Kobe’s next step

I have written a couple of logs on here. 1 saying the Lakers will be fine (in pre-season) and one ripping both Kobe and the Laker office for acting immature.

As a longtime Laker fan and a huge Kobe fan (who else works as hard, and wants to win as much) this has been a great year to be a Laker Fan. Seeing one of my favorite lines, “winning cures all,” came to fruition, has been interesting to say the least.

This post is as much about Kobe as it is to him.

Well here is my 2 cents.

Kobe Bean Bryant you have a chance to cement your legacy as one of the most hatted turned loved sports personalities in the history of any league. I do believe you will lead the Lakers to at least the finals this year, and you are the MVP of the league. I am still surprised to think that you will actually win the MVP. It seems as though the rules required to win the MVP have changed just so the media and analysts can justify not selecting you. First you have be the best and at least make the playoffs, then you have to improve your team while making your teammates better, and now that you did both of those, the media calmly and with a straight face say your numbers are down and you had to much help. I guess they can’t remember that Nash had 2 all NBA players on his team, and that your team and yourself have been riddled with injuries all year. As for Nash, does anyone really think they did not make him better? In addition, there is a reason Hockey gives an assist for the 2 passes that lead to a score , Kobe, your specialty. But this year the critics have turned some. Maybe it started because someone Like ESPN’s Colin Cowherd wanted to be the one that goes against the norm and start showing you some love. If they can only agree to hate you, then someone will go the opposite just for a story, and the next thing you know its vogue to call you MVP. So here we are, you the MVP as you should be. But rest assured, there are still a few writers that hate you for looking at them like they are a bunch of idiots, even when they ask an idiotic question.

Now what to do? It is simple. Reward the fans. make them love you more. Make America, Europe, ebay (you will get this in a minute) all love you.

Here is where my little suggestion if you will, my little thought (and judging from the size of my intellect it has to be little) comes in. I want to see you, Kobe do something that 1) has never been done 2) will endure you to the fans that chant MVP- MPV-MVP shot after shot, night after night 3) show your teammates and organization, you really are about winning, and that you recognize that without them you would not be where you are now. This may seem uber (Dirk ya feelin me) Cheesy, but hear me out. When you receive the award and take center stage next season, make a statement to the fans, to your staff, and to your teammates that this trophy is for them, because without them you would (again) not be there receiving the award. Ohh but you don’t stop there, you actually make it thiers. You go on to say that you have, with your own money, arranged to have made an exact duplicate of the trophy. What would one do with two MVP trophies? You plan on giving the oroginal to the fans, the staff and your teammates. You go on to announce to the home crowd that all those having a ticket ending with a seat number (whatever works here) will get a piece of the trophy ( I suggest involving a few of the famous celebrities, specially one that likes sun glasses, as they want to be seen as true Laker fans and some actually are, and the true Laker fans want to be seen with celebrities). Now this may seem lame, but its all in the presentation. During the next season opener you can have the winning fans presented with thier chunk of history. Think of this, do you even know how much money was made from people selling pieces of the Berlin wall (real or not) when it came down, how much interest was generated? This would trump the wall, and then some. Do you know how much this will mean to a true Laker fan, to a true Kobe fan? It would mean the world, and I believe the celebrities would appreciate it just as much. You could have the trophy broken in random small pieces to look as authentic as possible (with the edges smoothed out for safety), or made into coins. This could make for the coolest keychain ever. Each piece could have an L engraved and painted black, purple or even yellow (gold) and a 24 to represent the winner.

Why? Being the MVP is a symbol of excellence, an achievement of the great few, not an award, not a statement, and definitely not a trophy. It truly is achieved only with the help of the organization and the fans. The statue/trophy is given to you as the MVP, but it does not define you. It could be glass, ceramic, gold, or whatever. When you look at the trophy, you will remember you won the MVP, but will you see the trophy or feel the moment? Will you will feel the hard work and sacrifice? I believe you will feel the cool satisfaction of having proved all your critics wrong in addition to the emotions of all that goes with winning. You will feel like a complete player. In addition, having the duplicate trophy not the original, can be your way of giving something back to the fans. Something that will never be forgotten, and for a few select lucky, something they can wrap their sweaty palms around and tell their friends and family about forever. The coolest part, when you win again, you can do it again. It will be forever associated with you.

You would be solidifying the legand of one Kobe Bean Bryant, the fans choice. A truely gifted scorer, defender and team player. The only player on the planet that can go from unstoppable, to making his teammates unstoppable. The only player ever that can go from MJ to Oscar to West on a span of minutes, while making it look easy.