James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Monday February 13, 2006

KOBE BRYANT's 81 - YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY WHAT HE'S DONE

There are some things people say that one never forgets. For me one was Miami Heat coach Pat Riley saying in the late 90's to a pack of carnivorous reporters in a post game interview after a Heat LA Clippers game, "You can't take away what I've done."

Some sports journalists are determined to find a chink in someone's amour, or… as they say digging for dirt. But what can you say about the LA Lakers Kobe Bryant scoring 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors in LA's 122-104 victory at LA's Staples Center January 22nd.

It is the second highest single game scoring total in NBA history trailing only then Philadelphia Warrior Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain's 100 points in 1962 against the New York Knicks (then Knickerbockers), in Hershey, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1962.

What makes Bryant's achievement so extraordinary is by NBA standards he is a LITTLE PERSON. As a listed 6'7"/210lb (2.01/95.3) guard he can't stand inside as the 7'1"/275lb (2.16/124.7) Chamberlain could and slam dunk the ball from zero to a few feet out 'all night long' as Lionel Richie would sing.

Chamberlain was a legitimate 7'1"/275lb (2.16/124.7) and perhaps taller. In those days some players wanted their height and weight to be less thus giving them an edge.

Small players are likely to have their height and weight padded by the team. As an example I was 6'1"/175 but listed as 6'3"/185.

Being a guard Bryant has to work harder from the outside shooting jump shots, shooting long range 3 pointers as well as driving to the basket as well as getting to the rim for some slam dunks.

In his achievement Bryant broke the Lakers team record of 71 by Elgin Baylor record for points in a game. Baylor set that record against the Knicks November 15, 1960 AT New York.

A journalist in New Your City, (USA) said Bryant's 81-point game doesn't compare with Baylor scoring 71.

I didn't see either game but have interviewed and seen both players play. In my opinion a healthy Elgin Baylor 6'5"/225 (1.96/102.1) is THE BEST EVER PLAYER POUND FOR POUND I HAVE EVER SEEN. He's third on the NBA's all-time highest average points per game in a career with 27.4 trailing only Michael Jordan's 30.12 and Chamberlain's 30.07.

His 27.4 points per game in a game average was over an abbreviated 14-year career. Due to injuries he only played in 11 games total in his last two seasons with the Lakers, the only NBA team that he ever played for.

Baylor played in only two games during the 70/71 season with a 10.0 average and only nine games in his final year 71/72 while averaging 11.8. Baylor appears to be much taller than he was listed. Some say he's pound for pound the best ever player of all-time. Sorry Michael (Jordan). The now Vice President of Basketball Operations for the LA Clippers is as tall as Bryant OR MORE.

Baylor won't be his listed 6'5" unless they cut his feet off. He had good size with bulk and was quick. He had the size and talent (knowledge how) to knock a 360lb. Shaquille O'Neal on his bun. He could shoot from the outside in three-point land and drive just as well as Bryant or Jordan but with more power.

In his day there was no three-point play. Bryant made seven 3-pointers. Take away those seven extra points and he would have totaled only 74 but still breaking Baylor's record. Or how many shots did Baylor take from three point range and get only two? Think about it.

Bryant isn't big enough to push too many people around like Baylor. Elbow… yes. Push… NO. The edge Bryant has on Baylor is his speed and being a better quick dribbler that contributes to fast break points. In Baylor's day teams didn't fast break as much. But here's the drift…. There are some who won't give Bryant credit for what he has done because of the cloud that will hang over him for the rest of his life when he was accused of sexual assault. That was settled out of court but Bryant's squeaky-clean image was damaged. He lost major sponsor endorsements and a ton of money in the process.

In April 2003 Sports Illustrated credited him with three NBA championships, five All-Star appearances and endorsement deals with Sprite, Spalding and McDonald's and was negotiating a US $25 million shoe deal after leaving Adidas. He was also ranked 31st among Forbes's Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities.

Most all of that is gone except the three championships and he will be playing in his eighth All-star game this week. Bottom line; give the man his credit for his athletic achievement. It's hard to imagine that even an NBA player could do what Bryant did in a game of HORSE (duplicating another players shots).

If they were to play an accelerated game of HORSE by duplicating Bryant's feat WITHOUT A DEFENDER COVERING THEM by racing up and down the court with pace, take the shots from the spots Bryant took and make them within the same number of shots that he took… IT IS DOUBTFUL THEY COULD DO IT.

Several years ago there was a sports broadcaster that was accused of the same thing that Bryant was accused of. His peers did not ridicule the broadcasters actions. His network suspended him for a period of time until the heat cooled down.

That broadcaster has returned to the business and all is well in Wonder… land.

So give Bryant his just due and respect for his talent…. Because …. YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY WHAT HE HAS DONE…. As well as… What's that saying? Let he who has not sinned... cast the first stone.