Adding fuel to the hater fire!

[cobbler]

“Kobe Bryant is the greatest Lakers player.” – Jerry West

NBA CRM June 18th. 2010, 4:15pmKobe Bean Bryant has now five NBA championships. That’s a lot. In fact, he’s won so many championships that we have a whole new opportunity to discuss his legacy, greatness and place on the list of the greatest players of all time. Its times like this where the nation’s media turns to other historically great players. Enter Jerry West who was more than ready to heap praise on Kobe.

West went on 97.5 The Fanatic (ESPN Radio) in Philadelphia today and said that Kobe Bryant is the greatest Laker ever. Better than him. Better than Kareem. And even better than (Brace yourself Whitlock) Magic. “As great as Magic Johnson was, Kobe is I think a step ahead of him.”


Obviously, the le of Greatest Laker of All-Time is quite the honor. West didn’t stop there though. He also went on the Dan Patrick show where he had even higher praise for Kobe.

“He will go down as one of the two or three greatest players of all time, I think.”

One of the best players of all-time. That’s straight from Jerry West’s mouth. So what do you guys think? Do you want to discuss Kobe’s place in history for the 8th time today? Or do you want to see me hit some dingers?

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010...er-jerry-west/

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter...es-from-sharks

[Giuseppe]

No. It is still Magic and always will be.

He saved us.

I tell this story many times, but, tonight is a good night for a refresher.

It's part of an ESPN treatment of the 1985 Finals, and concerns itself with an old Los Angeles Laker, an old worn out black man, his name of no import who was watching that Game 6, on June, 9, 1985 at the apartment he and his daughter shared in Los Angeles. When the outcome had been decided late in the fourth quarter, when Magic had transcended us all this man rose from the couch, and went to his bedroom. Several minutes passed, his daughter wondering what had become of him when he suddenly reappeared in the doorway to the living room, once & again resplendent in his Laker gold.

She grabbed her camera, snapped a shot and the picture accompanied the retelling of this story as she cried.

Magic Johnson made that moment possible.

Magic Johnson

[cobbler]

After Kobe won his fifth le Thursday, Magic said on ESPN that Kobe deserves a statue next to his outside Staples Center. Later that night, Magic told me Kobe is now his equal, although not yet his superior.

"The great thing about the Lakers is that we judge by championships,'' said Magic, who -- along with Kareem, Kobe and crucial role player Derek Fisher -- has won a handful of rings with the Lakers. "So when Kobe gets that next one, then he'll be The Man; he'll be the greatest Laker. And I'll have no problem giving him that.''


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...ge=kobe-100618


So do you agree with Magic Cully? Equal now and surpasses him if he wins another? Gotta love the Magic man, still dishing the assists!

[Goran Dragic]

I still can't believe he was so straight forward about having more rings than Shaq. I have nothing against him doing that, I actually give him props for it, I just found it funny how direct he was about it.

[cobbler]

I still can't believe he was so straight forward about having more rings than Shaq. I have nothing against him doing that, I actually give him props for it, I just found it funny how direct he was about it.

Was a classic moment. Love him or hate him... he never said until he got it done. I respect that.

[Giuseppe]

I still can't believe he was so straight forward about having more rings than Shaq. I have nothing against him doing that, I actually give him props for it, I just found it funny how direct he was about it.

I too was absolutely flabbergasted. Stunned.

[InRareForm]

LOL at kobe's reaction to himself after he said the Shaq Line; it was like he had the "oh i just said that, but I needed to say it" face

[cobbler]

Speaking of the player hating...

With RonRons game and hillarious post game interviews, has he turned the corner and put his "brawl" image behind him?

[Goran Dragic]

Speaking of the player hating...

With RonRons game and hillarious post game interviews, has he turned the corner and put his "brawl" image behind him?

Ron Artest has always been one of the NBA's most misunderstood players because of that incident. His heart was always in the right place, he just needed to right situation to show it. I agree though his post game interview was hilarious

[InRareForm]

Speaking of the player hating...

With RonRons game and hillarious post game interviews, has he turned the corner and put his "brawl" image behind him?

A nut is a nut.

[cobbler]

A nut is a nut.

Ohhh I know... he's definetly a nut. I just think the world got to see the playful nut and loyal teammate aspect as opposed to the potentially "dangerous psycho" one.

[Goran Dragic]

Ron Artest has always been one of the NBA's most misunderstood players because of that incident. His heart was always in the right place, he just needed to right situation to show it. I agree though his post game interview was hilarious

And the best thing about it was, you could tell he really was on cloud 9 because he won a championship.

[Giuseppe]

So do you agree with Magic Cully? Equal now and surpasses him if he wins another? Gotta love the Magic man, still dishing the assists!

No. Magic Johnson brought us into the light from a darkness of unimaginable depth. No other Laker did that. No other Laker even attempted it until Magic Johnson. Once that spell was broken, once that monkey was forever slain all the other Lakers that followed Magic were bred different because of the catastrophic failures and ultimate triumph of Magic Johnson over the Boston Celtics.

Kobe Bryant included. He has no idea what Magic had to go thru. None whatsoever. Magic can't tell him. Only Magic knows. And that's ok. Magic did it, did it for himself and for us, his children, Kobe included, so that Kobe, so that all the "Kobes" would never have to look back again and into that abyss.

I look though. I look too much. And I know. And I will never forget.

