Kobe plans next Manila trip

LOS ANGELES – It won’t be long before Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant returns to Manila, one of his favorite travel destinations, and the man called the “Black Mamba” said he hopes to visit next summer.

Bryant, 34, made his first visit to Manila in 1998 as a 19-year-old sophomore pro promoting his first shoe brand. Since he joined Nike in 2003, Bryant has made four trips to Manila. Last year, he flew in twice, first to conduct clinics for Nike and second to play in two All-Star Games during the NBA lockout season.

“Every trip has been memorable for me,” said Bryant in a one-on-one interview with The STAR during the launch of his new Kobe 8 shoe at the AT&T Center here last Thursday. “Playing in the All-Star Game was special. I remember Manny (Pacquiao) was there. I’m a huge Manny fan. If I’m not playing the night he fights (Juan Manuel) Marquez, I’ll be there to watch him. Who’ll win? Manny for sure.”

Bryant said the Filipino’s love for the game is something he relates to. “The passion is amazing and it’s intense,” he said. “While playing against the national team in the All-Star Game, I was impressed by this kid who was 6-7, very athletic and young.” Bryant couldn’t recall his name or confirm who it was but he probably meant Japeth Aguilar, who’s closer to 6-9, because the lanky frontliner dunked on Kevin Durant.

Bryant has now rolled out eight signature shoes starting with the 17.0 ounce Kobe 1 Nike Zoom. Kobe 4 dropped in weight to 11.9 ounces in the first serious effort to produce a lightweight shoe. Kobe 5 and 6 went lower to 10.6 ounces but Kobe 7 was back up to 13.4. Then came the revolutionary Kobe 8, the world’s lightest basketball shoe at 9.6 ounces. The standard for weights is a US men’s size nine.

Bryant said he wears a new pair for every game and usually saves the shoe. But in 2006 when he bombarded the Toronto Raptors with 81 points, the Basketball Hall of Fame requested for his game-worn shoes which he donated. Bryant said he has a enormous shoe collection but didn’t give a clue as to how many pairs he kept in his closet except they were less than 1,000. He also mentioned he gives his shoes away but retains some memorable pairs like what he wore in championship closers.

Bryant said what keeps him performing at a high level is his enjoyment of the game. He’s in his 17th season and the only active player among the top 15 leading NBA career scorers. Bryant ranks fifth in the ladder behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. “When I’m playing a game, I don’t think about all that,” he said. “I don’t think about getting more points than this guy or that guy. I just play because I love it. I guess, sometimes, when I sit back and reflect on my career, I’m reminded about milestones. My main thing is to win championships and I think with the Kobe 8 shoe, I can bring the title back to Los Angeles.”

Bryant said the influx of international players in the NBA has added a new flavor to the game. “The game is evolving,” he said. “Of course, I’m challenged by this development.” Bryant is no stranger to the international game as he now owns two gold medals on back-to-back US wins at the Beijing and London Olympics.

On boxing, Bryant said Pacquiao’s decision to fight Marquez instead of Timothy Bradley made sense. “Manny wants to prove once and for all that he’s better than Marquez,” he said. “Manny’s got nothing to prove against Bradley. He lost the decision but everyone knows he won the fight.”

At the launch of Kobe 8, Los Angeles radio announcer Kurt (Big Boy) Alexander hosted the event and introduced Bryant as “the gold standard of Los Angeles basketball” and a “beast.” Nike creative executive Eric Avar said Kobe 8’s reptilian snake-like accent is take-off from Bryant’s “Black Mamba” persona and characterized the features as “fast, precise, modern, fit and secure.” 

Nike innovation leader Jeff Spanks said Kobe 8 projects the idea of natural motion as an extension of the foot, lightweight basketball shoe which is Bryant’s special specfication because of his style of play and performance customization to consider the contour of the foot for maximum cushioning. “It’s minimalistic and innovative,” said Spanks. “The seamless, tailor-like fit makes it like a second skin.” Bryant said the low-cut shoe provides ankle support and debunks the theory that high-cuts offer more protection.