letter

Dear Shaquille,

We've been apart for five years now. Like all breakups, one side was bitter and the other side moved on quick: you were throwing insults at me from South Beach while I was relishing on being the man in Hollywood. But of course, the moving on was a front--I was hurting inside. Throwing lobs to Chris just wasn't the same as to you. I had moments when I enjoyed the freedom of being single, 81 wouldn't have happened if you were around, I guess. But then doubts started kicking in: did I make a mistake? did I break up a good thing? I'm telling you yo sitting home that May the first year apart was embarrassing, almost as embarrassing as that one time I rapped with Tyra  Banks.I learned that the grass wasn't always greener on the other side.

Of course it was hard getting over each other. Didn't help that the media couldn't stop talking about us, about how we broke up a good thing too soon. How if we had stayed together we coulda had the world. Every Christmas we would meet, and it'd always be awkward, especially the first one when you wouldn't bump my fist. You acted like you were fine but I could tell it was affecting you.

I remember in 06, Bill Russell came to both of us and asked us to forgive one another. To not look back in anger (Sally can wait), and we both agreed to let go and move on. I dunno about you, but I was frontin'. That June I saw you win the chip with Dwyane and I was hurting inside. I started wondering what if. Sure, losing to Nash, the worse MVP of all time, hurt, seeing you and Dwayne celebrate hurt, but I think what stung the most was knowing that you had moved on.

But turns out you hadn't moved on. When things fell apart with him, you and I became the hot topic again. You moved to Phoenix and people were buzzing about the possibility of you and I going against each other. We filmed that commercialtogether, it's like no matter how hard we tried--we were forever linked. Ironic, cause you had Penny before me and Dwyane after, but seems like you and I were meant to be.

This June, I finally got what's mine. Without you. You congratulated me on Twitter seconds after it happened. That a was a trip considering all the horrible things you had said about me. Now that you're in Cleveland, people are buzzing again, running they mouths about how we're gonna meet next June.

The NBA schedule came out today, and of course we have a date on Christmas, just like three out of the last four years. No matter where we are, it seems we're penciled to meet on that day.

But I think this time will be different. You've got Bron and I'm pretty happy with Pau (but Andrew? fuck that guy man...). I think after five years, we've finally moved on. I don't think it'll be awkward this Christmas, I think we'll see each other and we'll remember the old times, and we'll smile. We'll remember that one time the refs helped us cheat Bibby and CWebb outta their title, and we'll look back with wonder...just for a minute. Then we'll get back to business.

See you in December.

Love,

Kobe

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZGEzREaYRA