Growing Up with Basketball.

Growing up in East LA, I had a basketball court in my backyard. My dad poured the concrete and set up the hoop with the aid of our Mexican friend Fernando. Fernando would help with work around the house in exchange for a place to put his trailor..which was in our backyard.
It was probably the best gift I ever received as a kid. I used to play against my dad all the time. The only rule was that he couldn't post up. We stopped playing after I beat him consecutive times, or maybe because he got busy with his "career in medicine"...whatever helped him sleep at night.
Needless to say, I was an O.G. Street Baller. Some of the kids who lived in the apartments next door would hop the tall fence to play in my backyard. At the time, I didn't think anything of it. It was harmless. In this day and age, that would probably never fly. We are not trusting enough as a culture. But I was welcoming and always loved the new challengers.
My parents sent me to a private school near Glendale,CA. It was called Ribet Academy. The school was great but I have a feeling now that the kids there would have been the same if I had gone to public school. Since my parents worked till 6 everyday, I was enrolled in DayCare which was right on school grounds. Instead of doing homework, which my parents most definitely would have made me do if I were home, I played basketball. All day everyday for 3-4 hours. It seemed like everyone played the game. My two El Salvadorian twin friends were some of the best. Dusty and Jason.
I think the game gave me a competitive itch that had to be scratched every time I played a sport. It also taught me about honesty. If you've ever played a pick up game, there are no refs, no one to tell you who touched the ball last as it flew out of bounds. But you knew if it was you. And if you were honest about it, kids respected you. We could use this type of accountability and honesty.

Now let's be honest. People love to hate the Lakers. Why?
If there was the same honesty in those early year pick up games as there are in the hearts of Laker haters, then we'd know the real reason. The real reason is because they win. And the win consistently. Aside from the reigning years of MJ, the Lakers have been a dominating force in NBA History.
Kobe Bryant is not an outstanding individual. He's probably got a lot more skeletons in the closet than we have seen. But does this separate him from the rest of the NBA players? I think not. Every NBA player is faced with the same temptations of sex, drugs, and unlimited fame. Who, if any, have resisted them all. I believe we'll never know.
Now as for the game if basketball, Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to walk on the floor. He's won 4 Championships and has one of the best records in the history of the game. I am not a die hard Kobe fan, but I respect his ability to score and to win.
Should you hate the Lakers? Yeah, if they are beating your team. Of Course.
But don't make up artificial reasons.
All you playa haters: Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game.