By Larry Brown | April 28, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
Dwight Howard was ejected from Game 4 between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center after receiving his second technical foul, had some words with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, and then Kobe Bryant emerged to a hero’s applause.
With the Lakers down 55-34 in the third quarter, Howard got tangled with Aron Baynes. He appeared to be upset about not getting a call and he must have said something to an official to earn a technical foul. Howard was automatically ejected because it was his second technical of the game.
Following the ejection, two interesting things happened.
As Howard exited the court, he passed by Kupchak, who was hanging out by the tunnel to the locker room. Kupchak went to give him a pat on the behind, and Howard turned around and said something as he passed by. It was unclear what the nature of Howard’s comments were, but he seemed upset and may have been complaining about the officials:
By Larry Brown | April 16, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
Now that Kobe Bryant has some time on his hands, he’s decided to explore the Instagram world. But, like anyone trying out a new technology, he’s experienced a few hitches. Let’s just say he’s still getting his photo cropping skills down.
“Mi hermano Pau came by and chilled wit with me for a few hrs. We laughed and joked and talked strategy…,” wrote as his caption to the photo.
A few minutes after sharing the photo, Bryant realized his error.
“Here’s a better pic! Lol still learning how to work this damn thing ha!”
By Larry Brown | April 13, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
When Kobe Bryant is restless and frustrated, he goes on long Facebook rants like the rest of us.
At 3:36 a.m. Saturday morning, hours after he tore his Achilles’ tendon playing against the Golden State Warriors, the Mamba poured his heart out in a long Facebook post from his mobile device. Here’s what he wrote:
By Larry Brown | April 12, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
Just when it seemed like nothing could stop Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers guard went down with what the team is calling a probable torn Achilles’ tendon.
Bryant went down with an injury three times during the Lakers’ 118-106 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. The first time he seemed to hurt his knee going to the hole in traffic. The second time he seemed to hurt his foot. And the third time his foot just gave out on him as he was trying to make a move from the perimeter with 3:08 left in the game.
Kobe stayed in the game to make two free throws. The Lakers fouled immediately after the Warriors took out the ball so Bryant could be subbed out. Metta World Peace took his spot, and Bryant slowly made his way to the tunnel.
The Lakers announced after the game that Bryant likely has a torn Achilles’ tendon. He will have an MRI on Saturday.
Bryant had just hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game before getting hurt. He finished with 34 points on 9-of-21 shooting in the win.
Bryant’s eyes were red and he had tears in his eyes as he spoke to the media after the game.
“I was really tired man, just tired,” he said. “Upset and dejected and thinking about this mountain to overcome. This is a long process. Wasn’t sure I could do it. Then the kids walk in, you’re like, ‘I gotta set an example.’ Daddy’s going to be fine. Work hard and just go from here.
Bryant vowed to return and prove any doubters wrong.
“It’s fueling me, it’s fueling me. I can feel it already. I can feel it already,” Bryant said of the doubters. “Players at this stage of their career, they pop an Achilles, the pundits say they never come back the same. So I can hear it already and it’s pissing me off right now just thinking about it.”
The Lakers are a game up on the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the playoffs. Utah is at Minnesota Monday and at Memphis on Wednesday. The Lakers host San Antonio Sunday and Houston on Wednesday to end the season.
By Larry Brown | April 10, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
Kobe Bryant played so well on Wednesday night that he even received MVP chants in Portland.
Kobe played all 48 minutes, scored 47 points, added eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and four blocks as he led the Lakers to a 113-106 win over the Blazers to put his team one game ahead of the Utah Jazz in the playoff race. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard both played well, but it was Bryant who really dominated throughout the game. His effort was recognized by fans who chanted “MVP!” as he stepped to the free throw line in the final minute.
Kobe receiving MVP chants in Portland is a huge deal. The Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers have a big rivalry, and Portland fans are among the most passionate in the league. It’s rare to hear anything other than support for the home team at the Rose Garden. But there were enough Lakers fans in attendance to get their chants heard as they supported the 34-year-old who had a monstrous game.
There have been a number of different reactions to the video clips that surfaced last week of former Rutgers men’s basketball coach Mike Rice physically and verbally abusing his players. One of Rice’s former players, Mike Coburn, said that Rice took it too far at times but that the team understood him. Chipper Jones said he thought the players should toughen up and that he has dealt with much worse from coaches.
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant doesn’t agree with either Coburn or Jones. Instead, he told Showtime’s Jim Rome that he would have gotten physical with Rice if he was one of his players.
By Larry Brown | April 6, 2013 - Posted in Basketball
Kobe Bryant’s unlimited arrogance was on display after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 86-84 Friday night. Bryant was asked if he would be watching the Final Four on Saturday since, you know, it’s a pretty big sporting event, when he gave a classic response.
“I ain’t watching s—. They should be watching me.”
How great is that? Kobe’s arrogance bothers me, but that quote is just too funny to not appreciate.
I know it’s tired that I’m turning this into a Kobe-LeBron thing, but one thing I do love about LeBron is that he is a complete sports fan. When he’s not playing and training, he loves watching other sports. He frequently tweets his thoughts about games he’s watching. Kobe, on the other hand, is too good for that nonsense. His respect is not easily earned.
Bryant did have 24 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds Friday, so I’m sure some of the players could have learned plenty from watching him. They sure would be wise to try replicating the Lakers star’s work ethic.
