Can we stop it already?

Hello once again to everyone. Now that the greeting is out of the way, let me just say this:


I can't stand Kobe Bryant.


There, I said it. I'm not ashamed of it, but someone had to get it out there, and I volunteered. Before we pile on, let's take a look at the wys in which we, or at least I, detest this NBA "superstar". One, upon being drafted out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, his quote was "I don't want to go play for Charlotte. I only want to play for the L.A. Lakers". To that, I would have said "Then, enjoy college, cause we own your rights. Oh, that's right, you can't go to college, since you already signed with an agent. Enjoy the European leagues." First off, blame Hornet management for placating him with a trade, and all they got out of him was Vlade (Flop-ay) Divac. Second, he makes it to the All-Star game shortly after arriving on the NBA scene, and during play, waves off some of his more established NBA veterans so he can act like he's on a playground court. Well, upon seeing this, a man wearing number 23 for the Eastern All-Stars entered the game, and proceeded to smoke young Kobe every time down the court. Third, and this is really a sticking point, he wins his third NBA championship in a row, and complains because he's not the focal point of the team. I'm sorry, but do you think Jack Haley or Will Perdue ever complained that they weren't the focal point on their championship teams? No! They just sat back and admired the shine of their rings. But, everyone knows how the story played out.....Shaq got traded to Miami, Miami won a title, the Lakers were left with squat, and now Kobe is complaining again. I mean, enough already. Kobe created the mess he's in now by complaining about Shaq. Now, Kobe says he wants to be traded to a "winner". First of all, there's not too much chance of a trade in this case, unless a lot of teams get involved. There's too much money for it all to match between just two teams. But, Jerry Buss needs to tell Kobe that Jerry Buss owns the Lakers, not Kobe Bryant. This whole "I want to play for the Lakers, I don't want to play with Shaq, I want a trade, I want, I want, I want" act is so old now, it's pathetic. I mean, I want a million dollars, but I don't see Brinks backing the truck up to my driveway. I keep waiting for someone to slap the 2 x 4 of reality across Kobe's forehead. In a way, head coach Phil Jackson did it in his book about the Lakers, "The Last Season". In it, he takes every opportunity to rip Kobe for his selfish attitude. Maybe that's why I like the book as much as I do. But, we all know who would get the door first, and for a time, he did. Jackson left the team for a while, despite being the owner's daughter's boyfriend. His replacement, Rudy Tomjanovich, lasted 41 games in Lakerland before quitting because he was tired of being a baby-sitter for this spoiled brat. Jackson seems to be the only person that can control him to a certain degree. So, to Laker GM Mitch Kupchak, I say this: Trade him. For the good of the league, and for the health of my sanity, please trade him. I don't know how much more of him I can really take.


Let me also say this.........


Would everyone PLEASE stop saying Tiger lost the US Open Sunday.


OK, he was in the final group. OK, he was all expected to win the contest (I still can't call it a tournament). So when he didn't win, everyone is now shocked. To them, I say this: Let it go, already! He was playing the same "tough" course everyone else was. What do you expect, that the USGA would let Tiger play a different course? So, he came up short on Sunday in a major. Big, stinking deal! Can we please just give credit to the winner, Mr. Angel Cabrera? OK, so he was chain-smoking up the back part of the tournament. OK, so he wasn't the most in-shape athlete. Big deal! At the end of the day, he was under par in two of the four rounds, and he ended up with the best score. That's it, period, end of story. So Tiger Woods didn't win the US Open. Big deal. Like Kobe, are we supposed to hand him everything on a silver platter just because he's Tiger Woods? If Woods really wanted to win the thing, here's a tip for him: Feel free to make some more birdies! Can't we all just deal with it, and move on?


Some more "Can we stop it already" items up for consideration.......

Can we stop banging on Hendrick Motorsports for signing Dale Earnhardt, Jr? Everyone else had the same opportunity to sign Junior, and Hendrick stepped up and did it. Like the New York Yankees, Hendrick goes out and signs what he feels is the best talent. He has the money, he does with it what he wants. Don't hate Hendrick for stepping up to the plate on ths one.


Can we stop declaring Tony Romo as the second coming of Troy Aikman? Romo wants a re-worked contract after only eleven games, and a botched extra point atempt. Hey Tony, Aikman got his respect by actually performing well in the playoffs. Fumbling a snap doesn't get you a raise, for crying out loud!


And finally, can we all stop banging on the San Antonio Spurs? Four titles in nine seasons, deal with it. The Mavs should have one, but they have no killer instinct, and let the Heat back in the door. So, even though the Spurs don't resonate with everyone, we should just dismiss them? I'm not a big-time Spurs fan, but four titles in nine seasons is borderline dynasty. Deal with it. They manage their team right, they manage the salary cap right, and they have a proven plan in place. The proof is in the championships, and they now have four. Again......deal with it.



That's about it for now.

Till next time..........


Patrick