Do people believe Kobe's personality is contrived?

To me, Kobe comes off as dude who tries too hard sometimes. I think the reason his personality is oft criticized is because he has managed to create two completely separate characters. There's Black Mamba Kobe and then there's Cool Kobe. Black Mamba is like this steely, cold, lone gunslinger that says and does what he wants. I feel like that's what's showing when he does those post-game interviews peppered with unnecessary cursing. It's like "Yea, I'm Kobe Bryant...this is what I think and you can quote that". Then, he downplays it with Cool Kobe. That's the one when the Lakers are reeling, he just says "I'm not worried". You KNOW deep down you're worried. It just seems so forced. It also seems like he feigns his modesty and humor. Like in the post All Star game spots when he just acted like the MVP fell in his lap when it was obvious he was showing out for it from the onset. That, along with the "bikram yoga stretch" comment just seemed so...phony. I don't hate the guy at all. He's made mistakes, but seems like a good dude and is a hell of a basketball player. However, it seems like he tries to be something he's not. He can't be the brooding, tough guy scoring machine AND the mellowed guy because it makes both sides seem fake.

everyone's personality is contrived to a degree..I don't necessarily dislike someone for creating a persona that doesn't match their inner-most attitudes. if they're happier living their life that way then that's prerogative.

I don't like Kobe because his public image comes off as sort of an asshole.

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edit: wrong thread

[B][SIZE="5"]
1. contrived - showing effects of planning or manipulation; "a novel with a contrived ending"
planned - designed or carried out according to a plan; "the planned outlays for new equipment"
2. contrived - artificially formal; "that artificial humility that her husband hated"; "contrived coyness"; "a stilted letter of acknowledgment"; "when people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation"[/SIZE][/B]


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His personality is not contrived. People with contrived personalities get exposed as phonies and fall off. He has been doing his thing for 15 years in the league, and has reached the upper echelon in all aspects of the sport. You must be self-actualized to be that successful in anything. Just because you don't like his personality doesn't mean it's contrived.

[QUOTE=cbombdotcom]To me, Kobe comes off as dude who tries too hard sometimes. I think the reason his personality is oft criticized is because he has managed to create two completely separate characters. There's Black Mamba Kobe and then there's Cool Kobe. Black Mamba is like this steely, cold, lone gunslinger that says and does what he wants. I feel like that's what's showing when he does those post-game interviews peppered with unnecessary cursing. It's like "Yea, I'm Kobe Bryant...this is what I think and you can quote that". Then, he downplays it with Cool Kobe. That's the one when the Lakers are reeling, he just says "I'm not worried". You KNOW deep down you're worried. It just seems so forced. It also seems like he feigns his modesty and humor. Like in the post All Star game spots when he just acted like the MVP fell in his lap when it was obvious he was showing out for it from the onset. That, along with the "bikram yoga stretch" comment just seemed so...phony. I don't hate the guy at all. He's made mistakes, but seems like a good dude and is a hell of a basketball player. However, it seems like he tries to be something he's not. He can't be the brooding, tough guy scoring machine AND the mellowed guy because it makes both sides seem fake.[/QUOTE]


How did the "bikram yoga stretch" seem so phony?

[QUOTE=pauk]and to the OP
this is what skip and them were talking about?
the stupid cocky expressions:

[img]http://www.allpichost.com/upload/56_kobe_i_fail.gif[/img]

that "I GOT BALLS" is just immature
when will he ever grow up[/QUOTE]


Sam Cassell

Yeah, his whole image has always been contrived, but it never really started getting on my nerves until a couple years ago when he was getting up their in age, and started winning more rings. I mean the whole mean mug, big balls, he can't guard me, "Black Mamba" fake ass personality is kinda stupid. I mean I could understand if guys like Lebron and D-Wade do that shit, because their young and on top of the world and wanna party in Miami and do commercials and shoe deals and blah blah blah. But Kobe is like what, 33 now? He has five championships, is a total veteran of the game and is entering the twighlight of his career. Isn't it long time you put the childish fake ass persona away man? Can you imagine Tim Duncan or Shaq doing all that shit during games? And who the **** steals a nickname from a movie and gives it to themselves? :oldlol:

But then again, people are slightly overexxagerating it. Let Kobe do what he do. No big deal, just annoying, that's all.

