Bryant's Laker Legacy Becoming a Shove Story

[achtungbaby]

Bryant's Laker Legacy Becoming a Shove Story
by Bill Plaschke

Karl Malone answered the phone at his Arkansas ranch with a sigh.

It was late, he was tired, and he could explain.

Earlier Tuesday, he had read a transcription of Kobe Bryant's statements that essentially likened Malone's redwood of a comeback attempt to an irksome splinter.

Malone was so upset, he worked a stair climbing machine for an hour.

"At level 14," he said. "I mean, I was blindsided."

And now it is the Lakers who have been sucker-punched, losing their most credible locker room presence and strongest inside force for a most familiar reason.

Karl Malone says he will not be returning to the Lakers because of Kobe Bryant.

For those keeping score at home, the kid just won the alienation triple crown

"The bottom line is, Kobe Bryant doesn't want me to play for him, and it's his team," Malone said. "You've got to be wanted, and he doesn't want me there."

On the surface, Bryant's radio comments do not seem to warrant such strong reaction. But don't be fooled. This is about more than that.

Bryant's words represented only a final shove, with Malone speaking as if Bryant had been pushing him out the door for weeks.

"When I see that situation there, I would love to play with those young kids, are you kidding me?" Malone said. "But when your main player doesn't want you, I don't have time for all that."

There has been talk of how, unlike some teams that have phoned Malone every day, Bryant rarely spoke to Malone during his rehabilitation from knee surgery, even though they live only blocks apart.

When they did speak recently, according to agent Dwight Manley, their conversations were not pleasant.

Malone, an old-fashioned sort who refused to publicly criticize Bryant, is clearly not thrilled that Bryant speaks as if he is the team's player-coach, talking about his teammates "giving me 110%."

Also a sensitive sort, Malone undoubtedly wonders why Bryant has not publicly supported him the way Malone was often the only player who publicly supported Bryant amid the sexual assault allegations.

Their issues culminated, according to Malone, when he was read Bryant's statements on the "Loose Cannons" show on XTRA radio.

"He doesn't want me here, he made that known today, he told me through the press," Malone said.

Among other things, Bryant said of Malone, "I don't think he's coming back."

Malone says he feels great and could return soon, with the leading candidate now reportedly being the San Antonio Spurs.

Bryant also said of Malone's comeback, "It's not really fair to hold it over the guys' heads that are here…. It's kind of tough for them to be looking over their shoulder, wondering if he's going to come back."

Bryant sounds as if Malone were holding out instead of working out. He acts as if waiting for Malone wasn't worth the effort.

The truth is, when Malone is ready, Bryant should agree to carry him to Staples Center on his back, because Malone's presence is — or was — the only way these Lakers have a chance to make any noise in the playoffs.

"No disrespect to anyone, but this wasn't an equipment guy saying this," Malone said. "This was the player who you gave your franchise to. I can read between the lines."

The Lakers were quick to separate themselves from Bryant's comments, highly unusual for a family organization that unconditionally supports its players, but good for them.

"Kobe did not at any time state that Karl was not returning, nor was Kobe speaking on behalf of the Lakers management or organization," the statement read.

Too late. Too bad. In this instance, Malone is going to be as intractable as he is under the basket.

While some Bryant backers will be quick to call Malone a baby, anyone who hung around the Lakers last year knows that he was one of the few who was decidedly not a baby.

He ignored every little pain. He willingly faced every question. He publicly backed every teammate.

It was his first year on the team, but he was already its leader, and even owner Jerry Buss believes the Lakers would have won the championship if he didn't finish the season with an injury.

And about Bryant's feud with Shaquille O'Neal? Malone was the only one who didn't take sides, and still won't.

"I look at the whole scenario, and the whole thing could have been done differently, by everybody," he said.

He will, however, say one thing about the fallout.

"I don't want to throw daggers at anyone, but I would have quit my job before I traded Shaquille O'Neal," he said. "I would have been unemployed before I would trade him, and that's all I'll say."

When O'Neal left, it took him more than a week to officially thank the Laker fans.

Malone did it Tuesday without even being asked.

"I don't care about the money I made there, it was nothing compared to what the Laker fans gave me every time I walked off that court," he said. "I love them. I appreciate them. And I want every one of them to know it."

A third future Hall of Famer, a third farewell, these goodbyes getting as old as Kobe Bryant's act.

