“The cLOSER”

Sir Charles called Kobe “The Closer”, for some obvious reason, his ability to takeover and closeout ballgames. He swept Allen and Carmelo and the Nuggets first; advanced to the second round by beating the Jazz at the Delta Center and almost single handedly whipped Tim, Manu Tony and the Spurs in five games. But it’s a different story against the Mighty Boston Celtics.

With so much history between the two franchises, the Lakers were the favorites to win the 2008 NBA Finals. Lakers in six, most experts predicted. It went the other way.

Yes, the Maurice Podoloff trophy and the regular season is his to keep (KG don’t need that anyway, he already has one), but he don’t get the most important one this time, the Larry O’Brien trophy and a championship ring. Although he already has three rings, he got those when The Diesel is still around. Post Shaq era, Kobe has none. And Shaq already got one in Miami, his fourth, and maybe never again…

Some said it’s “Kobe Karma” and Phil is cursed. The Zen is still searching for his tenth ring to surpass the Great Red Auerbach for most championship ring won by a coach in NBA history. He got two chances, same result.

So doe’s The Black Mamba still has something to prove? There’s a lot actually. At the post-game presser after that Game 6 nightmare, he’s obviously disappointed, and as he speaks and answered every reporter’s question, I thought he would ask Jerry Buss to trade him once again.

After that disappointing, shameful act in his first NBA Finals appearance since Shaq decided to leave Hollywood, where’s KB24 now? At the Gym maybe, practicing his killer jump shots or at home watching tapes of their disgraceful performance and still wondering what went wrong.

Only the silhouette and the number of His Airness, could be copied and duplicated, that’s for sure. Ask the “Chosen One” and he’ll give you the same answer.

For now we can call “The Closer”, a “Loser”. Maybe Sir Charles, being one of the biggest losers knows better.

Same time next year Kobe.