Stuff Kobe said
I only caught the tail end of yesterday's conversation between Kobe and members of the media in which he said he "absolutely" (quoting Kobe) wants to stay with the Lakers, and is "open to finishing his career with them" (quoting the report). I missed the stuff about drop top Impalas and grading Mitch Kupchak, but did manage to hear some interesting bits. It's obviously good news to hear Kobe say he is, once and for all, happy in Los Angeles, and doesn't want to go anywhere. That's been the assumption for a while now, but it can't hurt to hear it explicitly expressed. And while there will likely always be some disconnect between how Kobe and management perceive the events of the last few seasons and the most recent offseason, if everyone is now pushing in the same direction, does it really matter?
I'm sure we'll all continue to debate what happened this summer, what led to it, and what's happened since, just as people still discuss the dissolution of the Threepeat teams. The important thing for Lakers fans is it now seems highly unlikely that those two debates will be joined by a third, regarding the end of Kobe's career as a Laker. Not anytime soon, at least.
(NOTE: There were about four or five other media members around, and they'd been talking for a while. Not all the questions are mine, as you might suspect. Just wanted to make that clear.)
Q: When was the point when you said, "Damn, I want to stay here forever." You're saying that now.
A: The same answers I've been saying today are the same answers that I've been giving. It might sound different now because we're winning. We have the first seed, so it might sound a little different, but I've been saying this all year.
Q: Well, put it this way- You weren't a happy camper at the beginning of the regular season. That was obvious. And I understand, because there was an agreement. (I believe this is in reference to Jerry Buss' preseason statements, after everyone had decided to go mum on the Trade Kobe Issue.)
A: (Kobe smiles, and doesn't disagree)
Q: So if you weren't happy at the beginning, when did you get happy?
A: Honestly, as soon as I got out on the court, I separated the business from the game. I can block out a lot of stuff and just focus on playing. Once I got out on the court with my guys, we just bonded together and had a good time, and I forgot about the business side of things pretty quickly.
Q: And when you started winning, that made you happier?
A: Yeah. I started getting excited, because I looked at Jordan (Farmar) and Sasha (Vujacic) and Andrew (Bynum) and the young fellas that have really developed, and then obviously Mitch being aggressive and making a couple of big trades that really helped us out, it showed me that they wanted to win right now. That it's not something they wanted to wait on.
Q: But Mitch never said that was because they wanted to make you happy, by doing those trades, did he?
A: No, but I'm sure that's something that's thought of.
Q: Have you talked to Jerry Buss?
A: We saw each other in the locker room before the San Antonio game. It was a big game, and he came down and wished us all good luck. That was the first time I'd seen him down there all season, really.
Q: But that's not unusual. He doesn't go into the locker room very often.
A: He doesn't go down much. We had a couple big games, and that was an opportunity to gain that one seed, so he came down and wished us all good luck.
Q: Did he talk to you and (players) individually?
A: I don't know, because I'm walking through (the locker room, into the trainer's room, etc., doing game prep) so everybody's kind of coming and going, and we had a chance to kind of shake hands before the game. (Laughs) I feel like I'm in middle school right now, talking about the girl that wouldn't ask me to the dance or something. It's like, "Well, what did she say? What did he say?"
Q: I understand. I'm just asking, if you don't mind answering, when you got past (his anger with Buss' comments). Because again, at the beginning of the season, you didn't want to be here.
A: I let it go. Hey, I've got a job to do. I'm here to play basketball. Once the season starts, I'm ready to go, in 100%.
Q: But the idea was still, or a while, that you didn't want to stay here. Or am I wrong?
A: If they want to win right now, I'm all for it. That's all I said the whole time. If you want to win right now? (Good.) If you want to wait five, six years from now? (It's not). It's pretty simple.
Q: Are you happy they didn't overreact to what you said over the summer, and didn't jump out and make the first deal that was available?
A: I think they did a really good job of being patient and maximizing the pieces that they have here. Like I said, the Trevor (Ariza) deal was huge for us, and Pau (Gasol) to go along with the bigs that we have now, and the passing ability and chemistry, it's good.
Q: How about them being patient with you?
A: I think it's the other way around. I've been sitting on this for four years now, with nothing getting done. So it took a lot of patience on my part, for three years or four years of nothing getting done. To see this thing develop to be where it is today, it feels pretty damn good.
BK
Nice.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2008 at 12:36 PM
oh BTW just making sure everybody got the QUOTE OF THE PLAYOFFS so far by the one and only (not LeBron James BK) KOBE BEAN BRYANT:
"This just ain't Memphis"
When the MVP of the 07-08 season was asked about 'the PAU's game one performance.
Posted by: rayray | April 22, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Man some of those questions sounded a little like TJ Simmers pushing Kobe.
Was he there?
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 22, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Fairweather-
No, he wasn't.
