I had no idea that Phil Jackson's book "The Last Season" was as honest and critical. Read the stuff in bold. Phil Jackson hated Kobe Bryant at the end of his first run in LA.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080605

It's funny that my opinion of Kobe is about to increase greatly if he wins the title, but I'll probably never like him as a person. I would think Phil Jackson would agree with me.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah I read that column, wasnt one of Simmons best, but it was interesting. Phil is on record in the last year or so as saying that it wasnt fair to write that book and he wouldnt wanna be judged as a person when he was still developing as a person and player in high pressure situations, etc. He could easily have been saying that to continue getting along with Kobe though. Who knows. I've always thought Kobe has come off pretty phony, especially this year, but alot of his teammates like Fisher and Luke Walton have said he has changed drastically as a person since those title runs. The most damning excerpt by far in there is Phil not being surprised with Kobe's rape charge. I thought that was definitely pretty low for him to write that, even if thats how he felt.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Is Simmons supposed to be funny or smart. I always hear about the guy and I've read several articles but I never even smirk let alone lol, I don't get all the love for that guy.

Weren't you the guy trashing Ted Kennedy the day we found out he had cancer?

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I have very little use for "Why is Mac so Angry?"- My Bitch(Mr. Reason)

Yep that was me. I think Bill Simmons is pretty funny, I always laugh at his columns.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Kobe is a chameleon. There is no real Kobe as a person. He is just an amalgem of personalities that he is attempting to copy.