I used “The Colorado scandal happened” as a segue-way, not as a means to lessen what happened there. There’s nothing in here that paints this guy as my hero, you dork. “Go ahead and make him your hero, he’s not mine.” I’ve never seen such a misguided and self-righteous statement, and what made it all the better is that it was posted on a sports blog. Do you really know people who’s heroes are basketball players? Please tell me you don’t. I think Kobe’s situation is a pitiful one indeed, and one I would never look up to it as I would a “hero.” The dude from the Dos Equis commercials is more of a hero of mine than Kobe Bryant.

Yeah, and he paid to make that scandal “go away” because we all know everyone forgot about it and walked away unharmed. Money has truly bought happiness for Kobe Bryant.

Oh, it happened alright and he paid to make that go away..Go ahead and make him your hero…He’s not mine.

I never thought about Kobe’s recent success in the span of 2 years from the 2008 NBA season to the 2008 Olympics to the 2009 NBA season. As Simmons points, what Kobe did in these past two years is one of the best athletic performances not even in the history of basketball, but in the history of sport. The fact that the guy did it while turning 30 is even more astonishing.

But we all know, it’s not Kobe’s talent that makes him a polarizing figure. At this point, I wouldn’t even say it’s his personality (because Kobe might not even know anymore), but it’s the way he has handled pivotal situations.

Simmons makes a point that I have made in our discussions: Kobe was thrust into the limelight at way too young an age, winning championships, and consequently being labeled at around age 20 that he was already the best player in the NBA. What that must create in the young mind and ego is something I’ll never know.

Though my memory may be a little hazy, by the time Kobe was 21 or so, the media had already labeled him (and given him the arduous task) of becoming the next Jordan. Think about it this way: for the young 20-something, that title must immediately go to one’s head. Not only that, but it must make everyone around the league slightly despise you — putting an invisible blockade over friendships you might want to form with other players.

It’s with this last point that Simmons really shines, by exposing the humanism in Bryant: he’s never really had anyone but himself. It’s sad, true, and although it’s a schmaltzy statement, it’s something I think “Kobe Haters” never consider when thinking about the guy.

Jordan had a much easier and storybook path. He was able to prove himself against worthy competion (Isiah, Bird, Barkley, Malone, Magic), and earned respect from his peers over the years. Jordan won a championship in his 6th season I believe. Kobe, was a bench player for three seasons, then won the his first championship in his first starting year in his fourth season. Everything happened so fast and consequently, I think, other players did not want to respect this young kid.

The Colorado scandal happened, further distancing himself from fans and fellow NBA players. He had to deal with Shaq, one of the game’s premier and most beloved stars, in the wake of NBA/hip-hop/thug ball taking not just the U.S.A., but the world by storm. Nobody wanted to like this guy. And as Simmons points out, he really had nobody to support him. Nobody to support him but himself, and therein lies the “it’s all about Kobe” complex. But really, the media, other players, and unfortunate/unavoidable situations are to play JUST AS MUCH as Kobe himself. That’s what I’ve been trying to express, but Simmons found the perfect angle to voice my views. It’s all about Kobe because the guy had no other choice.

For Jordan, nobody was ever as good as him so there was no precedent. Kobe will always have to live up to what Jordan did. Jordan earned respect from his peers over a fair amount of time before being recognized and respected in the league. Kobe was quickly thrust into this “greatness” and these “expectations” after quickly winning titles — as a result pressured by the media and scorned by other players. Furthermore (and I am really, really, stressing right now that I do not mean to sound disrespectful or insensitive), the death of Jordan’s father made the entire league and sports world care for him by leaps of bounds. That unfortunate incident would forever be locked into people’s minds and usher and unending support for His Airness. What personal incident does Kobe have? Colorado, a situation Kobe will forever be faulted for because he put himself in that situation. Unfortunately, this is the one incident that people will remember when citing Kobe’s personality. You can already see the contrast between him and Jordan. There’s every reason to love Jordan (as a fan or player) and every reason to hate Kobe (as a fan or player).

Great article by Simmons. One of the best I’ve read this year.