VeeshanVault

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 1:11 am**

Kobe really blastes Shaq in this interview. For some reason I'm hooked to this drama and am eagerly awaiting Shaq's reply. I can't decide who sounds more stupid when he speaks- Shaq or Mike Tyson. Hmmm....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648431

The transcript of Kobe Bryant's interview with ESPN's Jim Gray:

GRAY: What was your reaction to Shaq saying the Lakers are his team, and everybody knows it?

BRYANT: It doesn't matter whose team it is. Nobody cares. I don't, Karl [Malone] doesn't, Gary [Payton] doesn't, and our teammates and the fans don't either. There's more to life than whose team this is. But this is his team, so it's time for him to act like it. That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. Also, "my team" doesn't mean only when we win, it means carrying the burden of defeat just as gracefully as you carry a championship trophy.

GRAY: Do you consider Shaq to be a leader?

BRYANT: Leaders don't beg for a contract extension and negotiate some 30 million [dollars] plus per year deal in the media when we have two future Hall of Famers playing here pretty much for free. A leader would not demand the ball every time down the floor when you have the three of us [Malone, Payton, Bryant] playing beside you, not to mention the teammates you have gone to war with for years -- and, by the way, then threaten not to play defense and rebound if you don't get the ball every time down the floor.

GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team player. Is he right?

BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been successfully sacrificing my game for years for Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson] wanted me to do, so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not in physical condition to carry the trust of our offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back and I did. This year is no different; my role is whatever Phil want it to be. Period.

GRAY: Through out the preseason, your leg and conditioning has been lagging. Are you in the proper shape to start the season?

BRYANT: My knee is not strong enough to play yet. I know it. When it is I will play.

GRAY: Does that mean you will miss the opener [Tuesday] night and other games?

BRYANT: I probably won't play tomorrow night or until I'm ready. But I don't need Shaq's advice on how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that serious in the first place.

GRAY: Kobe, Shaq said if you didn't like what he had to say you can opt out and leave next season. Will you leave the Lakers?

BRYANT: I won't make that decision until the end of the season. I told Shaq last year that I was planning on opting out. He knew before anyone. I told him out of respect for what we have been through together. I thought he should be the first to know. The fact that he acts like this is such a big shock is a mystery to me. If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide, a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy.

GRAY: Do you feel Shaq has been supportive in regards to your legal situation?

BRYANT: He is not my quote unquote "big brother." A big brother would have called to lend his support this summer. I heard absolutely nothing from him. I spoke to Devon [George], Rick [Fox], Mitch [Kupchak], Phil, and our owner Jerry Buss. And Shaq's own Uncle Jerome called and left three messages. Other teammates like Derek [Fisher], Mark [Madsen], and [Stanislav Medvedenko] left messages as well. Opponents called like [Chris] Webber, [Mike] Bibby, and many others. So did a lot of coaches. Michael Jordan, who didn't have my home phone, tracked it down to lend his support. So did Tiger Woods. But yet from my so-called big brother, I heard nothing.

GRAY: Why not resolve this behind closed doors? Why is this so public?

BRYANT: I asked Phil on Sunday [yesterday] to say something to calm this situation down before it boiled over. But he backed away, so now here we are. I have been a bigger person every time something happened with Shaq, and I don't expect this to be any different. But somebody in this organization had to speak up, because his unprofessionalism hurt us last year, and I don't want it to hurt us this year.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 1:17 am**

fuck the both of them and fuck the lakers

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 1:30 am**

Zamtuk wrote:fuck the both of them and fuck the lakers

Well said.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 2:33 am**

I wonder if he'll actually leave L.A. and if he does wonder what team he'll go to (assuming he is found innocent). Oh and yea fuck the Lakers.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 4:54 am**

You guys have it partially right

Fuck Basketball

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 11:43 am**

You have it partially right Trek

Fuck Professional Basketball

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 12:15 pm**

this is hilarious. it actually has me mildly interested in the Lakers.

I think the comments are staged.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 3:00 pm**

I've been kind of thinking about this.. two possibilities:

1. It's all staged to take attention away from the trial. They've had feuds in the past so they knew people would jump on the bandwagon fast. Attention is sometimes a good thing.

