The World Around Him…

Post Of The Week

Our latest Post of the Week comes from one of our resident Pistons fans, EMC. It speaks on the expectations Kobe must live up to, looking at the past, present and future.

Perhaps this is how he wanted it. Surrounding Kobe Bryant entering this season is a deafening roar of detractors all aimed to take their best shot before the three-time Champion tries his best Michael Jordan imitation. Some, such as Charley Rosen’s venom-laced arguments, are very easy to dismiss. Others, Phil Jackson namely, are more disturbing.

Jackson has coached some of the greats of today’s game, which only means he managed egos twice the size of their talent. Michael Jordan was a well-known competitor with a fervor for leaning into new teammates in an attempt to “break them in�? to what Chicago was doing. Dennis Rodman, perhaps the best rebounder in NBA history, was making game-day trips to Las Vegas, and staying up all night. During his time in Chicago, Rodman was only on time for about half of all practices.

Scottie Pippen, in a decisive playoff game, tried to force his coach to give him the ball to make the winning shot. When he couldn’t force Jackson’s hand, he decided to sit on the bench for the final play. If you think Kobe-Shaq was a feud, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen had a terrible relationship. Pippen resented the accommodations made for Rodman’s talent, while their rivalry back to the late 1980s when Worm almost took off Pippen’s head on a play that had no foul called. Jackson’s tenure with the Bulls was just as tenuous as it was with LA. After Phil Jackson was told, “thanks for the rings, don’t come back�? by Chicago, Jerry Krause was quoted as saying something to the effect that General Managers win Championships, not players and coaches.

What is it about Kobe Bean Bryant that caused Jackson to write this scathing book? Why has he told the story of going to the Buss family and putting a “me-or-him�? ultimatum on the table? Why has he called Bryant the only player he couldn’t reach, insinuating he is spoiled?

This is great theatre to be sure but maybe this is the way Kobe wants it. Maybe he wants, or will learn to appreciate the perception that he had little to do with the first three Championships of his career, and more to do with the breakup of that team. Maybe he wants to have the ability to prove everyone – from Charley Rosen to Phil Jackson – wrong. Maybe this is a way of lowering the Steve Young-type expectations.

Everyone is waiting for him to fail. Could everyone be wrong? Considering the outcome of last season, it’s entirely possible. Only time can tell this story.

What do you think of EMC’s editorial? Sound off on the CL.com Forums!