So, do you think KOBEs will be worth as much as JORDANs are now in 20 years?

[alexanderfasto]

20 years? Why Not, Kobe has the hardware to prove it?

Just like Jordan back in his days, I think it's safe to say that Kobe is the new "Jordan" of this Era.

Yes, Nike may have produced more Kobes' than Jordans' it's simply because Kobes' are more hip and affordable than Jordans for todays' market.
In terms of more Colorways are released for Kobes' than Jordans'..  They have the technology to produce more shoes and colors now-a-days than before..

Kobes now and Nike shoes generally, are made out of synthetic materials (Flywire Tech) which means longer lifespan to your shoes

In the end it is possible that Kobes may surpass Jordans in terms of Dollar Value, Kobe is only 31 yrs. old Jordan won Chmapionships til 35.. So give or take Kobe can win 2 more aside from this coming NBA season..

 

[alexanderfasto]

20 years? Why Not, Kobe has the hardware to prove it?

Just like Jordan back in his days, I think it's safe to say that Kobe is the new "Jordan" of this Era.

Yes, Nike may have produced more Kobes' than Jordans' it's simply because Kobes' are more hip and affordable than Jordans for todays' market.
In terms of more Colorways are released for Kobes' than Jordans'..  They have the technology to produce more shoes and colors now-a-days than before..

Kobes now and Nike shoes generally, are made out of synthetic materials (Flywire Tech) which means longer lifespan to your shoes

In the end it is possible that Kobes may surpass Jordans in terms of Dollar Value, Kobe is only 31 yrs. old Jordan won Chmapionships til 35.. So give or take Kobe can win 2 more aside from this coming NBA season..

 

[alexanderfasto]

20 years? Why Not, Kobe has the hardware to prove it?

Just like Jordan back in his days, I think it's safe to say that Kobe is the new "Jordan" of this Era.

Yes, Nike may have produced more Kobes' than Jordans' it's simply because Kobes' are more hip and affordable than Jordans for todays' market.
In terms of more Colorways are released for Kobes' than Jordans'..  They have the technology to produce more shoes and colors now-a-days than before..

Kobes now and Nike shoes generally, are made out of synthetic materials (Flywire Tech) which means longer lifespan to your shoes

In the end it is possible that Kobes may surpass Jordans in terms of Dollar Value, Kobe is only 31 yrs. old Jordan won Chmapionships til 35.. So give or take Kobe can win 2 more aside from this coming NBA season..

 

[alexanderfasto]

20 years? Why Not, Kobe has the hardware to prove it?

Just like Jordan back in his days, I think it's safe to say that Kobe is the new "Jordan" of this Era.

Yes, Nike may have produced more Kobes' than Jordans' it's simply because Kobes' are more hip and affordable than Jordans for todays' market.
In terms of more Colorways are released for Kobes' than Jordans'..  They have the technology to produce more shoes and colors now-a-days than before..

Kobes now and Nike shoes generally, are made out of synthetic materials (Flywire Tech) which means longer lifespan to your shoes

In the end it is possible that Kobes may surpass Jordans in terms of Dollar Value, Kobe is only 31 yrs. old Jordan won Chmapionships til 35.. So give or take Kobe can win 2 more aside from this coming NBA season..

 

[jmizzo]

Originally Posted by Nat Turner

@ the people who don't think that kids are buying Jordans over Kobe's shoes, then thinking they need to know about what Jordan did! I guess adults need to know who and what Johnston and Murphy were about, in order to buy their business shoes as well. 

Many kids think that Kobe is a burger. They may see that he is nice with his game, but that off court crap proves that he has no concept of hip at all. I read all of this stuff about how Kobe's shoes are doing well in sales, but where? I have yet to see anyone, and I play in THREE, THREE leagues in NYC, wearing these shoes. On the street, I saw high school kids going to summer school, and they are wearing Jordans, not Kobe's. I don't even see the kids who play for Rice High school in Harlem wearing them on the streets, and they get'em for free!

Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

i think you are right...East Coast is Jordan...West Coast is Kobe.  Every league I play here in CA (Not LA) there are several people on every team the wear Kobes...hardly ever do wear the Jordans...

 

[jmizzo]

Originally Posted by Nat Turner

@ the people who don't think that kids are buying Jordans over Kobe's shoes, then thinking they need to know about what Jordan did! I guess adults need to know who and what Johnston and Murphy were about, in order to buy their business shoes as well. 

