Can’t We All Just Get Along ... With Kobe?

Kobe vs. his family. Kobe vs. Shaq. Kobe vs. Phil. Kobe vs. Colorado. Kobe vs. Karl Malone. Anyone else see a trend here?

Charles L. Freeman

Los Angeles

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In Sacramento, we have the Terminator. In Los Angeles, we have the Alienator.

Patrick Duff

Aliso Viejo

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With Phil Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, Rick Fox, Gary Payton and now Karl Malone leaving, the Lakers really are Kobe Bryant’s team.

Maybe this is good, since his guys are giving him 110%.

Richard Raffalow

Valley Glen

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If Kobe had said, “I can’t wait to have Karl Malone return. We need his toughness,” the headlines would have blared, “Kobe Blasts Teammates for Being Soft!”

Mike Schermerhorn

North Hills

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“My guys” ... “my team” ... “giving me 110%.” ... Let’s face it, Kobe Bryant makes Budweiser’s “Leon” look like a consummate team player.

Jim Mallon

San Luis Obispo

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We always knew how we felt about Karl Malone when he was in Utah. We felt he was a chump. Did we really think that by simply donning the purple and gold he would become a cool dude?

And when I think about it, I’d rather see Malone compete for a championship in another city than break Kareem’s record in our house.

And hey, good news for semi-civilized Laker fans: It won’t be long before we can start rooting against No. 32 again.

Rick Cipes

Santa Barbara

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So all this teeth gnashing and hand wringing is over a 41-year-old man coming off knee surgery? Really, Karl, stay in Arkansas chopping wood and admiring all those championship trophies you won in Utah. Oops.

Dave Flanders

East Los Angeles

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Kobe speaks like a true team leader, sparking Karl Malone to whine through his agent? Karl is fully recovered! Karl loves the Lakers! Karl won’t sign until more games are taken care of by committed players.

Please tell Karl to move out of Dennis Rodman’s old Newport home and go buy a title in Texas.

Peter Lyons

Hermosa Beach

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Hey, Mitch, I’m puzzled. How can you be having dinner with Kobe’s agent while you are already out to lunch? Contrary to your pronouncements, Kobe is speaking for Laker management. Kobe will allow you to manage the fringe players to let you think you still have a job.

Fred Niemann

La Canada Flintridge

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We can only hope that Kobe’s ego will shrink to normal size -- and that Jerry Buss will remember he owns the team -- when they’re watching the playoffs from home next spring.

Lee Watters

Los Angeles