A few MVP items
May 6, 2008 | 6:18
pm
AK will have more soon, but here are a few links to some MVP-related material:
A clip of the press conference, and Ric Bucher discussing Kobe's worthiness as an MVP winner. If you'd like to see the entire thing, this one from KCAL9/CBS2 should do the trick.
For those of you interested in margin of victory, the vote table is contained herein.
BK
Thanks as always K Bros!
Just what I needed, since I missed the whole thing.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | May 06, 2008 at 06:21 PM
did Kobe not mention Dr. Buss name? Did i miss it?
He mentioned his teammates and J West, but I didnt catch any Buss or Kupchak..
Anyway, congrats Kobe!!
Posted by: moko | May 06, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Woot! Congrats KB24blackmamba! Now let's get the Championship, Finals MVP, and Olympic Gold to complete the quadrifecta!
Posted by: Benjamin | May 06, 2008 at 06:26 PM
How does 82 1st place votes equal 1100 points, and 28 1st place votes equal 894 points??
Posted by: ajax | May 06, 2008 at 06:28 PM
It took 12 long years but kobe finally did it
Congratulations
Now lets go after the shinnier throphy...
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | May 06, 2008 at 06:29 PM
I know this is just a confirmation of what us real Laker fans have known all along. Congrats Kobe!
I also supper glad he won by a landslide. There should be no comments about CP3 gettin' robbed...it was pretty much unanimous.
GO LAKERS!!! LET'S TAKE CARE OF UTAH TOMORROW!
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | May 06, 2008 at 06:38 PM
I am very pleased for Kobe. He has had to live his entire adult life in the spotlight and every mistake he's made, and every word he's said has been analyzed and overanalyzed to death. He's been called fake and insincere, been blamed for things that aren't his fault, and been stoic throughout. He's also owned up to mistakes he's made, something most of these guys don't do (witness Roger Clemons). Through all of that, he has been a consummate professional, doing the job he's paid to do and never giving less than 100%. Yes, he dissed his teammates and his bosses--hell, who hasn't done that? The only difference between Kobe and the rest of us is that his rant was made public. That doesn't make him the devil; it makes him human, flawed like the rest of us.
All that aside, he deserved this award for the way he's led this team through the injuries other teams couldn't survive (i.e. Houston Rockets), including his own. Do any of us know where the Lakers would have ended up had Andrew not been injured? Had we not gotten Pau and Trevor? Of course not. We like to speculate, but there is no way of knowing for sure.
In the end, we are at the top and hoping to go higher. We do know we definitely couldn't have done it without Kobe Bryant.
Kudos, kiddo. You've earned your place in the sun.
Posted by: SoCalGal | May 06, 2008 at 06:40 PM
1st of let me extend an congradulatory hooray to Kobe. I saw the press conference and it cudnt have happen to a better player. Many here has already written what I wuda said so on that note I won't repeat.
2nd..This Celtic/Cavs game seems alittle D-league-ish!!! cmon people it not like the Cavs are some kind of high powered defensive minded team..haha geezzz man..whenever you field Zerbiak as your starting player your D is suspect from the door.
37-41 at the half..and I'm not impressed with this Celtic team that everyone is strategically placing in the Finals! The Cavs run Iso's with Lebron all night..the offense looks unsure and spontaneous..there no set play except hurry and rush down the court and shot before Boston can set up there defense (a very..very..very..extremely bankrupt..poor mans Suns offense)
The Celtics guna mess around and be to beat up to even compete in the Finals if they make it that far
Posted by: lakeraholic | May 06, 2008 at 06:50 PM
AK:
FYI
Links to ESPN Insider video requires one to be a "registered Insider" to see more than just a snippet. Links with this time of "entry" aren't Kewl.
Cheers.
Posted by: Gman | May 06, 2008 at 06:53 PM
who is ric bucher? It's funny after december you haven't heard from him, its like hes fallen off the earth. What a loser.
Posted by: Uncle Spence | May 06, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Kobe is MVP, wow ! my dream comes true today, i have another dream in June, Chris Paul is young, he will have another chance, but this year is Lakers's year, this is why we are proud to be Lakers fan, we don't want to be playoff team, we want championship, and i always believe Lakers can do it.
Posted by: bluesky | May 06, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Very nice press conference, a joy to watch
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 06, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Anyone notice how smoothly the Laker team and management get along when JIM Buss is as nonexistent as Mike T?