[QUOTE=lefthook00]His personality is not contrived. People with contrived personalities get exposed as phonies and fall off. He has been doing his thing for 15 years in the league, and has reached the upper echelon in all aspects of the sport. You must be self-actualized to be that successful in anything. Just because you don't like his personality doesn't mean it's contrived.[/QUOTE]


/thread.

Anybody want to comment on that above post I quoted?

Kobe's just a competitor. It's not a scripted reality show, that's just the way he is on the court. Kevin Garnett as well. You might see a lot of trash talking, but don't let that fool you into thinking they're that way off the court.

It's called being competitive.

It's called being the best get on his level

[QUOTE=catch24]Just got finished watching 1st and 10 and they have a football player (not sure what his name is) debating with Skip Bayless... the topic at hand was 'most hated athletes', based off the recent "Q" ratings . The two talked about LeBron, Chad Johnson, T.O etc, but when Kobe's name was mentioned, the football player immediately expressed his dislike for Kobe. "The scowl, the tough guy act, everything seems so contrived and phony it's no wonder he's on that list" (paraphrasing here). Skip pretty much agreed and that was that. After the segment I asked myself, [I]do people really this sh*t[/I]? Did a little a searching and came across these...





I don't really have an opinion on the subject (more mutual than anything) but what do you guys think?[/QUOTE]


Kobe = MCOAT :bowdown:

His personality, as in what he chooses to show to the world in interviews and during key moments of games is contrived.

He's an actor. Just like a lot of guys (for instance Bron or Dwight) try to be, but Kobe pulls it off a bit better.

However, talking shit in a game, no that's really him.

I detest the idea that people who are great should not say they are great. It's like the world wants people who are surprised when they do something great.

Obviously, to average joe it's easier to understand someone who is like "I just go out there and compete" opposed to "I'm da best mayne." But if you are the best or even close to the best, you can say that, in my opinion.

You just have to understand people are going to get jealous.

It's not like Kobe is walking into a room of people who don't know him and saying "I'm the best." Like dude said, we know. Not to say Kobe is the best or was ever the best (debatable) but on any given night he could perform as the best, so I think it's okay for him to say that. I am not a big Kobe fan...

I just think that people need to get the **** off people who are good at something and outspoken. It doesn't mean they are insecure or lesser than those that are quiet. It's just two different personalities. Both should be respected.

-Smak

[QUOTE=ILLsmak]His personality, as in what he chooses to show to the world in interviews and during key moments of games is contrived.

He's an actor. Just like a lot of guys (for instance Bron or Dwight) try to be, but Kobe pulls it off a bit better.

However, talking shit in a game, no that's really him.

I detest the idea that people who are great should not say they are great. It's like the world wants people who are surprised when they do something great.

Obviously, to average joe it's easier to understand someone who is like "I just go out there and compete" opposed to "I'm da best mayne." But if you are the best or even close to the best, you can say that, in my opinion.

You just have to understand people are going to get jealous.

It's not like Kobe is walking into a room of people who don't know him and saying "I'm the best." Like dude said, we know. Not to say Kobe is the best or was ever the best (debatable) but on any given night he could perform as the best, so I think it's okay for him to say that. I am not a big Kobe fan...

I just think that people need to get the **** off people who are good at something and outspoken. It doesn't mean they are insecure or lesser than those that are quiet. It's just two different personalities. Both should be respected.

-Smak[/QUOTE]


I think you do not understand the word contrived. You are confusing it with arrogant.

Kobe is the definition of contrived.

I rather have contrived competitiveness than clownish or childish behavior.

