Kobe Bryant torn Achilles'?

[Bodie_Broadus]

I can't believe this was front page news on the LA Times Sunday front and two full pages inside the sports section. Total overkill.

 

[Batman]

I can't believe this was front page news on the LA Times Sunday front and two full pages inside the sports section. Total overkill.

Could be the end of an era for the most popular sports team in L.A., and arguably the city's biggest sports star of the last 20 years. What should it warrant?

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

I can't believe this was front page news on the LA Times Sunday front and two full pages inside the sports section. Total overkill.

Could be the end of an era for the most popular sports team in L.A., and arguably the city's biggest sports star of the last 20 years. What should it warrant?

The "article" about his Facebook post was overkill. The insight from Terrell Suggs was decent, the Q&A was a little redundant and the front page sports and A1 stories were very similar.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

I can't believe this was front page news on the LA Times Sunday front and two full pages inside the sports section. Total overkill.

Could be the end of an era for the most popular sports team in L.A., and arguably the city's biggest sports star of the last 20 years. What should it warrant?

Eight inches on Page 3.

 

[93Devil]

I can't believe this was front page news on the LA Times Sunday front and two full pages inside the sports section. Total overkill.

Could be the end of an era for the most popular sports team in L.A., and arguably the city's biggest sports star of the last 20 years. What should it warrant?

Eight inches on Page 3.

That's what she said.

 

[DocTalk]

Difficult injury. Ankle is kept plantar flexed in equinas, like horse's hoof until the tendon solidly heals and only then can rehab begin. It takes prolonged time to regain ankle range of motion and work on strength. After the power and ROM are back, then comes the rehab on agility and proprioception. Even then, there is no guarantee that return to elite status and previous level of function

So after the surgery the foot/leg is kept straight, as if in a ballerina pose? For how long? Does that mean you are wheelchair bound for the duration?

Yes, toe pointed down shortens the tendon during the healing phase. Walking with crutches and no weight bearing for weeks.

 

[Songbird]

Still kind of shocking.

17 years of wonderful basketball.

 

[Iron_chet]

How quickly will he be able to recover to forcibly sodomize hotel employees?

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

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

 

[Tarheel316]

Makes you wonder if the NBA will even bother helping the Lakers make the playoffs now with Kobe out. A 50-16 free-throw edge? 17-33 fouls?

Makes you wonder if the NBA will even bother helping the Lakers make the playoffs now with Kobe out. A 50-16 free-throw edge? 17-33 fouls?

Ask the 2002 Kings about that.

 

[Joe Williams]

How quickly will he be able to recover to forcibly sodomize hotel employees?

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.

 

[Football_Bat]

How quickly will he be able to recover to forcibly sodomize hotel employees?

Not touching this with a 10-foot ski pole.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

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...

 

[Boom_70]

How quickly will he be able to recover to forcibly sodomize hotel employees?

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.

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.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

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...

 

[Football_Bat]

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.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

I see this playing out like the Mariano Rivera injury.

 

[TigerVols]

Wins the Internet:

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

 

[Captain Obvious]

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