Kobe fans at the ready at the hint of negativity

EVERYBODY THINKS I’ve got it in for the guy, angry people e-mailing all week to point out fans were even chanting for him in Sacramento, so get with it.

Well, I’m no different from anyone else. When I’m not working, I’m home watching the Lakers because I can’t afford a ticket, but I was on my feet in the living room Friday night joining the fans in Staples and chanting, “Coby, Coby, Coby.”

Love that guy, so get off my back.

I DON’T know what happened the other day. I quoted some image experts talking about Kobe Bryant, as if there’s any chance I’d agree with them, and yet everyone is upset with Page 2.

“Why dig on bowlers?” wrote Bruce Falcon.

“You mentioned that 85% of people questioned were aware of Kobe so the others were presumably bowlers,” e-mailed Jon Brandon. “I take personal offense to this generalization about bowlers.”

Or, as Chris Gorman put it, “bowling is easily just as complicated a sport as any other out there.”

I know every time I bowl and get to the third game, I have trouble remembering which one is the beer frame.

But it wasn’t only bowlers who took offense, a simple comment, “try calling your boss an idiot,” the way Kobe called Jerry Buss an idiot, prompting a number of responses.

“T.J., you have every right to call your boss an idiot, didn’t he hire you?” wrote Mike Norwine, and I have no idea why folks insist on ripping Dwyre.

“Maybe some of us feel liberated to see someone of talent express the truth -- our boss is an idiot,” wrote someone with Sharon Rowe’s e-mail address, which might be of interest to Sharon Rowe’s boss. “People of talent and creativity are not to be hemmed in by the conventions of lesser mortals. Kobe is not a lesser mortal.”

I’ve always thought folks around here consider Bryant a morer mortal, Carole Shannon Gordon writing, “Too bad Kobe doesn’t fit into the mold of how a person should react to situations he doesn’t like. But then I guess if you look at it in a different perspective, even Jesus Christ was subjected to a Q rating of some sort.”

Here I was comparing Bryant to Bonds, when maybe I should’ve been comparing him to Him.

“Whether people believe it or not,” Gordon continued, “Kobe is human like the rest of us.”

That’s a relief, but as for his likability, “man, you made this one too easy,” wrote Gregory Arroyo, “but I’ll say it anyway, ‘Has the Times done a likability study on its columnists?’ I think you know where I’m going with this.”

Why does everybody have to pick on Dwyre?

E-mail says it’s a big deal to Lakers fans that Bryant is liked and is cheered wherever he goes, many pointing to last year’s Celtics game in Boston.

“When you see the Celtic and King fans chanting MVP, you are witnessing a phenomena reserved for a very few,” wrote Michael Worley. “I would call it Ruthian.”

Last year the Celtics were horrible, tickets probably readily available for transplanted Lakers fans. Same thing now in Sacramento.

“Have you ever heard a crowd cheer for an opposing player as loudly as they do for Kobe?” wrote Geno Apicella.

Yes. Derek Jeter in Angel Stadium.

It’s routine in Angel Stadium to hear fans cheering for the Red Sox or Yankees. Do the Yankees and their media leave town thinking Angels fans have suddenly fallen in love with A-Rod?

“Lakers fans are sick of your blasphemous negativity,” wrote Erin Cronk, and yet here I am -- 100% in favor of the big baby being named MVP, although it doesn’t change a thing here.

He’s a great basketball player, win or lose the hardware, and he’s always worth the price of admission. I’ve never thought differently.

As for being a baby, he’s content now. No way of knowing if he’s really grown up.

“Everyone was shocked and disappointed last summer, but things have worked out,” wrote Ruth Ann Walter. “The Lakers are an addiction to some of us. And they’re doing great for one reason, and one reason only: Kobe.”

I’d also mention Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, but that’s how folks get labeled Kobe haters.

“I’m sure you can’t sleep at night worrying about what you’re going to say when he takes this team to the NBA Finals,” wrote Vincent J. Strattman.

I’ll write that’s great, but not good enough. Instead of getting to the Finals, how about winning the whole thing? It will help his Q rating too, and I’m sure you’ll want to read all about it.

“It’s funny how someone like you that is not liked by anyone, can write some junk like that,” wrote someone with the e-mail address for Robert Le. “Most people read your headline and that’s it. Go hang yourself.”

I don’t know if you know this, but writers don’t compose the headlines that go across the top of their columns. So obviously you’re upset with our headline writers, and have me confused with the people who should really be hanged.

“Kobe hater, next time I see you on the streets, I’ll punch you in the throat,” wrote Crown Wu. “But no hard feelings.”

Thanks for making that clear, but then I wonder why so many angry fans, or fanatics? Bryant’s had his struggles, and although fans in L.A. love a winner, experts say, fans around the country are still slow to embrace him. I can understand that.

“He has no image nationally to prove to anyone,” a Lakers fan with the handle “yeetatee” wrote. “I haven’t read anything about Marv Albert’s image, or did you forget about him and what he did? Negativity, the life of a sports writer.”

I didn’t bring up Marv Albert, and frankly had no idea he had anything in common with Bryant. On a positive note, and who says I can’t be positive, it’d be a very nice feel-good story if they both make it to the Finals.

“I always enjoy your stuff; this time I did not,” wrote Wayne Lowrance. “Lay off Kobe. I would not dispute anything said, but I did not like it anyhow.”

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.