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Time for a confession: I heart Kobe

Only Brad Rock would try to defend Kobe in a Salt Lake newspaper by comparing him to Jordan...Wake up Rock, Jordan was/is the devil in Salt Lake basketball lore!

Brad,
Just when I thought you had something significant going on between your ears you go and prove me wrong. Dead Wrong.

He definitely has a point, but I'm still EXTREMELY frustrated at the lop-sided officiating that has been going on this entire series....

I love how Jazz fans only like hearing certain things. The article agrees that Kobe does some annoying things but that actually he's got a lot of great qualities...including not making excuses and already we get haters who are so biased they can't consider anything objectively.

Everyone on the board says Kobe pretended his back hurt as an excuse or a stategy but what does Kobe say? He says "AK did a great job. Great defensive player. They did a great job"

He didn't blame it on his back - gave credit to the Jazz.

The Jazz fans are once again....lame.

Love for the game should be more important than love for any one team. Why aren't Jazz fans booing when Kyle Korver is put on the court for more than five minutes? He is more responsible for the Jazz losing than Kobe. The Jazz have the talent to potentially beat the Lakers if they play their game and use their best players. Getting to watch exciting players like Kobe, Odom and Gasol should be a bonus-- someday you'll have to explain to your kids how great those guys are now and they won't believe you.

Not that we jazz fans like or dislike Kobe, We just don't like those shooting guards that always seem to kill the jazz, like Kobe and MJ, but I will say that compared to other supposed stars that we have faced, Tracy, Kobe doesn't whine after every single call and I respect him for that. He just needs to give Pau that lesson.

I am not a basketball expert but Kobe is "one" of the best, it is obvious by the special treatment he gets, but like Dave Barry said don't trust people that are not nice to the waiter.
You even in your article pointed out that Kobe wanted to be traded unless the Lakers changed people around him. Would not a class person do this behid closed doors. ANyone can look gracious in good times it is when it gets hard. ANyone can have fidelity in the presence of their spouse but when their gone?

Everyone in LaLa land says how great it is that Kobe credited AK and didn't make excuses.

In reality, he followed up his "No excuses for me" statement with "A back is a little different. You have to make some adjustments. You can't run like you want to, can't cut like you want to. It's a back."

Sounds like an excuse to me.

Jazzies are the most repulsive fans in all of sports.

Rather neutral article, despite the love. Several negative things were brought up. I enjoyed reading the article. As for the lopsided officiating, yes in favor of the home team every time. That's why home court is so important. Maybe that's why when Utah was an top 1-2 seed, they were going to the finals? Its helpful to get that better seed, so more games at home where you get the calls. I'm just hoping LA shows its road strength tonight despite the calls going against them.

I thought this was a well written column making some great points. Love him or hate him, you have to admire Bryant's play this year - he has discovered his teammates and that has sent his game to another level.

I really don't give a rats pituty whether the Lakers or Jazz win this series. I also don't agree with any statements about the refs being one sided ... All NBA refs always stink. Its nothing personal, they simply are unable to call a game by the rules and sometimes your team gets the short end of the stick. However, what caused me to share my opinion in this case was the statement by Rock calling Kobe humble. There is no question that Kobe is among the best all time at putting the ball in the basket. He is even articulate and well educated. But humble is most definitely not a word that I would associate with Kobe in any way, shape, or form.

don't get me wrong kobe's a great player, but I'm tired of hearing the announcers talk about him. Show the game tell us what's going on They brought up Kobe's back more than he did. IF it's too much to ask.. maybe show a highlight of D-Will when he smokes fisher pefore a commercial... please.

I've always kind of liked Kobe as a true Jazz fan he is more than a worthy opponent. Of course I don't know him, but he seems to be an agreeable fairly nice guy off the court.

I was quite dissapointed with the decision he made in Colorado and the circumstances are somewhat sad and disturbing (with his wife actually there). He seemed to certainly be above that type of behavior. I hoped he was

I was never bothered by his confidence what a lot of people thought was arragence, and if he hadn't of made that decision everyone would love him to death. He would be a proven roll model. Some things you cant get back, but he seems to really love his family and for him that's all that really matters.

Simply, beyond his swagger he seems to be a nice guy and if your a nice guy, and you've made a mistake even a serious one it's possible to repair your image. Being a freakishly good player doesn't hurt either

That said I hope his team loses by 25 tonight, Then in Game 7 one of those horrible heart breaker games.

GO JAZZ

I think the officials in this series feel the same way... what a great guy this Kobe Bryant is - let's see if we can get him some more foul shots.

Ahhh. I see what's going on here. Brad's trying to use his literary talents to get our juices flowing. Good tactic. Most excellent newspaper journalist's goals are to write columns that attract attention and elevate emotions, which is exactly what Brad is doing here. He doesn't really respect or like Kobe. Besides, other than seeking literary excellence goals, most journalists don't really know what their true opinion is because they've lost it over the years trying to be impartial. And Brad, don't try to deny it. Remember that time in the college co-ed dorm room....well, never mind.

Consider everything-- no other game in town, and the big one is that only the bottom 50% of fans are usually blogging here. It would be interesting to see what alot of them have accomplished in their lives, that make them so qualified to make the numerous statements they make. Don't get me wrong I'm not talking about all Jazz fans when I say this. I personally think that the Jazz ship is floating quite nicely. Go Jazz and please spread the court, push the ball with alot of effort and things will be fine.

Jazz fans are down right classless. Lopsided officiating, pppppllllllllllllleeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssseee!!!! Kobe and Co. will eat the Jazz alive tonight.

Gee Rock that's sure original. Imagine, someone from the media actually fawning all over Kobe... Of course it really is easy to love a guy who:

A) Lets his gigantic ego run all of the good players off his team (Shaq, Malone, Payton) and then openly roasts Mitch Kupchak over the coals in the media because he can't get any good players.

B) While getting questioned by the Colorado police openly rolls over on the guy (Shaq) whose back he rode to three titles.

C) Purposely let his legal team hold off a trial for months and let a poor girl recieve multiple death threats, have to change her life and appearance, and have to move several times just so she would eventually break under the constant pressure and not be able to testify...

In case you can't figure it out Rock, you're in Jazz country. We get enough Kobe worship from the national media and we just don't want it here. You just embarrassed yourself and all true Jazz fans with your sycophantic mublings... Anyway, nice puff piece. I guess it saves you from having to do any real journalism.

perfect article, Brad.

I will be at the anti-Brad Rock march today when Jazz fans attempt to tar and feather you--I will be the guy cheering for you even as the skewed Jazz fans are pouring boiling tar over your bald head.

Admit it, Jazz fans: You all hated Jordan once upon a time, but now you use him to bash Kobe: "If Kobe made his teammates better like MJ..." (oops, scratch that criticism). "If Kobe was likeable like Jordan..." (oops, Rock reminded you of some inconvenient truths, didn't he?).

Let's all cut to the chase, eh? The correct comment for Jazz fans would be, "If Kobe played for the Jazz, then we'd knock down Malone's statue to make room for his."

There we go, now that is truth.