Many kids think that Kobe is a burger. They may see that he is nice with his game, but that off court crap proves that he has no concept of hip at all. I read all of this stuff about how Kobe's shoes are doing well in sales, but where? I have yet to see anyone, and I play in THREE, THREE leagues in NYC, wearing these shoes. On the street, I saw high school kids going to summer school, and they are wearing Jordans, not Kobe's. I don't even see the kids who play for Rice High school in Harlem wearing them on the streets, and they get'em for free!

Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

i think you are right...East Coast is Jordan...West Coast is Kobe.  Every league I play here in CA (Not LA) there are several people on every team the wear Kobes...hardly ever do wear the Jordans...

 

[jacksonvillenc]

nope

 

[jacksonvillenc]

nope

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Wow how are you gonna say people dont have Kobes... Kobe's are all over the place and with the latest big stage drop we can see how popular and how high the demand is for them

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Wow how are you gonna say people dont have Kobes... Kobe's are all over the place and with the latest big stage drop we can see how popular and how high the demand is for them

 

[airjordan jb23]

The Kobe sneaker line won't be at the same level... But the line will have their value, just to a lesser extent.

 

[airjordan jb23]

The Kobe sneaker line won't be at the same level... But the line will have their value, just to a lesser extent.

 

[stylishstef89]

Originally Posted by jmizzo

Originally Posted by Nat Turner

@ the people who don't think that kids are buying Jordans over Kobe's shoes, then thinking they need to know about what Jordan did! I guess adults need to know who and what Johnston and Murphy were about, in order to buy their business shoes as well. 

Many kids think that Kobe is a burger. They may see that he is nice with his game, but that off court crap proves that he has no concept of hip at all. I read all of this stuff about how Kobe's shoes are doing well in sales, but where? I have yet to see anyone, and I play in THREE, THREE leagues in NYC, wearing these shoes. On the street, I saw high school kids going to summer school, and they are wearing Jordans, not Kobe's. I don't even see the kids who play for Rice High school in Harlem wearing them on the streets, and they get'em for free!

Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

i think you are right...East Coast is Jordan...West Coast is Kobe.  Every league I play here in CA (Not LA) there are several people on every team the wear Kobes...hardly ever do wear the Jordans...

Yeah, I gotta agree with this. I've never seen anyone rock a sneaker from Kobe's Nike line(speaking as a NYC native) . If they are rocking Kobe's sneaker, it's from the Adidas line (Crazy 8s). In my opinion, a lot of kids are buying Jordan's because that's what was established as the "it" shoe by the older crowd. They might not have seen Mike play, but their older brother/sister/cousin/whoever did, and they wore nothing but Jordans. So when it comes time to go sneaker shopping, they get Jordans, because that older influence (plus hype) kicks in. This is how Mike's sneaker line has been able to transcend generations, because the foundation has been built from the early days. I think you can apply this mentality to Nike Retro as well.

 

[stylishstef89]

Originally Posted by jmizzo

Originally Posted by Nat Turner

@ the people who don't think that kids are buying Jordans over Kobe's shoes, then thinking they need to know about what Jordan did! I guess adults need to know who and what Johnston and Murphy were about, in order to buy their business shoes as well. 

Many kids think that Kobe is a burger. They may see that he is nice with his game, but that off court crap proves that he has no concept of hip at all. I read all of this stuff about how Kobe's shoes are doing well in sales, but where? I have yet to see anyone, and I play in THREE, THREE leagues in NYC, wearing these shoes. On the street, I saw high school kids going to summer school, and they are wearing Jordans, not Kobe's. I don't even see the kids who play for Rice High school in Harlem wearing them on the streets, and they get'em for free!

Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

i think you are right...East Coast is Jordan...West Coast is Kobe.  Every league I play here in CA (Not LA) there are several people on every team the wear Kobes...hardly ever do wear the Jordans...

Yeah, I gotta agree with this. I've never seen anyone rock a sneaker from Kobe's Nike line(speaking as a NYC native) . If they are rocking Kobe's sneaker, it's from the Adidas line (Crazy 8s). In my opinion, a lot of kids are buying Jordan's because that's what was established as the "it" shoe by the older crowd. They might not have seen Mike play, but their older brother/sister/cousin/whoever did, and they wore nothing but Jordans. So when it comes time to go sneaker shopping, they get Jordans, because that older influence (plus hype) kicks in. This is how Mike's sneaker line has been able to transcend generations, because the foundation has been built from the early days. I think you can apply this mentality to Nike Retro as well.

 

[zapatito007]

lebron are way more popular in nyc then kobes,, i see people rocking a few lebrons here there not alot but i see some,, ive never seen people rocking kobes,,

 

[zapatito007]

lebron are way more popular in nyc then kobes,, i see people rocking a few lebrons here there not alot but i see some,, ive never seen people rocking kobes,,

 

[abernja]

I don't think either of them will be worth much actually.

Things change. Nobody can foresee what the future holds.

5 years ago I could care less about Kobe kicks. Now today I own more Kobe IV and V than I do every Jordan combined.
2 years ago 75% of my shoe collection was all Jordan. Now it' almost all Nike B-Ball and Kobe. Funny how things change.

 

[abernja]

I don't think either of them will be worth much actually.

Things change. Nobody can foresee what the future holds.

5 years ago I could care less about Kobe kicks. Now today I own more Kobe IV and V than I do every Jordan combined.
2 years ago 75% of my shoe collection was all Jordan. Now it' almost all Nike B-Ball and Kobe. Funny how things change.

 

[noblekane]

never understood why kids buy jordan retros or any of that jordan crap. When we were growing up we bought jordans, barkleys, pippens, griffeys, pennys, etc because we watched them play. Those were the dudes we wanted to play like, be like, and win like.

Now we got these young kids on youtube showing how they bought the retro pennys or jordans and to me it makes nike and jordan brand in particular look pathetic.

You have the two best players in the game and rather focus on them and other current signature athletes, you release a billion retros.

Dont get me started on jordan brand. The air jordan line is a joke now. its the new fubu, the new master p line, the new whatever fad that has gone away with what made them popular. Bunch of uncreative frankenstein garbage. where the %+%# are the new designs? instead your shoes are mr potatoeheads on our feet.

Maybe its because you have the biggest $@* hole in sports history, mr michael jordan, with the last say in what you do.

greatest basketball of all time, biggets $@* hole in sports history, and an idiot on the business side...

 

[noblekane]

never understood why kids buy jordan retros or any of that jordan crap. When we were growing up we bought jordans, barkleys, pippens, griffeys, pennys, etc because we watched them play. Those were the dudes we wanted to play like, be like, and win like.

Now we got these young kids on youtube showing how they bought the retro pennys or jordans and to me it makes nike and jordan brand in particular look pathetic.

You have the two best players in the game and rather focus on them and other current signature athletes, you release a billion retros.

Dont get me started on jordan brand. The air jordan line is a joke now. its the new fubu, the new master p line, the new whatever fad that has gone away with what made them popular. Bunch of uncreative frankenstein garbage. where the %+%# are the new designs? instead your shoes are mr potatoeheads on our feet.

Maybe its because you have the biggest $@* hole in sports history, mr michael jordan, with the last say in what you do.

greatest basketball of all time, biggets $@* hole in sports history, and an idiot on the business side...

 

[noblekane]

Originally Posted by Nat Turner


Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

and neither did michael jordan's. biggest %@$ hole in sports history.

his brand is great because of his play and NOT his personality. his winning and rings are why we as kids and teens bought his shoes.

 

[noblekane]

Originally Posted by Nat Turner


Kobe is a great player and all, but his personality does not transcend his game. 

and neither did michael jordan's. biggest %@$ hole in sports history.

his brand is great because of his play and NOT his personality. his winning and rings are why we as kids and teens bought his shoes.

 

[nat turner]

