Prodigal Son

Kobe Bryant

I thought for a minute that it might be on the front page of the newspaper but, it wasn't. I thought that it might be on the back page (which is actually the "front page" for the sports section) but, it wasn't. I thumbed through the paper and finally found it on page 68..."Kobe Bryant wins NBA's MVP award for 2008."

The only reason I bring this up is because like Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Marvin Harrison; former NBA star, Alvin Williams; and current Detroit Piston, Rasheed Wallace... Kobe Bryant is a Philadelphia native. Kobe Bryant is the only one of those named who has been booed by Philadelphians. It seems that this city has never forgiven him for his remarks against the Philadelphia 76ers, who his Los Angeles Lakers defeated in 2001 for the NBA championship. He came here for the NBA All Star game in 2003 and was booed every time he touched the ball. Ironically enough, he won the All Star game's MVP that year.

Kobe had hard times after that... he was accused and later cleared of rape charges... he had to buy a big diamond ring to placate his wife... he was believed by many to be responsible for both Shaquille O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson leaving the Lakers and the once feared Lakers becoming an also ran team. To make matters worse, there was this business of him demanding to be traded at the beginning of the season unless the Lakers got him some help.

Look at what a difference a few months can make... Kobe wasn't traded... the Lakers got superstar-in-the-waiting center, Paul Gasol, from the Memphis Grizzlies... Derek Fisher, a one time Laker guard, came back (acquired from the Utah Jazz)... and the emergence of Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and a few others turned the Lakers into the conference leaders once again.

Kobe changed too... he stopped being aloof and stand offish, he learned to pass the ball, he learned to trust his team mates, and he actually became a person. His personal stats have dropped but, the team has been winning.

I love stories of personal redemption and I'm writing this in the hope that Philadelphia, the city of Kobe's birth, will one day forgive him and welcome its prodigal son back home.