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Microcap & Penny Stocks : IATV - ACTV Interactive Television -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ed doell who wrote (1179)	12/4/1997 10:50:00 PM
From: art slott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4748

Thanks for the info Ed. Nice move on Identix today. The next Michael Jordan? And he plays for the Lakers. I sure hope, Art NBA's future tied to a kid named Kobe By Mark Kiszla Denver Post Sports Columnist Dec. 4 - The future of the NBA is 19 years old and wearing a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. Young guard Kobe Bryant is in a hurry, because it's never too early to start a legend. Dunked in the face of an all-star? Bryant has done that. Learned to speak Italian overseas? The kid's been there. Signed a contract with adidas? He's got the T-shirts. Need one? So what's next in the continuing education of Bryant, the hoops prodigy who isn't afraid of becoming Michael Jordan when he grows up? Has he tried dribbling a basketball on water in a TV commercial? "Walking on water? Now, that's a good idea. I haven't done that. It's a good concept, though,'' said Bryant, warming to the notion of doing the impossible. "Walking on water. Hmmm. That might have to wait until summertime. You need some time to learn that.'' Then, Bryant laughed. Life's good when you're a millionaire and you get to toy with Denver, which lost 107-89 Wednesday night to the Lakers. It's too late for Bryant to save the Nuggets, who passed on the chance to draft him out of high school in 1996. This teenager in Lakers purple has bigger work to do than salvage one hopeless franchise in Denver. Can Kobe Bryant rescue the NBA from its suicidal tendencies? This is a sport in trouble, screaming for a savior. This is a league in which Chicago's Scottie Pippen would rather spite general manager Jerry Krause than win a sixth championship with the Bulls. This is a game where shooting percentages are down and assault victims are way up. Houston's Charles Barkley throws a heckler through a window. At Golden State, a certified wacko hears one harsh word too many from a confirmed tyrant, and the next thing you know, guard Latrell Sprewell is trying to re-enact a scene from "Goodfellas'' on the face of P.J. Carlesimo. This is a business when chronic pouting by a star forward not only gets Shawn Kemp traded, but a 250 percent raise to wipe off his frown. Bryant, however, has stronger stuff than anything that ails the NBA. Jordan better win a final championship now. Because, if a dynasty is what Bryant wants, he's soon going to inherit the league. As soon as Bryant discovers no player in the world under age 30 can match his ability, he and center Shaquille O'Neal can get down to the business of turning the Lakers into the league's next dominant team. Maybe it won't happen this season. Perhaps Bryant won't score big in an All-Star Game until 1999. But it's destiny. If Bryant were a penny stock, we all could soon be swapping tycoon tales with Bill Gates. "Whew. Kobe Bryant. That's the real deal, right there,'' Nuggets coach Bill Hanzlik said. "He's supposed to be - what? - a sophomore in college right now? That's scary. That's real scary . . . Kobe grooves with confidence and ability. He's like a fine wine. You know he's just going to get better.'' Here's a fashion tip, kids: Might want to consider a change of shoes when those Nikes on your feet start showing bare tread. Because Byrant doesn't wear the Swoosh. "When I made the decision to come to the NBA, I knew what I could do. Everybody around me - media, friends and family - thought it was a big deal. To me, it wasn't. Going to the NBA out of high school wasn't anything except a start,'' said Bryant, who, during 24 minutes against the Nuggets, scored 10 points, got five assists and a friendly lecture from L.A. coach Del Harris after the guard launched an ill-advised jumper in the fourth quarter. Did 14,503 fans at McNichols Sports Arena get a sneak preview of the next big thing in the NBA? How good can Bryant be when he's fully grown? "How good is Michael Jordan?'' Hanzlik said. "Kobe Bryant can be Michael Jordan good. He's that awesome.'' The NBA's world will not stop spinning when Jordan decides to get off. The league will be safe, in the palm of Bryant's hand. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return to Top Return to Nuggets Home Return to Sports Return to Post Home