Kobe 'upset' about Malone's comments to wife

---

ESPN.com news services

The Kobe Bryant-Karl Malone feud has turned personal, with Bryant accusing Malone of making a pass at his wife at a Lakers game. Rob Pelinka, the agent for Bryant, told ESPN.com on Sunday night that Malone made "several inappropriate comments" to Bryant's wife, Vanessa, on Nov. 23 at a Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. [table][tr][td][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]“[/font][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Misery loves company. This is a Hollywood soap opera, and I'm not going to be a star in another Bryant soap opera.[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] â€[/font][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][font=Times,serif]— [/font][font=Times,serif]Karl Malone[/font][/td][/tr][/table]"Kobe and Karl had a true friendship, much more than teammates," Pelinka said. "Their wives are quite friendly as well. Kobe has told me that he feels very hurt and betrayed by what has happened." Malone, in Arkansas working at his logging farm, declined to address accusations by Bryant. "Misery loves company," Malone told USA Today in Tuesday's edition. "This is a Hollywood soap opera, and I'm not going to be a star in another Bryant soap opera." Malone also said his wife, Kay, responded privately by letter Monday to the Bryants and Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Bryant said to reporters before Sunday night's game against Orlando, "The comments that [Malone] said, I don't know any man in this room that wouldn't be upset about that. The past month, myself, my wife, [Malone's wife] Kay, we've had fun together. We've been out to their house, just joking around, giving each other a hard time, just clowning, being sarcastic with one another, baby-sitting kids and all that." Asked if there could have been a misunderstanding, Bryant said, "What he said is what he said. I believe in my heart that it wasn't a misunderstanding. My wife wasn't going to stand for it. She felt uncomfortable being around him to the point that she felt she had to call his wife and tell her." Bryant said Malone didn't deny making the comments and told him during their phone conversation, "Aw, you know, I'm sorry if I said anything that was out of line." Added Bryant, "He was like a mentor, like a brother to me, so when something like that happens, you're upset, you're hurt." Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday that Malone was asked by Vanessa Bryant, "Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?" in reference to Malone wearing a cowboy hat and boots. "She said it twice," Manley said, "and Karl answered, 'I'm hunting for little Mexican girls.' " Manley said Malone told him he had never made a pass at Bryant's wife, that he was surprised by the accusation, and that he then apologized to both Bryant and his wife for any remarks she might have considered inappropriate. "Karl's response to Kobe's comments today is that he's a basketball player and not a soap opera actor and he doesn't intend to be involved in a personal soap opera," Manley said of his client. Pelinka, who works for SFX and has been Bryant's agent for four years, said he was told what transpired last month by Kobe and Vanessa Bryant. "Karl and his son were at the game sitting in the front row," Pelinka said. "Vanessa was on the cell phone talking to Karl's wife, Kay, and Vanessa said that her son looked bored. Kay told her to call Karl to have her son join her in her seats. Kay gave Vanessa Karl's cell number and she called him. When she called, Karl's response was, 'Why don't you come over here and sit next to me and give me a big hug?' Vanessa said, 'Why? For what?' And Karl replied, 'If you do that it will be on the cover of every magazine in the country.' "Vanessa didn't know what to say because this was the first time she had ever spoken to Malone without Kobe or Kay being around. Karl continued. 'Do you like me?' Malone asked her, to which Vanessa said, 'As my friend, Kay's husband,' " Pelinka said. "From there Malone asked Vanessa if she could keep a secret, and that he would like to tell her something. At which point Vanessa told him she was a married woman and he was a married man who was old enough to be her father. To which Malone replied, 'Oh, like your daddy?' At that point she told me she ended the conversation," Pelinka said. In the second half of the game, Malone sent his son to sit with the Bryants. "Vanessa told me that she just was very uncomfortable at halftime and that Karl was acting and saying weird things." said Pelinka. "When the game ended, Vanessa walked Malone's son back to Karl. She told me that she asked Malone why he was wearing that [cowboy] hat. His response was, 'I'm hunting for young Mexican girls.' At which point Vanessa just walked away." On the car ride home, Vanessa Bryant told Kobe what had happened. Vanessa decided to call Kay Malone and tell her about the way her husband had spoken to her. After they hung up, Kobe Bryant called Karl Malone on his cell phone. [table][tr][td][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]“[/font][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]He's a legend. And if you don't like Karl Malone, there's something wrong with you.[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] â€[/font][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][font=Times,serif]— [/font][font=Times,serif]Shaquille O'Neal[/font][/td][/tr][/table]"Kobe told me that Karl just listened and didn't deny any of it. Kobe said Karl's only reply was, 'You know me, man.' To which Kobe told him, 'That's right, I do know you -- and stay away from my wife,' " said Pelinka. "The next day, with all four of them on the phone, Karl denied it. At that point the Bryants knew that there was nothing left to talk about since they knew Karl wasn't telling the truth. Vanessa told me that she told Kay that she [Vanessa] wanted her [Kay] to know 'just exactly what your husband [Karl] did, and you do what you want with the information.' " Last week Bryant said in a radio interview on XTRA that it was his intuition that Malone would retire. That comment led Malone to reply that he did not want to be a distraction to the Lakers and blamed Bryant for the rift. According to Bryant, Malone told him before the season started that he was going to retire and spend more time with his family. Bryant said that Malone asked him not to speak publicly about his decision. Malone has been recovering from knee surgery and had told the Lakers that if he was going to return to play it would be with them. On the outside of the drama this time, Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal was amazed at this story. "I'm very surprised how it came out, but I've never seen anything like that before," O'Neal told the Miami Herald. "I thought him and Karl were best friends. Karl was always the liaison between me and that guy. I was under the impression they were closer than what they were." O'Neal said he would be surprised if Malone did anything inappropriate. "He's a legend," O'Neal said. "And if you don't like Karl Malone, there's something wrong with you." With a return to the Lakers likely out of the question, other teams are pursuing Malone, beginning with the San Antonio Spurs. Over the past weekend, Manley contacted the Spurs, hoping to arrange a meeting with Malone and Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president, the San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday. "It's up to Karl to decide what he is going to do and with whatever team," Popovich said. "I'm just waiting, trying to be patient, and seeing what he wants to do. When he's ready to start talking to people about wanting to play, I will be ready to talk to him. Manley spoke Sunday with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford and with director of basketball operations Danny Ferry. "Everything was just very general, that's all," Ferry said. "There were no specifics talked about. It was just setting up an opportunity for Pop and Karl to talk." No date or time has been scheduled for such a talk. "I don't want to talk to anybody but Karl. I don't need to talk to Manley or anybody else," he said. "I gave that job up a couple years ago. R.C. and Danny can handle that part." The Associated Press contributed to this report.




