West Side Story

Age of innocence

"I'm from where they ball, and breed rhyme stars..."

Jay- Z - Where I'm From

Last week I covered the Los Angeles Lakers for HOOP Magazine as well as this blog GAME TIME with AG. I write a column for HOOP entitled KICKIN' IT, in which I interview various NBA players about their footwear, and shoe deals. Outside of that I also write a similar article, SNEAKER GAME, as I speak with 3 players from one team, and 3 players from another team about what they are wearing, and playing in. For the March/April '09 edition, I spoke with Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, and Al Thornton from the Clippers, and Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar, and Derek Fisher from the Lake Show. Once that was complete, I could utilize the rest of my time to catch up with Kobe Bryant.

Boys to Men

When I was growing up my father would say a lot of things that I'm sure he learned in his youth. One of his most famous sayings to my brother and I was "son, you're going to be a man, much longer than you're going to be a boy..." and then he would either smile or let out a hearty laugh. I didn't know what he was talking, and or laughing about until recently. Now, as an adult that statement makes perfect sense, as I have responsibilities far beyond my young mind would have ever allowed.

Nevertheless with age comes wisdom if you allow it, and I have embraced my years, as I try to learn something new everyday.

I was born in West Philadelphia, and I've lived in other places, such as Brooklyn, and Suitland, Maryland, which in looking back, they have all shaped who I am today making me well versed and rounded. Back in 1994, I met someone that was also from Philadelphia, and not only had he lived in other places in the United States, but he and his family, had also lived in Italy, and France. Interestingly enough I was introduced to Kobe Bryant in a gym, as his oldest sister Sharia introduced us after her volleyball match. I'd been running my mouth to her about how "great" I was as a basketball player, and instead of entertaining my banter she got her sibling, and that ended anything I could say in reference to basketball.

As I've grown in journalism, so too has Kobe as an international icon. I consider him as the "now" in the pantheon of past NBA legends. Disagree if you will, but I will stick to this claim, because like him or not, there is nothing that Bryant cannot do on the court, and for that fact alone, it makes him one of the best. After the game in Philadelphia, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, wanted nothing more than to shake Kobe's hand, and take a few pictures along side him. If that isn't a sign of respect, then I don't know what is.

I wanted to interview them both, as they represent what Philadelphia basketball is all about. However while I did speak with Monroe, he didn't have time for questions and answers, and I, because of our mutual respect, figured that Kobe would sit for a spell and talk, but I didn't take into account that his family and friends were at the game, so the stage was set, for an interview two days later in DC.

I drove to the nation's capital with fellow journalists Jeff Young, and Michael Tillery. Jeff is from DC, so after I taped a segment for BET News, we headed over to Howard University to catch up with friends (Chevonne, Mr. Hill), and then trekked over to the world famous Ben's Chili Bowl for some half smokes and fries...Jeff had the chili burger sub.

After filling our appetite with some good food, and nostalgic tunes, we headed over to the Verizon Center to cover what turned out to be a very entertaining game. During the 1st quarter I received a reassuring text message from Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka, saying "KB said he would try his best to give you 5 mins after the game..."

From there, I organized my questions, and analyzed the game. Afterward, true to his word, I spoke with Kobe about his latest sneaker from Nike, the Zoom Kobe IV, and the misnomer about the "suburban" tag that people so often bestow upon him.

Watch the video below for the interview with Kobe Bryant:

Batman Begins

Destiny's child

The Fresh Prince of LA

Star among stars

Internationally known

"Play the front row seat watching Iverson...first class aircrafts when I'm flying in...to LA...Shaq, Eddie, Kobe Bryant, and them..."

Beanie Sigel - Adrenaline

Two-weeks after Kobe Bryant scored an unfathomable 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, he and I were to sit down for an interview in Los Angeles. I made the 3,000-mile trek from Philly International to LAX...from there it was a short hop to the Lakers front office and practice facility in El Segundo.

I took my place among the media and waited patiently for Bryant. He emerged from the locker room and informed me that he had something more pressing to do, and that he would call me later. I reluctantly agreed and proceeded to call Rob Pelinka, his agent. Since I had more time than I would have liked on my hands, I ventured to LA to take in the sights, window shop, and perhaps head over to Fat Burger or Carl's Jr. for some savory west coast flavor. As the day progressed and light turned into shadows, then darkness, I realized that my interview with Bryant wasn't going to happen, at least not on this day...and just when I gave up all hope...my cell phone rang. It was almost to the effect that an alarm clock has during the serenity of REM sleep.

I was excited...this was the call I'd been waiting my entire career for, so I answered in a very non-descript voice, with my Philly twang...Hah-LO. The voice on the other line belonged to Pelinka, as he told me that he had Kobe on the line, and that he is really sorry...something came up.

"What up Kolb?" I said. "My bad Ant...I couldn't do it today. I had some stuff to take care of with Vanessa." He replied, sounding as if he was torn between his family, and his fam. "It's all good man. We can sit down another time...but you know what?" "What's up?" responses Bryant. "I want to write a story unlike no other. I really want to take it from West Philly to LA and back again. I want this story to hit hard man...I want this to set all the records straight, as to inspire the young bawhs! You're the DARK KNIGHT." There was that brief awkward silence, and then he said, 'yeah! I have some DARK KNIGHT in me!

I have since interviewed him numerous times, as I feel that day was a proving ground...a trail by fire if you will, showing KB that I didn't take anything for granted, but that I am a journalist and if I didn't first succeed, that I will try, try, again. TV, print, Internet, or otherwise, he has always made time for me, no matter the medium.

Hard work and diligence are words that come to mind when thinking of Kobe, and I know that he can recognize my pain, hunger, work ethic, and respect, and in turn I've been rewarded with one-on-one interviews and a genuine friendship.

This morning, I woke up early with pre-game jitters as if I had to suit up and play against Australia. In a crazy moment, that I am almost embarrassed to admit, I fell victim to the media hype surrounding Team USA. I know that Team USA is for real, and I understand that they will win the gold, however every time I read something or watch TV, the "experts" are warning me about the opposing team. I don't know much about the teams of the world, however I know that any team with Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Jason Kidd has more than a fair chance at VIC-TOR-Y, as Johnny Drama would say.

I prayed promptly before game time, giving God thanks, all the while asking for grace for the players and the outcome of the game. Yes its that serious for me. Nevertheless, I'm so upset that I allow the so-called basketball guru's scare me like something of out an Orson Welles broadcast. I know better, because I know Kobe Bean Bryant, and he won't stop until the Redeem Team lives up to their moniker.

If you ever watch Kobe play you will see how good he really is. The man is talented. Say what you want about him, however your eyes will not deceive you. It is in those few instances that you have to pay attention, because he can turn it on at the bat of an eye. During today's match against the Aussies, I saw that familiar look in his body language that reads you can't stop me, and this game is over!

When Bryant starts shaking his head, and when you can read the word NO on his lips, then the opposing team needs to run for cover, because its not over until he says so. He shook his head to the tune of 25 points and 5 assists.

Team USA 116 - Australia 85

So how did he get like this? That's the million dollar question, and I've asked him as recently as June. His answer, "I'm just determined. I don't know...I've always been like this."

Kobe Bryant is not only the league MVP, but he is also as most consider him, to be the best player on the planet.

The date was March 6, 1996 and my best friend Brandon King and I went to go cheer on the Minnesota Timberwolves against our hapless Philadelphia 76ers. We were cheering against the home team not because we wanted them to “tank it” and get Allen Iverson in June…no, nothing like that. It was because we were there to cheer on University of Pennsylvania alum Jerome “Pooh” Allen, who was so legendary in the neighborhood, that he had the entire city trying to emulate his signature through the legs, behind the back cross over move. I don’t remember seeing Allen play because little did I know as a fresh faced teen that the NBA is a business, and when you have a high school player on your squad that was drafted with the 5th pick overall, he plays. While the accomplished Ivy League, and Philadelphia hero that was taken in the 2nd round, 20th pick, 49th overall sits the bench, and continues to work extremely hard in practice. I didn’t understand the politics, but it was there that I decided that I didn’t like Flip Saunders as a head coach.

Minnesota won the game 103-90, and it was the play of Kevin Garnett that really stood out. Here he is not that much older than I and he is playing in the NBA. I was both encouraged and perplexed. You have to understand that when I was growing up playing ball in the Sonny Hill League, the message revolved around two things, education and the game. Even the legend Rasheed Wallace went to college, so when Garnett skipped higher learning, people were surprised. Which brings me to another point…I was so frustrated with Flip Saunders for not putting Jerome Allen in the game that I began to concentrate less on the Wolves, and more on the people around me. As I scanned the audience for a fine “hunny”, I saw a young man that looked as if he were studying for a final exam, rather than watching a basketball game. It was Kobe Bryant, the younger brother of my crush Sharia. You see his oldest sister Sharia played volleyball at Temple University and at 5′10″ she not only excelled at the sport, she made it look GOOD. I became friends with her thinking that if I couldn’t get a date, I could at least befriend her.

One day after mustering up some courage, I told her that I play basketball and she smiled and says ‘yeah, well you can’t beat my little brother! I didn’t know who she was talking about so I said, ‘go get your brother…and a few days later I was standing in front of her 6′3″ younger brother with a look that spelled anger, so after denying the facts, I naturally wanted to get on his good side and befriend him also.

By the time I saw Kobe at that 76ers game I was comfortable enough with him to speak, but I decided not to because of the way he was “enjoying” the game. I never saw anything like it and by June 26, everything made sense. Bryant was drafted 13th by the Charlotte Hornets and later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.

He was in fact studying that game, and more specifically he was concentrating on Kevin Garnett and how he faired as a high school prodigy against the likes of the NBA. It was no secret in Philadelphia that Kobe had been practicing at St. Joseph’s University against the 76ers, giving Jerry Stackhouse headaches, so he didn’t lack for confidence, I just figured that he wanted to see someone else put in work to make his argument to enter the draft a little more solid.

It was the classic scenario of student learning from teacher.

Now Bryant is the teacher, and the world is his classroom.