Supernatural

SUPERNATURAL
Kobe Bryant in Manila
by rick olivares
(This story is also featured in the front sports pages of Business Mirror)

September 5, 2007
The dream is certainly over for Kobe Bryant. Only a few days removed from a golden Team USA summer where the disgruntled Los Angeles Lakers star reclaimed his status as the world’s preeminent basketball star, Bryant was back to reality. But before he returns back to the grim situation that the Lakers are light years away from being a challenger for an NBA championship let alone being competitive this coming season, the All-World Hoopster is on a five-city tour of Asia to promote some of his charities for children and to spread the gospel that “hard work leads to success.”

When asked, during a press conference at the Quezon Ballroom of the Shangri-La Manila, what he would do if he could play Lakers GM, the two-time NBA scoring champion replied, “Can I also assume that I’m Bill Gates? Then I’ll start with all of the Team USA basketball team. Every one of them. It’s been a real blessing to be surrounded by that kind of talent. It makes playing even more fun. We’re spoiled by that.”

And everyone of the media horde that was assembled for the first official look at Bryant in his second tour of Manila refused to budge for lunch in spite of the press conference running more than two hours late. After all they stood to lose some prime piece of real estate in front of the interview podium.

Manila, the first stop of this global icon’s post-FIBA Americas journey where he added a gold medal to his collection of awards, is actually his only foray this year in Southeast Asia. For next on his itinerary are Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Then it’s some badly needed rest before heading into the Lakers’ training camp in Hawaii.

It might be only for a day, but for the hundreds of people who lined up six deep at the Nike Park in Bonifacio High Street at the Serendra in Bonifacio Global City as early 5am Wednesday morning, a glimpse or an opportunity to join the goose bumps-inducing chants of “MVP! MVP!” is a memory to last a lifetime.

As for the 30 student-representatives from the Eliseo Belen Elementary School (current student population: 218) in Bacolor, Pampanga, the beneficiaries of a pair of autographed basketball backboards featuring Bryant’s likeness as part of Nike’s social responsibility program called “Out of the Streets and into the Courts,” it will surely be a pleasant memory. One that can be relived everyday.

Nike Country Marketing Manager Melissa Crucillo explained that the school of Eliseo Belen was chosen in part because it was largely affected by the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions in 1991 that splintered and affected different barangays in Bacolor.

“Kobe Bryant serves as a basketball icon, inspiration and role-model to a lot of our young Filipino athletes and Nike Philippines is proud to bring him closer to his fans,” added Crucillo. “The one-day visit is developed as an opportunity for Kobe to work with Filipino kids and to leave a lasting impression on a generation of Filipino basketball fans.”

During his Nike Park visit that lasted 45 minutes, Bryant was visibly moved when the adoring crowd serenaded him with the deafening chants of “MVP”. And when the superstar guard saw the world-famous Philippine jeepney adorned with his likeness, he could only utter, “That’s amazing.”

His third and last stop for the day was at the Philsports Arena that was filled with hoops fans who took part in Bryant’s personalized workout, something he calls “blackout” for its propensity to tire out its practitioners. During all his stops, Bryant emphasized the need for hard work and dedication to the game or any other endeavor if one wanted to succeed. “I know it sounds so corny but it really boils down to that. How bad do you want to succeed?”

Bryant also recounted during the press conference the immense pride he felt in being a part of team USA that claimed an Olympic berth by virtue of making it to the FIBA Americas final. The United States went 10-0 in the tournament and were never seriously challenged throughout. By the time the US team featuring young studs LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony among others, reached the final, they had beaten their first nine opponents by an average of 39.2 points. In the title game, they avenged previous losses to an Argentinean team that was missing Emanuel Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Walter Hermann, and Fabricio Oberto with a 118-81 demolition.

"This Team USA is one of the best I have ever seen," Argentina head coach Sergio Hernandez said. "Nobody will ever forget the first Dream Team with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, but I like this USA team very much with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. They really know how to play together.”

While the US is heavily favored to annex the gold medal come 2008 in Beijing, prior to their romp in the Olympic Qualifiers, they have vastly underachieved in recent international competitions including the 2002 and 2006 World Championships and the 2004 Olympics. “All this has changed,” explained Bryant. “If you have an opportunity to play for your country, you should always do so. The NBA championships are what we play for, but an Olympic gold is something else. You can really say you were the best in the world.”

Ironically, in the youth movement of USA Basketball, it was the 29-year old Bryant (who celebrated his birthday last August 23) and the 34-year New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd who served as veterans. “Jason and I could be ourselves. What made it easy was we had great guys on the team,” glowed Bryant.

“I was a very young man last time I was here,” said Bryant as he addressed the crowd during the Nike Park proceedings. “And I enjoyed my brief stay then. But all I can say is that the second time around can sometimes be sweeter. You really know how to make a person feel welcome. I love Manila!”

And the crowd that had braved the sweltering heat with many of holding up LA Lakers and Team USA jerseys and Kobe’s Nike kicks let him hear those chants of “MVP” again.

He turned around to point up to the massive billboard on the façade of the Nike Park. The dream summer may be over, but the memories, these supernatural memories will last one and all for a lifetime.



PART 2 & 3 of Kobe interviews out tomorrow