Kobe Bryant torn Achilles'?

Two pages in, I thought it'd be sooner.

 

Ask the 2002 Kings about that.

 

Obviously I'm not going to include you, Chet, among those on whom I'm about to remark. But will this injury ordeal of Bryant's take him to another level in terms of the general public forgiving or at least forgetting not only the Colorado incident but his diva tendencies and orneriness as the Lakers' franchise star? Will a larger segment of sports fans pull for him now, compared to any point in his past, to overcome this physical challenge and at least return to NBA courts for a final act?

The Lakers probably weren't going anywhere in the postseason with Bryant this spring. Who's to say where they'd be headed next season or the season after that? But this gives Kobe a shot at some real image-polishing, in a way he's never had it. People slobber over Michael Jordan's ruthlessness as a competitor, but in Kobe it's always been painted with more of a selfish, ego-driven tint. Now he's human in a way most haven't seen.

 

Not touching this with a 10-foot ski pole.

 

I don't even think a fixed game could get the Lakers into the Finals this year.

Even with Kobe healthy, I don't think they were going to advance in the playoffs, but I could have seen them making a No. 1 vs. No. 8 series very interesting. I guarantee you the Thunder and Spurs are a little relieved to not have to worry about Kobe, not that they're happy he got hurt, obviously...

 

I admittedly never followed Kobe much till this season but at his age to still be at top of his game and almost single handedly willing The Lakers into the playoffs is pretty amazing.

I heard his trainer Tim Grover on Rome the other day talking about Kobe's relentless drive and mental preparation. Grover was on hawking his new book which talks about common traits of elite athletes who he refers to as "cleaners" . I've also heard Jay Bilas who is also making the rounds talking about his book which also deals with the mental aspects of elite players.

 

I think part of the reason why the Lakers' play this season had been so disappointing is that it came despite Kobe playing like a mad man, something, that, entering this season, nobody would have thought would have been necessary, at least not to barely secure a No. 8 seed.

Obviously, he's not going to win, but I'll be curious how he finishes in the MVP voting. I mean, I think they said over the last stretch, he was averaging 46 minutes a game. That's insane for anyone, much less someone his age...

 

If Dirk Nowitzki hadn't hurt his knee and the Mavs hadn't dropped 10 games under .500 afterward, the Mavs are pushing 50 wins again and the Lakers are buried. Kobe is benched the final 10 games and is fresh as a daisy for 2013-14.

Those damned Germans again.

 

I see this playing out like the Mariano Rivera injury.

 

Wins the Internet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vONRhz8yCqI

 

Has anyone reached out to Drip and asked how he's holding up?