"It's a witch hunt"

[utvol0427]

What does everyone think of Phil Jackson's comments regarding all of the flagrant fouls called on Kobe as of late. He said that "It is a witch hunt" and that hey are just out to get Kobe. I understand the whole concept of taking up for you players, but there has to come a time when you say, he messed up and he is going to have to except the punishment, whatever it is.

[sea of orange]

The first time Kobe did it, it could have been called an isolated incident, but the man has done it two other times not long after the first one. It has to be looked into to see if he is doing this on purpose or if it is a reaction or whatever. I am sure Phil is just trying to protect his star player, but he definitely overreacted.

[GAVol]

Phil has been hitting the pipe a little too hard. There is just no way you can watch the video of those two incidents and think that they were both unintentional acts.

[milohimself]

I don't think it's a "witch hunt" as he says. I do firmly believe the league office does not like Kobe Bryant, and that they are a little more zealous with him when dealing out punishments. It's ridiculous to go back and retroactively give somebody a foul.

[sea of orange]

Do you really think that if someone else did this instead of Kobe that they would get less heat, because i can't see that happening.

[tidwell]

There are like 5 white guys in the whole league, and Kobe has already smacked 3 of'em in the face. Watch your self, Austin Croshere, you could be next. We know it's either you or Dirk.

[sea of orange]

[StunnA N' Orange]

[milohimself]

Originally Posted by tidwell

There are like 5 white guys in the whole league, and Kobe has already smacked 3 of'em in the face. Watch your self, Austin Croshere, you could be next. We know it's either you or Dirk.

Do they play Orlando soon? Maybe Kobe will go over to the bench and pop Reddick upside the head. That would be sweet.

[tidwell]

I was going to mention JJ, but figured I would limit it to guys that see the court on a regular basis.

[utvol0427]

Originally Posted by tidwell

There are like 5 white guys in the whole league, and Kobe has already smacked 3 of'em in the face. Watch your self, Austin Croshere, you could be next. We know it's either you or Dirk.

[cotton]

Back to the topic, if the first foul hadn't caused an all-star to get a standing 8 count and attention from the cut-man, it wouldn't have been an issue. The fact is it did, bringing media attention to the flailing flop, and caused everybody from officials to ESPN to the league office to be on the look out for it.

After that happened, anything that resembles a kung-fu move on a jump shot by Kobe is going to be closely scrutinized, and he is not going to get the benefit of any doubts. That's natural, even if it is not necessarily evenly applied throughout the league, and seriously puts a dent in Phil's witch-hunt characterization.

I don't blame him for trying to help his team by attacking the scrutiny on his star player though; that is part of his job.

[Tenn_Vol_Authority]

Kobe should be in jail right now. If he is capable of raping a teenager, how could you not expect him to assault on the court?

[volmanjr]

When Charles Barkley says "Kobe , you gotta cut this crap out." it's no witch hunt.

[tidwell]

Speaking of Kobe, he just outscored several NCAA Tourney teams tonight.