Bk
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 22, 2008 at 12:46 PM
If Pau Gasol had a orangatang on his back, looks like Tracy McGrady's got a gorilla on his.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2008 at 12:49 PM
"Fairweather Fatty:"
Is it me or has TJ Simmers simmered down a bit since we've overtaken the #1 spot?!
His last two articles in the LA Times made me scratch my head, like "is this really T.J. writing this!? I even had to double check the author a couple times!
Damn, winning IS the cure for all, huh? lol
I LOVE IT...all the haters are quiet! Sweet justice.
I know we still have "plenty of work to do" like Kobe always says after a great win..... but I can feel another title right around the corner!
GO LA!
Posted by: Blaze1bx | April 22, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Jon K. - and McGrady's getting no help. It's too bad he has elevated his game to get out of the first round but his team hasn't. He deserves to move on - just don't see it happening this year.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 22, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Repost
The D,
Posted by: The D | April 22, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Huh? (headed to lunch by await your reply) I just don't get it.
"Your point would have been nearly as relevant if you had brought up the Caron trade, the Shaq trade, or Magic and Byron's hamstrings ca. 1989."
The thread entitles KG's name. My question is in regards to KG not coming to LA. How is that irrelevant?
Besides does Mamba24 refer to KG being a classy guy become irrelevant. Fkillah and HmrHed claiming they don't care about Boston become irrelevant?
And when you post "[this comment has been truncated because neither the writer nor any other decent person cares about or remembers anything that ever happened to the Suns]." How ironic is that that you play guardian to irrevelant posts, and post your cry for decency of writers and people.
Looks like your reply to my blog-topic insignificance is refuted by unimportance?
Posted by: Charles | April 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Blaze1bx: Simers has toned down the negative. I think Kam Bros showed him their blog readers disgust and used their power at the LAT to put him in his rightful place.
Either that or he has moved on to the Blue Crew because the team is doing so poorly and he really doesn't like the Parking Lot Attendant.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM
To continue this conversation about Bynum...
When journalists like the folks at ESPN and the LA Times beat reporter start commenting about HOW the Bynum recovery reports are given, it's worth paying attention to. There is a sense that there's something being withheld and that fuels speculation that the organization isn't being honest. That they've known differently this whole time or somewhere along the way.
Who cares? The fans that believe that Andrew is essential to this year's run. For those fans, the frustration goes through the roof. Because they see that the Western Conference doesn't have a clear best team - that the Lakers are literally only the lead cyclist in the peloton.
Nobody wants Andrew back too early so he can suffer a more serious injury. But if he's being HELD BACK more than necessary for reasons other than that, then these fans have a legit gripe. It's in the same family of frustration that fans felt when Drew was coming off the bench and his youth was given as the reasoning. The Lakers were far and away the best team in the West when Drew was hitting on all cylinders. Kobe said they were championship calibre with him in the line-up. He brings an inside domination on both ends of the floor that Pau doesn't replace. And the fear is that when the Lakers do face a team with great front court players like San Antonio and Boston, that those teams will have the advantage when it could easily be the other way around. If Drew isn't back by then, it'll probably be too late to bring him back to compensate.
Posted by: lakers_sth | April 22, 2008 at 01:00 PM
I'm not so sure I agree with the Kobe being patient thing and the Lakers not trying to win right away.
Obviously he doesn't understand how the salary cap works and the CBA.
If you look at the Lakers salary, spending money wasn't an issue. What was an issue was some of the players they brought in with that money.
So Kobe could knock the front office for not making smart moves, he just couldn't knock them for lack of trying.
Either way, it's good to have most of the talk about basketball.
Posted by: Andrew Z | April 22, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Bk,
Thanks - You reporters just seized the oportunity when it came up.
Were you surprised he was so open to such direct questions when he was avoiding them all year?
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 22, 2008 at 01:02 PM
T-Mac is a real conundrum to me. He was continually compared to Kobe a few years back and some hacks even floated the impression that they would take T-Mac over Kobe – which was utter waste of cheap ink. I believe that you can’t lay all the Rocket’s problems on him, but going 0 for 7 in the fourth quarters of the last two games and then flat out admitting he was tired and had no legs, I have to question his mental fortitude.
I honestly never remember Kobe ever saying – yeah I was too tired – never.
Posted by: HmrHed | April 22, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Dear fellow brethern of the blog,
Please help me. I'm having trouble concentrating a work, and even at home, and anywhere else for that matter. I am a dopey space cadet ... clearly my mind is elsewhere instead of where it should be.
This morning my boss had to speak to me like four times in a meeting because my thoughts were on whether or not it was a blessing in disguise that we may not have Socks back until the Finals.
I haven't felt this way since, well 2001. I need to think of other things other than this journey to the Finals. Help! This is too much. Why's it taking so long to get to Wednesday anyway?
