This gets rehashed every time Freeman writes an article. Oh, I forgot. He must never again show his face to the world, and must never write an article of opinion because of this mistake. He should hide and cower in disgrace and not think of pulling himself up to overcome said mistake. Any opinion or article he writes should be discounted immediately based on said mistake, and he should be shunned by all readers and professional associates for that reason alone. It is clear that he is the only one in the world who has made any such mistake, and a clear description of this mistake should be engraved clearly and boldy on his tombstone. He deserves nothing less for daring to even try to call it like he sees it (albeit often misguided) because HE MADE A MISTAKE. Have I made myself clear?
This gets rehashed every time Bryant is in an article. Oh, I forgot. He must never again show his face to the world, and must never play again because of this mistake. He should hide and cower in disgrace and not think of pulling himself up to overcome said mistake. Anything he says or does should be discounted immediately based on said mistake, and he should be shunned by all readers and professional associates for that reason alone. It is clear that he is the only one in the world who has made any such mistake, and a clear description of this mistake should be engraved clearly and boldy on his tombstone. He deserves nothing less for daring to even try to call it like he sees it (albeit often misguided) because HE MADE A MISTAKE. Have I made myself clear?
Didn't you know Kobe is one of the most villified athletes in the world? Ever notice that Laker and Kobe articles and blogs are almost always the most popular and has the most number of posts?
That's because every single article on Kobe and the Lakers, bloggers like you come out of the woodwork and bash him for every perceived fault or shortcoming. Man, the guy played a game hurt and he was even accused of faking it!
You said it yourself, you almost never had respect for Kobe the person or the basketball player. How can a real basketball fan have no respect for his game? He is one of the best players in the league right now and probably in NBA history.
If you think those are Kobe's own words, you must be mentally deficient. Clearly, they came from his legal team and were probably part of a settlement agreement.
Regardless if they were his own words or words written by his lawyers, he spoke them as though they were his own and he likewise would own them if called on it. What you are saying then is that even if those words came out of Kobe's mouth, he didn't mean it. Just go ahead and keep your head in your dreamworld sand and repeat your little mantra 'Kobe was the victim, mmmmmm, Kobe is god, mmmmmm' ad nauseum.
You may want to consider who is mentally deficient here. Open your mind.
Freeman get into therapy. This obsession you have with Bryant and the Lakers is a little weird. What are you really angry about? Did he refuse to take you to the prom? Did he refuse to autograph your napkin at the local drive through? Instead of Ko-Me how about your new name Mike Free-whine....
"You may want to consider who is mentally deficient here. Open your mind."
I have a very open mind. That's why I defend Kobe. Did he rape a girl? According to the law he is innocent until proven guilty. Apparently, that's not the way Freeman sees it.
A lot of people are making personal attacks against Kobe. I will not attack someone unless, as in Freeman's case, they attack someone else.
I have never met Kobe Bryant. I have never spoken with him. I've never dined with him. I've never been in his house. So I'm in no position to criticize him personally. I'd say that makes me more open-minded than the Kobe haters on this board.
I admire Kobe for his play. I admire him for calling out management for reneging on their promises to build a team around him that could make a run at the title. That is not, as some have said, "throwing your teammates under the bus." It was criticizing management. And rightfully so. Never has a team won a title with one great player. Never. There are always at least two great players and usually an entire team. Kobe didn't win a title without Shaq. Shaq didn't win a title without Kobe or Wade. Jordan didn't win a title without Pippen. And so on.
I don't admire Kobe for being an adulterer. But he apologized to everyone for his actions. Let he among us who is without sin cast the first stone. There are so many professional athletes, politicians and even presidents who refuse to apologize or continue to deny misdeeds even after convicted. If Kobe's wife isn't leaving him, I don't see why I should.
My mind is VERY open. I wish I could say the same for those who are criticizing someone they've never met for things he hasn't done.
"Regardless if they were his own words or words written by his lawyers, he spoke them as though they were his own and he likewise would own them if called on it. What you are saying then is that even if those words came out of Kobe's mouth, he didn't mean it."
For the record, Kobe never spoke these words. His attorney, Pamela Mackey, read the statement at a late-afternoon court hearing after the State of Colorado announced it had dropped its case. I'm fairly confident it was part of the settlement.
If your lawyer said, "Issue this statement and your accuser will drop the rape charges," would you refuse?
And I apologize for the "mentally deficient" line. I have a journalism background and I hate these lawyer-written statements.
No offense taken. I studied some law in grad school, which is why I brought the prepared statement up.
As a player, Kobe is a borderline generational talent. I would have loved it if my Suns had managed to trade Matrix (who wanted out of PHX anyway) for Kobe when Kobe made his trade demand. I could never bag on him for what he brings to the game, since the game will never be the same because of him.
However, I don't think Freeman (who I am certainly not a fan of) was intentionally focusing his attack on Kobe, but rather the apparent double-standard with the treatment that Kobe has received recently with what Ocho Cinco is currently receiving. Fundamentally, I believe we both agree while we question exactly the method and wording Freeman chose.
