Yahoo: Shaq’s shadow threatens to eclipse Howard

[Seize]

Here is a question for a laker fan...do you like Kobe? I mean, obviously he is an incredible talent, but personality wise do you like him. Personally I am not a huge hater, but I dont like his personality much either. Stars i cant stand are KG, Melo, and Pierce if you think he is a star. Just curious, is there anyone on the laker team you dislike from a personality stand point?

I love him on the court. Honestly, off the court, I don't have much of an opinion. You never hear about him much off the court and when I do see him on TV, even to me is seems like he's fake when he is being all nice and shit. You get so used to seeing these guys on the court, being warriors that you don't think of them as nice guys like that...Also have to take in to account these athletes have to act like that so the media isn't all up in their shit...I would love to know how they REALLY are off the court, not how you think they are on TV interviews. Personality stand point I dislike on the Lakers...Hmm, none that I can think off. But to be honest, I don't hate or dislike that many athletes. These are the only athletes I loathe for on the court reasons, not off.

KG is the athlete I hate the most. He is disguting on the court, but seems to be the NICEST guy off it. Getting on his knees and barking at players during a blow out, punking white, euro players...The taunting...ughh..

 

[bjring]

I really don't have any problem with Dwight Howard off the court. I can think of at least eleventeen thousand other players that rub me the wrong way more than Howard ever has. He seems light-hearted and even if he goes for the comedy schtick a little too hard sometimes, so what? Sometimes it's funny. We've had way too many ultra-serious athletes throughout the years. This is supposed to be an entertainment industry. Lighten up.

And the Superman thing? Maybe Shaq should give Jerry Seinfeld Hell for that, too, as well as the other billion people that adore Superman? I'm sorry, did he acquire the rights to one of America's most treasured pop culture icons without my knowing? I don't get that one at all. Look, I see what you guys are saying, and if there's some degree of superficiality to Howard's persona I would guess that it probably has more to do with money than copying Shaq. Big men not from China typically have a harder time marketing themselves so it's financially sound to be less Tim Duncan-ish and appear like someone people want to watch on television commercials. Shaq figured that out first, yes, but why would anyone in their right mind play the enigmatic role just for the saying of being different?

As for on-the-court? Yeah, he whines. I think not much more than any other superstar. I'd probably whine, too. Basketball is an emotional game. Van Gundy whining is what always drove me nuts because it always seems so over-the-top and contrived (but I do really like Howard's imitation of him- come on, that's funny!). But whining or whatever aside, I'm not even sure Howard is that much worse than Shaq at the same age. They're similar, but I really think Howard is the better defensive player whereas Shaq, though dominant at both ends, excelled more with his offensive game. They both got the NBA Finals at a similar age, but Shaq had Penny Hardaway(!) and I think Horace Grant. Howard didn't even have Jameer Nelson, his only other All-Star. I wouldn’t say Howard is the better player, but I’m also not sure the gap is that big.

I’m okay with some trash talking and whatever adds to the rivalry. This is part of what’s great about sports. I’m just not sure we need to put Dwight in DeShawn Stevenson territory just yet.

 

[Gordon Bombay]

I love him on the court. Honestly, off the court, I don't have much of an opinion. You never hear about him much off the court and when I do see him on TV, even to me is seems like he's fake when he is being all nice and shit. You get so used to seeing these guys on the court, being warriors that you don't think of them as nice guys like that...Also have to take in to account these athletes have to act like that so the media isn't all up in their shit...I would love to know how they REALLY are off the court, not how you think they are on TV interviews. Personality stand point I dislike on the Lakers...Hmm, none that I can think off. But to be honest, I don't hate or dislike that many athletes. These are the only athletes I loathe for on the court reasons, not off.

KG is the athlete I hate the most. He is disguting on the court, but seems to be the NICEST guy off it. Getting on his knees and barking at players during a blow out, punking white, euro players...The taunting...ughh..

i like kobe's off-court presence. its like he is being nice to certain point but there's always that aura that "the black mamba" could strike at any time - like his on-court presence

 

[bjring]

Yes, good contrasts with Boston. Now that's a team I can hate without hesitation. Jesus God there's nothing worse than the Celtics. It's bad enough they're in the eminently hatable Boston, the city of Belichick's Patriots, the evil Red Sox, and perhaps worst of all- Boston fans.

Ick. I think I need a shower now.

 

[Lee]

Yes, good contrasts with Boston. Now that's a team I can hate without hesitation. Jesus God there's nothing worse than the Celtics. It's bad enough they're in the eminently hatable Boston, the city of Belichick's Patriots, the evil Red Sox, and perhaps worst of all- Boston fans.

Ick. I think I need a shower now.

I will take Boston fans over New York fans any day of the week. New York fans are by far the worst.

 

[-Akronite-]

I will take Boston fans over New York fans any day of the week. New York fans are by far the worst.

These past years it is hard to tell.

I don't think Jets or Giants fans have come off too strong or douchey personally. Knicks fans are sad and entitled little bitches. Yankees fans are everywhere and annoying as fuck.