Posted by: Glenn | April 22, 2008 at 01:09 PM
In summation, Kobe will re-up, probably, and BYnum may or may not be back sometime sooner or later.
So, any news on when Andrew will play? jk
GO Lakers
15 wins to go
3, fo', fo', fo'
Posted by: Vman | April 22, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Do they pay Bynum the money he wants if he'll be relegated to a backup behind Gasol and Odom, both of whom have played at All-Star levels lately? I'd take the long-term view. Leave him out for these playoffs, so he won't have to play with fear or extra pressure. Sign him to an extension this summer. If the full house doesn't work out, if there isn't enough time and space to be divvied up among the frontcourt players, they could always trade him.
If they got Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, imagine what they could get for Bynum.
J.A. Adande is the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments." He joined ESPN.com as an NBA columnist in August 2007 after 10 years with the Los Angeles Times.
J.A. Adande has lost his mutha f*ck'n mind.
Trade Drew?
Trada a kid who worked out 5 hours a day, 6 days a week during the past summer to become the man-child he is today?
Trade a kid who is willing (un-like Shaq) to learn at the feet of Kareem to become a beast?
Trade a kid who will dominate all big men for the next 15 years?
Trade a kid who-with Mamba at his side-can win 5 rings in the next 7 years?
I have lost all respect for this sick man.
Posted by: passionate Lakers fan | April 22, 2008 at 01:15 PM
i hope all the harmonious talk doesnt get to the Lakers' heads. This is series against Denver is far from over to be all Kumbaya. The Lakers still need to take care of business on their home cour tomorrow, just like Utah did. The Jazz can easily sweep Houston since they now go HOME for two games after winning both away. If the Jazz are fixing their problems on the road, than this team is more dangerous than SA or PHO to the Lakers. THe Lakers better keep up the pace. I felt that the Lakers played sloppy on Sunday because everybody was already giving them the series. Even Phil Jackson said he "liked their side of the bracket" Basically he just called out Denver, Houston and Utah for not being as good as the other teams and basically, easy. The sense of urgency has been good for this team.
Posted by: The Lake Show | April 22, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Fairweather-
Yeah, we're actually capable of asking probing questions, even without TJ's help (haha).
I was surprised, even hearing only what I heard. I know the guys who were there for the entire conversation were surprised as well. Really, he wasn't saying anything wildly different than what's been said or at least strongly implied over the last few weeks, but every new step is definitely interesting.
I'm sure Kobe's perception of what happened, or the Lakers response (both this year and in years past), etc. aren't the same. Obviously, he is informed by factors that I don't see and a perspective that's different. So in that sense, I didn't find yesterday interesting so much in a news sense- though it was reasonably significant- but in the sense that it peeled away another layer of the onion, so to speak.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 22, 2008 at 01:19 PM
The Mob Boss.
Hey Guys,
Does KG not going to LA put a bad taste in your mouth?
NOPE, NEVER and Kapish, are you nuts asking such a stupid question?
First of all for anyone who believed that Herman Munster
aka Kevin Mchale was going to trade KG to Lakers needs their feet put in a cement shoes and then tossed off Santa Monica peer in broad daylite!!
Larry "The Hick" Bird, Danny "The beedy eye" Whiner and Kevin "The Herman Munster" Mchale are all Red Aurbach devotees. No way in hell they will ever consider sending any players to Lakers..DON't YUO EVER FROGET, otherwise Luca 'The enforcer" Brazi wants to shake your hands in person.
Kapish!!
Posted by: The Mob Boss | April 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
The Mob Boss,
You like to call you self the mob boss? Ah you question and make a remark stating that I posted a stupid question.
Let's examine your stupid post.
First of all, the Racial Underpinning of call Larry Bird a “ hick” maybe found offensive. Oh I forgot, you refer to yourself as the Mob Boss. How stupid. What a fantasy world you live in. Ah the people that self proclaims. Maybe MDE might be another “hick name” for you?
Second of all, I love how you emphasize in all caps and misspell YOU with "YUO." And FORGET with “FROGET.” If you want to put attention by using all caps, please at least spell it correctly.
And to further highlight your ignorance, if your going to insult someone like calling them “The beeady eye”, make sure you spell it right call the “The Beady Eye”. It’s like calling someone dumb, “STOOPEED.”
So, “DON't YUO EVER FROGET” STOOPEED!
Posted by: Charles | April 22, 2008 at 01:20 PM
What bothers me is that some in the media, obviously can't let the summer go. He was pissed, he said so and now he is back on track with everyone. It happens. Marriages do this all the time. We say things, get get past it and we move on. There are many more important things to focus on and this negativity is getting to me. Let them focus on the task at hand. It's like they are egging him on to say something (else) bad about the team and make him want to walk away again. I could be wrong and it is just the non-insider/non-sports media trying to ask questions that they didnt ask during the regular season casue they were off coveing what kind of underwear the Beckhams and Brittney wear or don't wear.
