humble

was YouTube-ing yesterday for basketball videos. i wasn't really looking for anything specific. i usually end up watching highlight plays from the current season, some bloopers, interviews, and documentaries as well.

i guess this way i find some inspiration for my game. haha :P

seriously now, i bumped into this rare video. it's an interview of Kobe Bryant (the NBA MVP) conducted by Ron Artest (former NBA Defensive Player of the Year). i think it was done a few months before the current season started.

watch:

i was really surprised with how this interview came to be. i thought it was going to be something like two friends/colleagues talking and messing around with each other.

hey, Ron Artest didn't act like a former NBA All-Star who could still be considered among the league's best right now who has every right to at least brag about it.

he was a true person who really idolized a man like Kobe Bryant.

he even recalled a memory of him playing a pick-up game with Kobe back when they were 13-14 years old. he told Kobe it was the moment when he started being a big fan of Kobe. he didn't even care if Kobe remembered it. he just really had to say it.

some lines were just really nice to hear.

"Oh no, Kobe's about to give me 50 (points)!" - Ron

"I gotta get ready for Kobe Bryant!" - Ron

"That thing about trusting your teammates, that's a bunch of BS... it's more than that." - Kobe

"I had to average 35 points to keep us competitive with the Raptors!" - Kobe

"This has been the biggest opportunity i had in my life. You're one of my idols." - Ron


Artest looked like a real person here. it's great to see NBA stars like that. behind all that competitiveness and ruggedness on the court and towards the media, is the a big amount of respect for his fellow NBA star Kobe Bryant. even though they entered the league only a few years apart and Ron is just a year younger than Kobe, Ron treated Kobe like he was already a legend, while he was a kid.

Kobe on the other hand looked flattered and down-to-earth with the way Ron looks up to him and all. and yeah, he remembered their game back when they were 13-14 years old. it was also nice of them to talk about their families and stuff.

Kobe has also been one of my idols ever since he shot that buzzer beater in game 4 against the suns way back in 2006. and now in 2009, him and the Lakers look groomed for a title run this june. and so i make the following prediction:

LAKERS will win the 2009 NBA title in a 5 game series