Keown to Bryant: "Leave the scowl at home, Kobe" (Harsh)
WBC
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
*Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
By Tim Keown
The strangest moment of the NBA playoffs took place during Game 3 of the
Lakers-Rockets series, when Kobe Bryant hit an 18-foot turnaround jumper
from the left elbow with Shane Battier's right hand in his face. Bryant
immediately began shaking his head with a look that indicated he smelled
something really bad. This -- as you know -- is Kobe's dismissive face,
the one he now makes after nearly every basket.
But that wasn't the strange part -- after all, how can something be
strange when it happens anywhere from 10 to 25 times a game? The strange
part came afterward, when he started back downcourt and turned to the
TNT broadcasters at center court and yelled toward commentator Doug Collins.
We get it Kobe, no one can guard you. Now keep quiet and play the game.
"He can't guard me," Bryant said. Shaking his head, his mouth curled
downward in a semicircle of disgust, he stared down Collins and said it
again, "He can't guard me."
There was a pause on the broadcast. OK, that was meant for us, you could
almost hear them thinking. So ... what do we say now? They couldn't
ignore it, because it was clear to everyone watching that they were
taken aback and that Kobe was the reason. Kevin Harlan acknowledged that
Kobe was targeting Collins, one of the most even and knowledgeable minds
in the game. When Harlan asked his partner what it was all about,
Collins sounded genuinely perplexed. "I'm not sure," he said, and they
quickly and quietly moved on.
And that's the deal about Kobe: None of us is sure. How can a guy with
that much talent play with such little joy? Why does he feel he has to
put on that phony tough-guy show all the time? Underneath all that
pre-fab armor, who is he? Does he even know?
It's sad, maybe, but Kobe will never be appreciated in a manner
commensurate with his ability. He's in the process of turning himself
into an antihero. (In many respects, he is similar to Alex Rodriguez,
another tin-eared superstar.) Everything he does reeks of insecurity,
which is a really weird trait for a guy who -- along with LeBron James
-- is a once-a-decade basketball talent.
Unlike LeBron, though, Kobe can't let his game speak for him. He has to
accentuate everything with the facial expressions and the
dismissiveness. It's not enough for him to beat someone; he feels
compelled to belittle that person in the process. That's why one of the
best things about the Lakers-Rockets series -- and, really, it's turning
into a 700-page novel -- has been Shane Battier's reaction to Kobe's
antics. And that reaction is this: zero. None. He acts as though he
can't hear or see any of it.
Hey, Kobe, we know you're great. You know you're great. Shane Battier
knows you're great. How about letting someone else say it first every
once in a while? The way it works now, you're telling us so often that
we're getting tired of it. Let us be the judge of whether someone can or
cannot guard you. It's pretty self-explanatory, to Doug Collins and
everybody else.
You see, I want to be able to enjoy Kobe's talent. I want to see it the
way I see LeBron's: transcendent, mostly pure and emanating outward. It
probably will never happen, though. Kobe won't let it.
For a guy with such a constant flow of creativity running through his
game, it's amazing to see how calculated he is about his image. He comes
across as though he's reading a script, and he's all wrong for the part
(maybe Alan Alda reading a part meant for Harvey Keitel). There are just
too many false notes, and the worst part is, he actually seems to
believe this is what people want from him. This is the persona he has
cultivated, and he's going with it no matter what. It's really kind of sad.
And this is where Kobe veers from the arrogant antihero routine
perfected by someone such as Barry Bonds. Bonds didn't care what you
thought about him. He thrived off the anger he generated. But this
preening, jaw-jutting, head-shaking character is what Kobe believes
people want.
Maybe it's his attempt to answer the questions of the Lakers' toughness.
I don't know, but in the playoffs, his performances generally follow one
of two themes: (1) He takes over the game and taunts everybody in sight,
demanding that all acknowledge his greatness or (2) he steps back and
intentionally doesn't take over a game, in which case his attitude seems
to be, "See what they look like without me?" Either way, it's a tough
act to embrace.
In the wake of Sunday's Game 4 disaster, when Battier and Ron Artest did
guard Kobe -- and after which Magic Johnson said the Lakers defiled the
team's honor -- it's a good bet Kobe will be at his contrived best in
Tuesday night's Game 5. He'll probably dominate, and he'll undoubtedly
let us know.
But here's a radical idea: Stop with the smugness and the arrogance.
Play your game and let your talent speak for itself. You might not know
this, but it does a much better job than you do. And if you're not going
to enjoy what you bring to the court, at least give us half a chance.
ESPN The Magazine senior writer Tim Keown co-wrote Josh Hamilton's
autobiography, "Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back," which
is available on Amazon.com. Sound off to Tim here.
.....
Wanda
--
"When I say 'Lakers!' you say 'Go!'"
--------
"'Crab dribble' is when you, uh, travel."
-Caron Butler
RMJon23
> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat...
>
> Tuesday, May 12, 2009
> Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
>
> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
>
> By Tim Keown
>
> The strangest moment of the NBA playoffs took place during Game 3 of the
> Lakers-Rockets series, when Kobe Bryant hit an 18-foot turnaround jumper
> from the left elbow with Shane Battier's right hand in his face. Bryant
> immediately began shaking his head with a look that indicated he smelled
> something really bad. This -- as you know -- is Kobe's dismissive face,
> the one he now makes after nearly every basket.
>
> But that wasn't the strange part -- after all, how can something be
> strange when it happens anywhere from 10 to 25 times a game? The strange
> part came afterward, when he started back downcourt and turned to the
> TNT broadcasters at center court and yelled toward commentator Doug Collins.
>
> We get it Kobe, no one can guard you. Now keep quiet and play the game.
>
> "He can't guard me," Bryant said. Shaking his head, his mouth curled
> downward in a semicircle of disgust, he stared down Collins and said it
> again, "He can't guard me."
>
> There was a pause on the broadcast. OK, that was meant for us, you could
> almost hear them thinking. So ... what do we say now? They couldn't
> ignore it, because it was clear to everyone watching that they were
> taken aback and that Kobe was the reason. Kevin Harlan acknowledged that
> Kobe was targeting Collins, one of the most even and knowledgeable minds
> in the game.
I stopped reading there. Why waste time reading "experts" who exist
just to fill up space?
VicXnews
VicXnews
53f14d...@a5g2000pre.googlegroups.com:
I didn't get past the headline...
BaSSiStiSt
"WBC" <cal...@removeshoesyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:WZCdndQ8m7blppbX...@earthlink.com...
> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
>
> By Tim Keown
Shut the fuck up, Collins.
M B
"WBC" <cal...@removeshoesyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:WZCdndQ8m7blppbX...@earthlink.com...
> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat=nba
>
> Tuesday, May 12, 2009
> Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
>
> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
>
> By Tim Keown
Just a little harsh, but only because I don't think this fellow has seen
many of the games where Kobe DOESN'T stink-face. In fact, from what I've
seen, most of the time, he doesn't do this, and is fairly professional.
Having said that, I'm OK with the article, because Kobe WAS overdoing it
against Battier, who just plays hard. Kobe usually respects that, but maybe
he heard or read one too many pundits saying that the Rockets match up well
with the Lakers because "they have two guys who can guard Kobe". That was
the often repeated phrase. Maybe it got under Bryant's skin.
I don't think that the tone crossed the "Hater" line. I mean, he kept
it all on point, didn't cross into the mind-reading, motive-assigning
conjecture that so many KB critiques cross into. My only criticism is that
I don't think that behavior is as big or common a part of Bryant's game as
this gentleman seems to feel. But no denying that it's there, and when it
is, it's a bit irritating.
bozak
im feeling kobe telling battier that he cant guard him and any other smack
he wants to talk to him...
battier's effort at defending kobe is sticking his hand in his face everytime
he shoots a jumper to the point he almost pokes him in the eye... what kind
of pussy pathetic shit is that for a person in the nba... i got no hops so im
going to put my hand in your grill everytime you shoot the rock...
please, thats fucking pathetic...
Bob
> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat=nba
>
> Tuesday, May 12, 2009
> Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
>
> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
and me who thought that posturing was quite frequent among NBA stars, or is
it that Mr Keown only notices it when Kobe does it?
bozak
lebron james already is the worst ever...
levi
Too bad. With the possible exception of Keown's
evaluation of Collins, I thought he was pretty
much dead on in his characterization of Kobe.