AK/BK tell the idiots to Let it the frick go!!! Show them what professionalism in sports writting looks like.
TWoody
Posted by: TWoody | April 22, 2008 at 01:22 PM
justanothermambafan and lakerfaze,
thanks for your reply to my question.
regards,
Posted by: Charles | April 22, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Yawn ... boring ... I think we crossed this bridge already when he said Bynum was the player he'd been praying for
Who cares at what point in time exactly he changed his mind, of what use is that bit of information to us?
Anywho back to basketball related matters ...
Posted by: Taliq | April 22, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Those questions are pretty funny. They ask the same question like 7 times (When was the change of heart Kobe? When? When? When?) and then Kobe owns them with the last question.
Media: Has LA been patient with you?
Naw dog, that's not even the right question. I was patient with THEM.
Glad Kobe's here to stay and the front office finally did something other than ditching an All-Star that was good friends with Kobe (Caron Butler) on Jordan's word that the Wiz guy (Kwame) was good.
Posted by: Benjamin | April 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I'm confused. one minute he says he was happy when he got out on the court..the next he said he was happy after seeing the "Yung'n" pull there weight..then says he was happy when he noticed Mitch making deals to win now? But yet the reporter asked 1 specific question? WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO SAY DAMN I WANA B A LAKER FOR LIFE????? The answer I expected and thought would have summed up everything he said wud have been the last answer! Apparently he was happy during NBA opening night...Sasha and Farmar didn't really come along till about close to themiddle of the season or maybe earlier! 3 different thing transpired this season (emergense of the yungsta...Ariza..Gasol) and I'm still thinkin he's only happy that were #1..or that it worked out..and not cuz of the moves Per se!
What yall think??
Posted by: lakeraholic | April 22, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Glenn,
I hear you -- it's hard to switch off with all the media blitz. Dedicate a certain amount time per day where all you do is focus on Laker stuff and leave the rest of the day for other things. Don't mix those chunks of time together, otherwise you will be down the rabbit hole.
Posted by: HmrHed | April 22, 2008 at 01:41 PM
not sure if this was posted before:
http://realgm.com/src_feature_article/166/
20080419/is_kobe_this_seasons_russell_or_chamberlain/
Posted by: designmao | April 22, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Well, as BK pointed out, it seems to me like a good sign at least that Bynum went to his old orthopedic doctor in New York to get a second opinion about being able to play.
It shows that he definitely wants to be out there, which is half the battle.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Ooh, Charles: 1, The Mob Boss: 0
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | April 22, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Question:
If the Lakers and Jazz sweep but the other series goes 7 games how early does the Laker-Jazz series start compared to the other second round matchup? Thanks...
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | April 22, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Charles
I am soooo glad we did not get KG. I really don't think he would have fit as well as what we have now with Pau and LO up front. Too bad we won't get to see the "Big 3" up front til next year..........but if KG was here we would not have the upside of that and the next 7 or 8 years to look forward to with such anticipation.
No sour taste for me!
Posted by: toad | April 22, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Funny how whinning i mean winning cures everything. I still havent forgot how much KOBE was whinning in the begining of the season. I love the LAKERS!!! Where i'm from there is no one person bigger than the team. KOBE Jordan i mean Bryant obviously thinks he is not only bigger than the team he is bigger than the game. Remember the Colorado incident Mr Bryant.....your lucky the Lakers didnt trade your A$$ then...the only way i can forgive you is if you help our young group of unselfish players to a NBA Championship. Much props KOBE but please stop whinning like a little girl!!! You are ruining your Legacy MAN!!! I love your game just ha8 your attitude.
Posted by: JPB | April 22, 2008 at 02:01 PM
BK
This is a very timely interview especially with local media i.e you.......attempting to suggest that Kobe's outburst this summer had nothing to do with the sudden activity shown by the Lakers management this year.
I never wrote anything in response to your "Revisionism" thread
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2008/04/on-revisionism.html
earlier this month because I felt it was so ridiculous. However I couldn't blame you because you took your cue from none other than Phil Jackson.
I understand Phil Jackson suggesting that Kobe's criticism of the organization had nothing to do with the trades and Andrew Bynum's improved work habits and thus us competing for a championship THIS YEAR. Phil Jackson's ego would not allow him to admit this. Phil has a history of ALWAYS accepting the credit for good things but he never wants to accept the blame for what goes wrong. Classic control issues.
What Phil does is make subtle suggestions in the media and the local media use these quotes to justify there opinion of where the credit should go.
For instance.......In your Revisionism thread you came to the conclusion that Kobe's tirade had nothing or little to do with the way the Lakers have responded this season......as though it would have happened anyway. You then used Phil Jackson's quote: When asked if Bryant's words ended up serving as motivation for his team, Jackson replied: "No. No I don't. I think he was anxious and maybe he spoke out of anger at some point. But no, I don't consider them good."
