Bryant on Broadway

61

Will power

"Trust me on this one, I'll detach you..."

Jay-Z - Takeover

New York, NY - February 2, 2009 - Black History Month continues here on GAME TIME, as Kobe Bryant took the liberty of making his-story on the biggest stage in basketball.

Second to none

I haven't been in New York since the summer, so when an opportunity arose to travel to Gotham City to cover the Knicks versus the Lakers...I didn't hesitate. My career in pro basketball started in Madison Square Garden, with the New York Knicks, and Liberty. I did my internship with those teams, the summer before my senior year at Temple University. There is a saying that has something to the effect of "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere...", and the city that never sleeps is tough, but I was able to learn, and grow, as well as make a name for myself there. With that experience, I've been able to build on that success to have a solid career in journalism.

I made sure to arrive early so I could catch Bryant during the afternoon shoot around. I noticed that he and assistant coach Brian Shaw were on one end of the court while some of the other guys on the team were shooting around and joking on the other side. Kobe was in one of his more focused moods, but after he was finished he walked over and addressed me and then the media. Once he was done with the media availability I walked with him down the hallway to the elevator...I told him that I'd heard from his sister on facebook, and I asked him what he was doing with his shoes after the game?

What would happen a few hours later, would be a lasting memory that I am sure my children will hear about one day. My friend and coworker Audie, mentioned a few times throughout the day that Bryant would have a BIG game against his hometown Knicks. Side note about the Knickerbockers, I am really impressed with Danilo Gallinari, he is a decent player that will only get better. It was interesting to see him and Kobe speak with one another during the game, in Italian no less. Trust me on this on Gallinari is legit.

Before the game began, people from the Garden not only remembered me, but they also showed a genuine love and respect for me. That made me feel really good, as I know that I did my best during the time I worked there. Once the game started, I saw the stars were in attendance, as Mariano Rivera, Jay-Z, Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg, America Ferrera, and John McEnroe, watched KB go on such an offensive tear that I figured this would become one of his many 40-point games. What I didn't figure, was that it would be the most historic night offensively in the current Madison Square Garden, which was built in 1968. 

He scored 61 points, as he made a perfect 20-20 from the free-throw line. It was the 4th best offensive outing for his career, which was good enough for the best since Bernard King scored 60 points on December 25, 1984. 

With 18 points in the 1st quarter and 34 by halftime, the Garden was electric as I would have to agree that it is the most hollowed place by far to play a basketball game in. Bryant had 12 points in the 3rd quarter, and evened everything out with 15 in the 4th. It was truly an amazing game, and afterward I had an opportunity to interview Kobe...however I forgot to ask him if his shoes had anything to do with it, as he was wearing his new Nike Zoom Kobe IV.

Kobe after throwing his very own "Garden" party, answered questions (click on the link to see Kobe, and listen for my questions at the end) for several minutes, and as he made his exit...he and I walked and talked about his team, and Black History Month.

He is the final score on our conversation:

Talk about this team and how things are a year later, after making the NBA Finals:

"Better prepared..better prepared, you know a lot of guys, it was their first time, you know Pau [Gasol] it was his first time out of the first round, and he goes all the way to the Finals...so a lot of things were new, so I think having a year of experience, and also...you know, learning a lot from that series, 'cause we learned a lot, so now we take those lessons and apply them to this season."

What are your thoughts on Black History Month, because a lot of people don't mention sports in that?

"Sure, sure...well it's a celebration of all of it, it's a big time of the year for us, and Martin Luther King Day, and having [President Barack] Obama being inaugurated the day after that, and now we have Black History Month...it's great, it's a great year for us."

With all that you have done, and then scoring 61 points tonight in Madison Square Garden...you have made a mark within Black History Month:

"Man it feels incredible, it feels incredible, and we obviously have to take the responsibility as African-American athletes and we try to do our best to live up to that."

At the Playground

"Please join a sorority...go step your game up..."

Little Brother - Lovin' It

On Christmas Day reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant celebrated breakthrough innovation with a festive flair by unveiling a special NIKEiD designed version of his latest signature shoe – the Nike Zoom Kobe IV. The day also marked the first day that people could visit NIKEiD.com to create their own version of the shoe. From now until February 1, 24 pairs of the Nike Zoom Kobe IV will be sold daily on NIKEiD.com. After February 1, the Zoom Kobe IV will be available in normal capacity on NIKEiD.com. The Zoom Kobe IV offering marks the first time that a signature Nike basketball shoe is available for customization on NIKEiD.com before it is available at retail.

To celebrate the shoe’s launch on NIKEiD.com, Bryant teamed up with Nike to create a web video that features appearances by DJ AM and comedian Mike Epps. Last week Nike rolled out a 30-seconds teaser version, which we featured here on GAME TIME.

In the beginning

When Kobe Bryant moved back to the United States, from France...it was at the playground where he was able to measure his game against the so called best of the best in North and West Philadelphia. Kobe played countless hours in the gym (JCC, Temple University, St. Joes Alumni Fieldhouse), but it was at Tustin Recreation Center where I remember him playing the most. So I find it fitting that his new web video is about a game of HORSE, in which Mike Epps is hustling everyone for their sneakes. The ad guys didn't have to think too hard for this one, as I'm sure they asked Bryant about some of the things he's seen happen on various courts around the city.

The more things change...the more they stay the same.

Creativity

Merry Christmas

GAME TIME

Classic

Subtle

Style

"Body moving...showin', proving...stylin'...and being fly..."

Common - Universal Mind Control

Beginning Christmas day, Nike iD gives you the opportunity to create your own version of the new Zoom Kobe IV. Earlier in the month we had an opportunity to catch up with Kobe about his new shoe, and now the power is in your hands, and within your mind's eye to customize his signature shoe...making it all your own.

For details log onto Nike iD

Watch this interesting video with Kobe, Mike Epps, and DJ AM:

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: