Kobe Bryant, Patriot

Kobe shocks Chris Collinsworth by (*gasp*) showing pride in his country:

Assorted TV commentators keep opining that the Olympics are all about the brotherhood of man, rather than national ambition or patriotism. But don't tell that to the fanatically nationalist Chinese -- or to Kobe Bryant, the NBA star who is playing with Team USA in Beijing.

In an interview Friday on NBC, the world's most famous basketball player told Chris Collinsworth how he got "goosebumps" when he received his Olympics uniform. "I actually just looked at it for a while. I just held it there and I laid it across my bed and I just stared at it for a few minutes; just because as a kid growing up this is the ultimate, ultimate in basketball." The Los Angeles Laker went on to call the U.S. "the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it's just a sense of pride that you have; that you say, 'You know what? Our country is the best.'"

Mr. Collinsworth seemed either startled or impressed by such sentiment, and asked, "Is that a cool thing to say in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you're fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by."

To which Mr. Bryant replied: "No, it's a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor."

Cynics will claim that this is merely about marketing, with Mr. Bryant hoping to use the Games to burnish his public image. On the other hand, he and his rich teammates on the basketball squad are giving up their offseason to play for nothing save possible medals. Mr. Bryant has also been an enthusiastic spectator for other U.S. Olympians, waving the Stars and Stripes at various events.

To the kind of Americans who consider themselves primarily "citizens of the world," nationalism at the Olympics is déclassé, even embarrassing. We're with Kobe.

I Saw The Short-Shorts And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

The Basketbawful Worsties of 07-08 are pretty awesome. Long, but worth it. Who can forget such worst moments as:

- Bulls fans chanting for Kobe
- Lakers wearing short-shorts
- Smush Parker losing an NBA spot over a $12 parking fee
- Webber returing to the Warriors ("I was actually upset he was taking minutes from Austin Croshere.")

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4


/ "We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads." - Vlade Divac

We Made Them Eat Their Parents

I know this series isn't over, but... when you have one of your star players yelling at the coach "don't just sit there!" and then later saying that the entire team quit, well, it doesn't look good.

The Good Guys played much better defense, but frankly didn't shoot all that well, especially from the free throw line. That could've been a 30+ point win.

So, since I'm a jerk, I like to go see what the good folks posting on the Denver Post website have to say:

"this team is a "F" joke...your playoffs lives are at stake and this is how you respond especially @ home...I will not be staying up late here on the east coast watching this ******* on monday"

"Still all four MC, GK, Carmelo, and AC need to be put in a sack and thrown off the bridge."

"okay, here's the upside. if LA sweeps, 100% guaranteed that George Karl gets fired."

and my favorite: "Just goes to prove that a surplus of tats does not a basketball team make."

Oh, the tears of unfathomable sadness, mmm, yummy!