2. I can actually see Kobe's side of the argument. He has played through a lot more than Shaq has, and seems to have whined a lot less. I never liked Shaq, I consider him an asshole.

Anyway, I am not a huge Lakers fan.. quite the contrary. But I've always liked Kobe for some reason.

That said.. Go Spurs!

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 3:11 pm**

Shaq is not good, the only reason he is a dominant force in the NBA is his size.

The Lakers are the Yankees of basketball, I hate them both.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 3:30 pm**

That's not entirely true, Shaq certainly is good, but he's not exceptionally better than many other players. The fact that he's 7'2, 330 pounds, and amazingly quick is what sets him apart.

Kobe on the other hand is a transcendent player. I think he's an obnoxious, cocky, arrogant asshole, and I'm glad that my city booed him at the all-star game. But regardless, he's one of the most passionate players I've ever seen, as well as one of the most gifted.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 5:19 pm**

The Lakers are the Yankees of basketball, I hate them both.

How so? If you mean by being in the playoffs every year and winning the chamionship often, then yea.

But if you're talking payrolls then they are #13 (2001-2002 season, coudn't find last years payroll in a quick search). That's 12 teams paying more to their players than the Lakers do.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/stor ... es-was.htm

This Shaq/Kobe thing is getting old though. Just wish they'd play the game, leave their differences aside while on the court and bring LA another chamionship!

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 6:00 pm**

Here's a link to this years salary numbers. The Lakers are 7th on the list at $64 million. Funny looking at those numbers and thinking that the salary cap is at $43.84 million.

I think the Lakers and Yankee are the same in that fans either love them or hate them there is very little middle ground.

Oh and just to rub it in the world champion Spurs are at $44.2 million, 25th on the list.

Posted: **October 28, 2003, 9:23 pm**

Zamtuk wrote:

fuck the both of them and fuck the lakers

...
Yes i love those words /cheer 76ers!

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 12:19 am**

Basically I think that Kobe has all of the other stress on him right now that he couldn't give a fuck how his team looks at him. This would be especially true if focused on one person (Shaq). It sounds like he is basically saying that all of the "rumors" about them not getting along for the last couple years were true and that they followed their coach's advice and covered up for the team.

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 12:31 am**

shaq made a rap album

kobe wins

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 1:43 am**

So did Kobe.

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 11:31 am**

Christian Laettner $4,500,000 4-yr; $21.00 2004-05
Antonio McDyess $13,500,000
Keith Van Horn $13,279,750

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 1:11 pm**

Sunserae wrote:shaq made a rap album

kobe wins

Shaq also made.....Shaq-fu.

Movie AND video game, yes?

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 2:12 pm**

The Yankees are 7th on the salary list because people like Gary Payton and Karl Malone are on that team WAY below their market value so they can get a ring and retire.

That is their decision and it isnt against the rules, and probably shouldnt be.

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 2:39 pm**

Shaq also made 'Steel', and should never be forgiven for that.

If you take salaries/hatred for the Lakers out of the equation, and just look at the issue, it would seem to me if Shaq wants to profess to be the leader of anything, Lakers included, it's ill-advised for him to be publically calling out someone who is arguably his best player on his roster. Especially at a time like now with Kobe's legal problems, if I were the leader I'd be sheltering him from as much additional bullshit as possible. Phil Jackson is also very much to blame here. If Kobe isn't passing enough, it's his job to say that. If Kobe is supposed to be the one doing a lot of shooting, it's ALSO his job to say that. Given that Kobe carried the team last year for like 2 months(?) while Shaq sat on the bench, Shaq needs to STFU about being ready and healing time.

The bottom line is, they're both being fucking retarded with Shaq being slightly more retarded. Each one of them should be ecstatic to be able to play the game they love AND share the floor with one of the most dominate players of this era.

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 3:29 pm**

you forgot kazaam

Posted: **October 29, 2003, 4:09 pm**

Zamtuk wrote:you forgot kazaam

purposely... thanks.

VeeshanVault

New Kobe/Shaq feud

New Kobe/Shaq feud