On Kobe’s Recent Flagrant Foul Issue
Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers were fined $50,000 apiece by the NBA on Thursday after the coach said the league was conducting a “witch hunt” against Kobe Bryant.
Ok I get it. Phil Jackson as a point. If you look at the whole league there are other players who would get caught with similar calls if you look close enough and yet they focus on Kobe. But that doesn’t negate the plain and simple fact - Kobe is guilty of it. I’m talking about the retroactive decision by the NBA to call a flagrant foul on Kobe Bryant for elbowing Sixer Kyle Korver on the face when the Lakers played the Sixers the other day.
Forget the other players for a moment and focus on Kobe. Great as he may be at the game but if you look at the way he plays, he always has that tendency to play dirty. He always tends to let his elbows fly on the drive. I’ve seen it so many times over and over again, only this time he aimed way too high with those elbows. Let’s say it’s being physical and many others do it (many times without being caught) but as I said that doesn’t negate his guilt.
The guilty party must be punished so there’s nothing wrong with the NBA’s decision though Jackson may have the reason to complain that the others who play dirty should be assessed with the same call. I think of this as karma for the way Kobe plays and he should learn not to let his elbows loose the way he does it. Someone was bound to get hurt that way and someone finally did. There’s a fine line between being physical and actually hurting someone and Kobe just crossed it.
Trivia: Oddly enough, I just remembered that Phil Jackson was notorious for those flying elbows too when he played with the New York Knicks back in the day.
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1 opinion for On Kobe’s Recent Flagrant Foul Issue
archangel joseph
Mar 16, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I just know that the Kobe lovers will wade in on this observation. Many a time, I would point out to others that Kobe typically does a quick elbow jab before moving past a defender or taking a shot. Problem is, the elbow is aimed high….which usually leads to painful results. Of course, many others do indulge in rough play now and then, but this typical move of Kobe comes too often. You think I am exaggerating? Look at clips or replays of past games.
His coach, Phil, was the prime exponent of flying elbows in his prime. I was in my early 20’s when watching the Knicks play in those days. I did cheer for the Knicks then, and noticed little things like Phil’s flying elbows. He was an excellent defender and rebounder back then.
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