If Kobe were, gasp(!), a Celtic, I'm sure you'd
have a completely different take on him.
RMJon23
>
> - Show quoted text -
No doubt: He'd scare the bejeezus out of me, like MJ did when he was
with the Bulls. Kobe would transcend Celtic-hood, much in the same way
that Bird did: I hated the guy 'cuz he was so good and a Celtic. But I
totally marvelled at his game. Bird - for me - transcended the normal
"He's a Celtic and I'm a Laker fan so I naturally hate his guts" kinda
thang. There are zero Celtics playing now who make me feel like that.
Even if KG were healthy, it's not the same thing as watching uber-
greatness ala Kobe, Bird, MJ.
Bob
Yet he claims that Lebron is white as snow in that department. I thought it
was an especially spiteful article, as if the writer had an axe to grind.
It's likely it has little to do with player posturing and everything to do
with one of them (Collins) being directly put on the spot.
kongw...@gmail.com
> M B wrote:
> > "WBC" <calc...@removeshoesyahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:WZCdndQ8m7blppbX...@earthlink.com...
> >>http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat...
>
> >> Tuesday, May 12, 2009
> >> Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
>
> >> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
>
> >> By Tim Keown
>
> > Just a little harsh, but only because I don't think this fellow has seen
> > many of the games where Kobe DOESN'T stink-face. In fact, from what I've
> > seen, most of the time, he doesn't do this, and is fairly professional.
>
> > Having said that, I'm OK with the article, because Kobe WAS overdoing it
> > against Battier, who just plays hard. Kobe usually respects that, but maybe
> > he heard or read one too many pundits saying that the Rockets match up well
> > with the Lakers because "they have two guys who can guard Kobe". That was
> > the often repeated phrase. Maybe it got under Bryant's skin.
>
> > I don't think that the tone crossed the "Hater" line. I mean, he kept
> > it all on point, didn't cross into the mind-reading, motive-assigning
> > conjecture that so many KB critiques cross into. My only criticism is that
> > I don't think that behavior is as big or common a part of Bryant's game as
> > this gentleman seems to feel. But no denying that it's there, and when it
> > is, it's a bit irritating.
>
> im feeling kobe telling battier that he cant guard him and any other smack
> he wants to talk to him...
>
> battier's effort at defending kobe is sticking his hand in his face everytime
> he shoots a jumper to the point he almost pokes him in the eye... what kind
> of pussy pathetic shit is that for a person in the nba... i got no hops so im
> going to put my hand in your grill everytime you shoot the rock...
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
Rocket fans said it is face guarding. I called that a snake bite.
Anthony Mason did that to MJ and got call every freaking time.
zcar...@yahoo.com
play.
RMJon23
> All that writer wanted was for Kobe to shut up,stop making faces, and
> play.
You guys getting all worked up over Kobe's faces: can you get any
WEAKER than that in the All-Out-CheeseBall-Whining category?
I've always found Ray Allen's typical expression of "goddammit someone
in here farted and it wasn't me" kinda disturbing, but I expect guys
to play with some sort of emotion, fer crissakes.
When Kobe got T-ed up for telling Battier, "You can't guard me!" you
guys probably went YAYYYYYYY!
Weak! Grow a set, ya jagoffs.
Even Battier said later it wasn't a deal.
Pussified NBA compared to the 80s, but that's what an Auburn Hills
Brawl can do, I guess. Fallout for years.
VicXnews
b8f5-e1d...@d38g2000prn.googlegroups.com:
> All that writer wanted was for Kobe to shut up,stop making faces, and
> play.
>
so fuck him...i don't GAF what he wants...typical espn shit.
Swillabrew
Excrement
Spreading
Per
Normal
(I bet that sign wouldn't make SportsCenter)
Go Blazers !
brink
> All that writer wanted was for Kobe to shut up,stop making faces, and
> play.
Oh, is that it? Gee, what a whiner...
brink
brink
> "WBC" <cal...@removeshoesyahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:WZCdndQ8m7blppbX...@earthlink.com...
>> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat=nba
>>
>> Tuesday, May 12, 2009
>> Updated: May 13, 3:36 PM ET
>>
>> *Leave the scowl at home, Kobe*
>>
>> By Tim Keown
>
> Just a little harsh, but only because I don't think this fellow
> has seen many of the games where Kobe DOESN'T stink-face. In fact,
> from what I've seen, most of the time, he doesn't do this, and is
> fairly professional.
> Having said that, I'm OK with the article, because Kobe WAS
> overdoing it against Battier, who just plays hard.
It's the face guarding. Battier has made contact with Kobe's face a few
times, too, so it's going beyond annoying. I think Kobe's been behaving
himself, actually. It might be a legal way to guard a player in the NBA but
it's also pretty lame, in a way. Some levels of basketball it is illegal,
punishable by a technical. I'm on the fence about it, half of me thinks
"smart defensive strategy" half of me thinks "totally lame."
brink
brink
I think Kobe's changed a lot... 3 years ago I thought he tended to
embarrass himself and the team with displays of (false) bravado. The two
turning points seemed to be the doomed 7-game series vs. Phoenix in 2006 and
then the team coming together after his offseason tantrum after the 2007
playoffs. Since then, I really do think he's been a different guy,
especially with how he treats teammates and opponents. Guys he used to feud
with like Raja Bell or Bruce Bowen he seems to go out of the way to show
respect to... even Ron-Ron and their well-publicized battles, you can tell
that he still likes Artest and the feeling seems to be mutual.
He still has his moments, but he isn't even close to the level of
histrionics of KG, Pierce, or LeBron... even Chris Paul is much more of an
antagonist.
brink
frndt...@aol.com
> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090512&sportCat...
>Kobe was targeting Collins, one of the most even and knowledgeable minds
>in the game.
Collins has always been a Kobe hater. It is only the last few years
has he been giving the acknowledgement of how good Kobe was. of course
he was always a MJ hater until he coached him for the second time.
If only Kobe had kept his dick in his pants in Colorado. Kobe is an
adulterer, while Lebron is just a Baby daddy.
Bob
so are about 70% of married people at one point in their lives and close to
100% of people with his kind of opportunities.
levi
As a reasonably hopeful human being, I hope so. But
I tend to believe it's more like wall paper covering up
a deeply flawed structure.
>
> He still has his moments, but he isn't even close to the level of
> histrionics of KG, Pierce, or LeBron... even Chris Paul is much
> more of an antagonist.
>
Ah yes, the histrionics. Just one aspect of the picture.
It would be great if nobody acted that way. Keown's
messge "Leave the scowl at home" is dead on -- it's
not helping Kobe's image or his game. Same for the
guys you point out.
.
RMJon23
>
> - Show quoted text -
I say: give me MORE scowling, more emotion, more
expressiveness...which doesn't mean bad sportsmanship, or something
worthy of a T, much less fighting. I like Battier's enigmatic smile
after fouls. I think Artest - a very <ahem> "interesting" figure - is
very expressive. As Laker fans we hate(d) Danny Ainge...but you have
to admit the humanity of his expressiveness when he committed a clear
foul and seemed to actually believe he got called for nothing.
There are some guys who, via facial expressiveness and body language,
seem to never be fazed. They're few and far between, but even THAT is
interesting to me, because the normal run of things in very physical
team sports like the NBA is that: guys are in an intense situation,
they need everything they can muster to play up to snuff. they're
under intense pressure. They EMOTE, levi. And there's a special case
in the NBA that doesn't apply to football or hockey: they are playing
in their underwear. Not a lot to hide, so why hide it?
Ever watch good playground guys? After awhile, you'll see a fistfight
or shoving match. In the NBA, they impress a code of conduct, you're
on a lighted stage, under intense scrutiny, and paid absurd sums to
deliver your skills at the world-class level.
And you think facial expressions are something to get all worked up
about?
Man, I bet you're a real joy to hang out with.
levi
>
> - Show quoted text -
What I said was: "Keown's messge "Leave the scowl at home"
is dead on -- it's not helping Kobe's image or his game."
Yep. <cue Elvis> "I'm all shook up". Not.
On the flip side, it's just about as disgusting to watch
Kobe le, nay, *cause* the Lakers lose to a Yao-less HOU.
Bird or MJ never would have let it happen once, much less
twice. Makes for a fun psycho-drama, though.