BK you used this quote to justify the opinion that you reached:
"But as Jackson notes in the quote above, it wasn't a good thing, and it's a twisting of history to say that it was, just because things have turned out better than anyone could have imagined."
You never even considered that Phil is being very slick with these statements because if credit isn't assigned to Kobe to some degree.........then where does credit go?
That is really Phil's point!!
How did Phil immediately come to this conclusion? Did he take a poll? What did he use to guage the effect of Kobe's actions on Andrew Bynum.......who admitted this summer that Kobe's criticism just made him work even harder.
At the root of nearly every negative perception of Kobe in the media...... somewhere you will find a Phil Jackson quote.........think about it for a minute.
My argument is not that Kobe "planned" this.........my contention is there is a law of cause and effect.......and there is a direct relationship to the actions of Mitch this summer, the improved work habits of this ball club and Kobe's real threat to opt out of his contract or his request to be traded. Kobe applied pressure to the status quo.........get off your azz and do something because I don't accept mediocrity.
We all know what happens to a lump of coal when intense pressure is applied...........we get a diamond............no matter what the intention was........it is cause and effect.
Why is it so hard for the media to admit this? Why would that be hard for Phil to admit?
The media has a vested interest in the status quo because they criticized Kobe incessantly this summer for his actions and to now admit that this is the result would be an admission of faulty judgement of Kobe
Kobe stood tall this summer.....stuck to his guns and now Laker fans are reaping the benefits.
But as they say A hero never goes without praise except in his own house.
Great interview Kobe!!
Posted by: pfunk36 | April 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Kobe should just come up with a stock answer to get them to stop asking "when were you happy?".
Something like "7:37PM on Monday Dec 8th, I changed my mind."
Man, that question is as annoying as your girlfriend constantly asking "When did you fall in love with me?" I DON'T KNOW. JUST BE HAPPY.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 22, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Charles wrote:
"And to further highlight your ignorance, if your going to insult someone like calling them “The beeady eye”, make sure you spell it right call the “The Beady Eye”. It’s like calling someone dumb, “STOOPEED.”"
To Charles:
Dood what's wrong with you, are you a Celtic fan or something?
The stuff that the mob boss posts is straight up funny sh!t so chill out bro.
Posted by: Outsidergua | April 22, 2008 at 02:08 PM
And asking for constant updates on Kobe's state of mind is akin that annoying girlfriend asking "Do you love me?" ev-er-ry SINGLE DAY.
"So Kobe, do you love the Lakers today? How about tomorrow? Forever and ever, Kobe?"
Give it a rest!
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 22, 2008 at 02:11 PM
About that Bynum injury, some websites have an interesting take.
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/lakers/index.html
I was actually kind of surprised to see so many people in agreement with us. Normally we get a ton of "you guys are idiots!" in the comment section and frankly, I'm getting uncomfortable with all the love. Expect some more Houston Rockets "truths" to get us back in the right frame of mind (off course after they get bumped in the first round... again).
Anyway, I received two very interesting comments/emails regarding yesterday's post that I thought you should read. The first is from my buddy Matt at Basketbawful. The dude's a huge Karl Malone fan (I think he likes logging and trucking and he'll fight you to the death over the Mailman's 1997 MVP award). I wanted his take on the knee injury experience with the Lakers in 2004:
I couldn't believe what happened with Karl. The Lakers medical staff basically told him it was a ligament strain and that he could work out as hard as he wanted. In reality, it was a ligament tear, which meant that working out was the worst possible thing he could have done. And this was Karl Malone, so it's not like he was doing some light jogging. He was spending five hours a day on the stairmaster and running up and down the mountains near his home in Utah. Totally tore up the knee, and one of the NBA's great iron men was reduced to a stumbling shell of his former self.
It sucked too because he was the glue holding the Lakers together. That team wins the title with a healthy Karl Malone, I have no doubt in my mind. None at all.
I totally agree! Malone was merely a shadow of himself after the injury. It was especially sad to see a player so driven to win a title finish off his career in street clothes for Game 5 in the 2004 Finals. I never really liked Malone until I got to see him in person on a daily basis. For the 5 weeks that he was healthy, he was the crafty veteran who always knew how to draw fouls, he blended in the very difficult triangle offense simply because of his hoops IQ and he was the emotional leader of the team. But all of that (along with the possibility of 2 more NBA titles) were taken away simply because of a misdiagnosis by the Lakers doctors.
The second one was from a comment post by "lakergirl" who has a first-hand experience with one of the doctors used by the Lakers:
I went to their so-called renowned spinal surgeon and he misdiagnosed me--said I had a rotator cuff injury in my shoulder. After months of worthless physical therapy and ending up with a frozen shoulder (from protecting it b/c of the pain), I finally had an MRI of my neck (after demanding it) and discovered I had 2 ruptured disks in my NECK which were causing the radiating pain in my shoulder and down my arm!! This so-called reknowned spinal surgeon then said he didn't know if he could help me! I ran out of there as fast as I could and went to a real professional (neurosurgeon!) who diagnosed me properly, and operated on me within 2 weeks! And these are the sports doctors who are taking care of OUR LAKERS!