Posted by: p ang | May 06, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Repost from the previous thread:
Tully - I will add my thanks for an excellent post. I am another Kobe fan from the get-go & feel like a proud parent today. You expressed what I would have liked to say if I was a lot more eloquent - thanks!
JonK - thanks for the mention - I appreciate your posts a lot too! (Hey President of the Brown Nose Club - did you read that?? Ya got something to say you troll???!!!)
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 06, 2008 at 07:07 PM
lakeraholic-
Dittos on the Celtic game.
Would you guess Cleveland is up 51-48 late in the third if someone told you that
Lebron has 8 turnovers
Lebron is 1 for 9
Lebron only has 10 points
Cleveland is shooting in the low 30% range.
This is worse than a D league game. Closer to a high school score and play.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 06, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Congrats KOBE! Awesome year so far...key word so far. We haven't finished what we started and I know Kobe knows this. Let's wrap it up.
Colorado loves the Kobe & The Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | May 06, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Stranger In The Night deserves the 07-08 Blog MVP.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | May 06, 2008 at 07:16 PM
man, there are still people who think he didn't (doesn't?) deserve it:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/21664-Kobe-or-CP3----The-Debate-for-MVP
ah, well, who cares what they think. the nba voting committee hasn't been kind to Kobe denying him that trophy all these years so it really has to count for something that he gets it finally.
Posted by: bijou | May 06, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Kobe did mention both Buss and Kupchak. Also, Luke's and Tex's questions were hilarious.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | May 06, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Dear Lord:
Hi, yeah, it's me. I know, I know, long time no see. Well, you see, I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for me this year, and you know, for finally righting one gross injustice in this world and letting Kobe Bryant win the MVP. Thanks a bunch for that, ok, and while you're feeling generous to us Lakers fans, would you mind giving us another 3-4 championships, please?
And one more thing: Please, please do not give us the NBA Finals on TV with Dick Stockton calling play-by-play!! Dick Freakin' Stockton, who most of us, ahem, more mature Lakers fans remember as the most biased, pro-Celtics homer announcer in all of kingdom come, rivalled only by his 1980's broadcasting partner, Tommy Heinsohn. Every time I hear his voice, such as when he's calling tonight's Celtics game for TNT, I just have to vomit in my mouth a little bit.
Thanks again,
hava98
Posted by: hava98 | May 06, 2008 at 07:22 PM
LeBron
2-18 shooting
9 TO's
Not just blaming LeBron, but Stockton and sidekicks repeatedly mentioned Cleveland's height.
More often than not Ilgauskas would hoist up a mid range jumper.
A 7'3" $10 million per year salary center and with LeBron struggling not so much as a result of the Celtics but just off his game they couldn't establish a post up game at all???????
God, how I hate the effin' GreenieWeenies.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 06, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Celtics - Cavs. Wow.
IF the Celtics make it to the Finals representing the Least, whoever makes the West (Lakers) is going to throttle them!
They are the weakest 66 win team I have ever seen.
2007-2008 Boston = 2006-2007 Dallas
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | May 06, 2008 at 08:04 PM
My man got MVP. As Kobe, I am Looking for Big thing the NBA championship.
Now all Kobe haters say this is like a Lifetime achievement award, not MVP. I just heard in 610 am in houston by a Kobe hater host. he is really upset and pissing poison on kobe on the air.
Posted by: Disgruntled,Frustrated Laker Fan | May 06, 2008 at 08:13 PM
"It was a day he shared with his family, teammates, coaching staff, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, team owner Jerry Buss and former general manager Jerry West, the man who obtained Bryant a dozen seasons ago. All were in attendance."
Who's missing? Jim Bush!
Anymore doubt as to who the insider was? The weed smoking son of the owner. He doesn't deserve to be a part of the team. I hope he never gets to own the Lakers ever.
Posted by: Laker/Kobe Fan | May 06, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Lakers on Top of the Western Conference!
Lakers Undefeated in the 2008 Playoffs!
MVP for Lakers Kobe Bryant!
This was my dream last summer! It all came true. Now if I could just win the lottery!
Posted by: Staples 24 | May 06, 2008 at 08:23 PM
How did Kobe and CP3 each got two 4th place votes?
Posted by: coolhair | May 06, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Did he thank Phil? I didn'thear it.
Posted by: mel | May 06, 2008 at 08:27 PM
hava98~
Amen.
