker so the team can make more money, but contending is a different story for the Big Cancer. I say, lakers remain a 5-8 seed and another 1st round knockout is in order. remember, championship contenders are very hard to build. the good business decision is to say whatever to the Big Drama in order to get him to stay, then get rid of the cancer.

Sam Smith of Chicago Tribune today:

"...The Lakers ARE NOT trading Kobe. No matter what he says and demands or asks for. He doesn't have an opt out until after the 2008-09 season. They didn't trade Shaq to keep Kobe to let Kobe go as soon as things went badly...."

"Kupchak has done a miserable job with signings and Bryant has been patient for three years. He's no less impatient than Michael Jordan ever was. He wants to play deep into the playoffs, and we should respect him for that since the players don't get paid in the playoffs and too many settle for going home early. Bryant doesn't want to. So he's putting the challenge to the Lakers, which is what a great competitor does. And he's not about to lie down. He cares too much about his craft and professionalism."

Cbuck, Lakofan, Staples 24 etc.
Where did u hear about the magic thing? is there a link or some way i can hear it? i thought i had been following everything today but i didnt hear that. If its true i need to hear it first hand.

Journalist: Kobe, why did you throw Shaq under the bus?

Kobe: No comment.

Journalist: I thought so.

Kobe:What? This is the first time I'm hearing this. They came to me and told me about Shaq being thrown under the bus. I ask Phil what did they say in the '04 interview.

Journalist: Speaking of 04' since that's when you proclaim you didn't need shaq and you thought you were the man, and....let's not forget the dirty Hotel clerk.

Kobe: What?

Journalist: Yeah, the hotel clerk with semen from three different men.

Kobe: The condom must of broke.

Journalist: Doesn't matter.

Kobe: I'm not trying to throw Lamar or Luke under the bus, BUT...

Journalist: But? did they have something to do with it?

Kobe: No bro, i changed my mind after speaking to Phil.

And "The Young, Poison and Restless Ball Hog" soap opera saga continues......

From Charley Rosen:

So who's to blame for the rapid decline of the once-glorious Lakers dynasty?

1. Jerry Buss, for giving Kobe and PJ contradictory versions of what the team's long- and short-terms plans were; for being less interested in the ruination of his team that in tooling around town in the company of hopeful starlets one-third his age; for trying to control team expenditures so that his personal life-style could be perpetuated; and, most importantly, for letting his son Jim run the team (into the ground).

2. Jim Buss, for refusing to take a chance on the kind of volatile, yet extremely talented, players that the Lakers sorely needed; for basing his player evaluations strictly on statistics; and for exhibiting stubbornness, arrogance, and the refusal to accept responsibility for his own misguided decisions — characteristic of the most dangerous kind of ignoramuses.

3. Mitch "Cupcake" Kupchak, for being a dim bulb.

Thank you Mr. Rosen
Jim is an idiot. Jerry needs to understand that.

honestly do some of you think before you write?

The Lakers will NOT win another championship if Kobe leaves, even with him is a long shot.

Does any one watch the NBA and know of the good teams?

Spurs
suns
jazz
houston
dallas
NOW portland
NOW seattle
Clippers
ALL those teams are better than the Lakers NOW and later MORE.

The LAkers WILL NOT get equal value for Kobe, HAve you heard what ALL analyst even the ones that hate Kobe have been saying?

Kobe IS the best player in the NBA, the LAkers will not get equal value for him, without him the team will only win 22 games.

A lot of players are backing Kobe up, and also analyst. you guys are out of touch, for every little stab on Kobe there is a but he is right, he was betrayed.

Kobe in not about ME if he was he wouldn't be struggling like he is to leave the lakers.

That is why he is going back and forward because he doesn't wanna leave.

he LOVES the Lakers that's why the Lakers are taking advantaged of the situation.

Look beyond the hate of a man that has done nothing to you, his only sin is wanting to win.

Instead of being on vacation with his family he is already working out waking up at 4:30 every day, and working on defense because Phil told him to work on defense.

Can you Kobe haters say the same about the other members of YOUR Laker team?

IF you were such a big Lakers fans as you said you are, you would listen to what aLL true laker fans think is the best laker MAGIC.

MAGIC is standing by Kobe's side, so I really don't understand how those of you that proclaim themselves true Laker fans don't see what's going on.