With Boston this decade, they've had a perfect storm of success and therefore, a huge wave of douchiness that overtook New Yorkers easily IMO. New York is more consistently shitty, but Boston has the most atrocious fans for the time being. It won't last, but between "Red Sox Nation", "Celtic Pride", and the Boston Cameras, Bean Town is the worst.

 

[action]

Here is a question for a laker fan...do you like Kobe? I mean, obviously he is an incredible talent, but personality wise do you like him. Personally I am not a huge hater, but I dont like his personality much either. Stars i cant stand are KG, Melo, and Pierce if you think he is a star. Just curious, is there anyone on the laker team you dislike from a personality stand point?

I travel to San Diego a bunch and I'm up to three stories in the last decade from random people in bars that have had a very positive personal experience with Kobe. One guy was going on and on about how Kobe saw him pushing his grandma to a game in a wheelchair and hooked them up with great seats and merch. So either Kobe is an ok human being, or he has a lot of publicity agents, or people like to tell fish stories in bars. It's interesting that it comes up, but I watch NBA in bars, and it's Cali.

I don't like his swagger. Kick his ass, make him beg for mercy.

I don't mind Melo though. Weird how that works? I think it's a first impression thing. Seeing him play for 'cuse probably altered my perceptions forever. Same with Lebron at SMSV.

 

[brooktown]

I'm around a lot of Laker fans, most of them love Kobe BUT they can completely understand how any non Laker fan would hate him.

 

[Seize]

I'm around a lot of Laker fans, most of them love Kobe BUT they can completely understand how any non Laker fan would hate him.

Most Kobe haters hate because of what Kobe has done to their teams on the court, but resort to bringing up off the court stuff. :chuckles:

 

[Randolphkeys]

Yes, good contrasts with Boston. Now that's a team I can hate without hesitation. Jesus God there's nothing worse than the Celtics. It's bad enough they're in the eminently hatable Boston, the city of Belichick's Patriots, the evil Red Sox, and perhaps worst of all- Boston fans.

Ick. I think I need a shower now.

Nobody minded Boston fans until they won all the major sports in one calandar year. They used to be considered lovable losers with a funny accent; now they are despised, as if every single one was hitting on your sister and looked like this:

 

[Seize]

Nobody minded Boston fans until they won all the major sports in one calandar year. They used to be considered lovable losers with a funny accent; now they are despised, as if every single one was hitting on your sister and looked like this:

I remember rooting for the patriots and the red sox...The fans wanted to win so bad...boy do I regret it!

 

[doughboy90650]

Here is a question for a laker fan...do you like Kobe? I mean, obviously he is an incredible talent, but personality wise do you like him. Personally I am not a huge hater, but I dont like his personality much either. Stars i cant stand are KG, Melo, and Pierce if you think he is a star. Just curious, is there anyone on the laker team you dislike from a personality stand point?

Kobe's alright .... thing is, I think he often tries to hard to fit in and honestly, he needs to just be himself. Continue to be aloof. When he first came into the league with all those vets on the team, he couldn't do jack. They'd go to the strip bar, he'd stay in the hotel. Now that he's older and the leader of the team, he's more open and outgoing.

One thing I do like about Bean is the charity work he does that doesn't come with the cameras always following. So many athletes gotta have the cameras following them while doing charity events. Dude is very low key, especially with Make A Wish.

D Fish is as classy as they come. Especially going through the issues with his daughter, dude always kept his head up. Even when Utah fan boo'd him, he still took the high road and praised the organization. Great dude off the court.

As far as Paul Pierce, I've watched the kid grow up out here and dude is a good person. Just like most, he has his knucklehead moments, but he's definitely a good-hearted dude. Love his moms to death too .... Inglewatts finest

 

[doughboy90650]

I will take Boston fans over New York fans any day of the week. New York fans are by far the worst.

Try Philly fan .... New Yorkers in generally have a major superiority complex. The world starts and ends with New York, yet they're are quick to move out of New York City and head to Florida, out west or Texas ...... LOL

Philly fan is downright brutal ..... they could win a title and still be pissed. Just bitter people but make a damn good cheesesteak.

 

[xAusT1n]

Poor Dwight, i had respect for him until Game 6 of the ECF when he shot that 3 ball when we were already down and they could have just ran down the clock, sure Lebron also did something bad, but if you can just let the clock run then let it go, don't rub it in our face when you already won and you wouldn't be able to hit a 3 PT shot in 100 tries.

 

[The George]

Here's the deal:

The complaining on here about Dwight Howard reminds me INTENSELY of the complaining that Wizards fans did about LeBron after each of their beatdowns.

Take that for what is guys.

WRONG

Just because Dwight is a beast ON the court it does not make him less of a douche bag OFF the court

LeBron hasn't done anything to make him a target like Dwight IMO... the kid acts like a 10 year old overgrown child throwing a temper tantrum

I would never question the kids ability on the court though... he is a superstar and is only getting better... the Magic if not the top team in the co they are at least at 1a 1b situation

again i just think hes a douche and it has nothing to do with him beating the cavs last year