Kobe in Hollywood
Kobe Bryant made an appearance today at a Nike-sponsored event in Hollywood designed to promote the company's newest project: the construction of playgrounds/fields around the greater Southern California area. Kobe was the headliner, following Serena Williams and skater Paul Rodriguez Jr., and the 200 or so kids on hand were thrilled to see him. Kobe slapped hands with the kids after he finished speaking, but unfortunately the kids didn't get any closer to finding out what Kobe thinks of the Lakers these days.
Every time a question was asked that was...well, interesting, one of Kobe's ``people'' pulled him away. He said, two or three times, that he didn't want to talk about his situation and instructed reporters to ``call Mitch Kupchak'' instead. Right-o. Kobe expressed empathy for Derek Fisher, who he described as a good friend, but wouldn't comment, even in a general sense, as to whether he would be pleased if the Lakers signed Fisher.
Chances are you'll see Kobe on the news tonight, talking about playgrounds.
Comments
No comments is the best answer.
Kobe is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't in the media guys' eyes.
Posted by: gdchild | July 11, 2007 7:00 PM
dave vassegh was doing a one on one interview ith him and might have gotten something out of him, but apparently the newspaper people wouldn't let him. oh well, it would have been nice to hear what he had to say, but the newspaper people wouldn't let a radio guy get an exclusive. oh well.
Posted by: professional courtesy | July 11, 2007 9:53 PM
There were no one-on-one interviews. There was one group session with English-speaking television reporters, one with Spanish-speaking television reporters and one with radio reporters and others. Anyone who thinks they were going to ``get something out of him'' is kidding themselves.
Posted by: Rich Hammond | July 11, 2007 10:51 PM
Kobe gives interviews in Spanish?
Posted by: Lakerfan | July 12, 2007 10:29 AM
I'm not certain if Kobe speaks Spanish, but he certainly understands it. Most of the Spanish-language media's questions were in English, but I definitely heard one in Spanish and Kobe understood it and answered (in English) without a problem. Maybe he studied it in school or maybe spending time in Italy helped him pick up the language.
Posted by: Rich Hammond | July 12, 2007 10:46 AM
Or Kobe learns Spanish from Wify Venessa.
Posted by: gdchild | July 12, 2007 2:58 PM
or maybe its his wife... that he caught some of it... thats my guess..
Posted by: akp | July 12, 2007 3:07 PM
That's a good point about his wife...
Posted by: Rich Hammond | July 12, 2007 7:57 PM
Rich from everything you have heard and seen,do you see kobe in the lakers lineup come opening night?He still hasnt retracted his demand
Posted by: cassy | July 15, 2007 5:30 PM
Cassy, Why would Kobe say anything right now? Nothing has happened.. unless you think a potential Fisher signing is all Kobe meant by "winning now"? Nothing major has happened to drastically change his mindset.
Posted by: Lakerfan | July 16, 2007 5:24 PM