The Truth: Love Kobe and the Game

Common definition (hater): symbol of non-professionalism based on bias and poignant views about the accomplished or respect the accomplished – I hate Kobe’s 61 points against the Knicks, he should’ve had more rebounds and assists, like LeBron on Friday night. [Identifiable hater, in comparison]

Ebonics definition (hata): lack discreditably or fail to recognize the accomplished or respect the accomplished – Kobe is overrated in my book. [HATA ALERT]

I hate. I have hate in my blood. I hate all the time. I hate to hate. Hate is hate. It’s inevitable to hate.

I hate Romans 1:30. I hate the economy. I hate not driving a Bugatti Veyron. I hate Shawn White for being so cool on the freezing snow. I hate Jay-Z for being rich and having Beyoncé. I hate Gilbert Arenas for his $111 million dollar contract. I hate the way Vince Carter dunked on ‘that guy’ in the 2000 Olympics. I hate Tim Hardaway’s lighting quick cross-over. I hate Chris Mullin sweet Jump shot. I hate those funny commercials with Larry Johnson, dressed as a Grandma. I hate Larry Fitzgerald for playing in the Super Bowl and then playing in the 2009 Pro Bowl in Hawaii, in perfect weather, with all those girls winning the Pro Bowl MVP, and have his father write about him. I hate steroids … we’ll leave that for another day but I really do hate steroids. I hate to hate. I love to hate.

I am confessing in this article tonight, today, next week, this year and every other proceeding year and forever that I hate. I hate well because I can hate. Hating can be infectious but I am immune to the hater or hata syndrome. Therefore, I will not be called a hater or in Ebonics terms, a hata. Why because I will always give credit where credit is due.

It has been less than a week since Kobe Bryant 61/0/3 triumphant display of creativity at the MSG, which brought even the most loyal season ticket holders to their feet. Spike Lee even admitted to Kobe’s brilliant performance, surpassing Bernard King’s record of 60 points in the Madison Square Garden. A couple of days later, LeBron James does nearly the same but stuff’s the stats sheet with a near triple double performance of 52/9/11 at the same place. Each are great to their own in the basketball world, no matter how you analyze the two individual player effort which is something to give credit too.

Do I hate Kobe’s performance? No. Do I hate LeBron’s performance? No. Do I think one’s performance is better than the other? No. But I do think that the Knicks players, coaching staff and organization should be sanctioned for such a poor defensive effort.

Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. Was this performance fair considering he was the biggest player at the time? His stat sheet for the 1961-1962 season; 50.4 PPG, 25.7RPG and .506FG%. Was this stat sheet fair for the rest to the league? Yes. This is what Wilt earned for this particular game against the New York Knicks and for the season.

Michael Jordan scored 63 points in a game. Was his performance great against the Boston Celtics? Did he earn his credibility to do such a thing to the beloved, faithful Celtics in the Playoffs? MJ’s stat sheet read for the 1986 – 1987 season; 37.1PPG, 5.2RPG and .457FG%. Was this stat sheet fair because he torched all competitors? Yes, because ‘His Airness’ earned it by practicing each and every summer to be the best competitor on the floor, regardless of the situation or who the Bulls faced.

Wilt did it against a mediocre team with Philadelphia. Michael Jordan light-up the C’s stifling defense in ’86. Kobe’s scored 61 points in a game against the lowly NY Knicks. LeBron had a near triple double against the same lowly NYC squad.

Now Kobe he has toppled the 60 point range again, so why must hater’s and hata’s show themselves whenever a true competitor rises to the occasion.

I answer you and I answer you now, to hate. Tell the truth, acknowledge great feats and give credit where credit is due.

Hatin’ is easy. Those that fail to understand the significance of either player’s ability and contribution to the game is a sole disappointment to both journalism and sport enthusiasts. Each has given their heart and all to make what the NBA is today.

Kobe and LeBron feats are both great individual and team performances, regardless how they are viewed. Journalists disregard the fact that they are not able to perform under such circumstances, on the NBA level, so all they can do is hate and fail to credit both feats. But rather compare the two individuals for how one is better than the other with high discredit.

Don’t discredit Wilt’s 100. Don’t discredit MJ’s 63. Don’t discredit Kobe’s 81. Don’t discredit LeBron’s near triple double with 52. Give credit where credit is due.

I hate. I love to hate. But I don’t plan to hate and love to hate on individual performances that are great for professional journalism and the Hoopz World.

I love Wilt. I love MJ. I love Chris Mullin. I love LeBron. I love Kobe. And I hate what is and what defines a hater or in Ebonics, hata’s.

Respect is what makes the game good. Journalism just makes it that much more entertaining. Read, listen, and play the game; hate nothing, love the game and most importantly love the player.