A report from arizona:

The blogs here are excited. Kobe the hated one is now the wanted one.

Trade scenarios invlove Marion and Banks for Kobe.

Many say it would garauntee a title.

Unlike Laker fans, they would love on Kobe.

And unlike the LATimes who trashes the Lakers and Kobe, the AZ Republic would never do something like that. The feeling is, what a classless org. that trashes its best player and a classless newspaper.

Plenty of Kobe haters too.

Fatty

That might be the answer right there. Fire Mitch with compassion, bring in Magic as GM and in about a month hire west as his personal advisor.

Wes

Mitchell
“Magic is also very aware that this public demand for change is an effective strategy for superstars. Kobe now has important allies - Phil, Magic and THE FANS.”

mitch, what’s up bro? shaq’s a$$ still smells. I would qualify your statement “the fans” by 50%. don’t discount us laker fans who can’t stand the Big Manipulator.

“Thank you Kobe for doing everything in your power and sacrificing the recovery of your public image to fight and claw for a higher cause.”

what recovery? 50% of “fans” still think the Big Cancer’s a jerkoff.

“If your demands are met (and based on Magic's comments, I am confident they will be), you will forever be remembered as the sacrificial lamb that became the Laker savior.”

right, break up a contending team to rebuild another contending team.

lakofan,
“Kobe in not about ME if he was he wouldn't be struggling like he is to leave the lakers.”

really, did you listen to his statement? here it is again.

Kobe Bryant: "Promises made to make this team better have not been kept," Bryant told Smith. "So where does that leave me?"

it’s about the lakers right? The Big Envious is jealous that he’s not building his “legendary” status………Let’s go Cavs!

""Kupchak has done a miserable job with signings and Bryant has been patient for three years. He's no less impatient than Michael Jordan ever was. He wants to play deep into the playoffs, and we should respect him for that since the players don't get paid in the playoffs and too many settle for going home early. Bryant doesn't want to. So he's putting the challenge to the Lakers, which is what a great competitor does. And he's not about to lie down. He cares too much about his craft and professionalism."

RIght one
Ventriloquist

And haters say that his selfish.... People wake up the ones that are selfish on this team are ( Kwame, Smush, Cook, Bynum Vrad)... They did not care, people that don't care are selfish.... How can you call someone selfish that wakes up 4AM in the morning to work on his craft when he already has been mentioned best in the game.... Wake up idiots and think logically

It's about time we GET RID OF THE CANCER!

A new era has just begun...

& LAKER NATION will AGAIN rise and get the RESPECT it deserved.

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

GET RID OF KOBE! GET RID OF THE CANCER! GET RID OF THE BALLHOG!

truelakerfan,

I deserved that!

I apologized for bringing shame to the Laker organization & truly I AM SORRY for acting up again... I thought I can carry a team by scoring all that points... I just wanna' be like Mike is that so wrong?

Please forgive me for all the WRONG things I've done.

Signed,
Kobe B. Bryant

Lakofan,

"Well magic spoke to Stephen A Smith and told him Kobe WILL NOT be traded that he will not allow for KObe to be traded......"

When an where took this place. I looked up allover ESPN and couldn't find it. Could you please be more specific?

Ventriloquist

gage,

stephen a. smith reported on it in pregame

the report
- SAS personally talked to "Erv...Ervin Magic Johnson" moments before coming on air and Magic said kobe isn't going anywhere
- Magic said he will not vote for the trade
- Magic said Jordan never belonged in anything but a Bulls jersey, Bird never belonged in anything but Celtics and Kobe is the same way with the Lakers. Magic called him a Laker for life

and (somebody back me up here) SAS said kobe and jerry buss are probably "talking right now as we speak." again SAS reported this during espn pregame

Marty,

"Enough with the overused metaphors, too. I think 23-year-old girls are the only ones getting thrown under the Buss."

Brilliant. LOL

Ventriloquist

lakofan,
You said it all. All the haters will disapear once Kobe brings a title to LA and the fans of other clubs will envy the best player of the NBA.
Lakers have it and all the dust will settle. Kobe will not leave this next two seasons. Unless by then the management don't make a serious adjustment. I guess what? they will because Kobe means $$$$$$$$ for them.

