Sorry, Wilt: You're no Kobe (espn.com) - GoFuckYourself.com

Cory W · 01-23-2006, 01:44 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/column...arc&id=2302749

Sorry, Wilt: You're no Kobe

Is 81 enough?

Eighty-One, people.

I'd say so. I'd say all those pre-Christmas wails about Kobe Bryant ripping us off by hanging 62 points on the Dallas Mavericks in three quarters and then sitting out the fourth can suddenly be recalled with a chuckle.

Turns out Kobe's Dec. 20 detonation was not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for No. 8 to make a run at 80-something points. No one was cheated after all.

Maybe Kobe and his pal Phil Jackson, when they reached that joint decision to stop abusing the Mavs because the Lakers were up by 34, knew they wouldn't have to wait long for another chance at it during an up-for-grabs game.

Why not? You can believe anything on a night like this.

Kobe's chance dutifully materialized almost exactly a month later, on a Sunday that was supposed to belong to gridiron football. You know. The table-setter for Super Bowl Extra Large and all that.

Sorry, NFL.

Sunday will be remembered as the best NBA day in a long, long time. There was a nationally televised buzzer beater in Minnesota from Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala to cap a 19-point comeback in the afternoon ... and then Seattle's Ray Allen beat Phoenix with a way-out buzzer bomb at the horn of overtime No. 2 in a 152-149 throwback thriller ... and then simply the greatest individual performance ever recorded: Bryant's 81 points in a 122-104 come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Raptors.

You'll recall that, sadly, there's no footage of Wilt Chamberlain rumbling for 100 points in Hershey, Pa., on March 2, 1962. Which makes it tough to commission an in-depth analysis comparing Wilt's feat (scoring 100 of his team's 169 points that day) to Kobe's (81 of 122). But I'll gladly settle for the forthcoming flood of Kobe replays, in which you'll see him haul the Lakers back from a 71-53 deficit against a Raps team that kept the game sufficiently close in the final quarter to keep Kobe out there shooting.

Against a Toronto team that somehow held him to 11 points when the teams met in early December -- historic footage now -- Bryant wound up with 55 points after halftime. Fifty-five. For a little perspective, please note that matches the best scoring game in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career. That's the same Abdul-Jabbar who, before becoming a Lakers assistant coach, was merely the NBA's all-time scoring leader.

Don't forget, furthermore, that no less an authority than Michael Jordan has been known to say that a perimeter player has it way tougher when it comes to making a legitimate run at Wilt's record. Factor in the ball-handling responsibilities and the energy required to play defense all over the floor and you can understand MJ's theory. This might also help back it up: Jordan himself topped out at 69 points as his one-night best and needed overtime to get there.

No offense to the late, great Chamberlain, but he was in a better position to dominate a box score with the size and strength advantage he possessed, especially in Wilt's era. Some of you will inevitably counter with the claim that Kobe had the benefit of a 3-point line, but don't exaggerate. Having the long-ball option added only seven points to Bryant's total.

With a mere 74, he'd still have registered the richest single-game scoring output in NBA history by anyone not named Wilt.

With 81, so soon after so many opined that he had blown his chance to ever scrape that stratosphere, Bryant has reminded us what we all should know by now about him.

Whatever you think about the game's foremost love-him-or-loathe-him face, and the ongoing debate about how much he shoots, you always have to be ready for What's Next with No. 8.

Chances are it'll be something to dissect for days and days.

Chances are, on the thinnest and neediest team in Jackson's ring-filled history, it won't be the last time Kobe has the forum to fling 40-something shots at history.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here.

Raven · 01-23-2006, 01:47 PM

I met Wilt Chamberlain when my father fixed his car. I was just a kid. Man, he was imposing.

Cory W · 01-23-2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

I met Wilt Chamberlain when my father fixed his car. I was just a kid. Man, he was imposing.

Now that is cool!

Raven · 01-23-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEG Cory

Now that is cool!

It was very cool. I wish I had been older and not so shy. I know. Hard to believe I were ever shy, but I was in awe of him.....and hid behind my father.

axelcat · 01-23-2006, 02:14 PM

I read that same article earlier and it was good, kobe is a gaurd and is much harder I think to score from the perimeter than it is from the key, therefore I really think 81 points is really amazing for a gaurd.

Persignup Dustin · 01-23-2006, 02:16 PM

Wow Kobe trumping Wilt? Isn't that blasphemy in some circles?

Vitasoy · 01-23-2006, 02:47 PM

I really wish I saw this game... Instead of watching the highlights.

PixeLs · 01-23-2006, 09:29 PM

Kobe was played at his best that day..

Spunky · 01-23-2006, 09:31 PM

Yea but can Kobe bang as many chicks as Wilt did?

Ramos · 01-23-2006, 09:31 PM

for the record, I watched Marc Stein get head from a tranny

01-23-2006, 01:44 PM	#1
Cory W Deeply shallow Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, Ca. Posts: 9,133	Sorry, Wilt: You're no Kobe (espn.com) http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/column...arc&id=2302749 Sorry, Wilt: You're no Kobe Is 81 enough? Eighty-One, people. I'd say so. I'd say all those pre-Christmas wails about Kobe Bryant ripping us off by hanging 62 points on the Dallas Mavericks in three quarters and then sitting out the fourth can suddenly be recalled with a chuckle. Turns out Kobe's Dec. 20 detonation was not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for No. 8 to make a run at 80-something points. No one was cheated after all. Maybe Kobe and his pal Phil Jackson, when they reached that joint decision to stop abusing the Mavs because the Lakers were up by 34, knew they wouldn't have to wait long for another chance at it during an up-for-grabs game. Why not? You can believe anything on a night like this. Kobe's chance dutifully materialized almost exactly a month later, on a Sunday that was supposed to belong to gridiron football. You know. The table-setter for Super Bowl Extra Large and all that. Sorry, NFL. Sunday will be remembered as the best NBA day in a long, long time. There was a nationally televised buzzer beater in Minnesota from Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala to cap a 19-point comeback in the afternoon ... and then Seattle's Ray Allen beat Phoenix with a way-out buzzer bomb at the horn of overtime No. 2 in a 152-149 throwback thriller ... and then simply the greatest individual performance ever recorded: Bryant's 81 points in a 122-104 come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Raptors. You'll recall that, sadly, there's no footage of Wilt Chamberlain rumbling for 100 points in Hershey, Pa., on March 2, 1962. Which makes it tough to commission an in-depth analysis comparing Wilt's feat (scoring 100 of his team's 169 points that day) to Kobe's (81 of 122). But I'll gladly settle for the forthcoming flood of Kobe replays, in which you'll see him haul the Lakers back from a 71-53 deficit against a Raps team that kept the game sufficiently close in the final quarter to keep Kobe out there shooting. Against a Toronto team that somehow held him to 11 points when the teams met in early December -- historic footage now -- Bryant wound up with 55 points after halftime. Fifty-five. For a little perspective, please note that matches the best scoring game in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career. That's the same Abdul-Jabbar who, before becoming a Lakers assistant coach, was merely the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Don't forget, furthermore, that no less an authority than Michael Jordan has been known to say that a perimeter player has it way tougher when it comes to making a legitimate run at Wilt's record. Factor in the ball-handling responsibilities and the energy required to play defense all over the floor and you can understand MJ's theory. This might also help back it up: Jordan himself topped out at 69 points as his one-night best and needed overtime to get there. No offense to the late, great Chamberlain, but he was in a better position to dominate a box score with the size and strength advantage he possessed, especially in Wilt's era. Some of you will inevitably counter with the claim that Kobe had the benefit of a 3-point line, but don't exaggerate. Having the long-ball option added only seven points to Bryant's total. With a mere 74, he'd still have registered the richest single-game scoring output in NBA history by anyone not named Wilt. With 81, so soon after so many opined that he had blown his chance to ever scrape that stratosphere, Bryant has reminded us what we all should know by now about him. Whatever you think about the game's foremost love-him-or-loathe-him face, and the ongoing debate about how much he shoots, you always have to be ready for What's Next with No. 8. Chances are it'll be something to dissect for days and days. Chances are, on the thinnest and neediest team in Jackson's ring-filled history, it won't be the last time Kobe has the forum to fling 40-something shots at history. Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. __________________ ICQ: 292310358 Offering writing and content services (mainstream). Marketing for L3 Payments Last edited by Cory W; 01-23-2006 at 01:46 PM..

01-23-2006, 01:47 PM	#2
Raven Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 6,874	I met Wilt Chamberlain when my father fixed his car. I was just a kid. Man, he was imposing. __________________ Raven ~RETIRED~

01-23-2006, 02:16 PM	#6
Persignup Dustin Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Just west of Chicago Posts: 871	Wow Kobe trumping Wilt? Isn't that blasphemy in some circles? __________________ AWARD WINNING PATENTED MALE ENHANCEMENT PUBOCOCCYGEUS PC MUSCLE STRENGTH TRAINER SYSTEM 100% ALL NATURAL YOUR SATISFACTION IS ASSURED.

01-23-2006, 02:47 PM	#7
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	I really wish I saw this game... Instead of watching the highlights. __________________ [email protected]

01-23-2006, 09:29 PM	#8
PixeLs Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11,922	Kobe was played at his best that day.. __________________ Make money on any traffic. Bi-weekly payments with no hold.

01-23-2006, 02:14 PM	#5
axelcat Adult Locals Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: West Coast Posts: 25,450	I read that same article earlier and it was good, kobe is a gaurd and is much harder I think to score from the perimeter than it is from the key, therefore I really think 81 points is really amazing for a gaurd.

01-23-2006, 09:31 PM	#9
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,947	Yea but can Kobe bang as many chicks as Wilt did? __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

01-23-2006, 09:31 PM	#10
Ramos Custom User Title Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 11,927	for the record, I watched Marc Stein get head from a tranny __________________ blewit.com - Performance & Pleasure Training For Men.