The Look that Kills

They introduced Kobe Bryant at ESA, this week prior to the Jazz-Lakers game and the response was typical.

A number of Laker fans – most of them wearing Bryant jerseys – cheered enthusiastically. But that was quickly overwhelmed by a loud, passionate chorus of boos by a loud, passionate portion of the crowd.

Even though he has largely refurbished his image – which I wrote about in yesterday’s blog — Jazz fans still hate Bryant. That’s not unusual. Home team fans usually boo other teams’ superstars. The difference is when you talk personally to the fans. Ask almost anyone in Salt Lake what he/she thinks of Bryant.

“I can’t stand him,” they’ll say.

That wasn’t normally the case with Michael Jordan.

Some hate Bryant because of the sexual assault case in Colorado that was dismissed. (He and his accuser settled the civil suit out of court.) But he was getting booed loudly in Salt Lake long before that.

Why?

It’s the smirk.

Jordan didn’t have the same expression that makes people want wring his neck.

Although I’ve liked Bryant every time I’ve been around him, and he is very good at handling interviews, the smirk comes through even when he doesn’t intend it to. For instance, when asked about Redeem Team-mate Deron Williams’ game, Wednesday, Bryant said, “He’s better than I thought he was – which is saying a lot. He’s one of the best players in the world. Playing with him, you get a chance to see how great he really is.”

Better than I thought he was?

He meant it to be a compliment – I truly believe that — but it still came across as backhanded.

It seems even when he’s lauding people, there’s no escaping the smirk.