selling out the garden in a day, i'm like a young Marvin in his hey

Here's a video of Kobe's 61 point performance at the Garden in NYC last year. This isn't just another one of Kobe's many high scoring outbursts, but rather a transcendent moment in Kobe Bryant's career. For one, he surpassed his idol (he'll deny it but everyone knows it's true) Jordan's record of most points at Madison Square Garden. And second, he finally got Jordan-type respect and fear too.

You see, sports fans are not supposed to cheer for the opposing team. This holds true even in a superficial town with bandwagon crowds like Los Angeles, let alone the hostile and rowdy crowds of Oakland, Philly and New York, etc. Michael Jordan was one of those guys who were so great that he transcended the rule. His final few performances at the Garden--a place which Jordan calls the mecca of basketball--were met with cheers, awe, and respect. It was almost like the crowd knew "okay so he's supposed to be the enemy, but we should feel privilege to be able to watch a legend in action".

Kobe's kinda reached this level. The crowd was cheering for him when it became apparent he was going to put on a show. Kobe was determined to break the scoring record too--jacking up shots everytime he touched the ball. But hey, when you that good-you do it.

"You can feel the buzz everytime Kobe touches the ball," says Stu Lantz the commentator.

Ahhh, "The Buzz". This is a feeling that's hard to describe but you know it when you feel it. Unfortunately, not many fields in entertainment can create this buzz except for great music and great sports--two areas that just happens to be Hong Kong's weakest

I think the only time I felt this buzz in Hong Kong was before the press screening The Dark Knight at Megabox. I've written about it before and I'll write it again--the film just felt special. I had never seen that many editorial "big ups" at a screening before or since; I had never felt the crowd collectively "sit up" from their seats in HK ever until that moment when the Joker first walked into the mob meeting and did his little magic trick ("and this suit ain't cheap, you oughta know you paid for it"). And the absolute biggest sign that TDK was special: I had never seen that many White people in Kowloon Bay before. I bet you the shop owners at Mega Box were shocked.

"Waaahhh gum dor gwei lo geh?"

To this day, that was the only time I felt "the buzz" in HK.

Anyway, I'm getting sideswiped with another topic as always... back to the original point:

Kobe has reached that level. That is why, I have to officially grow up and not be a Kobe hater anymore (although I must stress that I been one since 98, before it was "cool" to do so in 2003). I think, in 2010, I must go see a Laker game at the Garden. I never got to see Michael Jordan play live and that will always be a regret. I can at least see the next closest thing (although Kobe's still pretty damn far off and that's the mofning truth. Kobe's 61 at NYC came against scrubs, Jordan's 50 something at NYC in 92 came against one of the toughest and roughest defensive team in NBA history. Do the math...  50 is greater than 61 here)

By the way. Two nights after Kobe put on a show and dropped 61 at MSG, Lebron comes into town and drops a 52 point triple double. To be able to witness those two performances back to back, man, NYC, you guys are the center of the entertainment world.

Oh it's a great time to be a basketball fan right now. Kobe and Lebron are something special. I think the talent level is at an all time high right now too. Sure, no one can match Jordan still. Or probably Hakeem. But the second tier guys of today are better than second tier guys of yesterday.

Right now, we have two of the three of the top ten players OF ALL TIME (in the history of basketball. think about this), playing (Shaq, Kobe, Duncan), two of which are still in their primes.

We got Lebron and Wade, on pace to join the Shaq/Kobe/Duncan greatness camp. Along with some very talented second tier guys like Danny BATMAN Granger. Then we got Kevin Durant, who may just jump to Lebron/Kobe level in a year or two.

Damn.

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

they even got Spike's reaction. it's like we recreating MJ moment by moment