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Great post. I love the Ali, Frazier analogy.
I was talking to a Bull's fan about a week ago and he was bemoaning that Kobe got such an easy MVP while Jordan had to work so hard for his. He said that Jordan never had a Gasol. With the obvious follow-ups I got him to say that Gasol is better than Pippen! It just goes to show that defending Jordan's legacy even means throwing the second best Bull ever completely under the bus. I love Gasol, don't get me wrong, but I can't reasonably expect him to even sniff Pippen's legacy. It just goes to illustrate your point that a Jordan fan will do anything to preserve the bona fide Jordan.
I think the Kobe hatred is unfair, as it was to Frazier. He has made some mistakes, but nothing everyone else hasn't done too (seriously). Conversely, Magic got a family man of the year award after getting aids from cheating on his wife. Who knows how perception will go sometimes. Magic was one of 10 kids and grew up in Lansing though - bona fide.
Maybe I am a blind Lakers fan, but I just don't see a terrible person. I personally like that Kobe has manned up for his mistakes. He apologized for cheating on his wife - in public. Name another of the 98% of NBAers who cheat on their wives who has done that? During a speach after his MVP, he gave all the credit to his teammates, and even gave a ton of credit to Mitch Kupchak - admitting it was hard to do. That is called being a man, and I don't think you see it often enough in sports. He also does a ton of charity and is a great role model for hard work and education.
Kobe will pass when it helps them win. He will do anything to win. I am not sure on the Shaq stuff. Shaq blew up Miami, so who knows. At very least they won together. Again, he will do anything to win. If he really raped that lady, I can't defend him. He was not convicted though, tried to own up to what did happen, and I just don't know why he would rape someone.
Kobe might not be David Robinson (or Roberto Clemente, my personal role-model), but all I know is if I have kids, I honestly would love them to have a poster of Kobe up.
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