[kurei kun]

yet another piece being hypercritical of kobe bryant. had kobe said that he wanted malone to come back, writers would say that kobe is not a leader for "needing" someone and especially someone as high of caliber as karl malone.

people are taking this way out of context and way out of proportion.

kobe felt that his teammates were being apprehensive on the court and in the lockerroom because there is always that tension of malone coming back and making things all better

and not only that, but also taking a roster spot (which means a cut for either tierre or bobbitt) and taking minutes (mihm, grant, cook, slava to an extent). not only that but it would severely hamper cook in his development and ruin team chemistry (what they have so far) even further. plus malone (although i want him to come back) could serve as a distraction considering that no one on the team (so far) has said shit to each other on the papers.

i'm sure that kobe didn't have negative means when he said those comments, but rather to reassure his teammates that if karl comes back then things will be good, but if he doesn't things will still be good.

kobe is standing up for his teammates, and i would be more pissed if he laid out the carpet for malone than if he said a few words to "piss off" malone and his agent.

but i DO realize that this is adding on to the fueds he's had in the past few years (phil, shaq, the white lady, his wife, his parents, gp, mike dunleavy, elgin baylor, and other people). quite a resume for a 26 year old.

[Cipherous]

awwww poor mailman

thats karma for him, I will never forget the shadiness of his play during 03 playoff games against the rockets.

[deez nuts]

lol

New Kobe furor: Says Malone made a pass at his wife

By KEN PETERS, AP Sports Writer
December 13, 2004
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Another Kobe conflict for the Lakers.

Bryant has accused Karl Malone of making a pass at his wife at a game last month.

Talking before Los Angeles' 105-98 win over Orlando on Sunday night, Bryant said he felt betrayed by a man he considered a friend.

``He was like a mentor, like a brother to me, so when something like that happens, you're upset, you're hurt,'' Bryant said.

He said he called Malone and told him, ``Stay away from my wife. What's wrong with you? How could you?''

Malone was not available for comment Sunday, but agent Dwight Manley said Malone told him he had never made a pass at Bryant's wife, that he was surprised by the accusation, and that he then apologized to both Bryant and his wife for any remarks she might have considered inappropriate.

``Karl's response to Kobe's comments today is that he's a basketball player and not a soap opera actor and he doesn't intend to be involved in a personal soap opera,'' Manley said of his client.

Bryant said he had phoned Malone, who has a home near Bryant's in Newport Beach, after Bryant's wife, Vanessa, told him on Nov. 23 that Malone had made inappropriate comments to her that night at Staples Center.

``The comments that he said, I don't know any man in this room that wouldn't be upset about that,'' Bryant said in the Lakers' locker room. ``The past month, myself, my wife, (Malone's wife) Kaye, we've had fun together.

``We've been out to their house, just joking around, giving each other a hard time, just clowning, being sarcastic with one another, baby-sitting kids and all that.''

Asked if there might have been a misunderstanding, Bryant said, ``What he said is what he said. I believe in my heart that it wasn't a misunderstanding.

``My wife wasn't going to stand for it. She felt uncomfortable being around him to the point that she felt she had to call his wife and tell her.''

Bryant said Malone didn't deny making the comments, and told him during their phone conversation, ``Aw, you know, I'm sorry if I said anything that was out of line.''

Malone, 41, told the Lakers on Oct. 1 he was still recovering from arthroscopic surgery he underwent three months earlier on his right knee and wasn't ready to play. But he didn't rule out returning at some point this season or beyond. He apparently is ready to play again, but for whom is the question.

Manley said last Tuesday that Malone didn't plan to return to the Lakers because of comments Bryant made in a radio interview. Bryant had said the Lakers shouldn't have to look over their shoulders, wondering whether Malone was going to rejoin the team.

According to Manley, Malone was furious at Bryant, and that private, personal attacks were involved, but the agent would not elaborate.

Bryant, who in the past had a string of public feuds with Shaquille O'Neal and also some run-ins with coach Phil Jackson, certainly did elaborate on his side of the conflict with Malone.

The second-leading scorer in NBA history, Malone opted out of his $1.65 million Lakers contract following last season, making him a free agent. He and Gary Payton, hoping to win their first league championship rings, took significant pay cuts to join Bryant and O'Neal in Los Angeles before last season.

Despite having four future Hall of Famers, the heavily favored Lakers lost to Detroit in the NBA Finals. Then the breakup began.

Jackson was let go, O'Neal demanded a trade and was dealt to Miami, Gary Payton was dealt to Boston, and Bryant tested the free agent market before signing a new seven-year, $136.4 million contract.

