Kobe: Pele 2.0?
Well, I wouldn't go that far- beyond the soccer skills, Pele is one hell of an actor- but Bryant proved he can pull off a solid bend in a pinch while... wait for it... kicking it with the LA Sol and their newest mate Marta, the Brazilian soccer star considered to be the best female soccer-ist on the planet.
Kobe is an unabashed soccer fan and stoked about having Marta in town to serve as an idol for his young daughters.
Also, we learned his favorite soccer number: 10, since all his favorite players growing up blazed it. And here I thought he picked the jersey as a shout out to Vlad Rad.
AK
Women Soccer player and FIFA Women's Player of the Year Marta Vieira da Silva, right, poses with Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant pose for photographers at a press conference in Carson, California on Thursday, March 5, 2009. Marta will play for the Los Angeles Sol in the new Women's Professional Soccer league. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
I wanan see Kobe and Steve Nash go head to head in a soccer match-up. Awesome. Remember that awesome dunk by Stoudemire in the dunk contest off Nash's head??? Gawd, that kicked ass.
I'm watching the Leprechauns v. LeBrons game right now...Pierce just blew a layup. Hurrah!
I don't konw who to cheer for though!!!!! Well, all I know is I am sitting back in smug satisfaction because we are far more superior--
HOLY CRAP LEBRON JUST MISSED THE EASIEST DUNK IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! SUCK IT, CAV FANS!
You should have liveblogged this one! It would be sooooo much fun ragging on these people. It's not too late....
Posted by: Cactus Berry | March 06, 2009 at 05:13 PM
I've got it! I want Cleveland to lose, so we have some cushion in the standings.
Sorry. Go CELTICS!
Posted by: Cactus Berry | March 06, 2009 at 05:19 PM
KB probably could have been a world-class goalkeeper had he taken on soccer.
Posted by: | March 06, 2009 at 05:29 PM
And it's official: Glen Davis can't hook a shot if his mother's life depended on it.
Posted by: Cactus Berry | March 06, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Cactus Berry,
I know Cleveland losing is better for us in the standings. But I just can't help and root against Boston.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: olf | March 06, 2009 at 06:00 PM
Nice to see Kobe so open to the real football. That's what I think more American kids should be open to in education. They should be opened to the world that's around them and it always mean soccer. You grow SO much more and appreciate so much more and learn so much more about yourself the more exposed you are to the world.
That is what gives Kobe an advantage over most American basketball players. He is not the stereotypical "baller". You could always tell that about Kobe, even when he came into the league he had a certain sense of maturation about him....he took competition very serious. The media and some players saw that and decided they had the right to paint the man in the image they desired.
If he stayed to himself on the bus, or refused to go hang out with the guys and opted to hone his game in the gym or watch game-footage, or sat down before the rest of the team at the tail-end of shoot around...you hear that Kobe is a selfish SOB. Now don't get me wrong, there are some plays when I go, Kobe you should have passed that, but then there are just as much plays where I say "why bother pass it, he's gonna turn it over anyway!!"--it killed me that Kobe didn't shoot in that game 7 vs. Phoenix, it killed me that he wasn't more aggressive in the Finals in 08 and 04.
But hey, thats just my honest opinion....
Posted by: Rhon Salmon | March 06, 2009 at 06:02 PM
mikefloss,
"However, I do think at times Kobe is a ball hog."
"I don't really consider Kobe a ball hog"
I know you said "at times" but that is a very empty statement. It's either he is or isn't. I don't believe he is. Only time like I said 2002-2003 season when he averaged 6 assists was he near anywhere near a ball hog.
"We'd be better and more dangerous if he made a more conscious effort to do this game in and game out."
Agree here but making him dish 8 assists per game in the triangle does not mean he's not a ball hog. He can dish out 10 assists and yet the team only has 15 assists. He's still a ball hog and putting assists in the triangle offense is much weaker than in other systems.