Fare thee be warned Bynum, Gasol and Ariza!
Posted by: Jams | April 22, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Doesn't this photo of Liz Hurley http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352130,00.html
look a bit like Sasha, funny how you dont see them together much.
TWoody
Posted by: TWoody | April 22, 2008 at 02:14 PM
lakeraholic
I think Kobe has a very egocentric point of view about all of this. The last answer he gave hints that he feels he had something personally to do with the turn around of others and the performance of the FO as he clearly states "So it took a great deal of patience on my part for three or four years of nothing getting done".........that is not exactly true. The FO did TRY to get some things done, they didn't work out well until this year when the draft picks started playing like they should and Mitch got TA, then got the Gasol deal done. The MAJOR gaffe was the Butler for Kwame trade.
I think Kobe was smart enough to figure out after the first moth of the season that he wasn't going to be traded and that the situation here was not as bad as he thought. I think Dr Jerry told him in Barcelona that the team would do all it could to get better, and when they got rid of Smush over the summer, then got TA, then got Pau when Drew went down, he could see that the FO was indeed working to build another dynasty.
Kobe will be a Laker for life. Jerry is doing all he has to do to keep him here until he doesn't want to play anymore, just like he did with Magic, and Kobe wants to win more than anything and he knows now despite the hick-ups the owner and FO do too. I just think he got himself all worked up over his perception of what the FO was doing and what he would do if he had the power. He basiclally got impatient. I do know this, Kobe will never be a GM of any team.......any time........any where..........but he'll get anpother handful of rings here with the Lakers!
Posted by: toad | April 22, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Also see
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/
2008/03/the-lakers-have.html
The Lakers Have the WORST Training Staff Ever!
By Craig Kwasniewski
Are the Lakers getting medical treatment at Kaiser Permanente?
Seriously, did the Lakers outsource their training staff? How is it that one of the marquee franchises in professional sports continues to be struck with the injury bug? Last season I put the blame squarely on a roster loaded with injury-prone players, but looking back I think it's the Lakers training/medical staff. Here's a list of previous errors/underestimates/misfortunes (it goes back to the 2003-04 season):
Karl Malone in 2003-04 - The Lakers look unstoppable with Shaq, Kobe, GP and the Mailman and are heading toward a record season when Scott Williams injures Malone's knee in December. The initial prognosis was day-to-day with Malone returning by the New Year. Karl Malone never fully recovers, playing out his final season on one knee ultimately missing Game 5 of the NBA Finals... the last game of his career. Rumors persist that the medical staff misdiagnosed the knee injury early on and rushed him to recovery too soon.
The 2004-05 Season - the Rudy T. era never happened! Vlade Divac never returned to the Lakers to steal money and smoke 12 packs a day. Kobe Bryant never played the All-Star game sporting a Boom Dizzle beard. Chucky Atkins didn't start 82 games for the Lakers. This season never happened!!!!
Chris Mihm in 2005-06 - Mihm sprains his ankle late in a game against Seattle. The initial diagnosis is a severe spain and Mihm misses the next 17 games, but he plays the final regular season game hoping to get healthy for the playoffs. It backfires and Mihm is forced to have surgery on the ankle. He is *STILL* recovering from that injury, only playing in 20 games in the past two seasons.
Are the Lakers using 30 Rock's Dr. Spaceman?
Luke Walton in 2006-07 - Walton sprains an ankle and is listed day-to-day. Turns out, day-to-day is defined as 22 missed games out of the last 28... and people still think he's recovering from the ankle this season. (BTW - I'm leaning toward the whole "year after contract year" thing.) Whatever it is, all season we were told that Walton is coming back any day... stay tuned, this is a theme.
Vladimir Radmanovic in 2006-07 - The dude separates his shoulder snowboarding. It's a straight up douchebag move! No accusations at the training staff for this one. It just goes to show that Lakers + Vlade/Vladi = dumbass move!
Andrew Bynum in 2007-08 - Bynum hurts his knee against the Grizz back in January. Sitting at the top of the Western Conference, the season looks lost and fears of "here we go again (with the injuries)" are throughout the locker room. The Lakers diagnose it as a "temporarily dislocated his kneecap and suffered a bone bruise" with a recovery time of 8 weeks (a mid-March return). Bynum is still not ready to return. Reports fluctuate from next week to early May with rumors of next season... it seems as though nobody knows.
Are the Lakers calling Dr. Bombay?
Trevor Ariza in 2007-08 - Lakers back-up forward and key reserve breaks his foot in practice on January 21st. The timeline is that he will be out about eight weeks. Ummmm... he's still out and it looks like he won't return until the playoffs... maybe. It seems as though nobody knows.
