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Lakers beat Griz: A legend shines, a rookie watches
Posted by: SPQR on Nov 07, 2009 - 01:54 AM
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Just want to say the win over the Griz tonight was a very nice game. There was concern because of the absence of Pau and Drew, but a couple things we all know is that they play the game for a reason and that any time Kobe Bryant is your oppenent, you better be worried.
One had the feeling that Kobe would rise to the occasion tonight. The Lakers were at home, someone would have to pick up the slack and guess who volunteered to do it? No surprise there. We have only seem The Great Man pull this feat off about ohh....what a million times now?
I got to catch the Griz announcers on Direct TV and I can tell you that although they did not come out and predict a victory, they spent a looong time in the pre game show talking about the big edge Memphis would have down low. They had the gleam in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they talked about what Memphis would do to a hampered Laker team. You could tell what they were thinking. What they forgot was the edge we had named Kobe Bryant. He can make up for a lot of missing players and then some.
This was one of those games where you just sat back and enjoyed the show. Kobe was so hot, so spectacular that you just never really had a feeling Memphis could over come him or the Lakers. Kobe cast his pyrotechnic spell as only he can and the Grizzlies were just as transfixed as we were at home. The only difference is they got to see it close up live, and they get a loss on the record books while we just got to marvel once again at the best in the biz do what he does so well.
I want to give a shout out to DJ here. You know, this guy will never be a star, will never be feared on the offensive end, but through hard work, determination and maximizing the things he does do well, he has turned himself into a very servicable back up center. He is not some guy you pray does not screw up. He actually brings things with him on the court that help a team win. You really have to admire a guy who has come as far as he has. I am happy he wears the Laker colors. I also don't shudder when he enters a game. I can't say that about all the players on this team.
As I watched The Great Man lay another beating on another team, as he once again made the supremely arduous look sublimly easy, I thought of another player on the floor: Sam Young.
I followed the rookies career at Pitt. I live there. He impressed me as a very versitile, complete player. So good in fact, I hoped the Lakers would get him. He fell further in the draft than predicted and he said he would make teams regret passing him. I believe him. I also love that kind of attitude. He had a great pre season and Memphis has high hopes for him. As Kobe painted his masterpiece, splattering the wood canvas he paints so poetically with a rubber ball, I had to wonder what Young was thinking. No doubt he had seen Kobe many times on tv. Marvelled at his exploits, shook his head at what he saw, just as we all do. But I wonder, what did this talented rookie think, seeing the man in the flesh. Watching his moves in 3D, seeing someone take this game as far as it can go and then...take it even another step further. Seeing the here to for pixels of his telivision set being translated to a living, breathing man and realizing what he saw all those years was true. Not some fiction or mirage. That Kobe Bryant does those things whether you are watching him far removed, or whether you are on the opposing team and he is right in your face. Do you think he was excited as a little kid on Christmas Eve? Do you think chills ran up his spine?
What do you think Sam Young was thinking? What do you think he is saying right now, on his cell phone, talking to his friends and former college teamates who are scattered accross the country? Do you think he is talking about Kobe Bryant as he holds that cell phone to his ear?
Do you think he will ever forget?
Do you think we will?
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