[Giuseppe]

And it harkens another story that I've told afore but bears repeating on this our championship celebration: and it has to do with that Game 6, 25 years ago. They were showing it last year on a retrospective and they interviewed Magic about it. He talked about it, nothing new, nothing fresh and then said that his wife "Cookie" to this day could not bear to watch it because of what had been at stake and the cost that it had inflicted........."I tell her: but, honey, we're gonna win, it's ok, it's on tape. It's already over."

[TampaDude]

No. It is still Magic and always will be.

He saved us.

I tell this story many times, but, tonight is a good night for a refresher.

It's part of an ESPN treatment of the 1985 Finals, and concerns itself with an old Los Angeles Laker, an old worn out black man, his name of no import who was watching that Game 6, on June, 9, 1985 at the apartment he and his daughter shared in Los Angeles. When the outcome had been decided late in the fourth quarter, when Magic had transcended us all this man rose from the couch, and went to his bedroom. Several minutes passed, his daughter wondering what had become of him when he suddenly reappeared in the doorway to the living room, once & again resplendent in his Laker gold.

She grabbed her camera, snapped a shot and the picture accompanied the retelling of this story as she cried.

Magic Johnson made that moment possible.

Magic Johnson

Preach it, brutha!!!

[Giuseppe]

Kobe is settling now. The long boyhood coming to a rapid end. His body structure, it's chemistry, it's balance starting to betray it's owner. With this inevitable maturity, this decay has come a grudging acceptance, but, acceptance nonetheless of [right] & [wrong] in all his secrets, the natural humbling of a man.

Kobe Bryant

[Killakobe81]

No. It is still Magic and always will be.

He saved us.

I tell this story many times, but, tonight is a good night for a refresher.

It's part of an ESPN treatment of the 1985 Finals, and concerns itself with an old Los Angeles Laker, an old worn out black man, his name of no import who was watching that Game 6, on June, 9, 1985 at the apartment he and his daughter shared in Los Angeles. When the outcome had been decided late in the fourth quarter, when Magic had transcended us all this man rose from the couch, and went to his bedroom. Several minutes passed, his daughter wondering what had become of him when he suddenly reappeared in the doorway to the living room, once & again resplendent in his Laker gold.

She grabbed her camera, snapped a shot and the picture accompanied the retelling of this story as she cried.

Magic Johnson made that moment possible.

Magic Johnson

Magic made me fall in love with ball ...

It is HARD for anyone even MJ to outshine Magic.

My first game watching ball was Game 6 of the 1980 Finals ....

SO hard to be objective when Magic is concerned ...In my head I know MJ was better and Kobe MIGHT be ...

BUT I cant put Magic behind those guys ...in my heart

[mystargtr34]

I think there has been too many disastrous performances in big game situations, such as Finals, for him to be considered THAT high. But i agree he is better than Jerry West, but not Magic and Kareem.

[Ignignokt]

The difference is that Majic's was consensual yet managed to get aids.

[TDMVPDPOY]

jerry west? is the tendor in jack and the beanstalk, traded his cow for beans

[TheManFromAcme]

Magic made me fall in love with ball ...

It is HARD for anyone even MJ to outshine Magic.

My first game watching ball was Game 6 of the 1980 Finals ....

SO hard to be objective when Magic is concerned ...In my head I know MJ was better and Kobe MIGHT be ...

BUT I cant put Magic behind those guys ...in my heart

Nicely put Killa, kind of put a lump in my throat with that.
Came of age in the 80's as a young un with Buck.
My youth is invested in Buck.
There was this boy to Man crush (sports speaking) I had with Earv.

Your last comment cements what I feel just as well but I would end with a............."and I don't think I ever will"

Like Cully points out, Magic excorcised all the previous demons for L.A.

[Giuseppe]

No. It is still Magic and always will be.

He saved us.

I tell this story many times, but, tonight is a good night for a refresher.

It's part of an ESPN treatment of the 1985 Finals, and concerns itself with an old Los Angeles Laker, an old worn out black man, his name of no import who was watching that Game 6, on June, 9, 1985 at the apartment he and his daughter shared in Los Angeles. When the outcome had been decided late in the fourth quarter, when Magic had transcended us all this man rose from the couch, and went to his bedroom. Several minutes passed, his daughter wondering what had become of him when he suddenly reappeared in the doorway to the living room, once & again resplendent in his Laker gold.

She grabbed her camera, snapped a shot and the picture accompanied the retelling of this story as she cried.

Magic Johnson made that moment possible.

Magic Johnson

I always get a lump in my throat reading this story.

[Giuseppe]

Kobe is settling now. The long boyhood coming to a rapid end. His body structure, it's chemistry, it's balance starting to betray it's owner. With this inevitable maturity, this decay has come a grudging acceptance, but, acceptance nonetheless of [right] & [wrong] in all his secrets, the natural humbling of a man.

Kobe Bryant

Giuseppe

[TampaDude]

I still think "Showtime" was the greatest Laker era ever. Magic, Kareem, Worthy, and the boys. Nothing else compares, IMHO.

[Giuseppe]

I still think "Showtime" was the greatest Laker era ever. Magic, Kareem, Worthy, and the boys. Nothing else compares, IMHO.

Yep, the seamless transition from Kareem to Magic made those 5 rings a reality. We need another "Magic" so our Kareem/Kobe can transition to him in like manner. Nobody woulda ever fathomed Kareem giving it up that easily. Kobe might surprise as well.