The Lakers Nation’s LD2K got his hands on this video of Kobe Bryant’s state title run with Lower Merion High School and sent me the link last night. Check out the seven minute clip for some Kobe high school highlights, including a few fantastic passes from the young KB.
From Bret LaGree, Hoop Speak: Michael Schumacher’s 2007 biography of George Mikan, Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Birth of the NBA, attempts both to represent Mikan as the league’s proto-superstar and to imply the degree to which the league has transformed from an unstable, regional, American league into a financially robust, worldwide phenomenon. It’s easy to forget both how new the NBA is and how different the second half of its existence has been from its first. Easier, perhaps, when one’s conscious memory encompasses only that second half of the league’s existence. Befitting the NBA’s origin as a less popular alternative to college basketball, my earliest conscious memory of watching live basketball dates to Patrick Ewing repeatedly goaltending early in the 1982 NCAA Championship Game.
From Kevin Ding, OC Register: Kobe Bryant sat in Carmelo Anthony’s home arena on a day when Bryant’s career inched further toward immortality with the news he’ll become the first athlete to have his hands and feet imprinted at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It’ll happen next month, the day before the All-Star Game. For that, Bryant is set to beat out LeBron James in fan votes for the first time since 2006, when Bryant’s ballot box got stuffed by 81 points on a certain January night. Speaking of points, Bryant is now 51 points shy of Hakeem Olajuwon and eighth place on the all-time NBA scoring list. Bryant’s legacy is by now secure.
From Brian Kamenetzky, Land O’ Lakers: I think it was three seasons ago I stood in a nearly empty Lakers locker room, chatting with Kobe Bryant.* Tired of talking basketball, his mind soon wandered to Hollywood. “You know, Brian,” he said, “this hoops thing has worked out pretty well, I’d say, but at the same time I’ve always been a little jealous of people like Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, George Lucas, Doris Day, Natalie Wood, Yul Brenner, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks, and Joan Crawford. People who have had their hands and feet immortalized outside the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.” “That, Brian, would be really cool.”
From C. A. Clark, Silver Screen and Roll: In the midst of watching the Los Angeles Lakers get carpet bombed on their way to another loss, this time at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, I was troubled by a single recurring thought … How in the hell are the Los Angeles Lakers good at 3 point defense? All too often, they play like they did last night … late close outs, poor rotations, needless doubling of non-threatening post players; these are staples of the Laker defense on any given night. And yet, year after championship winning year, the Lakers are amongst the leaders in opposing 3 point field goal percentage. They were third two seasons ago, first last season and currently rank fifth this season, despite last night’s air raid.
HMLESSBOY says
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT ADDING PEJA TO OUR TEAM? IS IT POSSIBLE? THANKS
JB says
Story yesterday was that Dallas was going to pick him up once he clears waivers. I’d advocate signing him just as much to weaken Dallas as add three-point shooting. No clue how much he’s got left in the tank, he’s had a bad back for years.
Also, the button underneath “Tab” on your keyboard will make your messages infinitely more readable.
david h says
Military historians consider Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in United States history. His Valley Campaign and his envelopment of the Union Army right wing at Chancellorsville are studied worldwide even today as examples of innovative and bold leadership. He excelled as well in other battles: the First Battle of Bull Run (where he received his famous nickname “Stonewall”), Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Jackson was not universally successful as a commander, however, as displayed by his weak and confused efforts during the Seven Days Battles around Richmond in 1862.
Guys: only time will tell if our “Stoneface” Jackson will meet a similar fate this, his last season as an nba coach..
exhelodrvr says
You mean killed by one of his own players?
david h says
figuratively and collectively. appears to be headed that way. will history repeat or threepeat? that truly is the question.
Anonymous says
Does anyone know where that praying mantis thing comes from that koby does after that dunk and when he was hold the trophy in the video?
Darius Soriano says
#6. Ironically, it’s a hand gesture/symbol of a fraternity (ironic, since, you know, Kobe never went to college). I think young Kobe was modeling himself after some of the NBA guys that were doing that during that era.
Darius Soriano says
The game preview is up:
http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2011/01/21/preview-and-chat-the-denver-nuggets-5/
Zephid says
I wonder if Kobe is still friends with those guys from his HS.
4, literally made me laugh out loud. Imagine, Phil stumbles into the weight room late at night when the lights are out…
sT says
Glad you got your hands on that video Darius, it is a great video of Kobe in his H.S. years for sure.