Bill Simmons defends Smush

Michael Jordan revealed himself to be a vindictive asshole at his HOF speech. Kobe lacks Jordan's patience.


http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8511976/me-smush-happens-rafe-bartholomew-childhood-teammate-becomes-nba-player-becomes-kobe-bryant-enemy


bob



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bob,

What does this story have to do with Bill Simmons?

I have read a number of places what a lousy/moody person Smush Parker was when he played for the Lakers. Eric Pincus who has followed the Lakers for years recently wrote this in a Q&A session:
Eric Pincus
Kobe is focused on winning and that isn’t always pleasant to be around. Parker was just the kind of guy who would get dressed while you’re waiting to speak to him – and then leave you standing there without a word.
As we know Kobe is not the type of guy you want to hang around with in down time. He is all business and can be tough on his teammates. I don't think it is fair to say that Kobe gets on lesser teammates. That would include all of his teammates. He got on Shaq, Gasol and Smush Parker. He will ride Dwight too. He has already made it clear that this is still his team and that it will be Dwights team when Kobe leaves in 2 years. Should Kobe have brought up Parkers NBA corpse one more time? Definitely not. He has on many occassions used Parker's name in a negative way.

I can't believe that, if he won another championship, he'd even vagely imply that "there can be only one." One WHAT? Look at all the players who have won at least 7 championships. Heck, one of them even spent time with the Lakers:

11 Bill Russell
10 Sam Jones
8 Tom Heinsohn
8 KC Jones
8 Tom Sanders
8 John Havlicek
7 Jim Loscutoff
7 Frank Ramsey
7 Robert Horry

Sam

BTW...this article was NOT written by Bill Simmons

who the hell is Smush Parker?

He was a NYC street ball legend that had a short career in the NBA - and apparently rubbed Kobe the wrong way.

Not really sure why we care....but it was an interesting read just the same.

mrkleen09 wrote:BTW...this article was NOT written by Bill Simmons

MrKleen,

You're right. I was at Bill Simmon's page on Grantland and assumed it was his.

I should have realized this author isn't as funny as Simmons.

bob


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