Evolution of a champ

Kobe Bryant, Congratulations!  You've won it all.  You've laid to rest the naysayers, the critics, and haters.  As much as you've shoved the dagger into my sports heart over the years - I can only applaud you now.  You earned this one on your own, with a little help from an incompetent Grizzlies GM (Gasol for peanuts), KG's knee, Manu's ankle and 1 or 2 all-stars missing from the Rockets.  It was cute seeing you count the number of championships on your hand, very reminiscent of Jordan counting his 6th win in Utah.  I guess it wasn't enough that you stole his fist pump and interviewing style.  Even though your coach wrote a tell all book about your lack of charcter, you ratted out Shaq when being interviewed by the police after an alleged rape, the alleged rape, the fact that I predicted none of your teamates, except for Fisher, would embrace you after you won the recent title - and none of them did, or the fact that you really had the opportunity to count 6-8 championship rings on those fingers had you matured a little faster.  The fact is, that you did it your way, on your terms and you've catapulted yourself in the Top 10 - EVER conversation.  As much as I despise you as a person, role model, teammate and face of the nba, I have to say now, that watching you speak at the post game conference was refreshing.  I can put aside my dislike of your character, to appreciate your accomplishment within the context of basketball history. I've read both sides of the arguments about how great OR how selfish you are.  My final thoughts after this season, is that you're one of the Top 10 greatest players ever.  You work harder than anyone else in the league, you push your teammates, being a leader in the only way that you know.  Its been great watching you all of these years.  Really.  You've fueled my passion for basketball since the turn of the millenium.  You've helped me grow closer to family members, as we stand in solidarity of our hatred towards you.  You've helped me keep the basketball discourse flowing with old college friends.  You kept the competitive fire alive in Shaq, KG, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzski, Dwayne Wade and many more.  You taught Lebron, CP3 and Dwight Howard and the entire Redeem Team how to prepare for the game during the offseason.  Its incredible what you've done for the game.  I appluad you from now until the next post season.  Lakers, nba champs, 2008-2009.