Rip- kobe bryant

[the 'stache]

Regarding Kobe, he's simply one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen, and not just in basketball. I remember how good he was at such a young age. It was frightening, really. You saw glimpses of what he'd become even in that first year of 1996-'97. He wasn't playing a lot of minutes, but he did...things...that just made my jaw drop. And 17.6 points per 36 minutes at age 18 is impressive as heck. His explosiveness was absurd. He was so smooth. I think most of us that saw him from the start would say that he exceeded even our wildest expectations.

Remember back when Shaq left the Lakers, how so many chalked his Kobe's rings to Shaq's presence? He won two more without O'Neal. He was great in his own right, and that whole narrative seems downright silly now.

While I can't forget what he was accused of (and I won't talk about it here, as it's inappropriate), I think Kobe genuinely did a lot of good. A hell of a lot. I read about what he did to help the homeless in Los Angeles. The philanthropic foundation he set up with his wife Vanessa. I learned how Kobe would travel back and forth to China to help kids with their education, and encouraged those kids to learn the benefits of teamwork on the court as a metaphor for life. The Kobe Bryant China Fund, and his efforts to promote Chinese culture in America. By all accounts, he was a fantastic father. He mentored countless players coming into the league.

He used helicopters with great frequency as doing so allowed him to spend more time with his girls. That he and his daughter Gianna (and the seven others on board) died en route to one of her basketball games is just...let's just say the universe can sometimes be very cruel.

When he's inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, I don't think there will be a dry eye in the place, or among those watching from home, myself included.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Regarding Kobe, he's simply one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen, and not just in basketball. I remember how good he was at such a young age. It was frightening, really. You saw glimpses of what he'd become even in that first year of 1996-'97. He wasn't playing a lot of minutes, but he did...things...that just made my jaw drop. And 17.6 points per 36 minutes at age 18 is impressive as heck. His explosiveness was absurd. He was so smooth. I think most of us that saw him from the start would say that he exceeded even our wildest expectations.

Remember back when Shaq left the Lakers, how so many chalked his Kobe's rings to Shaq's presence? He won two more without O'Neal. He was great in his own right, and that whole narrative seems downright silly now.

While I can't forget what he was accused of (and I won't talk about it here, as it's inappropriate), I think Kobe genuinely did a lot of good. A hell of a lot. I read about what he did to help the homeless in Los Angeles. The philanthropic foundation he set up with his wife Vanessa. I learned how Kobe would travel back and forth to China to help kids with their education, and encouraged those kids to learn the benefits of teamwork on the court as a metaphor for life. The Kobe Bryant China Fund, and his efforts to promote Chinese culture in America. By all accounts, he was a fantastic father. He mentored countless players coming into the league.

He used helicopters with great frequency as doing so allowed him to spend more time with his girls. That he and his daughter Gianna (and the seven others on board) died en route to one of her basketball games is just...let's just say the universe can sometimes be very cruel.

When he's inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, I don't think there will be a dry eye in the place, or among those watching from home, myself included.

I dont think you can can just gloss over what he was accused of in the context of everyone saying he was a great husband...and its a bit of a disservice to the victim that he apologized too especially in this Me too age..

however he did appear to take a lot of of positive steps and was on the way for bigger and better things... basketball wise people forget about the issue of high school to NBA..i think jermaine o'neal also came out that year as well....

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

I dont think you can can just gloss over what he was accused of in the context of everyone saying he was a great husband...and its a bit of a disservice to the victim that he apologized too especially in this Me too age..

however he did appear to take a lot of of positive steps and was on the way for bigger and better things... basketball wise people forget about the issue of high school to NBA..i think jermaine o'neal also came out that year as well....

Who was glossing over what he did? I certainly wasn't. I merely stated that I wasn't going to talk about it here. I don't believe in badmouthing the dead. Everybody knows what he was accused of. This isn't the time or place to drag it up.

And I didn't say he was a great husband. I said he was a great father. Others may have, but please don't include me with them.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Who was glossing over what he did? I certainly wasn't. I merely stated that I wasn't going to talk about it here. I don't believe in badmouthing the dead. Everybody knows what he was accused of. This isn't the time or place to drag it up.

And I didn't say he was a great husband. I said he was a great father. Others may have, but please don't include me with them.

Right, there are many in the media saying he was a great husband. I am not badmouthing , i am correcting the media version. If no one said anything, i wouldnt be bringing up any negative issues.

I do think however, being a great father when you are married and living together with your wife also involves being a good husband which is the example you are setting to your kids as father as well so they are not mutually exclusive..

[samosa4u]

I'm not surprised to see Pistol Pete's name being thrown around a lot now. Both he and Kobe were almost the same age when they passed; they were both amazing players who played as guards, and most importantly, they both loved helping others.

Now I'm not trying to take anything away from Kobe here, but he was lucky to have played for an organization that always wants to win.

What would have happened if the Pistol had played for the Lakers? Just think of a backcourt consisting of him and Jerry West - wow! And he would have been passing the ball to guys like Wilt Chamberlain and a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Instead, he ended up on crappy teams and now you don't hear about him much.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I'm not surprised to see Pistol Pete's name being thrown around a lot now. Both he and Kobe were almost the same age when they passed; they were both amazing players who played as guards, and most importantly, they both loved helping others.

Now I'm not trying to take anything away from Kobe here, but he was lucky to have played for an organization that always wants to win.

