Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

Kobe Bryant remembers Michael Jackson


In a special commemorative edition of TIME on Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant thinks back on his relationship with the "King of Pop":

"One of the things he always told me was, don't be afraid to be different. In other words, when you have that desire, that drive, people are going to try to pull you away from that, and pull you closer to the pack to be 'normal.' And he was saying, It's O.K. to be that driven; it's O.K. to be obsessed with what you want to do. That's perfectly fine. Don't be afraid to not deviate from that. One of the books that he gave me that helped him communicate with me was "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," which was about that.

Beyond the genius of what he was, he was just a genuinely, genuinely nice person. He got me hooked on movies that I would normally never watch. Fred Astaire movies. All the old classics. I would never, never watch those. I remember my fiancée and I telling him we were getting married, and him just being really excited and actually just offering up the ranch to have our wedding there, because privacy was going to be an issue. We wanted to get married in a church, so that's what we wound up doing. But he made the offer. He was just a genuinely nice person who was exceptionally bright, exceptionally bright, and driven and talented. You mix those things together, man, you have Michael Jackson."

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  1. Robby K
    1. Posted by Robby K Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:28 pm EDT

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    Great words Kobe, and RIP MIchael Jackson
  2. Kenneth H
    2. Posted by Kenneth H Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:40 pm EDT

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    Love U MJ rest in peace U don't have to worry about pain and other BS anymore U in a better place now
  3. kyles
    3. Posted by kyles Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSebvhabj2A
    kobe byrant type dunk
  4. jezreel b
    4. Posted by jezreel b Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    good thought. Jacko you'll always be remembered
  5. AJS
    5. Posted by AJS Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    Kobe said it right from his own personal experience with Michael Jackson, which is true he was truely a nice person with incredible talent. As for Jaime Fox that idoit saying we shared him with everyone one else I am black please do make us look stupid. Michael also really did not care what color, race or religion anyone was, you see music has no color period and he bridged gaps between different races of people and music here in the USA. I am going to truly miss him and his music will live in me tell I die he has been with me for 40 years and what a pleasure. He gave up so much for his music and our pleasure his whole life and it's just sad it had to end this way, RIP MJ.
  6. Redskins21
    6. Posted by Redskins21 Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    MJ was the Best musician off all time RIP Michael.. Theres news now that the kid he " supposedly molested" has came out that he lied and he was forced by his father to lie and try and get money out of MJ. Which he settled out of court for 20 million.. I think they should have to pay it back to the Family of MJ... So sad how they ruined the guy for nothing.. he's in a much better place now and away from all the Greedy money getters.
  7. Lajames W
    7. Posted by Lajames W Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    How can you be called "The Wiz" and clown MJ? What an idiot. Do you really want to tell jokes at the expense of another man's death? When you die I hope you are treated better, you insensitive buffoon!
  8. Redskins21
    8. Posted by Redskins21 Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    #7 STFU I hope you choke and crash your car today off a cliff..
    Mike was innocent the whole time..That kid is gonna get his a$$ kicked
    http://www.techbanyan.com/4554/jordan-chandler-admits-lied-about-michael-jackson/
  9. aasd
    9. Posted by aasd Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    that is the absolute gayest picture of kobe i've ever seen
  10. The Wiz
    10. Posted by The Wiz Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Lajames W - First off I will say I liked most of MJ's music, pretty much anything he made when he was still his natural color. First off, you can't sit there and tell me that MJ was a victim, no one made him hang a baby over a balcony, no one put him in situations to be brought to court for molestation charges, no one made him go to Morocco and hide out...he ruined his image by himself and he was clearly off his rocker. It was sad to see how his life turned out, but he did it to himself. I could tell you a Farrah Fawcett joke if you would like...
  11. Jacob S
    11. Posted by Jacob S Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    I'm sick of genius being thrown around. Michael Jackson's music was good, his video are what made them special, but it was not genius. Plus why is everyone ignoring that he was a pedifile? Becasue of his music? Charles Manson made music too, no one is ignoring what he did.
  12. The Wiz
    12. Posted by The Wiz Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    Redskins 21 - Dude, lay off...it was a joke. And if MJ was so innocent and this kid is admitting he lied, why didn't MJ fight it in court. If I was innocent of something I would fight it especially something as serious as his charge. You cant save MJ's image with this truth after his death.
  13. Sherry
    13. Posted by Sherry Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Spoken from a dare to be different Champion! Great article.... may Micheal R.I.P!
  14. Darkness!
    14. Posted by Darkness! Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    lol@ The Wiz-
    seriously though- enough w/ Michael Jackson already. He lived 50 yrs., about 30 as a human being and 20 as whatever the heck he was since like 1990. I feel for his family and loved ones, as I would never wish death on anybody- except maybe a murder... or child molestor. He was a great musician of his time, but not a very good person, period, end of story. Nice words from Kobe and all; but I'd bet he never left his kids alone w/ Jacko...
  15. SCSF- LeBron NBA Finals Winless t-shirt ebay
    15. Posted by SCSF- LeBron NBA Finals Winless t-shirt ebay Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    The Wiz - a.k.a. DlCK BENINEM and his sidekick Lou Sassle
  16. The Wiz
    16. Posted by The Wiz Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    # 17 - I heard that one in second grade like 15 years ago. Congrats on the feeble attempt of a diss/joke. I'm not mad, but did you hear about how they plan to melt MJ since he is 80% plastic...yeah, they want to turn him into legos and let all the little boys play with him, aint that a story book ending?
  17. Tonya H
    17. Posted by Tonya H Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Words with feelings!! MICHAEL REST IN PEACE!!!!!
  18. Michael C
    18. Posted by Michael C Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    can we stop with this jackson nonsense? why does everyone pretend like they weren't weirded out or out right pissed at michael for the last decade? do you all know innocent people are dying the world over, right now, but you would rather defend and pay tribute to an alleged child molester who was in massive debt and had a drug problem? b/c he did what for black music? he didn't blaze any trails or persevere through anything that little richard, bb king, george clinton, aretha franklin, joe tex or countless other black musicians before him went through. please stop sunddenly caring when you were bothered by or even hated on MJ just a few months ago....
  19. QuAzY
    19. Posted by QuAzY Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    MJ is the greatest ... been listening to his songs again and again and again ... pure classics
  20. stefjacq
    20. Posted by stefjacq Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    Great article. Nice words from Kobe and I will miss you Michael. May you rest in peace.
  21. Darkness!
    21. Posted by Darkness! Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Wiz, Allen, Michael C-
    thanks for somebody actually having the balls to say how they- and (let's be honest) pretty much everybody- really felt about Wacko Jacko; I was wondering how long it'd take for the political correctness of this story to wear off. Now we can talk about the death of someone who was still actually somewhat entertaining and/or helpful to society (rather than a simply disgusting excuse for a human being)- the greatest salesman of our time, Billy Mayes- R.I.P. Billy...
  22. The Wiz
    22. Posted by The Wiz Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:08 pm EDT