Pau Gasol in 2007-08 - Pau lands on Vladi (there's that Vlade/Vladi jinx again!) and sprains his ankle a few weeks ago against New Orleans. The Lakers are left with Ronnie Turiaf, DJ Mbenga (Mr. Opposition And-1) and Chris Mihm's recovering ankle as their only bigs left. Gasol's initial estimate for return is about two weeks... it's been two weeks and two days with continued swelling. Hopefully this ain't a Walton-esque day-to-day because the Lakers are reeling without the Mad Spaniard. Again, the theme of underestimating the injury rings true.
How is it that a team like Phoenix is able to avoid similiar problems? They cured Steve Nash's chronic back, they cured Grant Hill's ridonkulous ankle problems and Shaquille O'Neal is moving around like it's 2005. Even Amare Stoudemire has completely recovered a career-threatening micro-facture surgery! And didn't Raja Bell return from a horrible-looking spained ankle? How are these guys able to go at it a nightly basis and the younger Lakers sit in designer suits?
Just watching the Lakers trudge through the last few games of the regular season you can see that the surviving top 8 are exhausted. The regular season is a long marathon and with so many players forced to go longer minutes that normal they're starting to break down. Derek Fisher has as slight tear in his foot and Kobe is pulling an A.I. with all of his nagging injuries. So the question remains, when the hell will these guys get back?
Either the team doctors are playing it ultra-safe (especially after leaning their lessons with Malone and Mihm) or they simply don't have a clue... which should be a red flag. Either way, I think the Lakers are too exhausted and don't have the time to incorporate Bynum and Ariza into the mix to put together a serious run this spring (translation: second round exit). What they really need to do is ask why, with the technology today, do the Lakers take forever to recover?
Posted by: Jams | April 22, 2008 at 02:16 PM
lakeraholic,
I think you need to stay away from the coffee.
Posted by: Jams | April 22, 2008 at 02:19 PM
i take these latest comments with a grain of salt......just as much as I took last summer's comments the same way---let's see how it plays out..If the team loses in the in the playoffs, and doesn't win next year, well let's see what happens. Kobe wanted to jump ship when things weren't going his way (which was just stupid, the team was still competitve the last couple years, and if injuries didn't befall them - they were still a top 10 team in the nba) -and now that things are going to his liking, he's all for the Lakers --
Seems like the obvious behaviour of an untrustworthy person...And one has to love how Kobe turns the attention on himself after a SINGLE playoff win, one where another player got most of the praise.
Kind of like when Lebron was getting most of the attention last spring, and Kobe went on the radio and we know the rest...
Kobe created the strory, and has written it like a savvy author - but don't trust him too much; there always could be a surprise ending if something doesn't sit right with him.
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | April 22, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Lakeraholic - I think just Kobe saying he's happy is good enough! However, to answer your question, I think there's different levels of happiness. He was happy to be playing the game that means everything to him, so yah - he was happy at the beginning of the season. He was happy to see Sasha & Farmar & Socks had worked on their games over the summer & displayed massive improvement, so yah - he was even more happy about that as the season went along. He was happy to get Ariza & El Capitan (Gasol) for Caron, some dead weight & a couple of Fritos, so yah - he was ecstatic about that! He was happy that they became the top seed in the West, so yah - smiles all around. What don't you get?? The guy was happy, got happier & now he can't stop smiling when you ask him about a championship!!! Happiness belongs to Kobe, and as a result, the rest of the Laker Nation is sporting goofy grins right alongside him.
GO happy LAKERS!
The happy BEAN for MVP and FINALS MVP or NO PEACE!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 22, 2008 at 02:23 PM
lakeraholic,
I think you're trying to hard to read into it.
Posted by: J.W. Weatherman | April 22, 2008 at 02:32 PM
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-bynum23apr23,
1,6880149.story
Enough about the treadmill!
It's like running in a pool. We get it.
I'm waiting for the article on how Dit Da Jow accelerated Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza's healing, but, like many things, I may be hoping for the unevitable.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Hey AK/BK -
Thanks for responding to my last post about injuries and timetables. Seems I set off a firestorm I was not intending to create. I certainly do not think the Lakers training staff is doing a poor job. I just thought it was interesting that the timetables we as fans hear are often not what matches up with reality and I wasn't sure what the reason was for that. I personally would rather them say 8 weeks at the earliest, next season at the latest. That'd be better than 8-12 weeks.
Along the same lines, would you two agree that injuries today are not only more frequent, but also more gruesome than they were in past years? I feel like even though technology and medical knowledge is improving, guys are sitting on the shelf longer and getting injuries more frequently than they were even in the 80s, but especially when guys were playing in the 50s and 60s. And it goes for other sports as well. Perhaps there are other factors? Steroids, the physicality of the games, longer seasons, etc...