While not defending MJ, I think you'd be hard pressed to find something like this on Jordan, and we are not even talking about the assinine event in Colorado. Speaking of assinine events and comments of the like, are adults supposed to know the history of Gucci shoes, in order to wear them as well? 

 

[nat turner]

Kobe 'upset' about Malone's comments to wife

---

ESPN.com news services

The Kobe Bryant-Karl Malone feud has turned personal, with Bryant accusing Malone of making a pass at his wife at a Lakers game. Rob Pelinka, the agent for Bryant, told ESPN.com on Sunday night that Malone made "several inappropriate comments" to Bryant's wife, Vanessa, on Nov. 23 at a Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. [table][tr][td][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]“[/font][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Misery loves company. This is a Hollywood soap opera, and I'm not going to be a star in another Bryant soap opera.[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] â€[/font][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][font=Times,serif]— [/font][font=Times,serif]Karl Malone[/font][/td][/tr][/table]"Kobe and Karl had a true friendship, much more than teammates," Pelinka said. "Their wives are quite friendly as well. Kobe has told me that he feels very hurt and betrayed by what has happened." Malone, in Arkansas working at his logging farm, declined to address accusations by Bryant. "Misery loves company," Malone told USA Today in Tuesday's edition. "This is a Hollywood soap opera, and I'm not going to be a star in another Bryant soap opera." Malone also said his wife, Kay, responded privately by letter Monday to the Bryants and Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Bryant said to reporters before Sunday night's game against Orlando, "The comments that [Malone] said, I don't know any man in this room that wouldn't be upset about that. The past month, myself, my wife, [Malone's wife] Kay, we've had fun together. We've been out to their house, just joking around, giving each other a hard time, just clowning, being sarcastic with one another, baby-sitting kids and all that." Asked if there could have been a misunderstanding, Bryant said, "What he said is what he said. I believe in my heart that it wasn't a misunderstanding. My wife wasn't going to stand for it. She felt uncomfortable being around him to the point that she felt she had to call his wife and tell her." Bryant said Malone didn't deny making the comments and told him during their phone conversation, "Aw, you know, I'm sorry if I said anything that was out of line." Added Bryant, "He was like a mentor, like a brother to me, so when something like that happens, you're upset, you're hurt." Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday that Malone was asked by Vanessa Bryant, "Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?" in reference to Malone wearing a cowboy hat and boots. "She said it twice," Manley said, "and Karl answered, 'I'm hunting for little Mexican girls.' " Manley said Malone told him he had never made a pass at Bryant's wife, that he was surprised by the accusation, and that he then apologized to both Bryant and his wife for any remarks she might have considered inappropriate. "Karl's response to Kobe's comments today is that he's a basketball player and not a soap opera actor and he doesn't intend to be involved in a personal soap opera," Manley said of his client. Pelinka, who works for SFX and has been Bryant's agent for four years, said he was told what transpired last month by Kobe and Vanessa Bryant. "Karl and his son were at the game sitting in the front row," Pelinka said. "Vanessa was on the cell phone talking to Karl's wife, Kay, and Vanessa said that her son looked bored. Kay told her to call Karl to have her son join her in her seats. Kay gave Vanessa Karl's cell number and she called him. When she called, Karl's response was, 'Why don't you come over here and sit next to me and give me a big hug?' Vanessa said, 'Why? For what?' And Karl replied, 'If you do that it will be on the cover of every magazine in the country.' "Vanessa didn't know what to say because this was the first time she had ever spoken to Malone without Kobe or Kay being around. Karl continued. 