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Kobe on a Pau trade: He shows he's full of shit.
Posted by: SPQR on Feb 20, 2012 - 03:04 AM
lakers-blog
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I read those remarks by Kobe tonight on the Pau rumors. And how the Lakers need to sh*t or get off the pot, so to speak. Trade him or tell him he's staying. So that Pau can do his thing, or "Invest himself" with the team as Kobe put it.
As is so often the case in Kobes verbal career, he has no idea what he is talking about and should limit himself to areas where he doesn't look foolish.
By the very nature of this business, almost any player can get traded at anytime. It is part and parcel of the trade. Almost every single player has a trade hanging over his head like Sword Of Damocles, just a moment away from falling on the neck. It is a rare player indeed, who has a no trade clause, like Kobe himself.
I was listening to the Suns announcers today. They broached that very topic about Pau, trades and any effect it may be having on him.
The one Suns announcer, who's name escapes me, how played many years in the NBA found the whole idea ludicrous. He said all NBA players know coming into the league they may get traded, and traded and again traded in their careers. If they are lucky enough to have a career of any length.
He said Pau is rich, can live in any city he chooses, or in many cities if he so desires. He said playing under the threat of a possible trade is no threat at all to real NBA player. That what they get in return more than offsets any trade that they may have to endure.
The fact is, professionalism and a true work ethic, the measure of the man should obviate any lack of performance that trade ideas can engender in these men. To think that any of these rich, spoiled athletes need to know where they will work in order for them to do their best is physcological pandering and coddling in its most base form. And it is a disgrace if Pau feel that way and double disgrace for Kobe to even bring it up as some kind of mitigating factor in Pau or any professionals effort or concentration.
Let me tell you how it should be done. I will use myself and some people I was lucky enough to personally know as a object example of what life requires of you.
I worked at a very demanding job for seven years. I was responsible for a nation wide series of complex, expensive intallations. I had to make sure they ran as they should, and if they didn't, boy, you better believe I had to get the problem solved pronto.
I was good at my job. Damn good. And thats a fact. And so were the other 75 people who worked with me out of that building in their own spheres and responsibilties.
Then one day, a company from Finland bought us out. For a year, they told us all was great. They were going to give us more and better computers, enlarge the engineering staff. Make our very crowded plat much more palatable and easy.
After a year, we were all called into the conferance room for a powerpoint presentation. At the end of the presentation, the last few slides told us that because the new companay had several other buildings in the country, ours was not needed. That it would shut down one year hence and all employees laid off.
And that's how the sword fell on our necks. Just like that. At the end of a powerpoint presentation.
And thats the real world. Not the rich fantasy world these players live in. So for one year, we all worked, knowing our jobs were lost. We were very close, a family. Everone there loved their jobs and many had worked there, sweating blood and endless hours for over two decades. All gone.
And I can tell you,, the day we saw that powerpoint presentation, tears flowed. I mean in buckets. Like rain. The company gave us the rest of the day off. And people ran out of the building because they were crushed, devestated.
And I can also tell you, me, we, us, for that last year, knowing we are gone, worked as hard and consciensously as the first day we were hired. Because thats who we, me, us were. That was our work ethich and mettle we forged over the years. Pride in performance and what we gave for our pay. And we were still getting paid. And we still had the pride. Because that is one thing you can't take from a real man or woman.
And we did it knowing no jobs were guaranteed waiting when the sword fell on our necks. Not like Pau. Or Kobe. And we did it for regular pay. Not like Pau. Not like Kobe. Not for their uncountable millions. Like normal, everyday citizens who live in the real world, not the ridiculous, sweet money ride of adulation and fame where the world is at your finger tips and richs and entitlement flow like aged vintage wine.
And we are not alone. Millions of workers have gone throught this crucible for decades and even more so lately because of the economic collapse. And they deal with it like we did. Like anyone should, if they have pride of work and pay. If they have pride of self.
Every single working man and woman alive knows that they could get laid off or fired at any time, with the most capricous, burning wind blown down from management that scorches lives and decades of service. It as always been thus and always will be. Yet every day they work to the best of their ability. And feed a family, go to school, cook meals, pay mortgages, raise kids and accoplish all the other necessities life puts on everyones agenda. And they do it on a workers salary.
And where have we gotten too, as citizens and fans, we who live our lives under these threats, these constraints every damn day, yet now we feel sorry for these poor abused men who can't function if the millions will have to come from another owner in another city? These athletes no nothing of the real world. And fans who pander to them and their enemic tantrums and ersatz problems no nothing either. Pathetic.
So if Pau, poor Pau, is distracted. Not really himself, because he is not sure if he will need to buy another mansion outside of LA, he finds no friendly solice from me. And if Kobe thinks that is reason for a player to not give his best, well the Mamba may have a basketball work ethic, but he sure as hell knows nothing about a real one. The kind that built America, forged by its common citizens with all the concomintant pressures the toil under.
If this is honestly giving Pau some problem. Then he better thank god he does not work a real job. Then he would know what stress is. Because he wouldn't last long in that world. Real stress. Not some imagined stress of American royality.
Kobe Bryant has no cause to turn this into a front office problem. It's not. It is the purview of the front office to trade or not trade players under contract at their discretion, using their timeline. Because if Pau is not giving his all, its a Pau problem. Not a front office problem. Kobe, as he has in the past, in opening his mouth, being Kobe the GM, showing everyone again, that he is way out of his depth and league when he tries to "think" or address issues in a real, rational way. If Kobe thinks Pau is dogging it, then he should take Pau aside and say, "Hey, be a man. You're a professional. They are paying you millions to perform at your best. You are hurting this team and yourself."
And since Kobe said what he did, one thing I do know, once again he gives a prime example of how divorced from reality he really is, that he is full of sh*t when it comes to anything outside scoring points; why its best for him to do what he does best, just shoot a ball, play a kids game and not venture into areas he cannot even fathom nor the intellect to attempt a true remedy without causing even more harm.
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Re: Kobe on a Pau trade: He shows he's full of shit.
by ismosanga on Feb 20, 2012 - 08:47 AM
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Sir, you pretty much sound bitter. You do not seem to be able to show the needed empathy to properly process this situation. Clearly, your own past is clouding your present judgment; or alternatively you've never played or worked in a team environment.
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Re: Kobe on a Pau trade: He shows he's full of shit.
by mlevkowitz on Feb 27, 2012 - 03:25 PM
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I see your point about Kobe stepping outside his job description...but how often we seen a player go into a funk after his name popped up in trade rumors? It sucks to play for a team that doesn't see you in the long term plans, and it can degrade the quality of play significantly. I say they dump Pau before the deadline if possible...maybe a Deron Williams swap?
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