Quit Cryin' Kobe, You Got What You Wanted

Quit Cryin' Kobe, You Got What You Wanted
RF23 Commentary

After yesterdays bombshell by Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant in regard to the situation of the Lakers. Yesterday, Kobe Bryant went on a radio show front and bombed the hell out of the Lakers Organization specifically owner and now new member of celebrity mug shot Jerry Buss. Bryant angry at an unknown and named "insider" in the Lakers organization for saying what a large percentage of basketball and laker fans believe (including me) that he was responsible for the ousting of Shaquille O'Neal right after the 2004 season. Bryant claims that he took the bullet for the organization and "let on" that he was responsible. He said he took all the criticism from the media and pissed off O'Neal loyalist because he wanted to be the team guy and he believed that the team would rebuild aggressively to get back to championship form.

Bryant said that the owner told him on two occasions that the lakers were not going to resign Shaq due to his age and declining health. Bryant also said that he called Phil Jackson to see what the lakers told him (Jackson) after the 2004 season and that Jackson told him that the lakers were going to rebuild on a long term basis. Meaning that they were going to get under the salary cap and rebuild for the future. The future! Bryant is presently playing and looking to at least answer for Shaq's 2006 Championship win with the Heat.

I can imagine the anger and utter disappointment for Bryant, but didn't he want this? Didn't he, throw his team mate under the bus while he was being investigated for alleged rape of a Colorado woman. Didn't he provide "Scottie Pippin" soundbites in regard to Shaq about his weight and health? Didn't he tell people close to him that he wanted his own team and wanted to run things? And yes, although he didn't make the deal to send Shaq to Miami, he at least on one of the two meetings could have told the organization, "hey, me and the big fella may not get along, but we won three championships and had huge playoff runs, re-sign the big man and let us go for more." He could have done that. Instead all he did was tell the organization that he was opting out and seeing what free agency was like. Well now he sees it, he sees now that his allegeniance cost two game over .500 and quick exits in the playoffs..And all of this is under his watch....
So don't cry now Kobe...

this is what you wanted.

The Logo's livid with Kobe: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ak3flDznKg2RZKWPcuVxyT05nYcB?slug=aw-kobe052907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Bryant Fires Back Lakers: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20070530_Stephen_A__Smith____Bryant_fires_back_at_Lakers.html