Los Angeles Lakers and NBA champion Kobe Bryant arrived in China Friday, wrapping up the final leg of his summer Asian tour. The Mamba ran drills for a group of Hong Kong kids, schooling a few of them in the art of the hook shot, the jump shot, and the cross over. After practice, the 4-time basketball champion signed basketballs and t-shirts for fans and even autographed the sneakers he played in, giving them to two lucky fans.

By Javi

Congrats to the Los Angeles Lakers. For the 15^th time in franchise they are NBA champions. If you don’t know by now Kobe Bryant and his Lakers cast bounced the Orlando Magic in five games to capture their first title since 2002.

Teammates Bryant and Steve Fisher attained their fourth NBA championship while coach Phil Jackson earned his 10, breaking the record previously held by Red Auerbach at nine. Check out how they did it.

By Javi

So the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets last night 105-103 at the Staples Center in what was a very exciting game. Aside from the game though, I couldn’t help notice how New York Knicks basketball fan Spike Lee, sitting courtside, was grabbing at and riding Kobe Bryant so hard his breathe probably smelled like the guard’s jockstrap after the game.

Now you may ask yourself, who cares? Well diehard sports’ fans, especially Knick fans who have suffered through a decade of horrendous basketball at the Garden, care. True Knick fans, like the ones Spike contends to represent, all remember how his silly ass antics during the 90s, when the Knicks were perennial contenders, would rile up opponent’s best players. It wasn’t until Indiana Pacers’ guard Reggie Miller embarrassed us; emphatically letting the filmmaker know our team choked that he chilled out. We weren’t too crazy about him then and we are definitely not crazy about him now.

Also since the Knicks’ last run at the championship in ’99 – it’s been all downhill for the organization – Spike’s appearances at the Garden seemingly appear to be less frequent, or at least less celebrated which is understandable, I mean who wants to watch futility night in and night out. However, I vividly remember Spike at Miami Heat games throughout the course of the 2006 season when Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal lead their team to their first NBA title.

Brother is you serious?

To a lesser extent that’s like a New York Yankee fan cheering on the Boston Red Sox when their team doesn’t make the postseason – it quite blasphemous. Spike didn’t you remember the rivalry that developed between the Knicks and Heat after head coach Pat Riley left for South Beach? Didn’t you remember how Heat forward P.J. Brown tossed our Heisman Trophy guard, Charlie Ward, around in ’97 resulting in the suspension of Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Larry Johnson and Allan Houston and ultimately killing our last shot of advancing to meet and defeat Jordan’s Bulls? Diehard Knick fans do!

What some fans may not know is that shortly after Miami’s championship in ‘06 Spike directed a Converse commercial starring Mr. Wade. So we ponder, is he really a band-wagoner or is he just catering to his business interests because now Spike is at Lakers’ games riding Kobe and if memory serves me right he recently filmed “Kobe Doin’ Work.” I’m seeing a trend developing now.

Let’s not get it twisted, we Knick diehards also route for other teams and players and we’re not hating on the filmmakers’ business ventures because some of us actually like Spike’s works. And it’s understandable for someone who has his money to want to be entertained live by one of the league’s best teams and players but diehard Knick fans don’t want to someone who supposedly represents our fan base to be seen sitting courtside hooting and hollering and complaining to the refs on behalf of a player not wearing your favorite team’s colors. It’s not your place Spike, let Jack Nicholas do so he’s been going to Lakers games since the 70s.

Plus we deem such behavior a bit treasonous and begin to question you loyalty. At the end of the day we just want you hold the Knicks down for better or for worse and don’t be so enthusiastic in your celebrations of other team’s feats.

Spike, just do the right thing!

P.S. Here are what some other fans think of Spike’s loyalty.