RMJon23
>
> - Show quoted text -
I don't think his scowl hurts his game. By what metaphysical argument
do you claim it does? As for his "image" there's nothing he can do to
improve it; he's a polarizing player: people in general either hate
him or love him. You're clearly a hater, so why should I give a shit
about you or Kelown?
Good luck with those T-Wolves, btw. And try not to let anyone's scowl
creep you out. Tall order, I suspect.
Oh yea: Bird and MJ were on teams that lost in the playoffs. Nice try.
levi
Because we think, rather than "love" blindly.
>
> Good luck with those T-Wolves, btw.
Gee, thanks!
> And try not to let anyone's scowl
> creep you out. Tall order, I suspect.
Well, I'll try, but only creeps scowl.
>
> Oh yea: Bird and MJ were on teams that lost in
> the playoffs. Nice try.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Right...show me the games their teams lost
when the other team's biggest star was knocked
out of the playoffs.
Gary Collard
Bird lost twice to a far, far inferior Houston team in the Finals.
Sub-.500 team, in fact.
MJ drug a couple of pretty weak teams along to games 7 as well.
And that Bill Russell? Total slacker.
--
Gary Collard
SABR-L Moderator
gmcollard at yahoo dot com
http://sarcastipundit.blogspot.com/
"It's the playoffs. If you're scared, get a dog."
-- Allen Iverson
Gary Collard
Perfectly legit play as long as he doesn't touch him. If he touches the
face, it becomes a foul, and if it's other than the mildest of contact
it should be flagrant. Intentional shots to the head should not be
tolerated (unless it's the first 15 years of Shaq's career, in which
case no problem!).
VicXnews
news:guvcpl$r97$7...@news.eternal-september.org:
> brink wrote:
>>
>>
>> It's the face guarding. Battier has made contact with Kobe's face a
>> few times, too, so it's going beyond annoying. I think Kobe's been
>> behaving himself, actually. It might be a legal way to guard a player
>> in the NBA but it's also pretty lame, in a way. Some levels of
>> basketball it is illegal, punishable by a technical. I'm on the fence
>> about it, half of me thinks "smart defensive strategy" half of me
>> thinks "totally lame."
>
> Perfectly legit play as long as he doesn't touch him. If he touches the
> face, it becomes a foul, and if it's other than the mildest of contact
> it should be flagrant. Intentional shots to the head should not be
> tolerated (unless it's the first 15 years of Shaq's career, in which
> case no problem!).
>
it seemed to me that everytime they showed a replay of that great hand in his
face d Kobe had already released the ball and had a clean look at the basket.
$Bill
>
> it seemed to me that everytime they showed a replay of that great hand in his
> face d Kobe had already released the ball and had a clean look at the basket.
Ya gotta figure it's not that effective unless you get it up early and
keep it directly in front of both eyes. Once he has a glimpse of the
rim, it should be burned in enough that if he blocks only one eye it
wouldn't be a problem and if he blocks both, it still has some residual
memory to still make the shot.
We used to do that sort of thing shooting FTs - get a good look and
then close your eyes before you shoot and you can still make a pretty
good %age. You can still see the rim on the back of your eyelids. ;)
levi
1985-86? The Rockets went 51-31 in the regular season,
then shutdown the Lakers 4-1. Far, far, inferior? Maybe.
Yes, the Celtics lost two close games in HOU, but then,
the Rockets did not lose Olajuwon.
>
> MJ drug a couple of pretty weak teams along to games 7 as well.
He drug a lot of weak teams to championships.
>
> And that Bill Russell? Total slacker.
>
No doubt.
my.whole....@gmail.com
Now you remind me - didn't it used to be illegal to faceguard?
Regardless of whether or not you touched the shooter's face?
Gary Collard
No, 1981. Did you not read the "sub-.500"?
> Yes, the Celtics lost two close games in HOU, but then,
> the Rockets did not lose Olajuwon.
>
>> MJ drug a couple of pretty weak teams along to games 7 as well.
>
> He drug a lot of weak teams to championships.
You missed the smiley there.
Gary Collard
I heard last night that LeBron has done a lot of shooting in a darkened
gym to improve his shooting. Given the results others should try it.