Ok Bill, I'm a big fan. My brother introduced me to you about ten years ago as "some guy who writes about Boston sports... he's pretty funny." I love almost all your columns (except I skip past the poker/boxing ones - not my thing), but I can't take the Kobe bashing anymore. Your "different take" on the NBA Finals was to post quotes from an old book to bash Kobe in close to 30 ways, and then write loosely, barely, hardly related comments. Come on! And then, why does every feigned attempt at giving Kobe credit is so backhanded and sarcastic? I heard you on the radio on Dave Dammeshak's show a few weeks ago. A caller asked how you could like Shaq when he does the same things that you call out Kobe for. And your answer was that you were mad Kobe hadn't been playing like this the whole time. That is not answering the question. You can't praise Shaq and ignore him throwing teammates, coaches, AND CITIES under the bus, while skewering Kobe for the same things. How is a guy to ever change if people are constantly second guessing his motives? Honestly, this is like the fourth reference to his fake laughter. Were you a member of the Plastics in Mean Girls? Maybe he thought it was funny? He bought his teammates dinner, but there must be an ulterior sinister motive. If someone is making a deliberate and determined effort to become a better teammate, how can you belittle that? You are ripping on a guy for laughing, buying presents, and taking his teammates to dinner. I know this letter is to no avail. Nothing I say will change the fact that you decided to hate Kobe a long time ago, and nothing he can do will change that. My final thought... if we are held to the mistakes of our past forever, where is the motivation to change? You are from Boston, so hate the Lakers. I get that. But Kobe is a real person, a man who has made mistakes and is taking whatever steps he can towards redeeming himself in the spotlight of the national media and NBA. If every interaction between you and your friends, family, or coworkers was analyzed (and by every interaction I mean, handshakes, text messages, plausibility of laugher??), people could paint the picture anyway they please. Get over your hatred of Kobe. You are the Boston Sports Guy, not the I Hate Kobe Bryant Guy. Ps... I'm still a fan and no matter what you say, I hate Tom Brady.