Posted by: puddle | April 22, 2008 at 02:36 PM
AK/BK
Regarding an issue from the other thread. I don't know about the poor estimates on Bynum's return date. I understand your point about the uncertainty of the medical profession and the ambiguity of the timetable put forth by the team, but I don't think that is what is really pissing off the fans.
Speaking for myself the issue I have is with the coy answers given by Phil Jackson (an annoying trait of his to say the least). He seems to get off on ambiguous answers that tell us something and nothing at the same time. I doubt this will happen, but try this approach if you get a chance. "Phil, as a percentage can you tell us the probability of Andrew returning in each of the four rounds of the playoffs". (COY not intended to be a pun for coach of year)
Assuming he answers it would hopefully go something like this. "0% for the first round, 5% for the second round 20% for the third round, 50% for the finals" The numbers are irrelevant, but if he gave us an answer like this I think we would once and for all have an idea of what they are thinking.
Of course he would have to preface by saying that these are just his opinions and not to be held against him. I think we would love to know what he really thinks is possible.
Obviously if he says 0% all the way to the finals then we would at least know for sure.....
By the way your liberal use of the word "stupid" in the last few threads comes off as a bit condescending. JMO.
Posted by: pslakerfan | April 22, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Wow.. I guess its the medias job to go after unanswered questions but at what point are we beating a dead horse? Without him (KB) actually coming out and saying it, I and I'm sure, alot of other Laker fans knew Kobe was back in "Laker Mode" last winter and was elated at how things worked out for the better. Even when he went off last summer, he made it clear, LA is where I WANT to be and I wanted to retire a Laker.
I believed him then but doubted it would happen because I assumed the F/O wasnt on the same page as their Star. As far as the press conference transcript BK included, my guess is the media in attendance was waiting or wanted KB to say what his future plans were pertaining to the Lakers after his contract is up?
That would be EXCELLENT for all of us here to read, in Kobe's words, I WILL resign with the team and stay here the remainder of my career once my current contract expires BUT... from a business standpoint, I dont see that happening ( Kobe making THAT statement) I'm pretty sure (100%) Kobe will remain a Laker and more than likely, retire as such but I also understand why he cant lose leverage from Management and just say what we already know ( even tho in hindsight, if I were Kobe, I'd take J Buss and Mitch out to dinner and do a private Thank You guys for saving me from me) All's well that ends well.
Charles, my Brova, I usually dont stick my nose into arguments that dont concern me, but I read a post of yours that I wanted to reply to. Its been sooooooooooo long ago but I swear I remember Larry Bird being called "The Hick from French Lick" by mainstream media and he seemed to relish that tag, on numerous occasions, called himself that. "I'm just a Hick from Indiana" I recall him saying during an interview. I think in some peoples mind, Hick or Hillbilly isnt about a skin color as much as it is Location and Lifestyle i.e The Country. I only say that because I have an Uncle in Wheeling,WV and he's Bernie Mac Black but he's more of a Hillbilly than Jed Clampett ever was.. I'm talking C&W music, Cowboy Boots n Hat and has eaten Possum!!!! and makes Moonshine!!!!!! lmao
Posted by: complex brotha | April 22, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Toad and Justanothermambafan.. appreciate the reply. Jams..my friend you can kiss my azz! Oh and aint nuttin better than a cup of joe! Sorry..i meant to say drink a cup of coffee then kiss my azz..how bout that! Anyway.....glad Kobes staying..im looking forward to the Gasol..Bynum..Odom..Kobe feature. Well like Kobe said...its kinda hard to answer "some" of the question being the #1 team in the west..but I suppose it all worked out for the good. No Brown..No Smush..no problem!!
Posted by: lakeraholic | April 22, 2008 at 02:44 PM
BK,
Jams makes some interesting points.
Also, consider that the whole problem with Chris Mihm's injury THIS YEAR was that the screw in his foot was causing him pain.
It took MONTHS for the training staff to recognize this and instead they were giving him treatment for another misdiagnosed source of pain. Chris Mihm has basically missed the 2007-2008 season because the training staff screwed up. It's that simple.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2008 at 02:48 PM
******Did anybody hear Joe McDonell yesterday??*****
*Can anybody confirm this is what Joe said yesterday?*
Joe Mcdonell who was at the Lakers practice said that the Lakers coaching staff would let the media hear them tell Bynum not to jump and slow down and not to run that much on purpose. Bynum then went to get more treatment while the others were getting interviewed by the media and then when it was time for Bynum to work with the team on the court the Lakers front office made the media quickly leave the gym and made sure no one saw what was going on with Bynum which speculates that PJ might be playing his mind games.
I will keep praying this is just a smoke and mirror job by PJ and Bynum will be ready for the Western Conf Finals.
BD
Posted by: BD | April 22, 2008 at 02:49 PM