Operation Kobe: Rehabbing the Haters

A few weeks back, I wrote that the Kobe and the Lakers could get on to writing their own story now that the first title monkey was off their back. Recently, Kobe's been getting pub for his positive memories of the other MJ, Michael Jackson. I wanted to take the opportunity to drop a little lit on y'all. See, I figure if Kobe was able to shake off any semblance of prior demons with this championship, it would be a good time for Kobe-haters to re-think their perspectives as well. Kobe has held the title of Most Polarizing Player for years now, if indeed he can't be said to have created the position (retrospective awards could probably go to guys like Dennis Rodman and Wilt Chamberlain). Thus, I turn to Philip Roth's farcial Operation Shylock for a method of rehabbing any Kobe hate that might still linger. I present to you the TEN TENETS OF KOBE-HATERS ANONYMOUS

1. We admit that we are haters prone to prejudice and powerless to control our hatred.
2. We recognize that it is not [Kobe] who has wronged us but we who hold [Kobe] responsible for our troubles and the world's evils. It is we who wrong [him] by believing this.
3. [Kobe] may well have shortcomings like any other human being, but the shortcomings we are here to be honest about are our own, i.e., paranoia, sadism, negativism, destructiveness, envy.
4. Our money problems are not of [Kobe's] making but of our own.
5. Our job problems are not of [Kobe's] making but of our own (so too with sexual problems, marital problems, problems in the community).
6. [Kobe-haterism] is a form of flight from reality, a refusal to think honestly about ourselves and our society.
7. Inasmuch as [Kobe-haters] cannot control their hatred, they are not like other people. We recognize that even to drop a casual [Kobe-hateristic] slur endangers our struggle to rid ourselves of our sickness.
8. Helping to detoxify others is the cornerstone of our recovery. Nothing will so much ensure immunity from the illness of [Kobe-haterism] as intensive work with other [Kobe-haters].
9. We are not scholars, we do not care why we have this dreadful illness, we come together to admit that we have it and to help one another get rid of it.
10. In the fellowship of [K-H.A.] we strive to master the temptation to [Kobe] hatred in all its forms.

Because of the sensitive nature of the original tenets set out by Roth, I must make clear that it is a farcical work from which I lift these words and a farcical intent to which I direct them here towards Kobe-haterism. While I do not believe Kobe-haterism is as dire a perspective as anti-Semitism, I do hold that it must needs be addressed and have thus turned to Roth's work after which to pattern a cure for Kobe-haterism.

Other notes from the NBA:

• Sad news that Yao Ming's foot injury could keep him out the entire 09-10 season or even possibly end his career. At least Yao has a solid love life to turn to, unlike other international stars like Dirk or Pau.
• Brandon Jennings cannot be faulted for acting a fool in a private conversation. He can be faulted for maintaing a friendship with Joe Budden.
• Tyreke Evans has been confronting discussion of his involvement in the murder committed by his cousin. I don't think it's too much of a concern, as he's handling it maturely, didn't even know his cousin had a gun, and more over is going to be playing Sacramento (now if the Kings move to Vegas, we might have to look at it a little differently). However, I am concerned that he seems to play the Stan Rothenstein role from MY COUSIN VINNY.
  

Posted in: Brandon Jennings,Kobe Bryant,Tyreke Evans,Yao Ming