i've had enough
something happened to me Sunday night
while watching the charlotte bobcats play the los angeles lakers
something happened
something occurred
something penetrated into my thick dunderheaded skull
something i was incapable of seeing before
something i refused to believe
something that became crystal clear to me
something causing me to humble myself and admit right at this very
moment

kobe bryant is a selfish ego driven player to the detriment of the
lakers

i have wildly and doggedly defended him for years
i have stood by him
argued with people incessantly
supporting kobe
the hardest working disciplined player
the player who deserves to do all he does because he works so hard and
is a cut above the rest

i was wrong

Sunday night i watched the lakers play like a team
moving the ball around, making passes and ball movement and setting
screens until someone had a good shot
it looked so nice, and was effective too

then kobe would get the ball
decide he was gonna shoot no matter what
dribble around and go up against 3 guys and miss

missed or made the shot
it doesn't matter

the point is
the magic of basketball
is teamwork

when he decides to play team ball
the lakers look much better

when he is double and triple teamed
and he does not pass the ball
he is playing foolishly

he does that thing where he shoots 35 shots one night
people talk about it
then he shoots 12 the next
as if he is sulking
like he'll show us a thing or two

i know that michael jordan would get his teamates involved in the first
half
then take over in the second if need be

kobe tries to take over in the second half no matter what
necessary or no
he takes the other guys out of their groove
and kills the team momentum

if he does not humble himself soon
and play as part of a team
and concern himself with being trusting and supportive of his teamates
first and foremost
then he is a fool

if he cannot see that it is great team play that makes a great
basketball season
then he is a fool

if he does not see the beauty of a team all working together
that 5 heads are better than one
then he is a fool

yes he is one of the best and most skilled players to ever step on the
floor
but unless he uses his skills wisely to make the team better
then he is nothing but a fool

he should be thinking about making the other guys on his team better
about drawing the double or triple team
for the purpose of setting up his teamates for easy looks

or he is a fool