And the Senator is right. Part of my reluctance to root for great players is rooted in my age at the time of Jordan and my anti-authoritarian predisposition. I much preferred the Bad Boys & Barkley to Jordan. As I matured, I definitely began to respect and enjoy watching Jordan at his best. I'm starting to enjoy watching Kobe at his best as well, but I just can't get myself to root for him. Sorry, L.A. fans.

So many threads of thinking, analyses among the theoretical strings. Dark matter fills the void.

1. I am absolutely a Dodger fan through and through (to my father's everlasting consternation - he loved the Angels from the minor league days and hated the Dodgers for coming from the east coast and leveling the Chavez Ravine neighborhood and moving all La Gente out). I hated Juan Marichal for what he did to Roseboro. I thought/think Bonds was the greatest baseball player of his generation. And he would have been without the drugs.

2. As much as there was some thought of Jordan as "full of himself", my memory he was universally respected from the gate... again, I can never remember him being loudly booed every time he stepped up to the foul line.

3. Team game, duh. Have we seen Kobe in recent years dishing to Gasol, Odom, kicking it out to Fisher? It was only when the "team" became such that Kobe won the ring without Shaq. But the reference to Boston as the "team" compared to the Lakers confirms some of my points.... Pierce can gun relentlessly, but he is a team player where Kobe isn't?

I think there is something to be said for the access people have to athletes now and information in general. The aforementioned "Jordan Rules" looks like a blow job to MJ compared to reading Kobe's police interrogation transcript. At it's worst, "Jordan Rules" makes him out to simply be a competitive prick at EVERYTHING but that's nothing new to most of the greatest athletes. The reason he was universally respected was because access wasn't as available as it is now. Then it was only through the news, magazines, and books. The most sensational thing I know about MJ is his gambling and the thing I know about Kobe is that he went for the butt unauthorized. HUGE difference, and, one of the first things I think of when it comes to Kobe.

I think you're a crazy person for wanting Boston fans to clap for him. Are you kidding me? When did we become such puscatores? I mean, as a UGA fan, I recognize that Tim Tebow was great, but I'll be damned if I'm giving him fucking applause. You can tell me you'd sit there and applaud Larry BIrd in LA during the playoffs in the 80's. Just like I'm sure you applauded Pete Carrol's 2nd Championship. Give me a fucking break.

I actually appreciate your fandom for UCLA and Lakers and I get it. I mean, I consider Herschel Walker to be the greatest football player in the history of college football but I understand others making an argument. But, just recognize that the majority of non-Laker fans simply don't see Kobe the same way. He's one of the greats, but he still has lots of work to do before he can touch MJ.

I still don't understand why Kobe gets all the "arrogant" accusations, while Lebron, perhaps the most arrogant prick since Wilt Chamberlain, gets a free ride for the most part.

I agree with you on one level. I do like seeing the best teams in ANY sport go at it for a Championship. But, at the same time, if my team is not in it, then I usually pull for the best story and frankly, I find neither the Celts or the Lakers to be interesting in any way. The end result is still going to be a dominant franchise hoisting another banner in their already crowded rafters. It's like watching the Yankees win another World Series. Who gives a shit outside of Yank fans? We just saw this story 2 years ago.

The only story that would've really kept me intrigued would've been in Lebron had made it to the Finals.

Ding, ding, ding, the winner.

And I actually have applauded Larry Bird at the Fabulous Forum... funny you should ask.

But Pete Carroll needs to have his liver ripped out and fed to the crows while he watches. I.e. PETE CARROLL is not KOBE.

Personally I find the Cavs brand of basketball -- outside of the three or so amazing dunks lebron gets each game -- to be woefully boring, stagnant and frustrating to watch. I don't see the Cavs as a great story: overpriced roster full of arrogant, dancing pricks.

I'd much rather see a team like OKC, the Bucks, Hawks, Blazers, Magic, or Suns get through. That's a better story.

If the Lakers couldn't make it, I would have enjoyed seeing Nash in the finals. A "John Elway" story.... a good story. And seeing the Suns offense against the Celtic defense would have been very interesting...

