When I first read this story on the WWL about Kobe telling Coach K on his Sirius XM radio show that he plans to play for Team USA in 2012, I was pretty excited. Mostly because he's already old -- 32, but straight out of high school -- he'll be older in 2012 -- 34; I should have been a math major -- and he's got bad knees with a lot of miles on them. So maybe the Lakers' powerhouse won't continue beyond 2012?
This quote then made me a little sad.
"If anything, I'll just be Mariano Rivera -- come in in the last two minutes," Bryant said, referring to the New York Yankees closer.
Oh, no. Could there be a more sympathetic role for Bryant than the aging great, past his prime, coming in and hitting big shots and then sitting back down?
He avoids adding wear and tear and still gets the glory.
I suppose ultimately this doesn't affect the Celtics much -- after 2012, the KG and Ray Allen days will likely be over, and Paul could easily be our 6th man by then if he slows down in the next couple of years. But I hate the thought of Kobe becoming this clutch assassin off the bench for a team that should be absolutely loaded.