Yahoo! Sports: Although he didn’t rescind his trade request, Kobe Bryant softened his stance somewhat Thursday night, saying he had apologized to Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in person for the way he handled his upset feelings five weeks ago.
“I just felt like as a man, it was important for me to tell him, `I’m sorry it came out that way,”‘ Bryant said at a lightly attended news conference at Loyola Marymount, where he spoke mainly about his camp for youngsters at the school this week.
Bryant said that while he could have called Kupchak, it was important he speak with him face-to-face.
“I was frustrated, I was venting,” Bryant said.
When asked whether he still wanted out, Bryant replied: “I haven’t thought about that in a long, long time. I’ve kind of stepped away from that. I’ve concentrated on Team USA. What I say is what I say. We’ll just have to see where it goes.”
The U.S. national team begins practice July 20 in Las Vegas.
Bryant, the NBA’s leading scorer the past two seasons, complained about a lack of talent around him at season’s end, and said May 30 he wanted to be traded, adding nothing could change his mind.
Continue reading ‘Bryant says he apologized to Kupchak’at peace.’
Bryant and Kupchak talk, but no change apparent
Yahoo! Sports’ Kenny Smith: ” [Mitch] Kupchak for Executive of the Year.”
Kupchak trying to upgrade Lakers
Kupchak, Lakers haven’t done much this summer
Kupchak on Paxton - “Well said, John”
http://am570radio.com/cc-common/podcast.html - heres two interviews from kobe and he said the interview with mitch wasnt to say he wanted to be traded but to apologize
There’s no need to apologize to cupkake, if ne thing jerry buss should apologize to Laker fans for making him the GM!
Unless Mitch promised Kobe that moves are gonna come no reason for Kobe to apologize to anyone which tells me something is gonna happen.
everyone that says he shouldnt apologize STFU!!!
Thats good to hear!
well i agree its good for Kobe to apologizr cause that is the correct thing do to no matter what- nevertheless KUP better make some damn moves.. Kobe said he doesnt want to be traded… everyhting is goin to be fine jus like i said
Good man kobe. Good man.
Excellent Move Kobe
Thats really good news because it gives him more of a chance to win ESPNs ”Whos Now” tournament. Positives always help.
VOTE FOR KOBE
THIS IS A GOOD START…THINGS WILL GET BETTER …KOBE IS A LAKER FOR LIFE!!!!!
and stop blaming mitch for everything thats happening, he has like no power
Ok guys I think I’ve come close to thinking up a trade that would be highly likely of happening
And before you look at it I would like to note that Michael Sweetney, Kyle Lowry, Sasha Vujacic, and Tarence Kinsey are in the trade only in order for the salaries to match up, and that there are MANY different things you could do to match the salaries.
And also I would like to mention that there are a few things that I couldn’t add in the trade machine that I’ll mention now:
You send Joakim Noah to Minnesota(Mchale has spoken fondly of all the Florida players)
And also the Lakers would send next years first round pick to either minnesota or memphis
and Chicago would also send their first round pick to either Memphis or Minnesota
And to sweeten the pot the Lakers could throw in a second round pick or two.
With that in mind I give you this:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2456~2175~3032~261~353~981~2748~3002~617~2421~996~3045~3012&teams=29~13~16~13~13~16~16~16~29~29~4~16~13
I think it works out for all teams, except I had a lot of problems trying to make the deal great for memphis, but I still think it’s a nice deal for them.
So with Chicago they would have this line-up:
C- Ben Wallace
PF- Pau Gasol
SF- Loul Deng
SG- Ben Gordon
PG- Kirk Hinrich
That’s an East contender right there
for the rest of the line-ups:
I’m not gonna bother with the Lakers because there is still a lot of work to do after that, but I will point out that we should be willing to take in whatever contracts we have to to make the deal work
With Minnesota, they have a strong rebuilding nucleus with Corey Brewer, Adonal Foyle, Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, Andrew Bynum, and Jordan Farmar and an expiring contract in Kwame along with some picks. With all that young talent, that team has a promising future.
Then with Memphis, you get Odom who will flourish without being shackled by the triangle, Nocioni who is a very good shooter, and you can put some filler talent in their along with a future first rounder and possibly some second rounders from us.
So yeah what do you think? I think I got pretty close to striking gold ;). I think this would be one of the only multi-team deals that’s possible.
And also, this is GREAT news that he apologized!
Looks like Ric Bucher lost his bet, that means he is going to die(yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Ric Bucher has Brain Cancer?
*****Semi Breaking News******
“A source close to situation” reported, that Ric Bucher, the notorious liar and master of deception has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Doctors say his brain cells couldn’t take the outrageous lies and daily deceptive stories anymore. So, they started a mutation to stop him from lying and upsetting fans. The Lakers hating sportscaster, while asking for forgiveness on death bed, confessed that he has been paid by the Phoenix Suns to spread lies about Lakers and Kobe causing Kobe to ask for a trade.
Doctors still hope to rescue Bucher with a brain transplant. T.J. Simers of LA-Times and Stephen A. Smith of BSPN have both offered half of their brain to keep Bucher alive. It’s a tough choice for Ric Bucher, he must choose between the irony filled brain of Simers and the stupidity of Stephen A. Smith
Our best wishes to Ric Bucher, hopefully he can keep some of his brain cells and get transplants from T.J. Simers and Stephen A. Smith, this way he would wakeup a stupid and ironic liar sportscaster after the decisive surgery.
Sorry lakersforlife, no way Memphis does this. Pau is touted as a franchise player - he gets traded for two role players and a #9-10 bench player?
On the apology, i certainly hope Mitch reciprocated by apologizing and explaining all the goings on at the FO.
omg cyrus u jus made my day that {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} is hilarious hahahahahahaah omg i cant stop laughin …..
oh and btw the whole kobe apologizes thing is a good sign…maybe mitch told him whats goin down? KG?
Kobe has apologized and don’t forget that you backward laker fans.
Next, Kobe still does NOT like the weak players mitch has overpaid or signed in his time with the lakers, so nothing has changed.
Third, Kobe may still opt out if they keep overpaying players like walton and not bringing in any talent. Kobe will NO LONGER keep being superman and rescuing this weak team time and time again.
Lastly, Kobe still controls the show, so mitch you have all the laker fans (good fans and backward fans) looking at you now, and if you do like you have been doing the last 3 years PLUS, you will be at the wrath of ALL LAKER FANS. So time to LISTEN to Kobe closely and get your {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} together!!!!!!!!
Nice One Cyrus.
[quote comment="5643"]Ric Bucher has Brain Cancer?
*****Semi Breaking News******
“A source close to situation” reported, that Ric Bucher, the notorious liar and master of deception has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Doctors say his brain cells couldn’t take the outrageous lies and daily deceptive stories anymore. So, they started a mutation to stop him from lying and upsetting fans. The Lakers hating sportscaster, while asking for forgiveness on death bed, confessed that he has been paid by the Phoenix Suns to spread lies about Lakers and Kobe causing Kobe to ask for a trade.
Doctors still hope to rescue Bucher with a brain transplant. T.J. Simers of LA-Times and Stephen A. Smith of BSPN have both offered half of their brain to keep Bucher alive. It’s a tough choice for Ric Bucher, he must choose between the irony filled brain of Simers and the stupidity of Stephen A. Smith
Our best wishes to Ric Bucher, hopefully he can keep some of his brain cells and get transplants from T.J. Simers and Stephen A. Smith, this way he would wakeup a stupid and ironic liar sportscaster after the decisive surgery.[/quote]
Cyrus, don’t wish health problems on ANYONE, life has a funny way to creep on you in a mysterious way, you could end up with brain cancer later in your life, hope not, but don’t wish any health problems on anyone including Ric Bucher, NO ONE is deserving of health problems!!!!!!!!
CYRUS, you NOW more than Kobe should make a public apology to Ric Bucher, no grudges, JUST DO IT!!!!!
This article is much better than the AP article, the AP article took all the quotes and made one for their advantage.
This is the latimes article:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-kobe6jul06,0,5934200.story?coll=la-home-center
Still biased, but it seems the quotes are not cut off, for the purpose of a more sensationalist article.
RC, you keep on talking about how the lakers should not have SOFT players on our team. You have to remember we are a very finesse team, The Lakers or Kobe aren’t the Detroit Pistons. Being a soft player does not refer to how good, talented, or how much you contribue you are.
I think RC’s whole life is based on a fabricated lie that people actually care what he says, and in that him and Bucher have something in common
Finesse will not work, I will unload all players on the lakers that are soft.
Kobe is NOT soft, Artest is NOT soft, KG is NOT soft, these are the players that would be on the Lakers, NO SOFT players allowed!!!!!
Laker fans, Kobe and D. Fish are NOT that tight. D Fish was very neutral on Kobe and Shaq when they had their share of problems and Kobe does not forget, he may forgive but he does not forget.
Kobe liked other players on the lakers roster much more than D. Fish and the fact that Kobe hasn’t called D. Fish should tell all you laker fans enough of what is going on.
If kobe can text Melo when he was suspended he can certainly text D Fish for his daughter. Kobe hasn’t been in contact and that should tell you that he does not want an over the hill PG on this team. Kobe already believes that there are too many soft players like Luke Walton, Cook, Bynum and Kwame just to mention a few and he doesn’t want another HURTING this team to return to championship form.
Kobe wants a few players that can START, not come off the bench but START. So start your engines and let Kobe’s leadership run this team!!!!
thats good I bet everyone who reported he wanted out after his meeting with mitch feel pretty dumb I hope they get D Fish and i dont think anything is mitch’s fault its buss’s fault
KOBE WAS ON ESPN NEWS. SAID HE WAS ASHAMED ABOUT THE YOUTUBE VIDEO. HE DID OVER REACT AND THAT HE IS SORRY.
Wow RC, kobe did text d fish. During the game when d fish entered the game in the third quarter, kobe texted him when he arriving at the arena and said go at them. Plus, it is very hard to say kg is finesse, and there are some really good finesse players like dirk, agent zero, steve nash
What Kobe did was right in apologizing. That video was him being unprofessional. He was still a whiny {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} throughout this whole time. And Bucher was his right hand jackass.
Now Mitch, apologize on behalf of the management for building a crappy team centering around the irrational gambling of the ultimate pipe plan that was 2007.
Fatty,
I think the ghost of KL is hunting is, even here.LOL
RC,
I give you a good advise: Don’t start with me. Ain’t gonna be good, not for you and not for this blog.
[quote comment="5661"]Wow RC, kobe did text d fish. During the game when d fish entered the game in the third quarter, kobe texted him when he arriving at the arena and said go at them. Plus, it is very hard to say kg is finesse, and there are some really good finesse players like dirk, agent zero, steve nash[/quote]
I’m talking about texting D Fish over the last few days.
[quote comment="5665"]RC,
I give you a good advise: Don’t start with me. Ain’t gonna be good, not for you and not for this blog.[/quote]
Bring it BOY, on the blog or in person, BRING it BOY!!!!
Good. Very good. This could go a long way. Kobe was right to be upset but not in the the way he handled it. But now he’s apologized. I would have liked a small apology toward Laker fans but beggars can’t be choosers right?
This also helps as far as teams thinking they could rape us of all our trade assets just to placate our superstar. If they think everything is dandy then they might not be so inclined to ask for too much.
[quote comment="5644"]Sorry lakersforlife, no way Memphis does this. Pau is touted as a franchise player - he gets traded for two role players and a #9-10 bench player?
On the apology, i certainly hope Mitch reciprocated by apologizing and explaining all the goings on at the FO.[/quote]
I know that’s the only problem but there are many things you could do to persuade them to take the deal, that deal is very tweakable
This is actually a good thing, we need get things stable in the Lakers organization again. Now, let’s make things happen and BRING KG TO THE LAKERS!!!!
RC,
How do you want it? with creme on top?
Chill it man.
Aight….. I have had enough of this cat RC…. GETGARNETT STAFF… PLEASE get rid of this dude! BAN HIM…. Nobody cares about your cute stars…. If you haven’t got the hint yet, everyone thinks your a F’N douche… I don’t mean to hurt your feelings man… So don’t get bitter! I am just being REAL… and I think i speak for alot of us!!!
Cyrus
KL really didn’t bother me. It was those that supported him that disappointed me.
Did you check out my reply to you on the other thread? Its X rated so I won’t move it over here, especially with the good Kobe Karma news flying.
[quote comment="5672"]Aight….. I have had enough of this cat RC…. GETGARNETT STAFF… PLEASE get rid of this dude! BAN HIM…. Nobody cares about your cute stars…. If you haven’t got the hint yet, everyone thinks your a F’N douche… I don’t mean to hurt your feelings man… So don’t get bitter! I am just being REAL… and I think i speak for alot of us!!![/quote]
Ryan whatever, you have thin SKIN, get off the blog SOFTIE, or you will be BANNED. Either bring your A game or you will be called a SOFTIE like the laker players except Kobe. You are probably from another blog, that is STEALING info from this blog, so be a MAN and quit LYING BOY!!!!
And quit changing your name, you sissy CYRUS, LakerfanRYAN, how about ryanSTFU, take that BOY!!!!!!!!
Somebody is deleting the garbage. it’s smart and OK with me.
[quote comment="5676"]Somebody is deleting the garbage. it’s smart and OK with me.[/quote]
They can delete your garbage, nver seen where a blog allows sissy Cyrus want health problems on anyone.
You MUST apologize to Ric Bucher, otherwise you are a COWARD Softie!!!
[quote comment="5675"][quote comment="5672"]Aight….. I have had enough of this cat RC…. GETGARNETT STAFF… PLEASE get rid of this dude! BAN HIM…. Nobody cares about your cute stars…. If you haven’t got the hint yet, everyone thinks your a F’N douche… I don’t mean to hurt your feelings man… So don’t get bitter! I am just being REAL… and I think i speak for alot of us!!![/quote]
Ryan whatever, you have thin SKIN, get off the blog SOFTIE, or you will be BANNED. Either bring your A game or you will be called a SOFTIE like the laker players except Kobe. You are probably from another blog, that is STEALING info from this blog, so be a MAN and quit LYING BOY!!!!
And quit changing your name, you sissy CYRUS, LakerfanRYAN, how about ryanSTFU, take that BOY!!!!!!!![/quote]
——————————————————————-
RC… I have NO clue what you said in that whole thing…. This cat got real SENSITIVE …I didn’t know I was going to get to you that much man… MAN UP…!!!…If I knew you were that SENSITIVE I wouldn’t of said anything!! and try to sign up for another name or something.. cuz I believe GG STAFF just took your ass OFF…. Now I give that 5 stars!… DUMB ASS!
RC,
If you think an apology is needed why don’t you go and stick your head in Bucher’s A$$ and apologize to him.
Damn RC, you are a riot. Funny reactions generated.
[quote comment="5682"]Damn RC, you are a riot. Funny reactions generated.[/quote]
He’s that kind of person. Ever since the Luke Walton article I knew he would be pissing ALOT of people off on here just because of his nature :p
I just banned RC a few minutes ago.
Yeahhh… Welll we don’t have to worry about him anymore guys… HES GONE… hes probably looking at the screen with a POOP FACE… wondering why he cant sign in with another name…. But hes gone … SO BACK TO REALLLL LAKER TALK!!!
RC,
“you are a COWARD Softie”
You’re right RC, I have something “Softie” in my pants but for you, it becomes “Hardy” really fast. Yes honey. hummmmm.
[quote comment="5684"]I just banned RC a few minutes ago.[/quote]
LOL i kinda feel sorry for him… He made some good points but those were buried under his condescending tone, arrogance, and a need to insult everyone and everything besides himself and kobe. :p
Don’t Ban Him He IS Cool
KG to LA [Trade-O-Meter] Evening Edition
Percentage chance of KG Koming to LA [95.5%]
Kobe news producing good vibes, meter sensing it
Fatty And Cyrus Who Made You Mad On The Other Side? The Laker Hater?
[quote comment="5684"]I just banned RC a few minutes ago.[/quote]
I knew he had it coming but I wanted to see his replies. Ah well. He was entertaining.
RIP RC.
i dontget how ppl say kobe didnt no they were recording him when he was right there with a camera or phone
Well I Gonna Miss You RC You Was Cool Also On The KG To Lakers Are Very Excellent Now. So What Do We Do With Free Agency Now? Fisher, Blake, Mo Williams Or Papa?
RC BANNED! PARTY AT GETGARNETT.COM. RC! RC! RC IS ON FIRE! BURN MOTHER ******! BURN!
I Forgot About The Veteran Minimum Who Do We Sign With That? Webber Or Somebody Else?
WHAT ABOUT THIS TRADE, A DIFFERENT ONE THEN NE THING IVE HEARD. KEEP IN MIND ATLANTA WOULD GET OUR FIRST ROUND NEXT YEAR
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2748~1998~1031~617~2387~1007~543~2786~261~353&teams=16~16~1~1~13~16~13~16~13~1
[quote comment="5696"]I Forgot About The Veteran Minimum Who Do We Sign With That? Webber Or Somebody Else?[/quote]
i would have sign hill but to late.
its not alot 1.83m. i would like to try webber though or some body call rodman or pippen.
About the article……..
This is an example of the crap that ESPN(and the media in general) has become.
Notice that they still claim he wants to be traded even though he didn’t actually say that
God this whole thing has really opened my eyes to the true ESPN.
J-cool
There was so much hatred going on. I just didn’t enjoy going there anymore. I also found myself getting caught up with it and arguing with people. No good. Just wanted to talk Lakers and have a good time with friends.
Remember, I’m from Arizona. We Laker fans are a lonely breed out here. We need all the support we can get.
Glad your here.
Fatty
GREAT MOVE BY KOBE
[quote comment="5697"]WHAT ABOUT THIS TRADE, A DIFFERENT ONE THEN NE THING IVE HEARD. KEEP IN MIND ATLANTA WOULD GET OUR FIRST ROUND NEXT YEAR
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2748~1998~1031~617~2387~1007~543~2786~261~353&teams=16~16~1~1~13~16~13~16~13~1/quote
Joe Johnson is their franchise player man they’re not going to swap him for odom
[quote comment="5700"]J-cool
There was so much hatred going on. I just didn’t enjoy going there anymore. I also found myself getting caught up with it and arguing with people. No good. Just wanted to talk Lakers and have a good time with friends.
Remember, I’m from Arizona. We Laker fans are a lonely breed out here. We need all the support we can get.
Glad your here.
Fatty[/quote]
dude youre from arizona?!
dude you are not alone! you got SILO from da AZ!
[quote comment="5702"][quote comment="5697"]WHAT ABOUT THIS TRADE, A DIFFERENT ONE THEN NE THING IVE HEARD. KEEP IN MIND ATLANTA WOULD GET OUR FIRST ROUND NEXT YEAR
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2748~1998~1031~617~2387~1007~543~2786~261~353&teams=16~16~1~1~13~16~13~16~13~1/quote
Joe Johnson is their franchise player man they’re not going to swap him for odom[/quote]
the hawks dont have a franchise player, and wit that team LO could be a franchise player cuzz he would be the first option, plus they get our pick which they couls package wit there most likely lottery pick for a better player the JJ or LO
[quote comment="5700"]J-cool
There was so much hatred going on. I just didn’t enjoy going there anymore. I also found myself getting caught up with it and arguing with people. No good. Just wanted to talk Lakers and have a good time with friends.
Remember, I’m from Arizona. We Laker fans are a lonely breed out here. We need all the support we can get.
Glad your here.
Fatty[/quote]
LOL in Arizona? I’m sure you have your fair share of kobe defending to do around all those idiotic Suns fans.
Piss on those Sun fans. Represent.
[quote comment="5705"][quote comment="5700"]J-cool
There was so much hatred going on. I just didn’t enjoy going there anymore. I also found myself getting caught up with it and arguing with people. No good. Just wanted to talk Lakers and have a good time with friends.
Remember, I’m from Arizona. We Laker fans are a lonely breed out here. We need all the support we can get.
Glad your here.
Fatty[/quote]
LOL in Arizona? I’m sure you have your fair share of kobe defending to do around all those idiotic Suns fans.[/quote]
try being at game 7 lakers and suns that was murder for me.
[quote comment="5704"][quote comment="5702"][quote comment="5697"]WHAT ABOUT THIS TRADE, A DIFFERENT ONE THEN NE THING IVE HEARD. KEEP IN MIND ATLANTA WOULD GET OUR FIRST ROUND NEXT YEAR
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2748~1998~1031~617~2387~1007~543~2786~261~353&teams=16~16~1~1~13~16~13~16~13~1/quote
Joe Johnson is their franchise player man they’re not going to swap him for odom[/quote]
the hawks dont have a franchise player, and wit that team LO could be a franchise player cuzz he would be the first option, plus they get our pick which they couls package wit there most likely lottery pick for a better player the JJ or LO[/quote]
You obviously don’t know how much they like Joe Johnson do you?
i wonder if kobe’s apologizing because he feels something good is about to happen within the organization. something that would make him continue being a laker. maybe
[quote comment="5687"][quote comment="5684"]I just banned RC a few minutes ago.[/quote]
LOL i kinda feel sorry for him… He made some good points but those were buried under his condescending tone, arrogance, and a need to insult everyone and everything besides himself and kobe. :p[/quote]
People took him too seriously. His ish was classic. All good things come to an end.
[quote comment="5709"]i wonder if kobe’s apologizing because he feels something good is about to happen within the organization. something that would make him continue being a laker. maybe[/quote]
EXACTLY…
[quote comment="5710"][quote comment="5687"][quote comment="5684"]I just banned RC a few minutes ago.[/quote]
LOL i kinda feel sorry for him… He made some good points but those were buried under his condescending tone, arrogance, and a need to insult everyone and everything besides himself and kobe. :p[/quote]
People took him too seriously. His ish was classic. All good things come to an end.[/quote]
Ya I know he was pretty entertaining….. but that first time I read one of his posts I knew he was going to be a public enemy. His whole rc star thing probly annoyed a lot of ppl too