I saw that interview, and what it most reminded me of was the Simpsons episode where Ralph Wiggum plays George Washington opposite Lisa as Martha. Lisa asks, “But couldn’t we just… give in to the British?” And Ralph strikes a classic thespian declamatory pose and bellows “Never!”

Collinsworth asked something like, “Isn’t loving your country kind of uncool these days?” — just so Bryant could say, “Never!”

And if playing on the damn Olympic team was so special and moving to Kobe, well, how come he couldn’t be bothered 4 years ago? Oh, right, the sexual assault thing. Whatta guy.

I must be thick, because I watched that over and over and missed the invisible signs of liberal toolness. But, if wingnut extraordinaire wants me to put the big liberal hate on gooper Collingsworth? The dude abides.

What about all the other liberal tools we endure on our sports telecasts?

Bob Costas — intellectual, must be a liberal
Summer Sanders — sounds like a DFH
Ahmad Rashad — went to University of Oregon, changed his name to Muslim
Rowdy Gaines — Anarchist tool, based on his name alone
Dara Torres — Hello? Haircut? Hello?

Collinsworth is simply the thin edge of the wedge.

Did anyone notice the smarmy smile Collingsworth kept on his face during the whole interview? This guy honestly could not understand Kobe’s patriotism. And I’ll tell you what, that smile brought back all my dislike of liberals and their anti-American feelings. These people think they are vastly superior to all us little misguided people. They make me sick.

Wear a flag pin and wave the flag, and no one will notice that the only thing keeping him from being listed on the sex offender registry is that he’s already famous and lives behind an electrified fence. This tells me more about Rethug family values than I want to know.

Even the puffball sports interviews have to be scrutinized for evil liberalism now? What empty, churlish lives these people must lead.

I’m guessing the reasoning behind Collinsworth lobbing that softball was NBC wanting to reassure the audience in the wake of the recent praise for John Carlos and Tommie Smith. Don’t worry, America, today’s athletes wouldn’t dare risk their endorsement dollars.

These people think they are vastly superior to all us little misguided people.

Oh look, he just called himself little and misguided. How quaint. Step 2 and he’s home free: realizing it.

OMG! The rightards are down to deconstructing interviews by sportscasters now? How the mighty (sic) have fallen. What’s next, 12 year old kids? Oh, right. That’s already been done.

I had reached a point where my outrage center wasn’t working anymore; so many outrages over so much time. But I just finished reading a account by a man who was a (Jewish, but barely) teenager when the Germans took over Austria prior to WWII, and suddenly all this hate-filled naming of everyone the righty pundities dislike is looking a tad too familiar.

If Kobe ever blows out his knee, sounds like he has the qualifications to make make a fine Blackwater mercenary.

1. Jingoistic patriotism – Check
2. Raping women cuz you can with no repurcussion becasue of who you are -check

Shorter Kobe: Why can’t these poor people without jobs, healthcare, and debt out the wazzoo understand what opportunities this country offers and be more patriotic? I mean, I make 30M a year to run around in shorts and bounce a rubber ball. Why don’t they just do that?

Don’t you see? Everything, and I mean everything, must be seen through their ideological prism: movies, pop music, school curricula, and now sports interviews. Like Soviet political officers.

Dara Torres — Hello? Haircut? Hello?

She’s another sad Gator.

Hoft’s patriotism stopped short of actually putting his ass on the line and serving in the military. Just like all of the other winger pundits who would define our dedication to America.

I have to believe half the commenters were pulling Gateway’s leg — there couldn’t be that much genuine stupidity in America.

SJay, yeah there is. In “liberal” California, I’ve see more Bush/Cheney ‘04 bumper stickers than Obama or McCain stickers combined.

When I see Kobe I think: there’s that rapist that paid off his victim, and paid off his wife with a big, shiny rock, so she would STFU and sit by him during his BS, maudlin, mea culpa presser. Funny, patriotic never occurs to me.

How much joy do you think Mrs. Kobe gets from that gem when she thinks about the reason she got it? “Oh yeah, the Kobster gave me this one when he raped that girl in the hotel room …. y’all remember that…. it was all over the teevee”.

Remember when Keith Olbermann did Monday Nite Football with Collinsworth? Collinsworth tried to trip up Olbermann – ridiculing Keith’s Worst Person In the World Feature. Really?!!! That’s the worst person in the world??? Collinsworth is a wide receiver for Hoft’s team. Is Hoft really stupid enough to believe that Collinswart is a liberal?

From “The Patriot’s” apology to his sexual assualt victim:

“Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual,” Bryant’s statement continued, “I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”

You know, I think Thomas Paine said it first when he said, “Rape? Naaahh, it was just a misunderstanding.”

Not that they have read it, but it sure sounds like someone is using 1984 as a set of guidelines . . .

I suppose they won’t use the name Commissar for their plainclothes informers and ideology monitors: what better term than Patriot? When the right wingers claimed the 60s would be the death of this country, did they really expect to find that they were the ones with the knife in their hands?

Q and O pwns this situation. Did not say anything different from the first commenter however.

I mean, the glamorous NBA stars are the very people who have the most motivation to play only for their country. It’s sad, but true. Not that there is anything wrong with Nastia Liukin feeling both American and Russian, but you would not get such a straightforward answer out of her.

Speaking of glamor teams, USA crushed Japan today 4-1. The game the L%TC saw may not have been fatal after all.