Thinking Outside the Box

“What’s up?”

It was a familiar voice and a familiar figure, but it took a few moments for everything to come into focus, like turning on an old television. Then the speaker became recognizable: Kobe Bryant.

He was out for an evening stroll during the team’s night off in San Antonio on Wednesday. San Antonio is one of the road stops where sightings of Laker players and staff are the most common, because most of the team likes to take advantage of the numerous restaurants and bars within close range of the hotels along the Riverwalk.

But seeing Bryant out anywhere, given all of the scrutiny he’s under with his pending sexual assault trial, seemed odd. He said the next day that he had to get out of the hotel room because he was feeling “cooped up.” And he wasn’t worried about any incidents because he had three members of his security team with him.

Bryant said the fans he encountered had positive reactions, whether it was telling him their thoughts were with him or asking him for an autograph.

So, was it good to have just a small moment, even a hint of normality in his life?

He just laughed.

“It’s not even close to being normal,” he said.

Sights

There have been visible pockets of support for Bryant amid the boos on the road this year, but Friday night’s game in New Orleans was the strongest yet. One courtside fan held up a small sign that said “Bomb Eagle Colo.”, referring to the site of the incident and the trial. Four young women sitting a few rows behind the Laker bench wore hand-lettered T-shirts that spelled out “K-O-B-E.”

Sounds

The constant criticism of officials by Karl Malone on the court. That has been a part of the package throughout his career, but after taking an almost $18-million pay cut to play for the Lakers, he might feel the effects of the $500 fines that accompany technical fouls a little more.

“I’ve got to watch myself this year,” Malone said.

Famous Faces

in the Crowd

Serena and Venus Williams, vs. Golden State at Staples Center on Sunday.

Johnnie Cochran, at New Orleans Arena on Friday.

In a Word....

“Consolation.”

Phil Jackson, when told that the Lakers’ draining, double-overtime victory over the injury-depleted San Antonio Spurs was the team’s first win at the SBC Center.