Kobe Bryant never was a Philadelphian. Born and raised near the City of Brotherly Love, Bryant never really drank the Philly water, nor did he adopt our blue-collar persona.
Nobody was really surprised when Kobe said he’d “rip the hearts out” of Philly fans when the Sixers faced the Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals.
OK, he played for the Lakers. What was he supposed to say? He’d like for Philly to have a parade?
Kobe Bryant grew up a Mets fan while living in Philadelphia.
During Friday’s NLCS Game 2 in Los Angeles, TBS reporter Craig “GQ” Sager approached Kobe during the game to ask him how he felt habing the Dodgers and his hometown Phillies facing each other.
According to Sager, Kobe said, “It’s not weird. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 14 years now.”
Then, he revealed this nugget: “Kobe said he grew up a New York Mets fan; he wanted me to tell Ron (Darling) that he still has your baseball card.”
Kobe was a Mets fan? While growing up in Philly? Seriously, that’s horrible parenting by Joe Bryant. You can’t raise a New York fan no matter where you live.
Rather bitter eh? You guys never liked Kobe to begin with so why are you so offended that he roots for anyone but Philadelphia.
And you wonder why most of American hates Philly Sports fans.
I actually don’t care if he roots for the Dodgers. I like when Philly athletes root for our other teams. However, to admit he grew up a Mets fan? That’s an entirely different story.
Born in Philly. RAISED in Italy.
He’s about as Philadelphian as American army brats are German or Korean.
While he did spend time in Italy as a child when Jelly Bean Bryant finished his career overseas, Bryant was riased in Lower Merion, PA., and graduated from Lower Merion High School. He may still be the only suburban high school kid to sell out the Palestra by himself.
Philly’s Beef With Kobe | TheBeatofPhilly - 100.3 The Beat // Oct 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[...] The Phillies aren’t an issue, said Bryant. He grew up a Mets fan. [...]
iSportacus » Blog Archive » L.A. Times Bashes Philly Fans; We Bash Back // Oct 21, 2009 at 2:57 pm
[...] athletes like Kobe Bryant in our stands. But then again, our fans are not frauds. If Kobe Bryant, who is a Mets fan, showed his face in our ballpark, he would be heckled mercilessly. Our fans show up at the games [...]
Goodfellas’ Henry Hill a Phillies fan « The Daily Philadelphian // Oct 21, 2009 at 8:53 pm
[...] Kobe Bryant might be a Mets fan, but the Goodfellas‘ Henry Hill is a Phillies fan. [...]
makes sense about Henry Hill … he’s the biggest RAT there is.
True Philly Athlete (not like a certain #24 in LA) | theoudplayer // May 18, 2010 at 6:59 pm
[...] Wallace is truly the man – Philly boy sticking to his roots. Kobe Bryant is not as he has said he is a Mets fan (impossible growing up in Philly) and also wears Dodgers [...]