Attention, professional boxers, particularly heavyweights: this is how you get fans excited for an upcoming event. Raja Bell and Kobe Bryant going at it… first, Raja:
“I have no respect for him,” Bell said. “I think he is a pompous, arrogant individual.
“I got a bruised cheek here and I can barely open my jaw on this side and that did not come from nowhere. And I felt like I’d had enough of that.”
Kobe? Arrogant and pompous? Ya don’t say. What are you going to call him next, black?
Allow Kobe to retort:
“That’s what he said? Maybe he has a glass jaw.
“Maybe he wasn’t hugged enough as a child. He’s a good defender, he’s a good basketball player [but] just go out and play the game, don’t go out there and whine about it.
“I’m not trying to go out there and elbow somebody. That’s not the way I play.
“If you get elbowed, you still have to keep your cool. I get elbowed all the time.”
This is why I can’t dislike Kobe. The man just understands what it is to be a cold-blooded killer on the basketball court, and I admire that. He’s been so good and so compelling in this series, that I’ve almost completely forgotten that he (allegedly) took the coochie. I realize that that doesn’t say a lot for my character… but I can’t pretend like I’m not enjoying the Kobe Bryant Show.
He just gets it. He just understands the attitude he has to have on the court to be better than anyone else… he might take his cheap shots like anyone else, but he’ll do it quietly, subtly, and without getting caught. Raja Bell lost his mind, committed a blatant, flagrant foul in front of the whole world. It’s not a smart play. And then Kobe twists the knife by saying he wasn’t hugged enough as a child. That’s just brilliant.
I’m sorry, Raja Bell. I like you. I think you’re a damn fine player, and I’d like to have you on my team. But… in terms of goading a guy, and owning him… the work that Kobe Bryant is doing on Raja Bell right now is Picasso-esque. It is a thing to behold.
thetaphile
Perhaps more satisfying than winning any NBA championship is committing an act of violence on Kobe Bryant for no other reason than that you hate how me walks, talks, and plays like a douche. Raja Bell jersey sales sky-rocket….
May 3, 2006 at 10:53 pm
astrolad
It takes a true Machiavellian genius along the likes of a Mike Miller to truly get under Kobe’s skin.
Kobe is so insecure it’s pathetic; especially b/c he’s so talented. He’s tried so hard to be “street” since the allegations. News flash, Kolbs- You grew up in Italy and spent your teen years in a 90% white suburb. You are not Allen Iverson, no matter how many corny “Octagon” references and dated Jay-Z impersonations you make in a week. Just shut up and keep taking every game-ending shot so that you make a few once in a while and everyone keeps believing that you’re one of the most clutch players in the league when the statistics actually bear out the exact opposite (same for Steve Nash, though few see him as clutch). Then we’ll all be happy.
May 3, 2006 at 11:58 pm
Cutty
Haha, never got hugged enough as a child. This is the shit that Jordan used to do to opponents. Piss them off so much that they do dumb shit and hurt their team. Raja may have gotten the street cred that he’s obviously desperately seeking, but he screwed his team big team.
“Hello Mr. Barbosa, I would like to introduce you to your cover for the next 48 minutes, a pissed off Black Mamba”
May 4, 2006 at 12:00 am
insomniac
I think the NBA should suspend Raja one more game for such a pathetic trash-talking effort.
May 4, 2006 at 1:50 am
DookieStyle
Kobe is going to slay the Suns tonight. He may score 80.
May 4, 2006 at 7:47 am
dj2fly4u
Screw the game. I wanna see the “octagon” matchup between these 2.
Winner moves on to face the Clippers.
May 4, 2006 at 8:11 am
Rob
Instead of the elbow, he should have just grabbed his balls. I doubt he’d have much problem finding them.
May 4, 2006 at 8:13 am
insomniac
I don’t know where Raja Bell is coming from with his claim of a bruised jaw. If there’s one thing Kobe knows how to do, it’s smack a bitch around without leaving a mark.
May 4, 2006 at 11:54 am
Mike Prada
The best part was when Kobe referred to Raja as a “kid” even though Raja is 2 years older than him. Raja is 29, Kobe is 27. Ridiculous.
May 4, 2006 at 12:03 pm
The Bird
Kobe telling Bell to just go out and play the game is pathetic. News flash Kobe! You were ejected to from the game for two technicals! Just go out there and play the game, don’t go out there and get two technicals and get kicked out. Kobe is under Raja’s skin more than Raja’s is under Kobe’s skin, but Kobe has a lot more to lose in this fight. I hope Kobe tries to beat the Suns by himself tonight. I think that’s better for the Suns. Man, I hope this goes seven.
May 4, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Your father
He knows how to get under your skin.
And panties.
From behind
May 4, 2006 at 3:36 pm
insomniac
I think the “go out and play the game” was a dig to Raja that he won’t in fact be permitted to step on the court for game 6.
May 4, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Nick
I live a couple blocks away from Lower Merion HS. If Ardmore is a 90% white suburb, Hollywood Tans must be making a LOT of money from my neighbors. I could almost swear they’re black.
May 4, 2006 at 3:49 pm
twins15
I think you hit the nail on the head MJD. Kobe’s in Raja’s head, and it’s going to cost the Suns game 6. This series has just been really fun to watch.
May 4, 2006 at 5:21 pm
Moose Bigelow
I believe the term you are looking for is shoplifted the pootie.
May 4, 2006 at 5:52 pm
Taran
Kobe is telling someone else to “just go play the game”? Ridiculous. He spends more time whinning to refs than anyone in the league. Everytime he goes to the rack and doesn’t get a foul called on the opposing team, he complains, makes faces and generally bitches to the refs all the way up the floor. The kid is a asshat who should be on the other side of a beating.
May 5, 2006 at 7:49 am
Chris
Boy was I glad to see the Sun’s win it last night! And on another note, I think it is hilarious that Bell clotheslined Kobe. Kobe is by far the most egotistical, whinny, selfish, ball-hog that I have ever seen. Basketball is for team players, and he is definitly not one of those. The fact that Bell even called him out on being arrogant and everything else was great!
Go Suns, kick the Lakers’ ass in game 7!!
May 5, 2006 at 9:30 am
Justin
Well, when all was said and done, Raja is still playing and Kobe has some time to go rape women again. Plus, Kobe’s scoring average was abysmally low compared to his play against other teams. I believe we know who has the last laugh here.
May 8, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Ryann
Man, where can I get a Raja Bell Phoenix Suns Jersey from. I only can find the Utah Jazz Jersey. Man he is great. He brings so much to the team with just his presence. Playing injured and still being effective. Why did Philadelphia ever let him go?
June 1, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Sheriff
The elbows Kobe throws are somewhat intentional. In the NBA you are allowed to create space and protect yourself but it doesnt mean you should swing the elbows when someone is standing right in front of you. Thats why we have refs. They decide stuff like this. Its all entertainment. Thats what basketball is about. Just plain television entertainment. :)
June 5, 2006 at 2:19 pm