Bill Simmons is an idiot

To understand Kobe's misguided choice, let's first retrace the
disappointing arc of his career. Once projected as MJ's successor, the
wheels came spinning off after Kobe's ego intervened. A power struggle
with Shaq, legal troubles, some memorably selfish play ... Kobe's
downward spiral was the basketball version of Tony Montana's in
Scarface. And using his contract leverage to orchestrate Shaq's
departure was his "Tony shot Manny!" moment. There was no going back. More

So here is another shining example of unfounded hatred on Kobe. In the first couple of stanzas, he remarks about some 'memorably selfish play'. But then he decides Kobe's defining moment has been missed because he didn't play after the third quarter in a 62 point effort. This is horse doo doo. He goes onto bring up Bird's game where he took the scoring title.

1. Though that game 'is shown on ESPN classic', and in record books, it doesn't make it classy. I'd much rather have a 'legitimate' record. One where I wasn't being allowed to score, where teammates weren't fouling just so I could get the ball back and go for some record. That kills the point. Funny how when Bird does it, it's ESPN classic material. Just a couple of years ago, somebody padded their numbers (essentially what Bird and the other Celtics did) trying to get a triple double and was on the assend of jokes and criticism.
   
2. If Kobe had 62 at the end of the third and the score was 75 -61, then he shouldn't leave the game. Records should come in the natural flow of the game, and this stands true of all sports. It shouldn't be helped along by people committing unintentional fouls, playing when they normally wouldn't play, etc..
3. Funny how the media switches. If Kobe had played that quarter and gotten hurt....do you think journalistic hindsight would have said Kobe should be in the game? No, 'sports guy' (and I use this very loosely), no you wouldn't have. In fact, you would have questioned the decision for the entire time Kobe was out with injury.
4. What in your head makes you think Kobe cares whether you think he's a good guy? Sports media would be a lot more respected if they could stop creating stories and just report them. 'Apparently, he thought that passing up a chance at immortality would prove he was a good guy.' Statement is shim sham, maybe he thought we've won the game. Showing up the Mavs or not, the game was over. He's a starter. When the game is in hand, you rest your starters. And you're right the Mavs may have killed themselves trying to stop him, in fact, they may have flagrantly tried to stop him....is that what you want? So you can label some more players 'thugs'?
   
5. So people will remember that David Thompson (not even sure he has any rings) scored 53 in a half but they won't remember Kobe outscoring a team by himself after 3 quarters. Where does your freakin' hypocrisy end?

I think the underlying motive of this article is that you're not a Kobe fan. You've never written a Kobe article that I've seen in a positive light. You're taking the opportunity to smear a fantastic performance to promote your personal feelings. In my eyes, you are as sad as a Tony Mejia...whom I've no respect for...

Once again, how do sports experts become experts when all they do is pass their personal opinion as fact.........