Breaking News ** Chris Webber just got a little choked up on TNT, talking about Kobe winning the MVP. Dang. Didn't see that coming...
Congrats, Mamba. We had you all along.
23 hours till game time!!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: Happy Camper | May 06, 2008 at 08:29 PM
I'm so happy for Kobe... I can't believe we've been watching him for TWELVE YEARS. Jesus.
He definitely deserved this, and I'm hoping him winning is foreshadowing a Lakers championship. :)
It was a great conference. I loved how light spirited and fun it was with Luke, Pau, Tex, the whole group. I loved every second of it!
Congrats again to Kobe, 2007-2008 MVP!
Posted by: Alena | May 06, 2008 at 08:37 PM
that douchebag john from the bleacher report is out of his mind. i seldom reply to peeps, but he's got to be one of the biggest hater around.
i can't believe chuck said on tnt the only difference this year was pau gasol. they all are forgetting about fisher and the subtraction of smush parker and kwame brown. kobe did pass to them and they miss shots after shots after shots. good god i'm annoyed.
Posted by: LebronLover | May 06, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Mel
Did he thank Gary Vitti, I didn't hear it?
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 06, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Some nice stats......Ray Allen......0 points....thats right 0 points.....Paula Pierce....4 points.....KG saved the day...Cassell had 10 points and Rondo played really well....
LEBRONZE....2-18 shooting......
In the 4 regular season meetings the teams split 2-2...
When the Cavs scored over 100 points they won...
Posted by: Thirty2 | May 06, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Funny stuff on the cbs2 vids....Luke Walton asking Kobe at the press conference, "Since you said that you said you couldn't win your award without your teammates, are you gonna be gettint your teammates any sort of gifts?" Kobe's reaction...priceless.
I love how Walton first said, "Mr. Bryant, congratulations first of all." Then Kobe goes, "First of all, don't ask me a question like your dad would ask me."
Damn I love this team. GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Hansoulfood | May 06, 2008 at 09:00 PM
I just ordered my Kobe MVP black t-shirt. Another great day to be a Lakers fan.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | May 06, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Where was Magic Johnson? He in the past has been critical of Kobe not making teamates better and on a day when Magic could be on hand to say job well done.
He choses to checkout his Starbucks franchise and other buisnesses. I honestly believe Magic has personal issues with Kobe that run deep! I stress this is my opinion not something I have heard outside of just observing as a Laker Fan!
Posted by: chuck23 | May 06, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Ah, sweet vindication. Next, the championship some friends of mine said would never come with Kobe on the team!
Poor haters - they used to rile me up, now I think they're pathetic. All of their ammo has been taken away except the old "rapist" comments. It's sad, really, that they bring that weak sh*yt in here.
Posted by: cscoot | May 06, 2008 at 09:04 PM
According to Elias Sports Bureau:
"JACKSON PERFECT AFTER WINNING A SERIES OPENER
We have some bad news for the Jazz. A Phil Jackson-coached team has never lost a postseason series of any length after winning the first game. Jackson's teams are 39-0 in playoff series that began with a Game-1 win."
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 06, 2008 at 09:07 PM
You know how sometimes something happens and you can't stop grinning about it? And you notice how you keep on grinning and it is so continuous that you become a little self-conscious about it, so you try to stop grinning, but the moment you stop focusing on it you return to grinning?
That's what I'm experiencing right now.
Kobe, I'm very happy you received the MVP. You deserved it, brother. It's about time.
Now get us a championship.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 06, 2008 at 09:23 PM
2-18 shooting? LeBron is totally guardable...
Who can say that about Kobe? No one. Not even those sportscasters crying about why LeBron wasn't picked for MVP...
Congrats to Kobe for a well-deserved and long-overdue honor!
Posted by: Romy R. | May 06, 2008 at 09:32 PM
AK/BK - thanks for posting the link to Kobe's press conference. I really don't see how anyone can watch that objectively and not see how humbled Kobe was by finally winning this award. You could tell he was honored and very grateful to his teammates, and expressed himself in a very sincere manner. After seeing how much he enjoys his teammates - his brothers - I came away not only feeling like I knew Kobe the player that much better, but also Kobe the person. I'm glad he's a Laker, and especially glad that he stated he wanted very much to be a Laker for life. I see how he's grown & matured, and recognizes that he's in the best place in his career - and his life - right here ,right now. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who talks trash about this man from here on out is labelled a hater and a troll, and deserves nothing less than the wrath of Laker Nation - not to mention being hit by a bolt of lightning. (C'mon now - you all KNOW that God is a Laker fan!)