"Obviously DJ never covered Kobe, but don't think he'd have much success. He was a tough cover for point guards and some two guards, but Kobe is a different beast"
Joe Dumars was only 6'4 yet he was the best defender on Michael Jordan who was 6'6. The Glove gave MJ fits in 1996 Finals in Game 4 and 5 and he was only 6'4. Dennis Johnson gave MJ hard times too just not as much as Dumars in the 80's. Kobe could score against them and I say could because I haven't seen him against either one but Tayshuan Prince is weak (he's strong) and scrawny yet it is his quickness that bothers Kobe. Pierce and Posey are very quick guys and they do the job solid defensively against Kobe. Dumars, DJ, and the Glove are much better defenders than either two and I would think they would do a much better job on Kobe. Heck even Cooper would bother Kobe just as much.
-KB Blitz
Posted by: Kobeblitz | March 06, 2009 at 06:33 PM
Celtics = frontrunning bullies.
Posted by: The Quiet Observer | March 06, 2009 at 06:35 PM
I refuse to root for the celtics...I hate them! We would probably have an easier time taking out Cleveland even if they happen to get home court advantage.
Also, what is with Hubie - he is so pro celtic i can barely stand watching the game. he should get on his kneepads.
Posted by: dan | March 06, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Joe Smith made a HUGE mistake - he should have come to LA...now he's not even going to make to the Finals!!
Posted by: dan | March 06, 2009 at 06:58 PM
you guys should see some videos of Martha on youtube.. you ll be amazed with the things that she does.. she is an absolute magician with the ball at her feet.. Its great for L.A that they got them.. if u are living in L.A u need to go see Martha in action.. she , herself, is worth the price of the ticket..
Posted by: laker guru from india | March 06, 2009 at 07:08 PM
I'm not crazy, but, go to youtube and check Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets. She could have played for the Lakers, no problem. Cynthia or Jordan Farmar, not close. Cynthia was tougher, played better D, and could rip your heart out with mid-range jumper. She's retired now, but the lady could BALL!!
.
CHECK HER OUT. CYNTHIA COOPER
LF
Posted by: LFulcher | March 06, 2009 at 10:30 PM
"I wanan see Kobe and Steve Nash go head to head in a soccer match-up."
I don't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcFM5Rj-XMg
course he's not Kaka or Messi, but he's got skills. he'd kick the s*it out of the Mamba. no, thanks, I wouldn't wanna see Kobe lose to HIM.
ps: Kobe supports AC Milan. oh well. nobody's perfect.
Posted by: L.M. | March 08, 2009 at 08:25 PM
"And here I thought he picked the jersey as a shout out to Vlad Rad"
ahahahahahha that was real funny :D
lemme explain something, AK: in soccer, up to about 15 yars ago, only numbers from 1 to 16 were used (which means, no. 1 to the keeper, 2-11 to the other starters, 12-16 to the reserves). So, numbers were switchable from player to player for whatever reason. Circa 1996, individual numbers were introduced so that each player had his own number and kept it throughout the season (like in the NBA, of course). Ok, so much for the long and pointless introduction. Numbers have somewhat of a "meaning" such as: #1, as said, is a goalkeeper's number. #2 a right back, #3 a left back, #5 a central defender, #9 a striker. #10, in the past, was given to star players most of the time (when a team had one, of course), players like Maradona or Pele or Platini, players who had the most impressive skills. The definition stuck, and #10 is the most prestigious number a soccer player can wear. Of course, it's the number worn by Alex Del Piero (my absolute god and hero in a soccer field)..
Posted by: L.M. | March 08, 2009 at 08:53 PM
ESPN The Mag: Kobe Bryant's A Soccer Fan Playing for FC Barcelona
http://tinyurl.com/djgdba
;)
Posted by: bijou | March 08, 2009 at 09:30 PM
oh btw, in that link, you can really see that Kobe can bend the ball ;)
Posted by: bijou | March 08, 2009 at 09:35 PM