'Do you like me?' Malone asked her, to which Vanessa said, 'As my friend, Kay's husband,' " Pelinka said. "From there Malone asked Vanessa if she could keep a secret, and that he would like to tell her something. At which point Vanessa told him she was a married woman and he was a married man who was old enough to be her father. To which Malone replied, 'Oh, like your daddy?' At that point she told me she ended the conversation," Pelinka said. In the second half of the game, Malone sent his son to sit with the Bryants. "Vanessa told me that she just was very uncomfortable at halftime and that Karl was acting and saying weird things." said Pelinka. "When the game ended, Vanessa walked Malone's son back to Karl. She told me that she asked Malone why he was wearing that [cowboy] hat. His response was, 'I'm hunting for young Mexican girls.' At which point Vanessa just walked away." On the car ride home, Vanessa Bryant told Kobe what had happened. Vanessa decided to call Kay Malone and tell her about the way her husband had spoken to her. After they hung up, Kobe Bryant called Karl Malone on his cell phone. [table][tr][td][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]“[/font][/td][td][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]He's a legend. And if you don't like Karl Malone, there's something wrong with you.[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] â€[/font][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][font=Times,serif]— [/font][font=Times,serif]Shaquille O'Neal[/font][/td][/tr][/table]"Kobe told me that Karl just listened and didn't deny any of it. Kobe said Karl's only reply was, 'You know me, man.' To which Kobe told him, 'That's right, I do know you -- and stay away from my wife,' " said Pelinka. "The next day, with all four of them on the phone, Karl denied it. At that point the Bryants knew that there was nothing left to talk about since they knew Karl wasn't telling the truth. Vanessa told me that she told Kay that she [Vanessa] wanted her [Kay] to know 'just exactly what your husband [Karl] did, and you do what you want with the information.' " Last week Bryant said in a radio interview on XTRA that it was his intuition that Malone would retire. That comment led Malone to reply that he did not want to be a distraction to the Lakers and blamed Bryant for the rift. According to Bryant, Malone told him before the season started that he was going to retire and spend more time with his family. Bryant said that Malone asked him not to speak publicly about his decision. Malone has been recovering from knee surgery and had told the Lakers that if he was going to return to play it would be with them. On the outside of the drama this time, Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal was amazed at this story. "I'm very surprised how it came out, but I've never seen anything like that before," O'Neal told the Miami Herald. "I thought him and Karl were best friends. Karl was always the liaison between me and that guy. I was under the impression they were closer than what they were." O'Neal said he would be surprised if Malone did anything inappropriate. "He's a legend," O'Neal said. "And if you don't like Karl Malone, there's something wrong with you." With a return to the Lakers likely out of the question, other teams are pursuing Malone, beginning with the San Antonio Spurs. Over the past weekend, Manley contacted the Spurs, hoping to arrange a meeting with Malone and Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president, the San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday. "It's up to Karl to decide what he is going to do and with whatever team," Popovich said. "I'm just waiting, trying to be patient, and seeing what he wants to do. When he's ready to start talking to people about wanting to play, I will be ready to talk to him. Manley spoke Sunday with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford and with director of basketball operations Danny Ferry. "Everything was just very general, that's all," Ferry said. "There were no specifics talked about. It was just setting up an opportunity for Pop and Karl to talk." No date or time has been scheduled for such a talk. "I don't want to talk to anybody but Karl. I don't need to talk to Manley or anybody else," he said. "I gave that job up a couple years ago. R.C. and Danny can handle that part." The Associated Press contributed to this report.




While not defending MJ, I think you'd be hard pressed to find something like this on Jordan, and we are not even talking about the assinine event in Colorado. Speaking of assinine events and comments of the like, are adults supposed to know the history of Gucci shoes, in order to wear them as well? 

 

[never wear them]