Kobe....Michael...oh so different!!!

It's so easy for people to blurt out how much they'd rather have Kobe than Michael leading their perfect NBA team. Some would say Kobe is the best to ever play the game. You are wrong. Let's not forget what MJ did for the game, for the city of Chicago and for the players around him. He was amazing and at times unstoppable! The most important part of his game, to me, was his ability to be unselfish and PASS the ball. We don't see that type of passing much in the NBA as it is today. He wasn't the nicest guy, he was tough on his teammates at practice and in games. He never gave up and tried to instill his work ethic into others. He was a bully sometimes too. If he thought his teammates weren't giving 100% he let them know it. But, in his mind, all along, was his will to win and his ability to give up the ball at times, if it meant winning. He learned so much of his talents and skills from a guy named Dean Smith. Jordan went to college @ North Carolina after high school. There he played for one of the best coaches in the history of the game. This is the monumental difference, Kobe never had that. You can say a lot of the same things about Bryant that I just did about MJ. But, and this is a big BUT, he went straight into the NBA from high school. He missed the whole 'Dean Smith' step in his life. The argument will continue for years, but the facts will remain the same. Kobe missed the part of his life where he would have learned character, dignity, integrity and values. Yes, our parents are responsible for this qualities. But, in sports the rules are a little different. Coaches and Athletic Administrators do have a part in the building of these young athletes, just as teachers do. We can't blame bad behavior on parents, teachers or coaches. But, we can give them credit when an athlete or kid finds the right path to travel. When we look back at Jordan's career and Kobe's career, we will see a bunch of similarities. But, Kobe missed a significant part of life by jumping straight to the NBA. Whatever side you're on, it sure is a great discussion.