Despite his obvious anger toward Malone, Bryant said he would be willing able to separate his personal feelings if Malone rejoins the Lakers.

``If he could come back and play for us and help us out, I'm happy to embrace him as a teammate,'' Bryant said. `But only as a teammate.''

Bryant is the defendant in a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for pain, scorn and ridicule the woman says she has suffered since her encounter with Bryant at the Vail-area resort where she worked in June 2003. Bryant claims they had consensual sex.

After the win over Orlando, he again was asked about Malone, and said, ``It has been difficult to deal with, but I've been through a lot and my family's been through a lot, and we're just trying to put it behind us and move on.''

Bryant scored 23 points on 6-of-23 shooting from the floor, with eight rebounds and six assists in the Lakers' victory. Teammates Jumaine Jones hit seven of his eight 3-point shots and finished with 25 points, and Chris Mihm had 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Orlando's Steve Francis had 27 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.




http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYTg2ZTBwBF9TAzk1ODYxOTQ4BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=ap-lakers-bryant-malone&prov=ap&type=lgns

[VV o n g B a]

kobe just needs to keep his mouth shut. what a freakin drama queen.

[deez nuts]

lakers should try and pull a trade of some sort involving kobe for "my nike ads are banned in china" lebron before kobe starts alienating all of LA.

i think malone should sign with the heat that way him and shaq can "show their appreciation" for kobe in their x-mas matchup.

[achtungbaby]

...before kobe starts alienating all of LA.
Too late.

Never before has an individual made me lose enthusiasm for a team. It's always been easy for me to gloss over certain figures that other folks will just flat out despise.

[deez nuts]

Too late.

Never before has an individual made me lose enthusiasm for a team. It's always been easy for me to gloss over certain figures that other folks will just flat out despise.


i think it's a little easier to hate on kobe after the shaq fiasco and the mailman fiasco cuz of that peanut shaped head of his.

i call it the pharrell syndrome. i don't really listen to his music. but, everytime i see him and that peanut shaped head, i hate him that much more.

[Kris]

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3248048

Deion rips Kobe for taking Malone feud public


Deion Sanders has never been afraid to speak out, even if it's not about his sport, and he's taken aim at Kobe Bryant for "breaking every rule you could think of" as a player.

Over the weekend, Kobe made statements that Karl Malone made a pass at his wife, Vanessa, and that was at the root of the recent Malone-Bryant rift that included Malone saying he would never play with the Lakers as long as Kobe was there.

But by taking this private spat public, Bryant really crossed the line, Sanders said.

"Kobe has broken all rules in regards to players' camaraderie, their fraternity," Sanders said on Sporting News Radio's James Brown Show. "He has broken every rule you could think of. I don't even understand how someone could come in the locker room and look this guy in his face when you go out like that.

"Not only is your house not in order because of the situation that he went through with the infidelity last year, but now you're placing Karl Malone in a position where now his home is under subjection right now because of these allegations. It's unbelievable. I can't even believe they would even allow that to come out in the media to attack Karl like that."

Sanders' comments are the latest in an ever-growing list of players who are lining up to take shots at Bryant. In addition to the recent falling out with Malone, Shaquille O'Neal still rips into Bryant whenever possible after Bryant played a key role in getting O'Neal traded to Miami, and the Sonics' Ray Allen ripped into Bryant as "selfish" earlier this season.

The recent Malone-Bryant feud boiled over when Vanessa Bryant told her husband on Nov. 23 that Malone had made inappropriate comments to her that night at the game at Staples Center.

The comments in question reportedly happened after Vanessa invited Malone to sit with her in the second half of that game. Malone, decked out in a cowboy hat and boots, went over and gave Vanessa Bryant a hug.

"Who are you hunting?" Vanessa reportedly asked when she saw Malone's outfit.

"Little Mexican girls," Malone responded.

And when that comment was relayed to Kobe, he called Malone and reportedly vowed to "(mess) him up" if he ever went near his wife again.

"Karl is a proven veteran. He's an older gentleman. What does he want with your woman?" Sanders said. "I mean, come on, let's be honest. What does Karl want with your woman? Karl has a daughter as old as Kobe's wife. So, let's be honest, that was really ridiculous.