You feeling OK?

I don't remember Jordan being universally respected from the beginning. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen an entire team walk off the court before the game was even over once they knew they lost a series to Kobe (like the Pistons did against Jordan in 90/91 while the crowd chanted "Go LA" "Go LA" "Go LA").

And when I watch Laker games now, even when they're playing in Phoenix last series, I still hear some cheers when Kobe hits a big shot. Kobe gets respect. I just can't see how Laker fans think that he should never be booed. Jordan was booed as well. As opposing players should be by fans who truly love their teams, regardless of how much respect they have for the opposing star.

And, yeah, I'm not sure why I think of Boston as more of a "team" than L.A. It's just the feeling I get when watching them. I guess it's mainly because their leading scorer varies more from game to game than L.A. And because I freakin' love Kevin Garnett.

Either way, I'm going to try and enjoy this series as a true basketball fan, admiring the talent on the floor. Because there will be a bunch of future Hall-of-Famers on the court at the same time. So, in summary, Go Lakers!!! and Go Celtics!!! Just give me a good, competitive series.

I, for one, find LeBron much, much more arrogant than Kobe. Much, much, much...

To clarify, I advocate booing opposing players during the game. But, after the game is over, all players should be applauded. Just as Nebraska fans do after all football games. Even when they lose to Texas.

To me it's like night and day. He makes Kobe look like fucking Gandhi.

I was curious to why I feel the Celtics are more of a "team", so here's the playoffs stats up to now:

Top 4 Scorers for Boston
Pierce - 19.1 ppg / 14.0 attempts per game
Allen - 16.8 ppg / 12.6 attempts per game
Rondo - 16.7 ppg / 13.5 attempts per game
Garnett - 14.9 ppg / 12.5 attempts per game

Top 4 Scorers for Los Angeles
Bryant - 29.4 ppg / 21.2 attempts per game
Gasol - 20.0 ppg / 13.5 attempts per game
Artest - 11.5 ppg / 11.4 attempts per game
Fisher - 11.1 ppg / 8.3 attempts per game

So, that's why it seems like the Celtics are more of a "team"... but upon further analysis, Kobe is averaging 6.2 assists per game as well. Other than Rondo (10.0 assists per game), that's the best of the rest of the players on the two teams. And, overall, the Lakers are averaging 21.9 assists per game, while the Celtics are averaging 21.7 assists per game.

In summary, at first glance, the Celtics seem more like a "team", but further analysis suggests otherwise. I do think that what Kobe's doing in his career is approaching Jordan-like levels, especially if the Lakers win it all this year. I just don't think I'll ever find myself rooting for him.

Nice work.

& yes, anyone who says Boston is more of a team... uh... two words: Ray Allen. From whom did Mick the Stripper's favourite two (Michael Redd) learn his style?


So, yeah, fuck Boston.

reason prevails

Fuck reason and the Lakers: there's cash money riding on this.

<==America's biggest Celtics fan

To refresh Obnerland's memory, Mr. Bloor and Mr. Grandfather have a wager. And Mr. Bloor's palms are moist.

Nothing better than a proposition where Bloor's money is at stake. I don't care as long as it goes 7 games. I want him half bald with chewed cuticles in 2 weeks :p

Can we all at least agree that this thing not starting until Thursday is ridiculous?


FYI- if this goes 7 games, 2010 pre-season games will only be 3 months away.

One down, three to go.

And for the record, Kobe has gotten his due in post-game analysis.

garnett didn't look good. he needs to step up if they're gonna have a chance.

The little boy in me does not want Kobe to have more ring's than Jordan...

C'mon Celtics!

Well, then, Kobe can win two more.

Pretty excited for tonights game. A great start by the Lakers, lousy start by the Celtics. But overall Im really happy with the way the Lakers are playing. Ron Artest is the only Laker without a ring. Think hes gonna give it his all? He'll definitely be a difference maker just as he was in game 1. GO LAKERS!!