Kobe Bryant has been labeled as a spoiled brat, a selfish man and a dirty player. Some of it is deserved; some of it is off base.
But Bryant is speaking nothing but the truth with his challenge to the Los Angeles Lakers to get better and get better quick.
While he has not called for the dismissal of general manager Mitch Kupchak, Kobe wants Hall of Famer Jerry West back in control of the franchise. While West did not make the Memphis Grizzlies a playoff contender as that team’s head of basketball operations, a tight budget, small arena and lack of a major local TV contract limited him.
“I’m not demanding anything,” Bryant told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
“I’m not making any threats. I didn’t say that. Those words didn’t come out of my mouth about a trade. I’m just making a suggestion. I think Jerry West is one of the greatest to ever do this thing. It’s undeniably so.”
What do we learn from this? First, there is a newspaper in Riverside, Calif. Second, Kobe has not lost his zeal for winning a championship.
While the franchise seems to be accepting mediocrity, Kobe is not.
By the way, coach Phil Jackson is still dating owner Jerry Buss’ daughter and she has a say on how the team is run. Does anyone see a problem with this?
“I would love for him to be a part of this. But it’s not something where I demand (West) comes here. All I can do is offer my thoughts. I love being a Laker. I want to retire a Laker. I want to fix this thing, or at least help any way I can.”
West, who will be employed by the Grizzlies until the last day of June, released a statement saying, “I want to make it clear that I have not spoken with the Lakers organization or Kobe Bryant about a job upon my retirement in Memphis. My loyalty is to (owner) Michael Heisley, the Memphis Grizzlies organization and our fans. I have a job to do with the Grizzlies through June 30 and much to accomplish by that date.”
Translation: I’ll see you guys on July 1.
Sit down Dukes
The St. Louis American sports pages and its SportsEye column have often been dedicated to the importance of increasing African-Americans in Major League Baseball, but it’s time for one black player to take some time off.
Introducing Elijah Dukes of the Tampa Bay Rays, a troubled man.
Dukes was held out of two games last week after the team and MLB learned that his wife has taken out a restraining order against him.
Taking part in this silly text message phase that America seems to be locked in, Dukes sent a chilling death threat to his estranged wife, which included a threat against their two children as well. He also sent a photo of a gun. (Man, he must have a nice phone.)
Not to make a joke of this episode, the 22-year old Dukes needs some time off and a trip or two to the psychologist.
While talking with reporters last Monday about Dukes before Detroit played the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., another somewhat troubled soul he grew up on the mean streets of Tampa, Gary Sheffield, acknowledged said he sympathizes with Dukes and is willing to share some of the wisdom gained during his tumultuous career.
“I’m no authority figure, like you’ve got to listen to me. I just want to help him.”
MLB is an authority figure and it would do Dukes and baseball a service if it slapped him with a 30-day suspension. It’s obvious the Rays washed their hands of the latest episode – and a marijuana possession arrest in January – with the two game penalty.
Dukes was not troubled by his actions last week. He hit two home runs, batted over .300 and scored the winning run during a ninth-inning rally of one game.