God Damn... I Love Kobe Bryant

From an article I came across today:

Last night, during his post-game presser, five-time Lakers champion Kobe Bryant was calling out Philadelphia sports radio host, Stephen A. Smith. Jokingly asking where he was, and if he was "hiding" from Bryant.

Smith told KLAC, that before the NBA Finals were underway, he had picked the Celtics to win the series against his fellow Philadephian, Kobe Bryant and his Lakers.

"After every game, I would be standing by tunnel where all the medias are at," said Smith. "And after every game, Kobe Bryant would walk down that tunnel, and he would walk up to me... we don't shake hands, but he would give me this look, this same look every night (as if I had done something horrible), and it didn't matter if they won or lost, he would come up to me and say 'So you're still picking the Celtics against my team?' and then he just walk right off. He would always remind me every single game that I picked against him."

Smith said that his sports integrity meant sticking to his original prediction, but he knew deep down, that Kobe Bryant was going to make sure he (Smith) would think twice before picking against Bryant ever again.

On his morning show today, Smith commented, "I'd like my crow fried, please!"

Ruthlessly Good

me: I think I finally understand Kobe Bryant.

Shawn: I dont understand Bryant

and I hate him

I hate the Celtics too

me: there's a reason why you hate him, yes?

Shawn: of course

he is effing good

me: exactly!

Shawn: and he doesnt play for the magic

me: You hate him, because he's good... damn good. Ruthlessly good.

Shawn: yeah but I can't get excited for him getting yet another ring

me: that's the thing... that's what I figured out recently...

Kobe bryant doesn't care if you're excited about him getting another ring

Shawn: of course he doesnt

me: He only cares that He's excited about getting another ring...

and that's all that matters.

Let me find this quote that I ran into about him the other day...

me: ahh, here it is...

".... there was a great post on ESPN's Daily Dime that dissected (Steve) Nash's decision to re-sign with the Suns rather than chase a championship elsewhere. His response to questions was that, for him, the journey is more important than the destination. That the chance to lead and teach young players is more important than chasing around a championship.

Someone related this to Kobe and his response was "Fuck that. Better him than me." No, really. That's what he said. Because chasing a championship is the only thing that matters to Kobe."

this comes from: http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2010/06/belated-worst-of-night-game-6s-edition.html

Shawn: i wish the magic had that attitude

me: the Magic??? I wish I had that attitude

there's a larger lesson to be learned by the Kobe Bryant's and the Kayne West's of the world

It's all about being "Ruthlessly Good" at what you do. The rest of the world be damned. If you're good at what you do... and you perform... In this day and age, that's all that matters. I'd rather achieve my goals and have the world hate me, instead of it being the other way around.

I get that now.

Shawn: I hear you

me: Anyways... I think you're going to see a new [Williams] in the next few months

A [Williams] that's closer to Kobe Bryant than the smiling, lovable, and ring-less Dwight Howard... hopefully.

Shawn: I heard you put in your notice

me: Yes, Yes I did. That passion project of mine that I've been working on is about to launch...

Politics + Design & Branding = Very Interesting Stuff

I'm still out in Australia at the moment (sorry to everyone who have called me and have not gotten a response as yet). But while I had a bit of downtime, I wanted to post these videos I came across. In the following videos, the design mavens of the Obama campaign talk through the origin of the Obama "O" logo...

Part 1:


Part 2:

Quote of the Day

A quote from this article caught my eye:

"There is no stigma now because so many people have lost jobs," she said. "The joke is that the new status symbol, instead of a Porsche or Ferrari, is having health insurance and a desk."

A Tuesday Night in Washington DC

There were a lot of inspiring scenes televised across the nation and the world last night.

But there was one that I'm afraid many of you missed... One that will be forever engraved in my memory:

Hipsters, in the middle of DC's 14th and U-Street neighborhood, in the middle of the night, singing the Star Spangled Banner while waving American flags and pictures of our new President.

Say what you will about the politics involved. But the patriotism is undeniable.

Ad-whore

Sometimes, people use flash to make something truly original. It's rare, but it happens.

View this video, now: http://www.youtube.com/wariolandshakeit2008

John McCain's ad men are taking this to a new level

I love negative campaign ads. I love them, even if they are against someone I support. For example, take the ad below. This is, by far, one of the best negative ads I've seen this election cycle.



My god, they are really laying the smack-down on Obama these days.

Now, for the background: The "sex ed" Obama wants to teach to kindergartners was age-appropriate education to protect them from pedophiles.

Obama Spokesperson:
"Barack Obama supports sensible, community-driven education for children because, among other things, he believes it could help protect them from pedophiles. A child's knowledge of the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching is crucial to keeping them safe from predators."

If I were working for the Obama people, I would cut an ad right now that pushes the point: "McCain supports Pedophiles". At this point, fuck it... Who cares what's true anymore.

The Part of His Speech When I Teared Up

"I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America."

- Barack Obama

Obama... Eight Years Ago

On Obama giving his speech tonight:

"Eight years ago, such a scenario would have been laughable. Obama was broke and without political friends of any consequence. He had to gatecrash the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles after arriving on a cheap flight at the last minute. A rental car company rejected his maxed-out American Express card and he watched Al Gore accept the party's nomination on television screens at the perimeter of the convention centre."

Damn... if that doesn't sound like a "Regular Joe", I don't know what does.

Read the full article: Obama's Dream For America

New Equation

4 hour bus ride to NYC + fast wi-fi + power outlets > 1 hour flight to NYC.

Thank you Bolt Bus.

Epic

I saw this live yesterday... and my jaw nearly hit the floor. Talk about Hardball? Chris Mathews handed this kid an intellectual ass-whooping. (Be sure to watch the entire thing)

What's especially fun about this video is that the point Mathews made is exactly the point Obama and company should use throughout the election. In many ways, Mr. Kevin James just handed the Democrats a nice little gift this election season.