Lakers 2013.
Forget that Mike D'Antoni is a completely worthless, spineless coward of a coach, this isn't about that.
This is about a season for a team that was supposed to be legendary, drowning in patheticism, only to be resurrected by a defining season for a legendary individual.
This season will be remembered for a lot of things, but it should be only remembered for one: this was the season Kobe Bryant defined himself in terms that not even Michael Jordan did.
When have you ever seen Michael carry a team on his back every damn game, at age 34, regardless of a myriad of injuries habitually wrecking him, leading the league in minutes played and in almost all of the latest games playing every Goddamn minute.
You haven't. In most cases, Michael led his team. Led, not carried. His role players played their roles, they contributed. They supported him in areas he lacked: size for rebounding, passing for assists, setting up others for making plays.
This team, this year, did none of those things. Kobe did them all. D'Antoni was worthless in Phoenix, he was worthless in New York, and he would've been worthless in Los Angeles had it not been for the indomitable will of Kobe Bean Bryant.
At the aching age of 34, Bryant played warrior-style basketball all season long. He didn't complain, he publicly assented with management and his coach even though everyone knew D'Antoni wasn't qualified to coach a dick into a pussy.
Injury after injury, fatiguing game after fatiguing game, Bryant led the charge, put on his mamba face and rose to every challenge. And don't forget this is something he's done since coming into the league. Try and think of one season-- nay, one game where you recall seeing Bryant half-ass it.
Eighteen years in the league? Something like that. Five rings in an era where athletes are far different and far superior than the Jordan hey-day. Even Michael had to be sitting there watching some games shaking his head in disbelief saying, "Damn... this guy."
If this is the beginning of the end, remember this season for what it was: the year that Kobe Bryant set himself apart from everyone.
If it is just another unbelievable obstacle in the life of Bryant just waiting to be overcome, consider ourselves grateful yet again to be witnesses.
Imagine what this man's body will be like in 5 or 10 years. Imagine what he's given up and acknowledge what it is he's displayed by breaking his bones and tearing his muscles, limbs, and ligaments day after day, month after month, year after year, in order to win.
This man could've Goddamn died out there. Del Harris, the Utah Jazz, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaq, Phil Jackson, Metta World Peace, 81, Colorado, Dwight Howard, USA Gold, the San Antonio Spurs, perennial All-Star, All-Team Defense, the blocks, the highlights, the amazing plays, the clutch three's, the broken hand, the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings, and now at age 34... a torn achilles.
No one knows what next year will bring... or not bring. But if this is indeed the beginning of the end for Kobe Bryant, he could not have exited with a more incomparable display of greatness.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Dr. Martin Luther King
This is about a season for a team that was supposed to be legendary, drowning in patheticism, only to be resurrected by a defining season for a legendary individual.
This season will be remembered for a lot of things, but it should be only remembered for one: this was the season Kobe Bryant defined himself in terms that not even Michael Jordan did.
When have you ever seen Michael carry a team on his back every damn game, at age 34, regardless of a myriad of injuries habitually wrecking him, leading the league in minutes played and in almost all of the latest games playing every Goddamn minute.
You haven't. In most cases, Michael led his team. Led, not carried. His role players played their roles, they contributed. They supported him in areas he lacked: size for rebounding, passing for assists, setting up others for making plays.
This team, this year, did none of those things. Kobe did them all. D'Antoni was worthless in Phoenix, he was worthless in New York, and he would've been worthless in Los Angeles had it not been for the indomitable will of Kobe Bean Bryant.
At the aching age of 34, Bryant played warrior-style basketball all season long. He didn't complain, he publicly assented with management and his coach even though everyone knew D'Antoni wasn't qualified to coach a dick into a pussy.
Injury after injury, fatiguing game after fatiguing game, Bryant led the charge, put on his mamba face and rose to every challenge. And don't forget this is something he's done since coming into the league. Try and think of one season-- nay, one game where you recall seeing Bryant half-ass it.
Eighteen years in the league? Something like that. Five rings in an era where athletes are far different and far superior than the Jordan hey-day. Even Michael had to be sitting there watching some games shaking his head in disbelief saying, "Damn... this guy."
If this is the beginning of the end, remember this season for what it was: the year that Kobe Bryant set himself apart from everyone.
If it is just another unbelievable obstacle in the life of Bryant just waiting to be overcome, consider ourselves grateful yet again to be witnesses.
Imagine what this man's body will be like in 5 or 10 years. Imagine what he's given up and acknowledge what it is he's displayed by breaking his bones and tearing his muscles, limbs, and ligaments day after day, month after month, year after year, in order to win.
This man could've Goddamn died out there. Del Harris, the Utah Jazz, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaq, Phil Jackson, Metta World Peace, 81, Colorado, Dwight Howard, USA Gold, the San Antonio Spurs, perennial All-Star, All-Team Defense, the blocks, the highlights, the amazing plays, the clutch three's, the broken hand, the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings, and now at age 34... a torn achilles.
No one knows what next year will bring... or not bring. But if this is indeed the beginning of the end for Kobe Bryant, he could not have exited with a more incomparable display of greatness.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Dr. Martin Luther King
posted by charles oh at 2:28 PM
