Kobe Bryant Cover Shoot Video

G$

Also,
Remember during the run-up to the war the ONE playa that wouldn’t worship the flag pre-game was national news…
And guy ran out of the stands and tried to wrap her in what?
Thats right, Kobe’s flag.
Flag on the backboard.
Flag on the unis.
Flag in the stadium.
Flag on the cover.
Flag (and white guy) on the logo.
Talk about fetishism.
Or actually, don’t talk about it at all…

http://www.slamonline.com Khalid Salaam

I’m not sleeping at all G$. I’m looking at it from all angles, thats all. And trust me, i care a bit about social justice too. As well as politics and societal conformity and many other things. you should see my desk. or ask my co-workers what the name of the top drawer in my cabinet is.

G$

Tupac never repped the red white and blue.
Although ya sure wouldn’t know if from the video.

G$

How in the world can ya say your “looking at it from all angles” when no-one even asks Kobe why he wants to be wrapped in the US flag post-Katrina and during a war where a disproportionate number of those dying are black and brown? Doesn’t looking require, like, inquiry?

http://www.slamonline.com Khalid Salaam

All angles meaning SLAM overall not just this one cover. Plus its not the flag thats problematic its the people in DC who set agenda and policies. In the meantime while we are debating over Kobe, Mike Huckabee is on a MF’n mission to get elected. How do you feel about that G$??

G$

As stated above, in the past there’s been atheletes that have made statements regarding the US prediliction for war by how they interact with the symbol of that war. Smith at the ’68 olympics. The brave young college hoopster during the WMD run-up to the Iraq invasion. So I’m just not buying that Kobe wrapped in a flag, with an “Against the World” title qualifies as looking “from all angles.”
Think about it. When Wyclef accepted his gramy (for The Score) he came out wrapped in the Hatian flag. And it meant something real. Another way of saying it is that symbols symbolize something. Thats why they’re called symbols. And if you’re going to print a symbol, perhaps you should look at what it means.

Elyse

Why does Kobe being wrapped in the flag have to be linked to politics or the war? Honestly, I think Kobe is just happy to be playing on team USA and representing this country. Believe it or not, he actually does a ton of charity work, in both New Orleans and elsewhere. Is it possible that being a part of team USA is something he is just really proud of, a symbol of solidarity and unity?

http://www.slamonline.com Khalid Salaam

Elyse thank yoy. This is what i was alluding to and was trying to get G$ to state without me having to obviously tell him. Kobe wants to do well for Team USA. how come thats not enough. and G$ don’t avoid my question. Mike Huckabee..what are your thoughts? You must have some…

http://why-bother-reading.blogspot.com/ H to the izzo

Khalid,I wouldn’t get too riled up about G$’s comments,he took the cover idea as a whole wwaayyy out of context and went off on a tangent,without making many valid points.He’s arguing for argument’s sake and shows a clear lack of understanding of what he’s talking about,it wouldn’t be much of a discussion.

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

Kobe wanted to rep USA BASKETBALL. If the way he/we illustrated that makes him—or us—insensitive, I/we apologize (at least for our role in it). Again, we are a BASKETBALL magazine and plan our stories and covers as if we will be seen in that context.

http://why-bother-reading.blogspot.com/ H to the izzo

Ben:In fairness you had absolutely nothing to apologise for.

G$

I ain’t down with Huckabee (I’m an Obama guy).
But lets be real.
Huckabee doesn’t sell magazines.
Kobe does.
And so does a rented Bentley.
Maybe I’m the last guy in the hood that ain’t turned on by fancy cars, floss and flags.
I miss Ali. And Kareem. And that whole generation of atheletes who stood up for the poor and oppressed.

