Archive: On Kobe Bryant’s toughness
Love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant’s toughness is a model for athletes.
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I’m no Kobe Bryant fan. I boo him just like everybody else when he touches the basketball in Pepsi Center. I shout “no means no” and other things the parents sitting near me would rather I not.
I hate the Lakers and Kobe Bryant is the the penultimate Laker.
I admire him regardless. He’s one tough son of a bitch.
Last night against Minnesota Kobe contributed 31 points with a broken nose, a concussion and a goofy looking Phantom of the Opera mask on. He plays hurt all the time. His knees are bad, his ankles are bad, he has bad fingers and bad wrists. Still, Kobe suits up, takes to the court and does his thing night after night.
When Bryant was dealing with his Eagle County rape allegations he frequently flew into Colorado, attending court proceedings, got back on a plane and travelled to whatever city the Lakers were scheduled to play in. Once he took the court he kicked ass as though nothing else was going on in his life.
Throughout his very public split with his wife, Vanessa, Bryant has remained undistracted as far as basketball in concerned. He is as intently focused an athlete as I have ever seen.
When he gets angry in the middle of a game he becomes unstoppable. His lower jaw juts out and he glares at opponents. Then he drops threes.
The physical and mental toughness that Kobe Bryant exhibits is something all athletes should admire. It’s something the Denver Nuggets sorely lack.
Nene missed yet another game last night with a two-week old calf injury. Is there any chance that injury keeps Kobe out more than a game or two? Does he sit out even one? I’m not insunuating that Nene is soft. I’m saying that he is. If he had a nasty streak like Kobe’s he would have been playing in the All-Star game. A player with Nene’s size and skill and Kobe Bryant’s attitude could take over the Western Conference.
Kobe Bryant simply refuses to be denied. There’s no circumstance on the court or off that can keep him from doing his thing. Love him or hate him, that’s a trait to be admired.
