Bryant On The Celtics

by Jeff Clark on Nov 24, 2007 9:21 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Kobe had plenty to say about the Celtics recent and prior history. As quoted by Marc Spears in ESPN.

"Since I've been in the league, [the Celtics] sucked," Bryant said. "Now they are kicking our butt. Hopefully, we'll get to the point where there is some parity. If we can get to a point where we can get some parity between us and them, that means we're playing at a championship-caliber level. Hopefully, that will happen."
"I hated those [expletives]," Bryant said. "I couldn't stand them, man. Are you kidding me? Bird. [Kevin] McHale. [Danny] Ainge. Ainge was like a little pest, man. I couldn't stand the guy.
"But you grow older and you understand that it's just beautiful basketball. As a kid, you just don't like them. But then, as you get older, you understand the beauty and the rivalry and the sense of appreciation that you have for it."

Hard to argue with anything he's saying and you have to understand he's coming from a Lakers perspective. Still, stuff like this will help grow Kobe's villan role in this rivalry (that is if his team doesn't trade him and figures out how to put someone decent next to him). It was fun booing Kobe last night and while I respect his game, I'll never be able to like him as a player.

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Kobe’s words: “I hated those [expletives],” Bryant said. "I couldn’t stand them, man. Are you kidding me? Bird. [Kevin] McHale. [Danny] Ainge. Ainge was like a little pest, man. I couldn’t stand the guy.

Huh??? He was born in 1978. I was born in 1975 and I barely remember the Celtic/Laker rivalry. How can he have hated the Celtics so much when he was only 8 the last time the C’s won it all?

by Celtix on Nov 24, 2007 10:47 AM EST reply actions

As a child in the 60s, I remember learning early on to hate the Lakers and any team Wilt was on. Growing up, the names of many of the players whose numbers have been retired, and several others seemed like every day happenings. I don’t think it’s a stretch for Kobe to be aware of basketball when he was very young.

by amenhotep04 on Nov 24, 2007 12:23 PM EST reply actions

I don’t either. His dad was an NBA player so he was probably a little closer to the game than we were.

by iowa plowboy on Nov 24, 2007 12:35 PM EST reply actions

They didn’t suck in 2002 when they swept the regular season series from you…

by tb727 on Nov 24, 2007 2:14 PM EST reply actions

Celtix, great point!

I think it just became fashionable at some point for everone outside of Boston to hate or claim to hate Ainge. You might say Ainge whined a lot as a player, but you cannot say he whined any more than guys like Kareem. No, I think the Ainge hatred comes from the fact that he was a little white guy with a boyish face who aggrevated other players with his defense and who was able to impose his will and make a real difference for teams. For some reason, a lot of fans dislike it when people who don’t look like basketball players can do things they can’t do.

Don’t forget, in addition to starting on championship teams in Boston, he also started on teams that played for championships in Phoenix and Portland.

by Cousin It on Nov 24, 2007 3:32 PM EST reply actions

Cousin It, remember when Danny went after Tree Rollins after Rollins elbowed him? There was a huge pileup with Danny and Rollins on the bottom and Rollins bit Danny’s finger. Danny was an all around athlete and tough, despite his size. The little brother syndrome. Just gotta love him.

by TrueGreen on Nov 25, 2007 9:52 AM EST reply actions