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    Darkness! - It was because of Billy Mays that I bought my first bucket of oxi clean and it will be because of Billy Mays that I never pick up a prostitute...haha RIP Billy Mays
  23. Smart_People_Fear_Me
    23. Posted by Smart_People_Fear_Me Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:11 pm EDT

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    What a swaggering pile of crap this is.
    Why is that everyone feels the need to say something good about a BAD person (no pun intended). And why do people call him a genius, because he could walk backwards and call it a dance? He was a tabloid headline and yet another tragic case of a child star overwhelmed by success. $400 million in debt. Nice.
    And a great musician? If this is the case of being a musician, then Brittney, Back Street, Lady GaGa, NSync, Janet, etc. and so on will be remembered as great musicians. Please. What instrument did he play? Well except for the.....okay, won't go there. He was an entertainer. Whether it was his MTV videos (and how long ago was that) or perfomrances on stage at the Grammys, he was just a n entertainer. At 50 years old, and being dead azz broke, not even Las Vegas would hire him. What does that tell you about his drawing power? His upcoming concert would have been a frenzy of cancelled shows because drained emotions and physical exhaustion.
    Maybe they can re-name it the Michael Jackson Ressurection Tour 2010.......he would look like his Thriller Zombie character, it would be an mprovement over how he looked at death.
    And why are so many people hung up on this guy's death. He was a freak and worst yet, a pedophile. Why do so many people defend his honor when he is dead. Would you leave your kids with someone like this?
    And besides Thriller, how many of his other albums garnished top 10 hits and success? If you guys miss Mikey so much, you always have his look-a-like Latoya to pine over.
    Enough of Michael Jackson articles. Good bye and good riddance.
  24. Allen
    24. Posted by Allen Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:15 pm EDT

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    Hey Wiz, that was the Sham Wow guy with the hooker, not Billy Mays.
    Billy must be in heaven today because I noticed all the dark clouds started to turn white.
    And thanks Darkness.
    I know it will come under fire from all the lovers of Wacko, but then again to love him and defend him, is a real sign to seek professional mental help.
  25. Michael C
    25. Posted by Michael C Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:46 pm EDT

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    Thanks Dark. Does Kobe care to comment on how billy has effected his life? no? in other minor news, iran is still crazy, n korea wants to kill us, wtf is happeneing in central america, why is the us shooting missles into the pacific while shunning korea for the same, the pirtates let some innocent passangers go and YAO!!!!! but lets focus on the un-elected former king of pop.....

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