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.