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Kobe Bryant – The most hated player
The Lakers are the champions – and once again here come the comparisons. You can think what you want about the Kobe vs. MJ discussion. But one thing is certain from both sides of the argument – MJ was loved and Kobe is hated. Even fanatical Kobe supporters have to admit being laughed at more often when they say “I like Kobe” than if they pledge their allegiance to LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. And we don’t even need to start with talk about Michael Jordan.
But why is that so? Don’t bring up the whole room “service” ordeal in Colorado. Kobe was hated years before that. That just added fuel to a fire which was already burning. And forget about the ole argument that the best of the best are always hated because they killed all title dreams of others. Kobe is not even loved in his own city. I recently met people from Los Angeles who did not go to the Lakers championship parade because they couldn’t stand No. 24. And seriously now: when was the last time you came across a Bulls fan who thought Michael Jordan was shit?
Kobe Bryant is the most hated player in the league. Yeah, yeah, I know about his jersey sales. But the American flag is also sometimes bought in order to burn it. There are always “I hate Kobe” threads in basketball forums. And among 10 basketball fans, five of them at least are Kobe haters.
I can understand why his teammates don’t like him. Imagine you are 17 years old and you go to your first job, for example as a salesperson at a national chain electronics store. Nobody expects too much from you. You are basically a member of the cheap labor force. Besides, you’re the youngest who ever worked there. So everyone expects that you need some time to get used to things. And actually most people believe you will fail. You continually hear: “It would have been better if you had stayed in school.” Imagine if after one month you told the boss that you know that you’re only 17 years old but you will still one day not only be the best salesperson in the store but in the whole store chain. In front of the team, you promise that you will stay late every night to know more about every product than everyone else in the place. You will go through the aisles millions of times so that you are smarter and faster and things come automatically for you in the future. Actually everyone should do that – is what you say, inviting the older, more experienced colleagues to do overtime hours with you. You want to bring the company to a new level – to the highest. You are just one month out of school. And even your parents had to sign your contract. (data and words according to Roland Lazenby)
How do you think your fellow employees would react if you did that? Kobe did that and has accomplished what he set out to do! With loads of hard work, he became the best in the store and the best in the chain. Forget about hate or love. He has at least earned our respect.