What would have happened if the Pistol had played for the Lakers? Just think of a backcourt consisting of him and Jerry West - wow! And he would have been passing the ball to guys like Wilt Chamberlain and a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Instead, he ended up on crappy teams and now you don't hear about him much.

The what would of happened argument to me doesnt hold merit. Having the opportunity and coming through is always going to be higher than someone who never had the opportunity. Its an unknown versus a known. Is what it is, life isnt fair. There have been great players on great teams that dont win...... cant hold someone down for coming through when given the opportunity to the level of someone that 'what would have happened if'

[howard38]

.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by howard38

It's also worth wondering what he would have done had there been a three-point shot when he was in his prime. He played only one season w/a three point line & he hit twelve of twenty-one shots as a broken down bench player.

three point shot to me has hurt the game....there were lots of 10th guys on the bench 20 years ago that would now be starters or main subs..just for standing int he corner and hurling 3's..without much of any other game

duncan robinson would not be a starter 20 years ago. craig hodges was deep on the bulls bench back in Jordan's day and now he would get 20 mins a game... i know there is a '3' and 'D' players out there but now there are just '3' and no D players....the 3 point line being worth 50% more than 2 is a huge thing......you cant sit in the paint for 3 seconds....why can you just sit there in on the wings for 24 seconds ..defense cant cover the 3 point line...should be a time limit at least...

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Who was glossing over what he did? I certainly wasn't. I merely stated that I wasn't going to talk about it here. I don't believe in badmouthing the dead. Everybody knows what he was accused of. This isn't the time or place to drag it up.

And I didn't say he was a great husband. I said he was a great father. Others may have, but please don't include me with them.

Well said Bill....Keep in mind though that your are responding to an idiot....

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Well said Bill....Keep in mind though that your are responding to an idiot....

He actually is agreeing with me about my point about being a great husband so unsure what you mean..

you have been warned by Leon in the past on responses to my posts....here we go again

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

He actually is agreeing with me about my point about being a great husband so unsure what you mean..

you have been warned by Leon in the past on responses to my posts....here we go again

Leon is the one who gave YOU an infraction for your bullshit on my threads yesterday! Why is that? You have got a mental problem obviously... Should I post the email from Leon this morning you stupid dumbass???? Get a freaking life... LEAVE me alone, dont inquire about my cards, dont email me about anything, Dont PM me about anything....Is that plain enough?

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Leon is the one who gave YOU an infraction for your bullshit on my threads yesterday! Why is that? You have got a mental problem obviously... Should I post the email from Leon this morning you stupid dumbass???? Get a freaking life... LEAVE me alone, dont inquire about my cards, dont email me about anything, Dont PM me about anything....Is that plain enough?

yes you can post that and the message he sent to us today.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

I dont think you can can just gloss over what he was accused of in the context of everyone saying he was a great husband...and its a bit of a disservice to the victim that he apologized too especially in this Me too age..

however he did appear to take a lot of of positive steps and was on the way for bigger and better things... basketball wise people forget about the issue of high school to NBA..i think jermaine o'neal also came out that year as well....

Leave it to you to bring up something like this during a very tragic event....

[GasHouseGang]

Well, since I can't get anyone else to do it, I'll add a few more of Kobe's cards to keep this a celebration of Kobe. Here are some of his rookie cards.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Well, since I can't get anyone else to do it, I'll add a few more of Kobe's cards to keep this a celebration of Kobe. Here are some of his rookie cards.

Do you own these cards David?

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Do you own these cards David?

Yes. I started collecting the Kobe rookies several years ago.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Leave it to you to bring up something like this during a very tragic event....

leave it to you to make that comment....and lets not pretend your comment on this is not related to a very recent failed deal in which i made you a reasonable offer (i think you will agree to that as you changed the price to within a few percent of my offer for the whole board to see a week later or so) that you turned down and you stated that you would no longer email me in not a nice way......i guess you will still leave comments on all my posts now... i hope thats not how you operate (failed deal equals make negative posts to buyer) I will not get into more specifics on how it went down and we can leave it at that.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

leave it to you to make that comment....and lets not pretend your comment on this is not related to a very recent failed deal in which i made you a reasonable offer (i think you will agree to that as you changed the price to within a few percent of my offer for the whole board to see a week later or so) that you turned down and you stated that you would no longer email me in not a nice way......i guess you will still leave comments on all my posts now... i hope thats not how you operate (failed deal equals make negative posts to buyer) I will not get into more specifics on how it went down and we can leave it at that.

You really are a moron....Let's leave that at that.....This has nothing to do with a deal not completed, just your thoughtless comments on this thread

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

You really are a moron....Let's leave that at that.....

pot calling kettle black... .all i can do is respond on the board.(you said not to contact you direct)....plus all i did was make you an offer, and you went nuts...and continue too...

as to kobe..i think the media was thoughtless in reporting and many agree.....they even said that rick fox was on the helicopter at one time... i also think there was a poster here that advised me he never said kobe was a good husband, but many media outlets have said that.....not sure why you would be so negative to my comment.... my issue is not with kobe its the way the media has been reporting the matters.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

pot calling kettle black... .all i can do is respond on the board.(you said not to contact you direct)....plus all i did was make you an offer, and you went nuts...and continue too...

as to kobe..i think the media was thoughtless in reporting and many agree.....they even said that rick fox was on the helicopter at one time... i also think there was a poster here that advised me he never said kobe was a good husband, but many media outlets have said that.....not sure why you would be so negative to my comment.... my issue is not with kobe its the way the media has been reporting the matters.

I agreed to your price you dumbass! Where is the paypal? Crickets??