The Last Days Of The Black Mamba

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We all knew it was coming but I still can't believe it's happening this soon.

Kobe Bryant, one of the best shooting guards of all-time and perhaps the best player of his generation, has decided that this will be his last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In addition to the announcement of his retirement a few hours ago, the Black Mamba expressed his feelings about his impending departure from the National Basketball Association as a professional basketball player through two letters entitled "When We First Met I Was Just A Kid" and "Dear Basketball",.

Although Kobe Bryant's fierce and competitive nature suggests that he'd continue playing until the day he dies, it seems that the injuries, losses and abysmal performances finally got to him, forcing him to hang it up after this season.

If it was 2004, I couldn't care less. I hated this guy back then. At the time, I thought this guy was selfish and an egomaniac who'd rather drive a dominant center out of town just so the Lakers can become his team. I also disliked the fact that he was being compared by the media to Michael Jordan.

But with the passing of time, I learned to appreciate what he brought to the table and what he meant to the game. He is without a doubt one of the best scorers we've ever seen. After all, he did score 81 points in an NBA game, and that's the closest we've gotten to a Wilt Chamberlain-like performance in years.

His intensity and work ethic is unmatched. Words can't describe just how dedicated and passionate Kobe Bryant is about basketball. His letters speak for themselves. That is how most people would feel after realizing the thing that they've poured their heart and soul into for years has been completed. You could admire the impact of your work, but you wouldn't be thrilled that the thing you enjoyed doing for most of your life is finally over. And let's not forget that prior to his injury, he was able to keep in step with younger superstars like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, despite having a lot of mileage on his body. At his age, the only way Bryant could've done that is by taking care of his body and practicing religiously.

I also learned that some of my previous sentiments about this weren't guy completely accurate. It's really hard to be unselfish when you're a great scorer. Besides, it has been explained in "Kobe Bryant's Muse" it wasn't just about getting all the glory but more about relying more on himself rather than expecting people to get him out of a bind.

In addition, Shaquille O'Neal has said on record that his departure from the Lakers had little to do with Bryant and more with money. Furthermore, Kobe disliked Shaq for reasons other than becoming the face of the franchise. The way the big fella' tried to slap him during rookie year, as Stephen A. Smith recalls, kinda' rubbed him the wrong way and got their relationship off the wrong foot from the get-go. Shaq's laziness, among other things, added insult to injury.

And lastly, I realized that comparing him to MJ was the right thing to do. In a league craving for its next big star in the post-Jordan era, Kobe stepped up and reminded us why we fell in love with Jordan. First, he was a winner. He may have not won as much as MJ but he does have a fist full of rings. He's a two-time gold medalist in the Olympics to boot. He also participated and won a dunk contest like MJ. Scoring in bunches is another thing they shared, and the way Kobe did it was hauntingly familiar to that of Chicago Bulls legend. In addition to his scoring prowess, Bryant played great defense. He also boosted the popularity of basketball around the world to an all-time high. Kobe may not be Michael Jordan, and probably isn't as good as him, but someone once said he is his generation's Jordan and I couldn't agree more.

Love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant has done a lot for the game of basketball. His presence will be sorely missed once he leaves the game forever so let's cherish the moments we see him lace it up and heave forced shots one last time. And for those who still dislike him, as the song goes, don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got till its gone?

Book Review: Pacific Rims

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More than a week has passed since Gilas Pilipinas lost to China in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships and I am still salty about the defeat. Most people will point out that the height of the Chinese, poor outside shooting, missed opportunities from the charity stripe, pressure from fans, both Pinoys and Chinese, and the terrible officiating contributed to the loss. I, on the other hand, am left wondering why we keep dreaming of playing basketball in the Olympics, the grandest stage of them all, when the sport clearly favors tall people and height is something a lot of Filipinos are not blessed with. Wouldn’t we be enjoying more international success had the Gilas cagers started out as football players and ended up as members of the Azkals instead? Aren’t we better off had earlier generations discovered football before basketball? Isn’t it unreasonable for a country populated mostly by short people to be so in love with the game of basketball?

Although a basketball fan myself, I cannot explain the unlikely affair of Filipinos with basketball. Good thing I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of Pacific Rims, not to be confused with the movie about robots and monsters. Written by Rafe Bartholomew, the book shares the author’s experiences in the Philippines as he follows the Alaska Aces from 2005 to 2007 while uncovering the mystery behind the passion for basketball that Filipinos have.

Rich with insights, interviews and quotes from important figures in Philippine basketball, Pacific Rims has plenty of information on the history of the game in the country and how it transformed into the nation’s favorite pastime and beloved sport. It explains the role it plays in the lives of Filipinos from different walks of life as well as exploring its place in our society. The book also takes its readers behind the scenes of small-town leagues, better known as liga or paliga in Tagalog, and the Philippine Basketball Association, revealing some of the league’s secrets and shedding light on controversial issues like Fil-Ams, one-sided trades and ludicrous contracts. In addition, it takes a closer look at some of Alaska’s players and coaches during the team’s run to the championship in the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference, giving readers a better understanding of what makes professional athletes tick and the pros and cons of being a pro baller.

Aside from the interesting information it contains, the book provides readers with entertainment in the form of the author's funny experiences in the Philippines and with the Alaska players. Reading stories about pro cagers farting, walking around naked and Bartholomew being mistaken for a popular PBA shooting guard should leave basketball aficionados laughing and shaking their heads.

To sum it up, Pacific Rims is a must read for any Filipino hoops fan. Not only does it explain why we love the game so much, but to some extent, it justifies our feelings and fuels our passion. In my eyes, Bartholomew is not only a basketball fanatic but a skilled wordsmith because the words he used in this book allowed him to speak to our culture and our soul with utmost sincerity. If you want to understand why you love basketball so much or are looking for a way to express your love for the game, other than making an acrobatic layup or creating a makeshift hoop, getting this book should do the trick.

10 things to look out for as NBA draws near

With the conclusion of the FIBA Men’s World Championships comes another major basketball event set to take place after a few weeks.
The world’s premiere basketball league, the NBA, opens on October 6, and in anticipation of the coming 2010-2011 Season, Lone Opinion gives you a rundown of 10 things to watch out for when the ballers return to the hardcourt.

Post World Championships Reaction

ISTANBUL, Turkey – Kevin Durant led the American onslaught to lead Team USA past…Tur…key…Zzz…Zzzz…Zzz.

Don’t get me wrong, the World Championships was exciting, but I’m not surprised that USA is back on top of the global basketball scene. All that talk about the ‘B-Team’ being underdogs is nothing but rubbish. Even without the members of the 2008 Olympic team, Team USA pretty much owns the most talented roster in the tourney. Other participating countries could only put up little resistance against the American delegation since key personalities like Tony Parker (France), Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Pau Gasol (Spain) were missing in action.

Never mind that previous representatives of Uncle Sam had early exits in the World Championships albeit as talented as this one. There are no prima donnas in 2010 and that secured the gold medal for the US.

'The Glove' was running on love all this time

Before the FIBA World Basketball Championships began, the NBA provided basketball hungry Filipinos their much needed fix for hoops action with the NBA Asia Challenge 2010.

Former NBA stars Glen Rice, Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond and Gary Payton, along with some NBA D-League standouts, graced the Araneta Coliseum last 27 August 2010 in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines to showcase their basketball prowess.