I'm teammates with Kobe

Chapter 162

Chapter 162

(This is the last chapter on The Philadelphia Grumble, but it was also written to cry.)

Even though he was treated coldly by his hometown people all the year round, Kobe never concealed his close relationship with Philadelphia. In addition to returning to his hometown every year to return to his alma mater for charity, he also liked to drive through the streets and alleys, and then told Chu Where is the place Xiao just passed by? He used to have a bullfight there, and a good brother lives nearby.

In fact, Kobe has a lot of little secrets. In addition to wearing a Lower Merion jersey under the Lakers jersey, he always likes to put a Philadelphia Eagles knitted hat in the locker, but he never sees it. He just wears it.

But what Chu Xiao knows is that when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Kobe once shed tears, because Philadelphia has never won a Super Bowl championship.

The car stopped and went on the streets of Philadelphia until the evening, when the lights came on.Chu Xiao accompanied Kobe to find his childhood memories in Philadelphia: when the car drove to Remington Road, he would see Winniewood Park, where Kobe played day and night; If you walk on Haverward Road, you will see the Kaisman Community Center. Kobe Bryant often comes here to fight one-on-one. The road to Kobe’s alma mater, this small road still has traces of Kobe’s past. With unparalleled competitiveness, he walked on this road at 5 in the morning, and then arrived at the gymnasium at 6 o’clock. He shot at least 1000 shots in a row every day ...

When he grew up, Kobe could have joined Philadelphia to feel the warmth and sense of belonging of his hometown, and he could enjoy the little things of Philadelphia's old days, such as ordering a Larry's steak after high school training in the old days, or in an Italian restaurant just a few minutes away from his alma mater. Try a sausage pizza, the restaurant is lined with signed photos of Italian football stars, including one that Kobe is proud of, he shows it off every time he comes here, and he can visit Nywood's Neighborhood...

However, in the city of brothers, there is no more brotherly love.

Because the people in his hometown hated him more than accepted him, Kobe had sentimental emotions that he didn't show usually, and even joked a little self-deprecatingly, "If I retire one day and come to Philadelphia to play for the last time, I don't know if I will be able to play at that time." Can you hear the cheers of the hometown fans."

"Or if I leave this world one day, will they feel that it is their legend that has passed away, and then they will remember his goodness, remember his love for his hometown, and then accept and cherish him again? "

Chu Xiao couldn't answer this joking question, and he didn't dare to answer it. He just thought to himself, if there is a day when legends really leave, even if the 76ers spend 33 seconds on the first home game day to commemorate He, even on the sideline of the court, has a 33 logo printed on it;

"Legends" written in the Lakers' line and font on the rotating billboard entering the city, which can be seen by all people driving on Interstate 76;

Then paint a mural to commemorate Kobe in the most conspicuous place in Philadelphia, let the world know that the place with a mural commemorating Kobe is not just a city in Los Angeles;

Even though Philadelphia is dimly lit, so many buildings and bridges are painted in a color that does not belong to this city—purple gold;

Even if all the Phillies put on the Lakers' No. 24 and No. 8 jerseys and left their homes and went to the streets, and then the whole city chanted "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe..." in unison... It was moving...

so what?

Because the man is gone, and the Philly fans missed the opportunity to express their love to Kobe during his career. warmth.

Love is about to be spoken immediately.

Don't wait until he really leaves the stadium, or the world, to commemorate. Maybe one day people will find out that there is really not much time left for each other. The endless love between each other is either realized or discovered later Love, even if you say it, the other party will never know.

Chu Xiao closed his eyes and opened them again, talking about his impression of Philadelphia?Well, it is one of the holy places of basketball, and there are many Hall of Fame players, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Earl Monroe, Paul Arizin and so on.

If someone asks him who is the best player in the area, etc., he will give his own answer through other questions later.

"Kobe scored 81 points in a single game. Who scored more points in a single game than him? Chamberlain. 100 points in a single game. In fact, in terms of difficulty, the two are on par, but I prefer Kobe's way."

"Where are they from?"

"Philadelphia."

"That's Philadelphia's answer."

-

When Kobe wore the No. 33 jersey in high school and led his team to win the state high school championship trophy, he was the hero of the entire Philadelphia.When he wore the No. 8 jersey of the Lakers and led the team to defeat Philadelphia to win his own NBA championship trophy, he became the sinner of the entire Philadelphia.