The flag isn’t linked to politics?
Wow. I mean wow. Can ya really say that with a straight face?
“Against the World.” Come on now…

http://why-bother-reading.blogspot.com/ H to the izzo

Obama,the guy with no real policies and just plays the media game?

http://slamonline.com Holly MacKenzie

I loved the cover idea and I thought it was cool that SLAM got a Kobe cover amid the trade rumors (literally, in the MIDDLE of the trade drama going on back in LA). Maybe it was Kobe’s idea to wrap himself in the flag, but, like Ben suggested, since SLAM is a ball magazine, to me it represented him wrapping himself up in his duties and commitments to USA Basketball rather than focussing on the drama of whether he would or would not be in LA. I thought the photoshoot was amazing and Atiba got some great shots. While it was Kobe’s concept, Atiba killed it and it was one of my favorite covers in awhile. Of course, had I chosen to look at SLAM in a different light, maybe it wouldn’t have been as fun and cool to see a player excited about playing for his country and with the best players in the game, but, to me SLAM is basketball and that is how it looks to me.

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

The flag idea was a collaboration between Kobe and Atiba. The Team USA gear as opposed to Laker gear was Kobe’s idea all the way.

http://slamonline.com Sam Rubenstein

i thought Kobe was an Italian, named after a city in Japan.

http://slamonline.com Sam Rubenstein

and regarding censorship of curse words and things like that, you have to be vigilant in the war with s p a m. The other day I wrote about the thing that baseball players inject themselves with and now there are links to it from supplement tracker dot com. And words that could link to p0rn sites are the most dangerous of all for those kind of things to happen.

Mac wall

Your comment is awaiting moderation. Your comment is awaiting moderation. What are you guys doin? First you complain about how players are being narcissists and inking their own name and number ont heir back,while before that KG is on the cover with no teammates.Plus you put Kobe ont the cover and say hes “Against the World”. Really, do you even have an opinion? why don’t you make an article that won’t embarass your hypocrit writers and do an article on Rafer Alston. He came out of colege, Played with AND 1, got his name out there, and went pro. He didn’t care where he was or what anyone thought about him, he was just happy to play.

1hush D

Ok, back. Great discussion on this and it probably goes without saying that I share G$’s other views too. Holly stated what Khalid thought he was trying to teach is the difference between government and country. “Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it” – Mark Twain. Does the flag really represent “the country” to you? It doesn’t to me. Does it to Kobe? You could have asked. Maybe Kobe would have quoted Twain. I doubt it. And I doubt Kobe would discern between the two. But we will never know. Khalid, you and the folks at SLAM will determine what angles you take and what product you provide. You will determine what your responsibility is and where to draw the line. I guess i am just saying that I think you fall short. And I question my decision to provide a subscription to my nephew who just started shaving, loves the game and doesn’t need those problematic themes that I mentioned bombarding him – at least not from his uncle. But props for the Zirin column and much of the coverage SLAM brings. We had a great discussion on Amaechi during that scene. Looking forward to that Rafer cover. And I would love to hear who H to the Izzo is supporting for Pres. H is right, Ben should not apologize. Especially b/c he isn’t really sorry.

http://www.slamonline.com Melissa Brennan

Great editing job but we forgot to shout out Chad the dude who filmed it! Thanks Chad and great work!!!!

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

Rafer Alston was on the cover of SLAM #22 (my first issue as a member of the staff, in fact).

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

And hush, why wouldn’t I apologize if we offended anyone? Once again, we are a BASKETBALL magazine; we are not trying to offend anyone. I’ll also add that some of the anger on this post (while more than welcome) was unexpected because most of our feedback to issues still comes from mail or email (trashtalk@harris-pub.com), and that stuff was overwhelmingly positive.

