#8 Kobe>

[ex carrabba fan]

Sure he is much more refined as #24, but the Ocho still holds a place in I'm sure a lot of our hearts. Even as a Laker fan, you tend to forget just how out of this world moments he's had throughout his career. There's way too many to recount. I just smh at how I took all of those years for granted.

Whether you thought it was greatness, ballhogging, or anything in-between, you have to admit it was crazy. We probably won't appreciate him until he's been retired 5-10 years.

Anyway, this is a #8 appreciation thread.

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[Drewski]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

Much needed thread. For ALL OF THE HATE that Kobe gets, especially how so many people claim everyone gives Kobe get out of jail free cards, are you kidding me? He doesn't get the love he deserves for the amazing things he did, especially as El Ocho, and it's really disappointing to see everyone revert to nothing but the same old criticisms he's taken over the years. Ball hog, head case (might be), biggest Chuck(er) since Barkley. But the guy was remarkable, and still is.

Gotta love Kobe's game, even if you can't stand the guy.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

Not a Laker fan, not a Kobe fan...

but thats a bad dude. Your blind if you cant see it.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

As The Ocho, he was so deceptively quick and fast with the basketball. It's something I don't recall watching live.

The explosion was just

God I miss those days. Only thing I can do now is try to appreciate the new generation and what they're doing during their younger days.

BTW this isn't a thread to ride his jock or anything, it's just to appreciate specifically when he wore the #8

[Altimus]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

Afro Kobe FTW!

But seriously, Kobe in the #8 was a spectacle to watch.

[SaltyBlackWorm]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKeD0JQNI8E

OH LAWD!

imma noob at this forum stuff, but how do i make my vid embed?

[Altimus]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

Click on share on the YouTube page, embed and copy the code and paste here.

[SaltyBlackWorm]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

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oh my

[Jano]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

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#2 the dude could do it all lol!

Looking at some of those dunks its amazing how he couldn't really palm the ball but he would still go up to slam them. Would have been crazy if Kobe had the Jordan/Dr. J mitts

[Drewski]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

#2 the dude could do it all lol!

Looking at some of those dunks its amazing how he couldn't really palm the ball but he would still go up to slam them. Would have been crazy if Kobe had the Jordan/Dr. J mitts

The turn around left handed 3 was ridiculous, no doubt.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

I never really got to see the #8 Kobe play. I was unable to follow sports from 1997-2007, for reasons I don't want to get into.

My first memories of him is when he didn't want to play for my Hornets, so I have always been bitter about that.

But, as much as I dislike him, I do respect his work ethic and skills. He really has maximized what talent was given to him. There are few athletes who have done that.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

[Altimus]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

As soon as I saw your name by last post, this was one of the couple things that came to mind.

[wwharton]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

I never really got to see the #8 Kobe play. I was unable to follow sports from 1997-2007, for reasons I don't want to get into.

My first memories of him is when he didn't want to play for my Hornets, so I have always been bitter about that.

But, as much as I dislike him, I do respect his work ethic and skills. He really has maximized what talent was given to him. There are few athletes who have done that.

I don't remember the details too much, but I didn't think the trade had anything to do with whether or not Kobe wanted to play for the Hornets.

[Drewski]

Re: #8 Kobe&gt;

I don't remember the details too much, but I didn't think the trade had anything to do with whether or not Kobe wanted to play for the Hornets.

Seems kinda murky..

via Wikipedia

The first guard to ever be taken out of high school, Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996.<SUP id=cite_ref-26 class=reference>[27]</SUP> According to Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility".<SUP id=cite_ref-Hornets_27-0 class=reference>[28]</SUP> However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft selection to the Lakers before picking Bryant. The teams agreed to the trade the day before the draft and the Lakers did not tell the Hornets who to select until five minutes before the pick was made.<SUP id=cite_ref-28 class=reference>[29]</SUP> Branch said that prior to the trade agreement, the Hornets never even considered drafting Bryant. Prior to the draft, Bryant had worked out in Los Angeles, in which he scrimmaged against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Michael Cooper, and according to then-Laker manager Jerry West "marched over these people".<SUP id=cite_ref-29 class=reference></SUP>