RUGBY: What's wrong with our game?

07/06/2007

Yahoo!Xtra

What's the biggest blight on the game of rugby?

Graham Henry has had his say on the problems facing the international game and now it's our turn.

The All Blacks coach has lamented the increasing amount of time-wasting that is afflicting test rugby and says it is deteriorating the game as a spectacle.

He lists scrums, faked injuries and the dilly-dallying of the TMOs as areas that are frustrating fans and players by turning up the snore factor.

But surely there is more to this as rugby's rule-makers look at ways of improving their product. Yahoo!Xtra Rugby writers Duncan Johnstone and Marc Hinton present their views on what is ruining the game at the moment.


The breakdown area - DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Good on Ted for getting those gripes off his chest earlier in the week and I'm in full agreement - the stop-start nature of the game means it is suffering severely as an entertainment package and some teams certainly appear to be happy to exploit those areas to enhance their chances.

But for my 10 cents' worth, I believe the breakdowns are the root of all evil when it comes to rugby.

In fact you could say that many of Henry's concerns about the scrums and questionable injuries arise from breakdowns.

They are a by-product of the undecided rucks and mauls. Throw in the numerous penalties that stem from this controversial area of the game and it's clear that something drastic needs to be done to clean up the battle for second phase possession.

They are such murky areas that, to my mind, the rule-makers might be better off allowing the breakdowns to be a free-for-all. Turn it into a wrestling contest where it's winner-takes-all.

At the moment their attempts to use a gate at the back of the rucks as the only route of entry is ridiculous.

And let's face it, these are rucks in name only. Rucking went out years ago - the skillful use of the boot to clear out opposition players is long a thing of the past.

It used to be a trademark of New Zealand rugby and its removal was just another way for the men in charge of the game up north to depower the All Blacks as are the ridiculous scrum engagement rules that have been introduced this year.

All this has led to is cheating. Players are lying all over the ball and the tackled player in attempts to slow the game down.

There's that word again - SLOW. Rugby needs to speed up and with so much of its attacking play coming from multi-phases, the breakdowns are the area that need a turbo boost.

At the moment one of the worst sights in rugby is the ball being held in the back of a ruck by the last forward while the halfback pedantically surveys his options and then usually takes the most predictable one - setting up another forward drive for another ruck!

Make the rucks a gladiatorial contest where the biggest and fittest win. This isn't a campaign to "bring back the biff', just a plea return a bit of mongrel to an area that has been sanitised to the detriment of the game.

Sort that out and plenty of flow will return to rugby. And there might even be a few less scrums which would please Henry and the rest of us as well.


The scrum - MARC HINTON

It worries me to say this, for they're such an intrinsic part of the game of rugby, but I can't go past the scrums as the biggest problem area in the game right now.

And when you get a guy like Anton Oliver, a bloke who's carved a living as a world-class practitioner of the darks arts of scrummaging, complaining that even he finds the set piece confrontation boring, well, the alarm bells should be ringing.

Let's face it, how much time is wasted setting, resetting and re-resetting scrums in a modern game of professional rugby? Too damn much, I reckon. Minutes tick by and play is stuck in a sort of nightmarish time warp where two packs keep hitting the deck, then slowly get back to their feet, dust off their sprigs and, wham, hit the deck again. It's Groundhog Day in the worst possible way.

Rugby, when it flows, when the ball is moved at pace, when crisp possession is won and sent through sets of hands, is a wonderful, wonderful spectacle.

When it grinds through interminable periods of inaction, particularly at scrum time, it's a flat-out bore.

And, for me, one of the most annoying aspects of modern rugby is some pint-sized ref who's clearly never stuck his head in a scrum in his life, lecturing two grizzled front rows on the finer points of their trade. But that's what it's come down to, as the whistle-blower tries in vain to keep these monsters on their feet.

The problem is that players are so big and strong and powerful these days, and so practised in the arts of deception it must be added, that it's inevitable that you're going to get a sort of Mexican standoff.

Sometimes no one's to blame, other times someone clearly is, but it's hard to work out who. So what you tend to get is a succession of scrums being set and the game going nowhere fast.

I don't know what the answer is, for scrums are a vital part of rugby. If you take them away, or depower them, that's the end of the shorter, powerful guy. There simply won't be a place for him in the game.

