Kobe didn't shake hands Sunday? Big deal

March 8th, 2010, 12:43 pm ·

· posted by Earl Bloom, staff writer

One of the worst things I read over the weekend was at, where several folks criticized Kobe Bryant for jogging off the court after his potential tying shot missed.

Bryant was supposed to rush over and embrace the Orlando players? Wrong.

It was just as stupid to criticize LeBron James for walking off without hugs and handshakes when the Cavaliers lost to the Magic in the East Finals last year (what is it about Orlando, anyway?).

James' major faux pas was blowing off his media availability -- not because it made any journalist's job harder, but because he owed that time to the fans. The NBA made sure he owed them for that blunder.

But shake hands after a tough loss? It's not Little League, it's not high school, and it's not the NHL, which has a longstanding tradition of lining up to pay respects when a playoff series ends.

If you have a photo of Magic Johnson hugging Larry Bird after a loss to the Celtics, send it to me, or at least a link.

And, to answer Janis Carr's question, no I don't think Bryant shoots too much -- as long as he doesn't keep jacking them up when he's 3 for 17, and the post players don't get fed. So my answer there would have to be ... sometimes.

Yes, Bryant was off in the third quarter, and so was the team. The Lakers needed every shot he took in the fourth quarter, even the ones that were forced (one of those, a three, went in).

I have always been one of Bryant's harshest critics. I try to be reasonable about it, however.

There is no questioning he is a great player intended; he's just not the one I would pick to start a team (that guy now owns the Charlotte Bobcats, and no, it has nothing to do with ring counts, otherwise I'd say Bill Russell).

And he's not even the first Laker I would pick; that fellow sits behind the Lakers bench at home games, and works with Andrew Bynum.

All of these are personal opinions or preferences, and by no means are meant to demean anyone for theirs. If you think the players should hug the opposition after games, fine. But I don't have to like it.

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