"All you hear is Kobe's mouth."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba...lakers-all-you-hear-is-kobes-mouth/ar-AAd4frs


By Steve DelVecchio

The Indiana Pacers signed free agent center Jordan Hill on Tuesday, and it sounds like the 27-year-old won’t need as many aspirin with his new team as he did with his old one.

Hill went to the Lakers via trade a few years back and played 70 or more games in each of his last two seasons in Los Angeles. He became very familiar with Kobe Bryant during that time, and he spoke to reporters about that earlier this week.

“When he’s on the floor it’s like, all you hear is Kobe’s mouth,” Hill explained, per a video that Shane Young posted on Instagram. “On the floor, all you hear is Kobe’s mouth — during practice and games. He gets loud. A lot of people can’t handle it, I guess.”

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Kobe takes practicing just as seriously as he takes games, which is one of the reasons he’s one of the best to ever play. There has even been video evidence of him berating teammates during practice.

While no one will ever question Bryant’s desire to win, it’s his strong personality and motormouth that have supposedly cost the Lakers free agents over the years. As Hill alluded to, some players don’t respond well to that.

 

Jordan didn't say HE couldn't handle it, but that some people can't. Steve's first sentence there is insinuating something different.

Either way, I'm not surprised but I don't care. There's too much lovey dovey in the NBA right now. You can't take someone talking to you? This is one of the greatest to ever play and you can't handle what he's got to say? Then you probably aren't strong enough to be a contributor to a ring. As soft as everyone has always said Pau is, Pau was Kobe's right hand man. If "soft" Pau can handle it, then why the hell couldn't anyone else? Go to Houston if you want a buddy. We want to win over here.

 

I read Hill's quote yesterday and thought it was funny. It's almost guaranteed to be true, and like real said, he said a lot of people can't handle it, he guesses. He never said it bothered him, doubt it did. Like most crappy writers though, this guy uses the quote to try and make a story of nothing.

 

"If you can't play with Kobe, we don't want you here."
- Jeannie Buss

 

They will all be sorry when Kobe retires.

 

Sorry but I cannot agree with that statement.

Imagine your boss at work would constantly remind you, how much better he is and how much you suck. I know for a fact that my boss knows better than I do and I know he earns 5 times as much money, deservedly. But never once has he been disrespectful to me and I really appreciate it. Even when I do something wrong, he would tell me why and how I should have done it but would never yell at me or something. Does that mean I'm soft? no. Does that mean my boss is soft? no. It means we value a certain way of doing things.


Respect is one of the most desired values on earth. Old school or not, you don't get people going by yelling at them. This has never been a good recipe for success. I'm also sure Kobe doesn't always just cuss the hell out of these guys. You have to give the young guys trust and be patient and let them enough room to breath and fail and learn from it.

 

Completely different environment. Can't compare sports to the office.

 

to cultivate good manners, it really doesn't metter whether you are in an office or on the court.

On the court, of course there will be more "yelling" than in the office....and I don't think people bother with that. As long as its respectful, honest and appreciative, its fine.
But if it turns into bullying, then its something that players don't like. First and foremost they are PEOPLE, not players.

 

First of all Kobe isn't his boss. Different situation. This would be the equivalent of a person in the office who'd been there forever telling the younger crowd how much better he is than them. That happens all the time. The younger guys probably aren't always happy with it. The best employees embrace it. They say "You're right. Help me get better."

If you can't handle Kobe ribbing you, then go away. Jordan was the same way. In some respects Magic was the same way if you didn't bust your butt on the floor. If you can't handle the pressure of a guy ribbing you in practice, how are you going to handle the pressure of the Finals? Are you going to be comfortable taking the last shot? Fisher, Artest, Gasol, and countless other small time role players have loved playing with Kobe. His intensity (which includes this motor mouth) drives the team.

Respect is earned, not given. Bird and Magic and Kareem and Jordan and Russell will respect the hell out of you as long as you perform.