Kobe Behaving Badly

Kobe Bryant received his 15th Technical Foul the other night and then called the issuing ref a "Faggot." In Liberal L.A., that has caused Kobe to be the recipient of a good deal of Gay-Righters wrath.

For those not schooled in basketball, Technical Fouls in the NBA are defined in this section of the NBA website (I believe Kobe was in violation of Section 5--Conduct 7e):

7) Taunting

e. Cursing or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls. Running tirades, continuous criticism or griping may be sufficient cause to assess a technical. Excessive misconduct shall result in ejection from the game.

Basically, acting like an ass or transgressing a rule of the game that exist to protect the sanctity of the basketball court's operation and administration. I did not know that it was possible to blaspheme another human being, ref or otherwise. Count me advised. Maybe the whistle and the stripes connote godly powers. Apparently, Dwight Howard has 18 Technical Fouls this year. In my seven years or so of organized basketball, I don't believe I ever got called for a Technical.

Back when Kobe was in high school, during the PIAA District 1 Championship game--which basically was Kobe versus Chester--Kobe was called for two quick fouls and he proceeded to mock the refs. I remember thinking, the dude is a jerk. Soon after, Kobe threw down an alley-oop dunk over two hapless Chester man-children. Players that would normally crush opponents now being turned into goof balls. I remember thinking a second time, Kobe Bryant is a once-in-a-generation basketball prodigy...and a jerk. Seemingly, still a jerk after all of these years. There are winners that we love, like Michael Jordan. And, there are winners that we hate. Kobe is the latter.

Underneath Kobe's attitude and arrogance, is a burning desire to win. In a culture where every kid gets a trophy--and a chintzy one at that--Kobe wants to annihilate his opponents. Rather than he being a player who gives a so-so effort night in and night out, he comes to play and win every night. That is admirable. I have to think that part of this animus comes from his dad, Joe Bryant, being a bench player for the 76ers who finished his basketball career in Italy, probably thinking that he never got his due. Kobe would not be the first son, to rise up and try to redress generational wrongs of the Father, real or imagined. To fill the sneakers of his father, so to speak.

There is something deep within Kobe Bryant that chafes at authority...it both animates and angers him.

Romans 13:1

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.