Just like you need lineouts for the rangier bloke to have a place in the game.

But something needs to be done to keep props on their feet at scrum time, and the person who comes up with the solution there will be worthy of a gold star.

There is no finer sight in the game than a scrum working at peak efficiency, much like the All Black set piece has done of late. It's the combined, tight, coiled might of eight men working together in unison.

But there's also nothing more yawn-inducing than watching this arm-wrestle descend into high farce, as it does too often in the modern game. People don't pay big money to watch what is in essence nothing.

The fans want to see the ball in play more, not less. So they want scrums that produce the hit, then the ball, in that order.

Perhaps it's time to allow the ball to be cleared regardless of what happens at the impact.

I know it's time for refs to rule and not try to coach.

It's certainly SOS time. Save Our Scrums.

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

RUGBY: Burger to join Bok exodus?

06/06/2007 12:00 - (SA)

News24

Cape Town - The expected mass exodus of Springbok talent following the Rugby World Cup in France appears to be gaining momentum.

Stormers and Springbok flank, Schalk Burger, has been offered a staggering R7m deal to continue his career with French club Toulouse - a move that would make the 24-year-old one of the highest paid players in the world.

According to reports, Burger is also being chased by English club Harlequins who have tabled a £450 000 (R6.4m) offer for the star fetcher.

Should Burger, the 2004 IRB Player of the Year, decide to sign for Toulouse, he'd almost match the salary of Australian and Western Force star Matt Giteau, reported to be the highest paid player in rugby.

Although Burger does have a long-term contract with the Western Province, there is an escape clause in his contract stating that the union would have to match any offer made by a rival if they wanted to keep him in the Cape.

Whether Toulouse constitutes a 'rival' remains to be seen.

The news of Burger's deal comes hot on the heels of Toulon's offer for Bulls lock Victor Matfield.

The second-row star is rumoured to be mulling a R5m per year move to the Tana Umaga-coached second division club who have already signed New Zealand duo Andrew Mehrtens and Anton Oliver ahead of next season.

Trio of stalwarts

The Sharks appear to be in for a torrid off-season with reports linking a trio of their stalwarts with moves out of the Durban 'tank'.

Flyhalf Butch James is set to sign for English club Bath for R2.8m.

Bath earlier in the week confirmed the signature of Cheetahs scrumhalf Michael Claassens.

Indications are that James is White's first-choice flyhalf heading into the World Cup, but the pivot still has his detractors who don't believe he possesses the necessary touch and vision to deliver at the highest level.

Springbok and Sharks hooker John Smit has attracted interest from Clermont-Auvergne, who defeated Toulouse last weekend to reach the final of the French Top 14 championship.

Clermont are the former club of Stormers wing Breyton Paulse.

With Bok coach Jake White's future uncertain after the World Cup - and with him being a staunch supporter of Smit's - it may make sense for the skipper to make the move north.

In another potential blow to the Sharks franchise, fullback Percy Montgomery appears set for a move to Perpignan in France.

Montgomery, 33, previously turned out for Welsh club Newport Gwent Dragons.

Montgomery is the leading Springbok points scorer with 695 in 81 Tests.

Lions wing Ashwin Willemse could well join Montgomery on Perpignan's books.

Prop Lawrence Sephaka (Lions) and centres Gcobani Bobo (Sharks) and Marius Joubert (Cheetahs) are others considering lucrative offers from top European clubs.

RUGBY: Boks potentially world's best - Iceman

06/06/2007

Ken Borland - yahooxtra.net.nz

Samoa coach Michael Jones has acclaimed South Africa as potentially the best side in the world after naming his team for Saturday's one-off test against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

"To play against the might of the Springboks at Ellis Park is the ultimate and it will provide a benchmark for the players as we look at the bigger picture, which is the World Cup in September," Jones told reporters.

"The Springboks are potentially the best team in the world right now and it is a chance of a lifetime, a great privilege, to have this opportunity."

Jones was a member of the only All Blacks side to win the World Cup at the inaugural 1987 tournament.

Samoa have made three changes to the side who lost to Australia A in the Pacific Six Nations tournament last week, with experienced wing Lome Fa'atau and hooker Mahonri Schwalger returning and Justin Purdie coming in on the flank.

Jones said the continued wellbeing of Samoan rugby and the hopes of the sport becoming a global game depended on such matches.

