Kobe Bryant: The Greatest

"The greatest Laker ever." That was how Shaquille O'Neal described Kobe Bryant in an interview with AOL recently. That may be debatable, but you can't take anything away from the Black Mamba who has played 20 seasons wearing the famous gold and purple. A record and testament to his loyalty.

Yes, 20 years seemed like just yesterday. When I first got a glimpse of Bryant's playing skills on TV, I really believed that he was the final cast member for the new "showtime" in LA. But, the main characters like Vlade Divac, Eddie Jones, and Nick Van Exel were traded to other teams. Eventually, the stage in Inglewood belonged to number 8. He didn't disappoint! He indeed brought the glamour back to the franchise. Something that went missing after the Magic-Kareem era. He was a monster on both ends of the basketball court. He terrorized the defense of the opposing teams. He could score almost at will from anywhere. He worked harder than anyone. Five championships later, the party needs to end somehow.

Today marks the end of another era for the Los Angeles Lakers. Today, a maestro retires after 48 thousand plus minutes played. A true and loyal servant to the game of basketball and the Lakers. Kobe Bryant may not be the greatest, but he was one hell of a basketball player. And, the game won't be the same without him.

The Bad Tackle

The future looks dim for my team. It will take a lot of sorting out before showtime comes back to town. But for now, it's time for the Lakers to hang the numbers 8 and 24 up on the rafters. Grazie mille, Kobe!