April 16, 2016
Before I get started with Kobe (I\’m trying to get this piece out before my beloved Times kicks theirs out in tomorrow\’s Sunday edition) — I need to make mention of an interesting dynamic concerning dedicated teachers who also like to write: to wit, my long-time correspondent and reality checker, Tami A.
As my \”ancient\” readers know, Tami A. is a prolific writer in her own right, and, has guested in the Doctor\’s Inn on-a-couple-of-occasions. I asked her the other day why I couldn\’t find anything recently penned by her. She reminded me that she has her own high school classroom now and there is no spare time for writing when one is attempting to manage 5 classes-per-day. I could empathize (and smile) — because I have little time for the Doctor\’s Inn when I teach a full load in college. Some day…we serious teachers may get our due (not sure what shape or form that may take — as not many of us have that drive that Stephen King had!).
But back to Kobe — whom I\’ve written about before. Let me preface everything that follows by stating that I believe Kobe to have been an exceptional basketball player: his performance on Wednesday April 13, 2016 against the Utah Jazz was quite mind boggling: the stuff that legends are made of! At first I thought the Jazz might be pulling a Washington Generals for Kobe\’s final game — but he hit too many 3-pointers for that to be the case. That being said…
Kobe was drafted by the Lakers as-a-17-year-old straight-out-of-high school. Kobe didn\’t get much of that important socialization that one would hope a-year-or-two-of-college gives-a-body. This may have accounted for his dropping Shaq\’s name with regards to marital infidelity in Kobe\’s 2003 rape case — which I personally believe cost the Lakers the 2004 NBA championship. With-that-cloud hanging over the team all season long, there was no way the team with a suspected rapist of a white girl was going to walk away with a national championship. This was only 12-years-ago folks.
But Americans (and certainly Los Angelinos) have short memories, and, after all, this is the land of second (and third) chances.
Lately I\’ve heard nothing but talk about Kobe\’s 20 NBA seasons. Granted, Kobe played for the Lakers for 20 years — but the last 3 seasons can hardly be considered full seasons. In fact, if we put all 3 seasons together — they probably equal one. I\’m not suggesting that 18 NBA seasons is something to be scoffed at, quite the contrary — it\’s a very impressive accomplishment! It\’s just not 20 NBA seasons.
And let\’s talk about the $48 million for the last 2 seasons: certainly a bonus well-earned! One of my students asked me if I had been given all that money would I have taken the Tim Duncan route and been cognizant of my team\’s development and future? I had to confess that I probably would have gone the Kobe route and kept all the money for my greedy Self — with a few exceptions:
1) I wouldn\’t let myself be advertised as a team leader — since I never knew (or learned) how to lead a team — as evidenced by absences from away AND home games when I could have spent quality time with the team even though I wasn\’t playing;
2) I certainly wouldn\’t want to be called a mentor if I was considered a \”villain\” for never passing the ball. Mentors pass the ball. I sure as Hell would have tried to make the-rest-of-the-lads better by attending practices and laying the foundation for the future; and,
3) If I was sucking-up-a-game with a-30%-or-worse shooting percentage — I would have sat myself before the opponent\’s lead became insurmountable.
Kobe — you are great, and, you were great for the Lakers and the fans — but you are also partially responsible for the last two abysmal seasons and a bleak Laker future. Quite a double-edged sword now that I ponder it…