The forest
represents society. We asked if you see it from above, far away or in it.
Kobe said: I see it from above. I see a dense forest where you can
barely see the ground.
The path represents what you think about life. We asked if
the path is trampled, straight or overgrown.
Kobe said: It's not straight or curvy, there is pattern to it. It's like walking
through a maze. You go around trees and you have to find the way out,
like in a labyrinth.
The key represents your view of friendship. We asked if you pick it up,
You said: I pick it up then leave it.
Kobe said: I leave it.
The house expresses your feelings about family. We asked if it is a
hut, a regular house or a lodge.
Kobe said: I see a lodge.
The lake represents love. We asked if you see
many fish, a few fish or nothing.
Kobe said: It's muddy and I just observe it. I can't really see many fish.
Do you feel that living abroad has made you different from
the guys
you hang out with?
What made me different was growing up in Italy. Coming back to
America, it has given me a different point of view on life. I have seen
different cultures, and I have more of an open mind.
What would you have studied if you went to college? Why?
International business. Because I am fascinated by the language
aspect of it. My sister majored in international business, too.
If you could change something about the world, what would it be?
Segregation.
Do you think you had an easy life?
No. I just think I knew what I wanted to do earlier than everybody
else. Everybody goes through life looking for the magic code, and I
found it at an early age.
Now that you have achieved your goal, the NBA, what's next?
Keep moving on. Before my goal was getting in the NBA, now I want to
be the best I can be.
When did you start writing rhymes?
When I was 14.
To whom would you compare your rapping style? Is it dark?
No one, because I talk about my experiences. It depends on what mood
I am in. I write about what I see and what I experience. It's not dark,
it's not joyful, it's just real.
What topic do you usually talk about?
You have to believe in yourself, and you can achieve whatever you
want. You have to bleed sweat to get where you want to go. I talk about
how the top is really non-existent. Everyone is talking about getting to
the top. Top is a made-up thing for people to use as a barometer.
What do you think of the whole rap war?
It's all about being competitive. Like in the All-Star game, Michael
and me went head to head and in rhyming it's the same way. We are going
to battle one another, but it is not supposed to be taken literally. You
are just trying to see who can outdo whom. But I totally disagree with
the whole East/West thing. It's total BS.
Who's in your CD player right now?
Lauryn Hill.
Is friendship important to you?
My friends are my family. I have a big family.
Can you tell if someone wants to hang out with you
because of your status?
I don't have the time to figure out if someone is real or not.
Has living abroad brought your family closer together?
When we moved to Italy, no one in the family spoke the language so we
had no choice but to bond.
What is Italian in you? And what is not?
I jump high. Everything else is groomed Italian style.
If you have an issue, who do you talk to?
No one. I talk to myself.
Is the Kobe on-court different from the Kobe off-court?
Not really.
Are you ever lonely?
No [but] I enjoy hanging out by myself sometimes.
Is anyone in your life?
No. I don't have a girlfriend. I am not about to get married...
that's way down the road
Q: As a young player in the NBA, you need to be at the top of your
game at all times. How do you stay motivated and how would you motivate young players?
-Matt
Clarion, PA
A: You need to understand that tomorrow, it could all end. It
could all end tomorrow. I could easily go out tomorrow, God forbid, and blow out a knee or
something like that and it would all be over. I just take it as it comes and enjoy every
day.
Q: At your very young age, how does it feel to be a part and get
listed among the all-star players in the NBA?
-Bernard Molina Jr.
South Cotabato, Philippines
A: This is what you always dream about, coming to the All-Star
Game. It's something that I fantasized about and here I am now. It's the ultimate. The
fans recognize the hard work I'm putting out on the court and they see me as a talented
individual that has a lot of potential. The attention is great but I just take it in
stride.
Q: Kobe, how you feel about playing against Michael Jordan in the
All-Star Game? You think he can guard you one-on-one?
-Jason Lee
Los Angeles, CA
A: It's a great honor to be able to compete against Michael
Jordan in what might be his last All-Star Game. But when I step on the court, I try to put
the name behind me, and just treat it like another #23 jersey. I'm not bashful about
getting up on Michael and playing against him because that's how you learn. I try to feed
off of him and learn a lot of different things.
Q: What are your personal feelings on being the first off the bench
when you could easily start for any other team in the league?
-John Vasquez
Spokane, WA
A: With the team that we have right now, we have all the
potential in the world, and all of the pieces of the puzzle are there. I'm very
comfortable in my role coming off the bench and sparking the team, putting some points on
the board and rebounding or whatever it may be.
Q: Do you think we will see the Lakers in the Finals?
-Gib
La Palma, CA
A: I think we have a very good chance, but we have to keep
everybody healthy. That's the key. If everybody stays healthy, and we can grow together as
a team and learn every game, then we have a great chance.
Q: Who was the most influential person in your progress as an NBA
elite player?
-Perry McAtee
Clarksburg, WV
A: : My father always played with a great love for the game, and
that's one of the things he always taught me, especially after I made the jump to the NBA.
He told me not the pressure or the expectations take away from my love for the game and I
think that's the best advice anyone's ever given me. He taught me that you have to be
well-rounded basketball player.
Q: Kobe, you got hoops man what made you come up with the
between the legs dunk?
-Mike L.
A: "I just tried that in high school, fooling around
with my teammates. You come into a competition,
with a lot of people watching, when the energy
starts flowing, you feel that you can do anything and
I figured 'why not give it a try?'"
Q: Hey Kobe, how does it feel to win the dunk contest and
play so well in the rookie game? You've had a great rookie
year so far! Keep it going.
-dribble
A: "Thank you very much, this is so great. It's a chance to find out
that all of the hard work I'm doing is starting to pay off and it's a
beautiful feeling."
Q: What did you think of that Michael Finley cartwheel
dunk?
-tml
Q: Kobe, do you think you would have won if Michael Finley
had hit the cartwheel dunk?
-LakerFan
A: "I have no idea! I just leave that up to the judges. I knew
Michael had something up his sleeve, because he's a tricky guy,
but I didn't know what it was."
Q: Kobe, what's it like going out and there and showing what
you've got in front of some of the 50 greatest players and
ones who have made spectacular dunks in years before
you??
-Karen
A: "There's nothing like it. You get a chance to put on a show in
front of the players that you idolized growing up, the players that
made the league what it is today. I watched the competition every
year, from Dr. J, David Thompson, Michael Jordan on."
Q: What player on the Lakers has had the greatest influence
on you? and has any of the players on the Lakers been like a
father figure to you?
-Michael Loving
A: "I wouldn't say father figure, because they're all mostly young
guys. But Shaquille O'Neal, Byron Scott and Eddie Jones, who
I've known since 8th grade, have been especially great."
Q: Kobe, will you be back to defend your title as dunk champ
next year?
-D.
Q: Kobe, how does it feel to get the great Dr. J off his seat
with one of your dunks?
-Carlos
A: "It feels great to get a guy like Dr. J out of his seat. He's the
guy who's made this all possible. He played in Philadelphia with
my father and he's seen me grow up. God willing, if I stay healthy,
I'll be here next year." |
