The best Kobe cover you’ll find. *61 just a pleasant coincidence.
As much as we talk about SLAM jinxes and the curses of long production schedules, sometimes our timing is pretty nice. Take this gorgeous Kobe cover and the long road it took to today, the first day we’ll be seeing hard copies of it:
I first talked about putting him on this, our “All-Star cover,” with some of his people before the season started. We started going back and forth about concepts (note: Kobe is not a big fan of just standing in front of the camera. He wants a concept before he agrees. Think about it: the snake, the American flag, etc.) in early December. Thankfully, we like things that way too, which is why we have a nice history with KB. We sent Senior Writer DeMarco Williams to L.A. for the Nike webcast about Kobe’s new kicks on December 11, and then to Memphis on December 21, where he was on set while the great Atiba Jefferson shot this cover (De’s impressions of his time with Kobe is below).
One thing we didn’t think about (honestly) was that the release date for this issue was the day after Kobe and the Lakers would be in the Garden, which was almost guaranteed to be special (not neccesarily this special, but the dude obviously knows when to turn it on.)
But it was, and we’re grateful. Big Apple residents, start checking for your cover today. National newsstand buyers and subscribers should be getting it next week. As for folks who will be in Phoenix for ASW, just look for members of the SLAM team—we should have lots of copies on us.
Part of the joy I get from being a writer comes when my pre-conceived notions about a celebrity are either confirmed or refuted after meeting them for the first time. Flying across the country, from The A to L.A., to talk with Kobe Bryant about the launch of his latest shoe, the Nike Zoom Kobe IV, I have plenty of time to marinate on the things I’m pretty sure I know about the guy: tall, African-American, kinda quiet, pretty good with a Spalding.
When I’m face-to-face with dude at the Nike press conference at Westchester High School, teammate Trevor Ariza’s old stompin’ grounds, he lives up to the stuff I had gathered over time from TNT memories and magazine articles. Though he appears comfortable up on stage, fielding questions from moderator Kevin Frazier and folks in the audience, you can’t help but sense that Bryant would rather be elsewhere, minding his own…that is, until the conversation moves onto the specifics behind the Kobe IV’s technology. Straight up, Bryant turns downright Steve Urkelish when discussing it.
“It’s flybar technology,” Kobe says with fervor about the low-top sneaker. “That was present in the Hyperdunk. The flybar technology is still present ‘cuz it increases the strength in the shoe and holds it together. But still, the technology is so light it doesn’t increase the weight of the shoe. It holds the heal in. It locks it in. It gives you the ankle stability that you’re looking for. The heal lock prohibits your ankle from sliding around. It locks you in. If somebody crosses you up, that’s on you.”
Mental note: He does comedy, too.
Fast forward about a week and I’m in Memphis, at the photo shoot for this cover y’all see above. (Some would call this second interview stalking; we call it fulfilling our journalistic duties.) Kobe’s cool with seeing me again. He appears even cooler with the Kobe vs. Kobe concept we have for the cover. The whole Nutty Professor, two-Mambas-in-one-shot thing works for him. Guess it all plays wonderfully into his techie vibe.
As a show of his good mood, Bryant poses for every shot photographer Atiba Jefferson asks of him, sometimes twice. He doesn’t complain once. I guess I thought he’d be a tinge moody and standoffish. But just as long as The Game’s “My Life” is blasting and the snaps aren’t looking corny, he’s cool. During one set of shots, he even asks Atiba about the camera’s specifics.
Another mental note: Dude’s really into gadgets.
After the Lakers/Grizzlies game the following night, I get at Kobe again in the locker room for some closing thoughts. (Okay, now it’s becoming a tad obsessive…) He’s still congenial. Though he’s just given his all in the form of 36 points over 38 minutes in a 105-96 L.A. victory, he addresses media questions with full attentiveness:
Random Reporter: So, were you surprised that Memphis played with so much energy tonight?
Kobe: One of the things we have to remember is that when we play young teams, they’re gonna be so psyched. The building’s gonna be sold out and they’re gonna be rockin’ and rollin’ and we’re gonna get their best.
I give a quiet nod. Knew he was gonna say something like that.
But as I’ve come to find out recently, the same basically applies to Kobe Bryant. The dude’s not only tall and talented, but he’s got tact and an even temperament. Of course, that isn’t the kind of thing you gather from interviews with Craig Sager at the end of the first half. Nah, you can only get that from stalking the man for a week.—DeMarco Williams
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Unrelated: Please stop f*cking complaining about players who are on the cover too much. I don’t mean to pick on Diogo, because you’re hardly the only guilty party here, but saying “I understand he sells mags, but c’mon,” is sort of like complaining to Apple about making too many iPhones. “I know people buy them, but c’mon. Can’t you make a more obscure electronic gizmo that far fewer people would have an interest in buying?” No, folks. The answer is a resounding no.
Look at me, f*cking teaching a class all over again. Mag Sales 101.
Riggs: I think you didn’t read that closely. I was making the point that their business model is 180º different than Slam’s, because they have resources that Slam doesn’t.
I feel like some of the little flame war might be attributed to the fact that not even the SLAM staffers wanted to see another Kobe cover right now. But I definitely understand why that decision was made.
I subscribed in late December and haven’t gotten 125(which I expected). If I don’t get 126 within the next few weeks, should I contact you guys?
2.Great timing with this cover
3. Dwayne Wade 4 da next cover
But I love the fact that Ryan, Ben and Russ took the time out to explain the reasons they do things the way they do. It’s an unusual occurrence, but they did type out their thoughts, along with the understandings and apologies that come along with them, and it’s a rarity that I had to acknowledge and show my appreciation for.
I did notice Myles was nowhere near a discussion where questions were answered in a non-aggrivating manner. Cool beans.
Alternatively, you can take it that I said I hate covers period and wish to just get a chunk of pages.
THE WORLD’S GREATEST!!!!
But for real D-rose needs a COVER, can ya give it to him when he wins ROY?
Danny Granger
D Rose
Rodney Stuckey
Atlanta Starting 5
Kevin Durant
Orlando Starting 5
My complaint with the Iverson cover was that he WASN’T having a good season but still got a cover. If Iverson was to get a cover for changing teams, his Piston teammates should have been there as well (although I do know how hard it is to get a group of guys together). Kobe is having another AMAZING season. He deserves it.
@ connor m – yeah it totally does…except not at all.
KOBE IS THE BEST EVER. haters face it.out
He’ll break his ankles..
STILL haven’t got this issue out here in Orlando,arghhhhh!!This after only receiving TWO of my TWENTY issues for subscription,hmmm??
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I’m in H-town n I just got my ish yesterday! Some subscription they have.. I don’t need a damn discount if I’m gonna get it 2-3 weeks after the news stand…
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