Passing on "The Rock"

This morning on ESPN, I noticed a piece on how GM John Paxson of the Chicago Bulls is publicly stating how trade talks for Kobe "Teimmate" Bryant have all but died.

Before reading any further, I just want everyone to realize that I have no interest NBA. My enthusiasm for basketball does not go pass the magical 2003 season when I correctly picked Syracuse to win it all, thus resulting in the 308th best bracket in the nation (I had Kansas out in the 2nd round).

ANYWAYS, I do not really care for basketball, especially the NBA......but I do like to criticise the hell out of it. Speak to any casual sports fan in this country and they could give you pros and cons regarding the style in which the NBA conducts itself.

It isn't fair to generalize the way the NBA plays their game, but it is safe to say that it is mostly about dunks and a "1 + the team" mentality. Kobe is the poster boy for this method.

I realize that Kobe doesn't exactly have a great supporting cast, but that is what he wanted all along. Why do you think he pushed Shaq out of LA?

Now he is complaining about his team and wants to move elsewear. Due to his status in the game, he has a premium contract with full no-trade rights, which means every team that is interested will have to bend over backwards to appease him.

Chicago has long been mentioned as a possible destination for him (as was KG, but we saw what happened there). Personally, I think the Bulls are better off without him. They would be losing too much (Deng and Gordon) to acquire a player that will take up most of their payroll for the next couple of years due to the almost automatic extension Kobe would recquire.

I still have faith in the fact that all sports teams can build from within and win without have to sell the farm and obtain a pricey "superstar".

In LA, Kobe is pretty much the biggest "active" sports star (Beckham is up there, but he needs to play more futbol and not so much with other celebrities).

If he were to go to Chicago, he would fall behind Hester, Urlacher, Konerko, Soriano, Pinella, and Macarthur (of the Chicago Wolves).

KG going to Boston was a big deal because it coupled him with other prominent team players as well as an above-average bench. While the Celtics gave up 7 players, the received high marks and an automatic playoff berth because of it.

Kobe coming to Chicago will not do the same thing, despite the fact that the Bulls have the talent to make the playoffs without him. Deep down, I believe that one guy should not shoulder the team, rather he should support everyone else.

Do you think Lance Armstrong won 7 TdF's just by being better than everyone else? Absolutely not. He had a team of the best cyclists in the world that could probably win the TdF on their own (Landis, Leipheimer and Hincape have all won or finished in the top 10) that would protect Lance from other cyclists and keep the race comfortable for Lance.

I am tired of complaining about Kobe. Hopefully a fun doping scandal will rise to the surface today............