Kobe Bryant is the Best Closer in the NBA

How many times have we imagined the situation in our minds. whether we were in the backyard, or on the blacktop of our local school yard, we've all fantasised about it. 10 seconds left, you're down by 1 point and the clock is winding down. Not only did we dribble around imaginary defenders, we announced to anyone willing to listen. As we let it fly, we let out a resounding,
"For the win"!!! Of course if we clanked it off the rim, we always got fouled. If we were lucky enough to hit nothing but net, the crowd went crazy!
For all of us who put ourselves through this little scenario time and time again, it was pure fantasy. But for the NBA's best closers, (see Kobe, Lebron, D-Wade and newcomer to the party
Brandon Roy), it is reality. And is there anybody out there who would really dispute the fact that NOBODY is better at the game winner than Kobe Bean? Time and time again, we have watched #24 drop game winning shots for the NBA's best team. Does he benefit from playing with Pau Gasol? Of course he does. But the bottom line is simple. He still has to knock down a jumper, or put it on the floor and either get to the rim for a deuce, or get to the foul line.
Sure D-Wade is great and Lebron is getting close, and Brandon Roy may someday get there, but for my money, with the game and my betting dollar on the Line... I'll take my chances with
Veinte Cuatro every time...

In my opinion, Manny Ramirez is an idiot

Are you kidding me?  Manny turns down $41.6 million and how old is he?...36? No other team is going to offer him that kind of money or a multi-year deal.  I am shocked that he turned that down, especially in today's economy.  Ya sure he's arguably the best right handed hitter of our time, and maybe even all time, but he's getting older and his numbers aren't going to be phenomenal for that much longer.  His 527 career homers and lifetime average of .314 are obviously really impressive, but even the greatest players of all time slow down at some point.  If I were Manny, and I wanted a multi year contract worth big money, I would accept the offer by the Dodgers before they get fed up with him and Scott Boras and don't sign him.  Peter Gammons did say on ESPN today that he thought the two sides would reach a deal and that it would happen in the next few days.  Still, I think Manny is dumb because he is hurting his reputation with this whole money thing.  There are people who are losing their homes in this economy because they have no money and no job and this guy won't play for $41.6 MILLION?!

Just imagine if the Yanks had signed him.  How about that crowd when they went to Boston?  Or even if the Angels signed him to try and finally get past the Sox in the playoffs.  Just imagine Fenway when he is announced on the loud speaker and steps up to the plate for the first time.  I'm a big Angels fan myself so hopefully this doesn't happen, but what if the Dodgers signed Manny and then they met Boston in the playoffs.  I bet Fox would be pretty excited for that World Series.