From heroes to sinners, what are the grievances between Philadelphia and Kobe?Here is a simple list.

From the perspective of Philadelphia, when Kobe just led his team to win the first state championship in 50 years and became the hero and pride of the Philadelphians, he announced that he would participate in the NBA draft after graduation. The Philadelphia media immediately criticized him, thinking that He's too arrogant, and he doesn't have the strength to play in the NBA. Kobe is hurt here.

The NBA Draft began in 1996, and the Philadelphia 76ers selected Allen Iverson. Kobe was injured twice here. If you think that its level can only be regarded as an upper-middle class, it will really hit people.

In the 2000-01 season, as the leader of the golden generation in 1996, Kobe and Iverson each led their teams to the finals. The difference is that the defending champion Lakers had the last laugh, and Iverson fell into the arms of his teammates after trying his best.That season, Iverson was loved by the entire Philadelphia, but Kobe, who was his master, became a traitor and a sinner in Philadelphia, and Kobe was hurt three times here.

In the 2002 Philadelphia All-Star Game, Kobe became the most unpopular player in the game. Every time he took the ball, he would be booed by the audience. It was a more deafening booing, so Kobe raised his first All-Star Game MVP trophy amid the boos in his hometown. After the game, he admitted that the boos of the audience really hurt him, and even said in a choked tone, " It hurts."Kobe was injured four times here.

In 2004, because of the chaos of the Lakers, Kobe was infinitely close to leaving the Lakers. It is not that he has not thought about returning to Philadelphia, returning to his hometown, and returning to the place where his dream began.However, the Philadelphia media said, "We don't need Kobe." Here are five injuries to Kobe.

And how did Kobe treat Philadelphia?

He was born in Philadelphia. Although he moved to Italy with his family not long after, he returned to Philadelphia to study in high school. He led the team to win the first state championship in 50 years in the senior year of high school. He scored 2883 points in four years of high school, becoming a new student He is the record holder of the Pennsylvania high school league scoring total so far; every year when he returns to Philadelphia to play away games, he must take time to go back to his alma mater, either donating money or providing facilities, improving the environment, or training with those children to encourage and guide them; As long as his hometown needs it, he will always try his best to provide a helping hand and provide everything he can to the Philadelphia Basketball Museum; when the hometown team Eagles have a game, he will spare no effort to call crazy!He has never said a word about Philadelphia in public.

In addition, countless people travel to Philadelphia every year because of Kobe, which drives the local economic development and gives more people employment opportunities.There are countless young people with dreams who want to study at Lower Merion High School... These tangible and intangible values ​​all exist because of Kobe.

Some people may say that without his hometown of Philadelphia, Kobe would never have grown into such a dazzling superstar.But without Kobe, Philadelphia would definitely not be so eye-catching.

It is true that in Kobe's career, he was not an angel who did not make mistakes.Especially in the 2001 Finals, because he was scolded as a "traitor" by his hometown people, the young and vigorous Kobe replied, "I'm going to Philadelphia to cut their hearts." It broke their hearts, and with the subsequent conflicts between him and O'Neill and the case in 2003, he lived in recklessness and unhappiness.

But these clips and episodes are only part of his career. Looking at other people in this league, looking at other people's sensuality, gold fans and drunkenness...he has done well enough.At least, Kobe has not lost his heart. He never gave up basketball and greatness, and dedicated everything to it. This desire made him do his best to regain respect.

He has never really failed his hometown, but his hometown was not optimistic about him from the very beginning, and not selecting him was just the beginning.

What if the 76ers resisted the secular vision and chose him?Maybe Kobe will not be questioned for not training seriously like Iverson was, and he will not have to endure the loss in the 2001 Finals and the decline that continues to this day.

Look at the current 76ers, those years of rebuilding around Iverson and the constant attempts after he was traded away in 2006, only in exchange for 6 win in the playoffs and fantasy every day and night in 1 years.

Only at this time, the top executives of the 76ers will think about it, maybe their original fate should not be like this.But Kobe Bryant has no regrets for any of them.

Because he didn't feel sorry for anyone.

Over the years, Corvo, who had ups and downs in his career, reconciled with O'Neal, reconciled with the fans, and won five championships. He has become a god.

It can be said that "brothers who have crossed the catastrophe are here, and when they meet each other, they smile and wipe away their grievances".

But when he returned to his hometown, he had gone through all the tribulations and his hometown was not there, did he meet and smile?Think too much!

(End of this chapter)