Fatty,

A lot of people want Kobe even our most hated rivals. Bill Simmons commented on his article about the thought of Nash, Kobe, and Amare all playing together. Scary.

MIKE T -

"And just to let you know:

Kobe Bryant basically threw Lamar Odom and Luke Walton under the bus yesterday.

mike

Posted by: Michael Teniente | May 30, 2007 at 03:01 PM "

IF YOU ACTUALLY LISTENED TO HIS INTERVIEW WITH KLAC YESTERDAY, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD KOBE SAY "I AM NOT THROWING MY TEAMMATES UNDER THE BUS. I EXTREMELY RESPECT AND AM PROUD OF LAMAR AND LUKE FOR PLAYING THROUGH INJURIES" AND SO FORTH

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT

May 29, 2007 - 11:36:34 AM

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After getting linked to Mark Heisler's article by AK & BK's update, I read about the curious "insider." I decide to sort through some of my sources in order to get to the bottom of it all... right after I got to the bottom of Macallan 12 I'd been working on all morning.

Yes, that's really me over there on the right.

May 29, 2007 - 11:37:54 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/genericone/drunkatwork.jpg

Scothc doner. It'ss. okaaaaa

asffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

May 29, 2007 - 01:25:36 PM

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After taking a long needed siesta (read: passing out), I decided that moving forward with the investigation would proceed forward as I planned. I brought my cyborg look-alike out of the closet and sat him in my chair facing the computer. I figured that "combat mode" would be the best setting to leave him on just in case that punk next door decided to steal another one of my pens.

May 29, 2007 - 01:32:17 PM

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Leaving the building was easy as I had arranged for an escape route through the ventilation ducts in the supply room. All I had to do was slip a roofie in Terry the copy guy's coffee and he'd be out like a light. Well, he usually would pass out quick but sometimes he'd run around the office like a maniac for a few minutes. Fortunately for me, this was a "pass out quick" morning.

May 29, 2007 - 01:35:23 PM

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I decided to check my first source. He lives in Lake Union right near where I work. He didn't really have a lot to say, well, he never really does. I just talk to him and explain my various theories on things and he just kind of grunts or squeaks and occassionaly splashes water at me. I did get to cover a lot of ground with him though, and perhaps had my first clue: I would have to get to Los Angeles.

May 29, 3007 - 02:29:42 PM

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Los Angeles, a thousand years in the future. I had forgotten to correct the settings on my Martian Gammacopter and, well, ended up being way off course.

May 29, 2007 - 02:11:42 PM

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After making sure I was in the right time period (a quick check outside to see if there were any flying green monkeys was all I needed), I proceeded to Staples Center. There isn't much to report, but I did happen to catch the secret S.E.D.A.T.E.D. (Super Energy Dance Action Team Excitement Duo) Moblie pull out of the parking lot. Figuring I might be able to glean some sort of information from Mad Dog and Ronny, I decided to follow them.

Yes, I've got the Martian Gammacopter that transforms into a car. Who doesn't? Sheesh.

May 29, 2007 - 03:51:46 PM

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Back at Staples. Turns out, Mad Dog and Ronny were just testing out their new wheels. Fortunately, they finally stopped and after I told them how much of my time they wasted (they were super apologetic), they were able to give me a bit of information. In the wilds around Lake Arrowhead, there was a monstrous beast that had been screaming out obscenities involving Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Buss, and Kwame Brown. The beast had been witnessed throwing cakes and scaring little children in several neighborhoods. I figured checking out that would be worth while, as opposed to "FIGHTING CRIME THE DANCE TEAM WAY" like Mad Dog and Ronny were about to do. I turned down their invitation and took my leave, though I told them I'd take a rain check. Can't pass up an opportunity like that. Well, except for this.

May 29, 2007 - 04:32:57 PM

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Picked up these crazy kids who were hitchhiking. I swear the dog was talking. Must've been the booze. They insisted on playing this song over and over and over.

I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride
You don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away

Last night I held Aladdin's lamp
And so I wished that I could stay
Before the thing could answer me
Well, someone came and took the lamp away
I looked around, a lousy candle's all I found

Well, you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride
Well, you don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away

Thanks to them, this song will now be stuck in my head. I share this because I want you to suffer along with me. Anyways, I dropped them off in Bakersfield near this spooky looking house. One of the dudes said "ZOINKS" as they closed the door. Med