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[QUOTE=Magic 32]I rather have contrived competitiveness than clownish or childish behavior.

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[QUOTE=HoopsFanNumero1][IMG]http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0133ecfff7b8970b-800wi[/IMG][/QUOTE]

I must have missed that game.

IMO, he used to have one of the most contrived personalities in sports, but a few years ago it seems like he just said "fcuk it" and just acted like himself.

He's very contrived, but that works for him very well. I think he sees an image of what he wants to be, the persona of a Jordan, a bird, fearless, working harder than everyone, obsessed with winning, clutch, and in a sort of fantasy way be acts that way, and his personality revolves on fitting that image, and he believes that image.

Though it's odd, if people could do that with their life, believe they're exactly like Bill Gates for example. They can become a much better programmer than they would have. Being able to program for hours a day like he was, which most people would not be able to because it gets too boring. That's just one rough example.

In Kobe's defense, though not to his level, most people are contrived, just in idiotic useless waste of time ways.

For example, the other day I was going to the pharmacy and there was this teenager just sitting there in his car, blasting music really loud. He's a teenager, and too me it looked contrived, kind of forcing himself to listen to music really loud in a sense to impress people. I don't know if that's really the case, but that was the vibe. Then a friend of his passes by, listening to his music even louder, stops in the middle of the street, and gets out of the car with this body language of being someone who's happening and this extactic facial expression. Kind of like they're living the life and they're a big success.

It's all really hard to explain, but the vibe that I got was that they were wasting their time, trying to fit in into this image of what they think cool is in order to impress each other. Like what a waste.

Like imagine if you're friends with KennethGriffin, and through your interactions with him you develop this idea of what cool is, and then in a contrive way you start living that image, not because it's natural, but because you're trying to believe you're that image that you develop with a really dumb person. And that's what I like about Kobe, though he's contrive and believe he's an image, rather than naturally being that image, at least that effort being that image wasn't wasted on something absolutely worthless.

Very contrived. He has theatre kid syndrome. In combination with the career long creepy swagger jacking of Jordan, and then the subsequent forced "family guy" image after being accused or rape. It's obvious he's fake. Always has been. I think apart of it comes from his difficult upbringing. He just never knew how to be himself. So it's kind of forgivable to me. In recent years however he's been very honest, and seems to not give any kind of phucks.

You've got to get a kick out of Jordan fans calling Kobe contrived...when they are all victims of Nike's marketing.

By all accounts Jordan is a huge a-hole in many aspects in basketball and real life. Not the dude you saw in space jam.

MJ was an asshole in Space Jam too. MJ isn't a dick off the court, and neither is Kobe. Just on the court. Nike didn't market MJ's real mentality. They marketed his abilities. MJ was inherently cool, un-like Kobe. He had a natural cool vibe and persona that people were drawn to even if competitively he was a dick. Kobe desperately wanted to be this man, and came off forced and awkward in the process. He's not a bad guy I don't think, he just doesn't have his own personality really. Kobe even aped Iverson's MVP acceptance speech. He's great at adapting, but he's never had a true original personality. He'll forever be known as MJ lite.

[QUOTE=NumberSix]IMO, he used to have one of the most contrived personalities in sports, but a few years ago it seems like he just said "fcuk it" and just acted like himself.[/QUOTE]

That's maturity for you. Kobe genuinely seems like a laid-back and cool dude.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]MJ was an asshole in Space Jam too. [B]MJ isn't a dick off the court[/B], and neither is Kobe..[/QUOTE]


Uhhh.....go educate yourself before you speak:oldlol:

[QUOTE=eliteballer]Uhhh.....go educate yourself before you speak:oldlol:[/QUOTE]
I'm more well versed than you. Obviously, I'm a Jordan fan, and you're a Laker cheerleader. Chamillionaire's story about getting big timed by Jordan doesn't alter his entire reputation into being an asshole. I have plenty of stories of MJ being charitable and engaging with youth. Which is more important to me than when some one hit wonder, grown man rapper got his feelings hurt.

..and I know a lot of people who have met Kobe. He's almost always willing to take pictures, even after his workouts.

Really though... who cares? Kobe isn't a personal development coach or your best bud, hes a ball player. A pretty good one too.


People on this board try to act like they got life all figured out, and they are some sort of shining examples of true genuine personalities. Nah bro, most of you guys are genuine chodes. Kobe is a grown man living his own life in a public eye. The amount of scrutiny he undergoes you guys will never even see 1/100th of. To expect him to act a certain way and then judge him on it, its just sort of a gay way to feel better about yourself. As if, Kobe's personality is contrived, but me I'm a super cool guy and everybody loves me. Yea im sure they do bro.

[QUOTE=eliteballer]..and I know a lot of people who have met Kobe. He's almost always willing to take pictures, even after his workouts.[/QUOTE]
Read what I wrote. I said Kobe is a nice guy off the court. My cousin met him in LA, in one of the same ways you're talking about. Said he's very nice.

I made a post weeks back about the "nice on court / teammate" guys are actually from what I've heard the biggest ***** in real life. Divas: No Tippin Scottie Pippen, and LeDiva James. Bron asks servers to cut his food up for him.

:oldlol:

We're talking about Kobe's contrived on court personality and social abilities. I excuse them a bit due to his difficult up bringing, but he still comes off very phony. In recent years, a lot more real and relatable.

If you see Kobe in a Walmart parking lot, he'll give you a pound and chop it up with you for a minute. If you see MJ, he'll call you a phaggit ass niqqa and tell you to get the fcuk outta here.

GOAT actor
GOAT impersonator
GOAT basketball player

Is there no end to his greatness? How many Oscars could Kobe have won if basketball didn't get in the way with his other incredible talents?

[QUOTE=Yao Ming's Foot]
GOAT basketball player[/QUOTE]
Finally you muster up your baby nuts to say how you have always felt, we're proud of you.

Kobe has seemed like a chill and genuine dude the last few years for but for most of his career it wouldnt be unfair to call him contrived, and he most definitely did swaggerjack mj. He is not the only player to do it but he has definitely taken it the farthest with his playstyle and mannerisms

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Finally you muster up your baby nuts to say how you have always felt, we're proud of you.[/QUOTE]

I call Kobe the Greatest Actor Of All Time and nothing. I call him the greatest basketball player of all time and it catches you right in the feels. Jordan Stans forever feeling insecure. :oldlol:

End of the day who cares? If he can play ball and you watch NBA that's all that matters I couldn't care less about someone's personality I don't know in real life and will never be friends with.

[QUOTE=Yao Ming's Foot]I call Kobe the Greatest Actor Of All Time and nothing. I call him the greatest basketball player of all time and it catches you right in the feels. Jordan Stans forever feeling insecure. :oldlol:[/QUOTE]
I've seen you forever skip around it. Asked you flat out before if you thought Kobe > Jordan and you never had the balls to say what you believed. I'm not mad at all. I'm actually really glad you finally gave up your soft, passive-aggressive troll behavior.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]I've seen you forever skip around it. Asked you flat out before if you thought Kobe > Jordan and you never had the balls to say what you believed. I'm not mad at all. I'm actually really glad you finally gave up your soft, passive-aggressive troll behavior.[/QUOTE]

Do you also believe that I believe Kobe is the greater actor of all time?

:facepalm

[QUOTE=Yao Ming's Foot]Do you also believe that I believe Kobe is the greater actor of all time?

:facepalm[/QUOTE]
Am I talking about thespians? Am I addressing the GOAT actor statement? Which BTW clearly belongs to either Shaq for his performance in SHAZAM or Dr. J in the Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.

Just because you included GOAT basketball player, with a bunch of sarcastic claims, doesn't mean that was once again your passive-aggressive way of sneaking in what you actually feel and don't have the balls to say?

:facepalm

Yao Ming's Foot:
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