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

Also, to answer a question Jay posed in one of the first comments on this thing (before it turned into a geopolitical debate)…the following comes straight from Nike and should be of interest to Kobe fans:
KOBE BRYANT WILL UNVEIL LATEST SNEAKER AT HARLEM’S NEW HOUSE OF HOOPS BY FOOT LOCKER
NBA STAR WILL BE ON HAND TO GREET CONSUMERS
IN ADVANCE OF GAME WITH NEW YORK KNICKS
WHAT: This Saturday, Dec. 22, at 5 PM, NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant will be on hand at the newly opened House of Hoops by Foot Locker store to unveil his
latest signature shoe, the Nike Zoom Kobe III. Bryant, who will be making his first trip to New York City this basketball season, will meet
and greet consumers at the new retail store that is located in Harlem.
The Nike Zoom Kobe III is the third signature shoe for Bryant with Nike
and doesn’t hit retail nationwide until February 8, 2008. However, for
one day only, consumers will have the opportunity to purchase the Nike
Zoom Kobe III in advance in limited quantity, the same sneaker that
Bryant will debut on the basketball court the following night at Madison
Square Garden in a game against the New York Knicks.
House of Hoops by Foot Locker is located at
268 West 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell (7th Avenue) and
Frederick Douglas Blvd. (8th Avenue)

jay

thanks alot Ben, `preciate it.

1hush D

Ben, I just meant that you guys would not change anything w.r.t. the Kobe cover/photo shoot. I don’t believe you ever would intentionally insult or offend anyone. That is, SLAM’s offensiveness is unintentional, and fortunately, relatively limited. I wonder if New Balance, with 3 shoe factories in Maine and 2 in Mass, could be convinced to manufacture a basketball shoe so that in my efforts to avoid support of Phil Knight and his sweatshop labor, I could purchase more than my recently purchased Retro 990′s and the 498′s. ……. Kobe, I noticed you have a new shoe coming out……have you been to the factory in China where these are manufactured? No? Do you often put your name on something you know nothing about? Or……….Stephon Marbury believes it is better to own (w.r.t. his shoe line) than be owned. Kobe, what do you think of that statement?

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

New Balance does have a bball shoe (though much to our chagrin, they rarely advertise it in SLAM.) In fact, I learned first hand tonight in the Cavs locker room that Devin Brown wears them. He told me two other players do as well. Personally, I prefer Nikes for playing bball, but I love NBs for day-to-day wear and I do respect their Maine factories.

Logan

1hush D and G$, do y’all take all magazine covers and their representation/interpretation to YOU so seriously? I mean damn, all summer long all we read was Kobe being excited about playing for Team USA…then he went out and played his butt off for us….so when his time came to be on the cover of SLAM, why should he not rep Team USA? Everyone I know who has seen the cover have always taken it with a reference to Team USA! So where is the conflict? As Ben and Khalid have pointed out, SLAM is a basketball magazine, and the most real basketball magazine out there. Everyone loves to read it BECAUSE it goes beyond the stats and hardwood and provide a different look at the players. You are saying your problems are Racism, Violence, Misogyny, Decadence and corruption of the spirit of Basketball. Lack of understanding of hip-hop culture and the game, influence on the youth….are you complaining about SLAM or our whole country? You talk about
addressing these issues and advocating for change and awareness….in a basketball magazine? In what context? Have write-ups about each players charity work? Decadence of the spirit of basketball? Give me a break!

What have you done lately about these issues other than take a particular image completely out of context and made a issue out of it?

The most ironic thing is you guys are talking about the symbols and symbolism….this coming from a guy who has a dollar sign in his name……

http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

Wow, Logan, thanks for that comment.

Logan

heh you’re welcome!