"You've got to understand, guys like myself inside locker rooms, we get so upset when we hear foolishness like that in something coming out of Kobe's mouth. We just can't condone it. He's broken every rule or ordinance you can think of as a player."
__________________________________________________ __________

the guy is charismatic. people love to hate him. and to think i bought 2 of his jerseys just a few months ago (60 a pop) :frown:

[ism]

Allen Primed for Kobe Showdown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hughes_frank&id=1945983)
By Frank Hughes
Special to ESPN.com

Does anybody like Kobe Bryant? What ever happened to that sweet kid we all thought we'd grow up and love?

Isn't it Christmas? Where's the holiday spirit?

Can't we all just get along?

It seems that at one point or another virtually every day, Kid Kobe finds himself fighting some rather public battle -- which makes me wonder how many he is fighting that aren't made public -- and now between his spat with Karl Malone and his upcoming slugfest/showdown/Christmas Day massacre with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe finds himself in this petulant tete-a-tete with Seattle SuperSonics star Ray Allen, which will be the focal point of tonight's game between the Sonics and Lakers in Seattle.

[rest snipped]

first sentence nailed it.

[mrazntre]

As a lifelong Laker fan, I'm just scratching my head at the events that have been unfolding since last year.

What I want to know is....What does Dr. Buss think about all this ?

[deez nuts]

As a lifelong Laker fan, I'm just scratching my head at the events that have been unfolding since last year.

What I want to know is....What does Dr. Buss think about all this ?

i still can't comprehend how you can dismantle what is arguably the best starting lineup in basketball history after just one season. regardless of who is at fault, to not even try and work things out to have another go at it. it just boggles my mind. i mean four all stars and potential hall of famers in your starting line up;that rarely happens in a lifetime. it almost seems like they decided to completely burn their bridges at some point during the finals with the pistons.

[deez nuts]

what i really want to know about kobe is whether or not he bungeed flounder face moesha when he took her to the senior prom.

[ism]

lol. the problem with Brandi is that she isn't ugly but she's isn't all that pretty either. as a singer that theoretically should have no impact but her show focused on her being attractive which was totally breaking the fourth wall.

the funny thing is, i have a friend that told me someone said she looked like Brandi which she took as a compliment...

[kurei kun]

i still can't comprehend how you can dismantle what is arguably the best starting lineup in basketball history after just one season. regardless of who is at fault, to not even try and work things out to have another go at it. it just boggles my mind. i mean four all stars and potential hall of famers in your starting line up;that rarely happens in a lifetime. it almost seems like they decided to completely burn their bridges at some point during the finals with the pistons.

shaq didn't want to be a laker anymore. still wanted money or else he was going to tank the rest of his contract or he had to moved for something of value (considering the offers they were given and the control shaq had on the decision i think the deal that went through was pretty good)

malone was gone anyways. he had surgery and needed to recover/recuperate. having the lakers tied to his contract isn't professional (in malone's part) so not picking up his option was purely his decision.

fox? damaged goods. george? still injured.

kobe? lakers are lucky they have this one around.

payton? probably didn't want to be a laker after the season anyways. option picked up because that was the most money he was going to get anyways. 4.5 million for a 10 and 5 guy is far too much, which is good for GP. trading him was absolutely necessary to getting pieces like mihm and banks (JJ now)

[deez nuts]

it's like a new kobe story everyday everytime i check my fantasy basketball roster.

Report: Bryant would apologize to Shaq for comments made to police
December 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lakers star Kobe Bryant wants to apologize to former teammate Shaquille O'Neal for mentioning his name during a police interview last year.

Bryant appeared on ESPN's ``Pardon The Interruption'' and ``NBA Shootaround'' on Wednesday and said he never meant to bring up O'Neal's name when he was being interrogated by police officers. The interview came after a woman accused Bryant of raping her.

``I would apologize for any harm that I brought him and his family,'' Bryant said of O'Neal.

The Heat will play the Lakers on Christmas Day, the first meeting of the two teams since O'Neal was traded. Bryant wants to speak to O'Neal then.

Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting the woman at a Colorado resort where she worked in June 2003. The Lakers star maintained they had consensual sex.

Prosecutors dropped a sexual assault charge against Bryant on Sept. 1 after the woman said she no longer wanted to participate in the criminal case. She had filed a civil suit against Bryant about three weeks earlier.

During Bryant's interview with investigators, he said he heard O'Neal had paid up to $1 million to various women to keep quiet about situations like his own. O'Neal, who now plays for the Miami Heat, dismissed those allegations as ``ridiculous.'' There have been no published reports of O'Neal ever being accused of any sex crimes.

The former Lakers center was informed of Bryant's allegation last September, and the relationship between the two was strained throughout the 2003-04 season. After the season, O'Neal demanded to be traded.