Congratulations Kobe Bean Bryant on your winning of the 2007/2008 NBA MVP Award - you deserve it, and we know it, and we know more will be coming your way. I agree with Benjamin who posted that now we just want to see you win the Championship, the Finals MVP and the Olympic Gold - no one deserves to win more than you & your brothers.
GO LAKERS!
THE BEAN FOR FINALS MVP OR NO PEACE!
NO CHAMPIONSHIP - NO PEACE!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 06, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Regarding the Celts/Cavs game - just one word - pitiful (just pitiful). Lakers are going to win it all this year people! If you have any doubt - watch tonight's game on your Tivo or something. Pitiful. No "O" - no "D" - no focus - no drive - no passion - nothing. Pitiful.
I'd like to know why Kevin "I'm so overrated it ain't even funny" Garnett gets so much credit for his play. He's the same guy that he was in Minny - good skills but not a closer - not even close. Pitiful. The 'johnny come lately' media darling ain't lookin' so good since it took Game 7 to upset the Hawks and then squeeked out Game 1 against LeBronz. Pitiful.
Just pitiful.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 06, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Stranger In The Night deserves the 07-08 Blog MVP.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | May 06, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Hugo My Man,
You're gonna have to holla at Mamba24 for that. He gave me the Mamba award a while back... Lol.
Posted by: Charles | May 06, 2008 at 10:00 PM
justanothermambafan
Someone didn't agree with you about Kobe.
Please don't read Plashke's write up of Kobe - MVP
at least until AM
Its a slam job.
I heard Kobe wouldn't give him an exclusive interview and Plashke was pissed and decided he would slam him which he did.
What a jerk. He just can't stand Kobe.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 06, 2008 at 10:08 PM
That was one of the most relaxed and genuine MVP ceremonies I think I've ever witness. Kobe was humble about his accomplishment, and showed lots of perspective. He was grateful to his teammates, and was reverent of the Laker organization.
You can't ask for anything more than that.
Posted by: #4 | May 06, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Fatty - thanks for the heads-up but Plashke will most likely be dead by morning - lightning bolt upside the head - and then I won't care what he wrote 'cuz I'll be dancing a little jig with you!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 06, 2008 at 10:18 PM
"It was a day he shared with his family, teammates, coaching staff, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, team owner Jerry Buss and former general manager Jerry West, the man who obtained Bryant a dozen seasons ago. All were in attendance."
Who's missing? Jim Bush!
Anymore doubt as to who the insider was? The weed smoking son of the owner. He doesn't deserve to be a part of the team. I hope he never gets to own the Lakers ever.
Posted by: Laker/Kobe Fan | May 06, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Funny, I saw Jim Buss sitting right next to his dad. He was there. So why the hate? He gave us Bynum who PJ did not want and refused to play him.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | May 07, 2008 at 12:35 AM
JustaLakerFan,
So Jim Buss hit a home run with Bynum. If he were a scout, "I'd say great, you did a hell of a job." He's not a scout, he's part of Lakers management.
He's acted like a tyrant and pissed off a lot of people. He's forced Kupchak to work with an arm tied behind his back, but still Mitch had to take all credit for any failings.
Read more and maybe you'll have serious doubts about Jim Buss. By all accounts I've heard, he's an insufferable, arrogant fool.
Posted by: Benjamin | May 07, 2008 at 01:48 AM
JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO KOBE BEAN BRYANT ....
FINALLY WE CAN REST AND SAY, OH YEAH.... HE WON THE MVP IN 2008 AND GOT HIS TEAM TO TOP OF THE MOST BRUTAL CONFERENCE EVER!
GO LAKERS!
GO KOBE!
Posted by: dice8up | May 07, 2008 at 03:42 AM
JustaLakerFan,
PJ "refused" to play Bynum? A 17 year old, with approx two years total of high school basketball experience because of injuries, and PJ "refused" to play him? No, it couldn't possibly be that Bynum wasn't ready yet. And there is no history of careers being ruined by young players being pushed too far too fast.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | May 07, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Loved the press conference!
I've never seen Kobe more at peace. Tonight's game is going to be incredible! The fan/players link is going to be more special than I've ever seen it!
Can't wait!
Thanks for the link, BK.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 07, 2008 at 08:21 AM