Janggoon1

Thanks for the video SLAM…I think its great idea to post up these interviews. It allows us to get to see an up close look on how Kobe acts during an interviews when cameras aren’t directly on him. Seems more authentic…

http://nsbacasakchbkl.com t.dot dude

kobe needs to go to the suns

1hush D

Logan,
First, I don’t subscribe to other magazines with this problem. But because I love the game and SLAM does provide the best venue for reading about that game, here I am. SLAM is not perfect in my opinion. As to what I have done lately well, outside of the volunteer work I do for various non-profits (this is called advocacy and activism), and because I do not work for a hoops zine, I try to lead through actions such as tracking down those New Balance shoes that are made in the USA so I don’t have to support Phil Knight and his sweatshop labor in a repressive country. I also like to speak up when I think others have an opportunity to lead like SLAM does. You quickly dismiss the angles SLAM could take while ignoring their decisions that have an angle to begin with. You also assert that the symbolism is taken out of context. Would you say that about Kobe’s diamonds and messages regarding success, and LeBron’s hummer and the hummer’s relationship to war? It seems like you may be genuinely naive but please don’t argue that it is out of context just because you are missing it.

G$

Try looking at it this way.
If Slam had a cover of Kobe wrapped in a Confederate Flag people would go absolutely nuts.
You wouldn’t sleep on what that image projects to the world and to the hood. You would recognize that it a symbol that has political ramification and a political subtext.
To most of the world (that Kobe is “against”) the US flag is also a symbol. Maybe you can’t or won’t acknowledge that. But its real.

G$

An alternate vision of Team USA courtesy of Spearhead:

Now we done we heading to the ceremony
hand on the heart is a bunch of baloney
fist in the air, this is the proper manners
while Jimmy Hendrix, is f’ing up the spangled banner
spirit of the ’68 olympics
black power people can I get a witness

Logan

ok..now my comments are not showing up….a little annoying, specially after the lakers lost a close game…

Logan

1hush D,
since my comments are not showing up anymore (been trying every 15 mins for the last 2 hrs)…lets just agree to disagree and leave it at that…

KC

I GOT DA MAG IN DA MAIL KOBE DONT DESERVE IT YET YALL WHY DID YALL GIVE IT TO HIM GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY TJAT DESERVE IT YEA

rashaan

man this is amazing. even tho im not a kobe fan i respect his game. this is year he is getting his teammates involved. this video was dope. lang is one heeuva of interviewer. slam is the s*$@. i love the behind the scenes. alfredo and atiba excellent job. i always looking forward to getting slam and getting the behind the scenes.

ak47

G$. Seriously, what the f&*^ is your point? I’ve been trying to figure out what it is you’re saying or trying to say and I can’t!

ak47

KC, what makes Kobe undeserving of the cover? Is he undeserving because you don’t like him? If it is tough s$%^ ’cause the world doesn’t revolve around you or the other Kobe haters!

jon

Tell us how you really feel

Don Rickles

Atiba Jefferson is the baddest photog out there! Sick cover shot, totally banging.

C-Menace

Yeah….kobe is the hardest player in the NBA and will remain the hardest player in NBA history…the youngest to hit 20K points…man this dude bout to pass kareem…and when he do retire in 10 years. hes bout to be the #1 Greatest NBA Player surpassing that dude mj. Real Talk. And all the haterz..keep drinkin your Haterades.

http://www.myspace.com/starbo2 Marcus ‘The Hoodlum’ Browder

KOBE IS THE BEST IN THE NBA. LeBron doesnt have a ring. D-Wade has 1 Kobe has 3. Come on people do not hate on Kobe. He is neck and neck with Jordan. People just dont wanna admit it. Kobe plays exactly like Jordan. Like C-Menace says “Keep Drinkin Your HATERADES”

http://www.slamonline.com marvic

yo! this guy is wack!

http://www.slamonline.com mARviC

i love this guy!

http://slamonline.com lil m

kobe is the best and for get wat the reporter say kobe is the best and kobe should not trad and kobe is better than lebrun james

http://slamonline.com lil m

kobe is the next michel jordan proble

jay

that is a cool shoot. i like the 81 sweatshirt..must cop that!!!!

http://sisterdebbie55yahoo.com Debra Headley

I am trying to purchase a copy of the Dec and or Nov 2007 issue of Slam Magazine. Could you possibly help me out. I am in Buffalo (Newsstands are hard to find) Tank You

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