Ok I can see this has gotten off track so let me postulate a bit about this Kobe thing. I don’t know Kobe or Shaq or Phil or any of them. Having concluded that fact I find it hard to judge any of them. Perhaps some of the folks who ostracized him know him personally and have a basis for their opinion. If that’s the case then so be it. For me I will based my opinion on some of the facts I have gathered from the same sources others have relied on. Facts that some folks have chosen to ignore.

Anyone who knows Kobe’s history knows that Kobe Bryant grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. His dad was a pro basketball player, so Kobe didn't come from the same low income background that a ton of basketball players are expected to come from.

So I find it ironic that the same populace that hates on NBA players for supposedly embracing thug culture hates the one player that is the antithesis of that? That's what I call a no win situation.

Everyone also knows that shaq and the veterans on the Lakers didn't like Kobe because he didn't walk the traditional line of bowing down to his veteran peers. From the jump, Kobe was all about achieving his goal of becoming the best player in the history of the game. He came in and actually worked hard 24-7, and instead of going out at night locked himself in his hotel room and watched game film all night. His veteran counterparts didn't take to this very well, and from the jump pushed him away from their tight inner circle and made Kobe an outsider. In his early years, the only players that actually showed him guidance were Byron Scott and Eddie Jones. The rest of the guys basically ostracized him and talked poorly about him in the media. Shaq and Phil Jackson might be the most culpable for Kobe Bryant's bad P.R. on this matter. Because of Shaq and Phil, people blame the break up of the Lakers on Kobe, when Kobe is just a very small player in the entire thing.

As far as throwing Shaq under the bus? Shaq did that to himself. Shaq didn’t like to train
And that was evident from his physical condition and his inability to make free throws.

Kobe being Kobe who actually worked hard 24-7 must have found this difficult to accept and it finally came to a head to some extent. But I doubt seriously that caused the demise of the team. Certainly it had a effect but Shaq could have dealt with that issue head on by getting in shape. Not too much to ask in my view.

But it’s the same ole story and it’s a story that people like to preach. Don’t be an individual, don’t be different, be a pasty cutout doll that fits in anywhere on the page that everyone else has designed. The page that meets everyone’s approval. Personally it’s a sermon I’m tired of hearing. Like I said I don’t know the man and until I do I’m going to watch Kobe Bryant play the game of basketball and enjoy every minute of it.

Now back on topic

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….