Kobe Apologizes to Kupchack

Reports indicate that Kobe Bryant has apologized to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak about the comments he made a few weeks ago. Kobe was heard on a secretly recorded tape message saying very derogatory things about Kupchack and reiterating that he would like to be traded to another team.

Bryant appears to have softened his stance a bit in recent days. In an interview after a sports camp he runs at Loyola Marymount the other day, Bryant gave a rather ambiguous answer to a question about whether he still felt the same way. Bryant said, “I haven’t thought about that in a long, long time. I’ve kind of stepped away from that. … We’ll just have to see where it goes.”

Everybody appreciates it when somebody realizes they were out of line and apologizes. This goes for plenty of people in Kobe’s wake: Shaq, Vanessa Bryant, Mitch Kupchack…. But will Los Angeles basketball fans be willing to forgive and forget when it comes to Kobe wanting to leave? If Kobe plays in L.A. next season, will fans of his basketball prowess be willing to give him a pass for such transgressions? Will they still flock to StubHub.com to get Los Angeles Lakers tickets? Only time will tell.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 6, 2007 - Post a comment