Kobe Bryant: the unappreciated son

Kobe is an unappreciated son, while fans and the media are the disapproving father. Think about it:

• He didn't go to college.
• He was over-confident as a rookie
• He had a celebrity girlfriend
• He marketed himself as a flashy player in the Slam Dunk Contest, when the winners in the NBA at the time (Jordan, Malone, Ewing, Olajuwon) were not
  

Dad is immediately skeptical.

• Kobe becomes an All-Star as a bench player
• Kobe breaks the starting lineup of a playoff NBA team
  
• Kobe wins three straight NBA championships

But tough dad just loves that relationship Kobe's in (Shaq/Kobe). Kobe is the sidekick. He needs the relationship. Shaq is the marriage that turns dad's son around. Without the relationship, Kobe's the same kid as before. So what happens?:

• Kobe selfishly states that he doesn't want to play with Shaq anymore

Well, disapproving dad does not like that. For "I told you so" sake, he paints Kobe as the most selfish player in the league. He's a terrible teammate! He ruined the best thing that ever happened to him because of his own ego!

• The Lakers sink into mediocrity, and suddenly people begin to forget how important Kobe was to those Lakers teams.

Dad sees: Lakers+Shaq=Championships, Lakers-Shaq=Mediocrity

• Meanwhile, Kobe far surpasses Shaq in ability.
• But Shaq, while playing a reduced role for Miami, wins a Championship
  

Dad sees: Shaq wins a Championship, again. Kobe doesn't.

• Then, the Lakers get Pau Gasol, a true All-Star to pair with Kobe
• Kobe's incredible competitiveness gets more publicity

And what does dad see? Kobe needs to win to validate his career.

Right now I imagine a long-time-coming yelling match between Kobe and the media. "WHAT MORE DO I HAVE TO DO FOR YOU TO LOVE ME??!??!!!!!??!!"


Kobe, you've done enough. You will be seen as a Top 10 player when you retire. You have won more Championships than 99% of players that have ever played in the league, and you were an All-Star through all of those championship years. The problem is, dad loves Shaq...too much...it's almost creepy. It's unfair and it's unreasonable, but it's the way it is.

I just hope to god that dad will accept his son if he wins this year's NBA Championship. Because if he doesn't, it will simply never happen.