``I never intended in any way to mix him into my troubles and difficulties that were going on at the time,'' Bryant said Wednesday. ``Things kind of got blown out of proportion and people really ran with that stuff. I just apologize to him for that.''

Bryant said he has passed the word to O'Neal through a mutual friend that he would like to discuss the matter.

``December 25 sounds like a good day to me to kind of talk to him and tell him I never meant in any kind of way to bring any of his personal business out,'' Bryant said.

Bryant also answered questions Wednesday about the recent spat with another former teammate, Karl Malone. Bryant has accused Malone, who is recovering from knee surgery, of making a pass at his wife at a game last month.

Malone's agent said last week that his client didn't plan to return to the Lakers because of comments Bryant made in a radio interview questioning Malone's intent in rejoining the team.

``To me it's water under the bridge,'' Bryant said Wednesday. ``I just kind of want to move on from it. We just go our separate ways.''


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpNWZic251BF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0 aA--?slug=ap-lakers-bryant&prov=ap&type=lgns

[achtungbaby]

I swear, he really is a drama queen. Every moment, one of incredible highs, gargantuan, 7 foot villans, aging power forwards who tell the press they'd give up everything they'd sacrificed and worked for if it meant getting you out of your legal wrangles...and then back again.

I've become more and more of a Kobe hater this year and this particular incident has been a drving force behind that. No matter what, there will never be any justification for trashing another player like that -- even if you don't like him that much. I'm glad Kobe didn't make any excuses for it, and really, him being humble enough to approach Shaq to apologize is a good start.

[deez nuts]

love him or hate him though you have to admit he's one hell of a baller.

[kurei kun]

I swear, he really is a drama queen.

it doesn't help being in one of the biggest media capitals in the US. hell, if kobe were in seattle, i doubt he'd get this much coverage for anything he says. t-mac said something pretty horrible last year and barely anyone talked about it, but if it were kobe the entire world would be bashing him.

hell right now, it's a kobe roast. even deion sanders commented on him (which is a bit bizarre...)

but i do agree (with phil jackson? or jerry buss) that he needs to shut up sometimes and leave everything brief instead of talking/explaining everything.

also it doesn't help being a loner in a sport. but heck whatever.

[mrazntre]

regardless of what kobe does..

i'm a laker fan for life.

[Smush]

I think our Lakers would be better off with a star PF along the lines of KG/TD, and you know it :)

[mrazntre]

I think our Lakers would be better off with a star PF along the lines of KG/TD, and you know it :)

if LO would freaking develop into a consistent 20/10 guy and stop getting into foul trouble....

we'd be a lot better off.

[kurei kun]

it's not LO's fault

it's stupid rudy T that's wanting him to play the 4.

damn it. HE'S A THREE AND SHOULD PLAY THE THREE. CARON BUTLER SHOULD COME OFF THE BENCH.

[Cipherous]

On christmas day,

Kobe drives pass Eddie Jones, drives to the hoop...

only the see the big arostle there

1) does he jam it and posterize Shaq
2) double pump layup
3) pass
4) spot up and shoot

if he does number 1

I'll buy his jersey

[Smush]

Annoyingly, I see Kobe doing more of option 3

Caron should definitely come off the bench, as right now our bench blows without a scorer. It's better to have less talent in the starting lineup with a nice bench in our case.

[Nostalgia]

Kobe Bryant is one of the most annoying basketball players in the history of the NBA

hes a drama queen, he probably have lived in Hollywood for too long, he needs to shut up, stop bringing his off-court problems to the public's attention and onto the basketball court, and just play basketball

hes an attention whore.

[mrazntre]

Yeah, he is a drama queen.....

but his talent is sky high, which is both a blessing and downfall.

[Nostalgia]

Yeah, he is a drama queen.....

but his talent is sky high, which is both a blessing and downfall.


Kobe probably have no one dare to tell him whats right or wrong, except his parents, so his like the king

Jordan had Dean Smith

[mrazntre]

Kobe went down last night against the Cavs with a high ankle sprain.

This is prolly a good thing for the rest of the team, but let's see what they do next game. They kept it close and grinded out a win at least.

[mrazntre]

The kobe-less Lakers are kinda exciting....

[sOKaLiBoY]

The kobe-less Lakers are kinda exciting....

true that. seems like they play with more intensity. however i'd still take the team with #8 anyday

[mrazntre]

Rudy T leaving? ? ? ? ? ? ?