"We need these games. The Pacific Six Nations tournament is good, but I would like to see more fully-fledged tests against South Africa and Australia.

"We have to fight for our piece of the action. It's about bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots, otherwise global rugby never arrives," he said.

Saturday's encounter will be Samoa's fifth test in South Africa, with the Pacific Islanders losing all four previous meetings by heavy margins.


SAMOA: 15-Gavin Williams, 14-Lome Fa'atau, 13-Anitelela Tuilagi, 12-Seilala Mapusua, 11-Alesana Tuilagi, 10-Loki Crichton, 9-Steven So'oalo; 8-Semo Sititi (c), 7-Justin Purdie, 6-Daniel Leo, 5-Filipo Levi, 4-Kane Thompson, 3-Census Johnston, 2-Mahonri Schwalger, 1-Justin Va'a. Reserves: 16-Muliufi Salanoa, 17-Donald Kerslake, 18-Iosefa Tekori, 19-Alfie Vaeluaga, 20-Junior Poluleuligaga, 21-Elvis Seveali'i, 22-David Levi.

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

RUGBY: NZ players draining Europe too

06/06/2007

Duncan Johnstone - yahooxtra.net.nz

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen knows the player drain is hurting New Zealand but he believes it's also affecting the development of French and English players and threatening the bigger picture of test rugby.

With France touring here, the big-money contracts being offered and taken up by All Blacks there and across the English Channel is a hot topic.

Already Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Aaron Mauger, Sam Tuitupou and Greg Rawlinson have agreed to English deals after the World Cup while Byron Kelleher and Anton Oliver will play in France.

That's a key group of All Blacks to lose and it seems Rico Gear, Ali Williams and Doug Howlett may be set to join the exodus if they succumb to the massive offers that are being thrown about. Young test star Luke McAlister is also weighing his options in this area.

When quizzed about this issue, Hansen tried to deflect the problem away from New Zealand and focus it on Europe and the bigger picture.

He said that apart from the negative tactics in the game that were highlighted by All Blacks coach Graham Henry, the player movement was "the other big challenge to rugby".

"Because if we continually have players playing in France and UK, neither one of those teams - the English or the French - are going to develop their own players. Their standards are going to slip and the international game is going to drop off," reasoned Hansen.

"If I was a Frenchman or Englishman at the moment I would be pushing to have less foreigners playing in their competitions so they can develop some players."

He said the effects were already being seen with international results aroud the world over the past few weeks where weak northern hemisphere teams were being beaten down south.

"Currently England have had two thumpings from South Africa and we have had one test here. The game is not going to be in good health in two or three years in either of those countries if you don't start developing people.

"Keep spending the money but spend it on your own players," urged Hansen

But Europe's - and subsequently New Zealand's - problems are again highlighted by the balance of power up north.

The big money is coming from private club owners trying to push the cause of their own investments, leaving the national unions to fight for the services of their stars.

And Hansen is right in the way the influx of overseas stars is hitting the home talent. Just three first fives in the English Premiership are eligible for England while France is struggling in two areas of previous strength - props and wings - because of a preoccupation to employ Argentinian front-rowers and Fijian outside backs.

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

RUGBY: Henry changes six for France`s return

Tuesday 05th June 2007

Six changes for Graham Henry

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made six changes to the team that will play France in the return test at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington, on Saturday.

After overcoming a slow start to eventually overrun the French by 42-11 in Auckland last week, Henry still decided to overhaul his side for this week's outing - making it clear he was always going to give all his players a run in the two-match series against the French.

Jerry Collins, who has recovered from the heel injury that kept him out of last week's match, takes over at blindside flank from Reuben Thorne, Rodney So'oialo also returns at number eight in place of Chris Masoe.

At lock Keith Robinson gets a run ahead of Chris Jack, while veteran Anton Oliver is in for Keven Mealamu at hooker.

Byron Kelleher has fully recovered from his injury problems and takes over at scrum-half from Piri Weepu, while Aaron Mauger, who scored two tries in the first test, makes way for Luke McAlister at inside centre.

Centre Conrad Smith, who also missed the first test, has recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury and comes onto the bench. This means Ma'a Nonu, who was on the bench last week, leaves the squad to rejoin the Junior All Blacks in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Utility back Mils Muliaina was not considered because he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile it was also confirmed that fly-half Dan Carter and captain Richie McCaw have recovered sufficiently from the injuries that saw them hobbling off during the first-half of the first test. Both will start on Saturday.

"We are looking for more improvement this week," Henry said about the return test.

"Our execution can be better and we can handle stoppages better as well.

"We always wanted to play everyone during the [two-match French] series, plus we have Byron Kelleher and Conrad Smith back from injury, so there have been a number of changes to the starting team.

"At the same time, we're also trying to give a bit of time out to some players who had long Super 14 campaigns," Henry added.

New Zealand: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Josevata Rokocoko, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Keith Robinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Nick Evans, 22 Conrad Smith

Date: Saturday, 9 June
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington,
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Paul Marks (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)

planetrugby.com

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

Soccer: Parry defends Liverpool from Uefa accusations

We produced a report for Uefa a week beforehand predicting, sadly, all of the things that did go wrong'

Staff and agencies
Monday June 4, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Liverpool fans emphatically not causing trouble in Athens. Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry today stepped in to defend his club's fans after they reacted furiously to news Uefa had branded them the worst in Europe.

The claims will appear in a Uefa report to be handed to the government in the wake of shameful scenes at the Champions League final in Athens. Liverpool fans are accused of stealing tickets from their fellow supporters, charging the gates to get into the ground without tickets and causing trouble outside the stadium, which ended with local police using tear gas.

Now Uefa, in the wake of complaints from Anfield over the way they handled ticket allocation and match security on the night, have hit back with a dossier claiming to show 25 incidents involving Liverpool fans since 2003 in Europe - more than any other club. "What other set of fans steal tickets from their fellow supporters or out of the hands of children?" asked Uefa's director of communications William Gaillard yesterday. "We know who caused most of the trouble in Athens."

But Parry hit back this morning, insisting Uefa should focus on their own shortcomings in their organisation of the Champions League final rather than trying to "deflect attention" on to Liverpool fans. "The shortcomings in the management of the situation in Athens were apparent to anyone who was there," he said. "These latest comments from Uefa should not deflect attention from that reality. What is most surprising about the latest comments from Mr Gaillard is that on the eve of the final, he quite rightly commented that Liverpool supporters 'have a tradition of good behaviour'.

"To have a stadium with no counting system and no turnstiles is unforgivable for any standard of game, let alone a major final. We produced a report for Uefa a week beforehand predicting, sadly, all of the things that did go wrong. They knew and we knew that thousands of fans would travel without tickets and we stressed the need for a proper check at the outer cordon."

Sports minister Richard Caborn, who is due to meet Uefa president Michel Platini tomorrow, added: "I have a lot of sympathy with the Liverpool fans who paid their hard-earned money for genuine tickets but couldn't get into the ground. The reasons for this need an urgent explanation. We have already raised the matter with the Greek authorities through our embassy in Athens and government officials are also talking with Uefa. I will be putting this issue high on the agenda at a meeting I am to have with Michel Platini."

Earlier Liverpool's lord mayor, Paul Clark, who was at the match, had led the fan response. "Uefa appears to be trying to avoid the blame for the disorganisation of the final," he said. "To make matters worse, instead of looking at their own faults Uefa is blaming the people of Liverpool. Saying this is typical of Liverpool fans is unfair and reflects badly on the image of the city."

Les Lawson, spokesman for the official Liverpool FC supporters' club, was equally angered by Uefa's condemnation. "This is typical of Uefa," he fumed. "Rather than look at their own shortcomings, they want to shove the blame somewhere else. The fact they are not willing to stand up and take responsibility is worrying for fans, because that means they will never learn from their mistakes."

"Uefa is dragging Liverpool's name through the mud to deflect attention from themselves," added council leader Warren Bradley. "Big governing bodies like Uefa always look for scapegoats and never accept any blame. There should be a full and appropriate investigation. There is very little information about what actually went wrong. It was only a small minority who caused problems but the people at the top of Uefa think they have the divine right to criticise people."

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

RUGBY: Hooray for the humbling result

Sunday 3 June 2007

Keo, in the Sunday Argus, writes that the Springbok stutter at Loftus will help keep Bok feet on the ground in this World Cup year.

A team of greater quality would have hurt the Springboks in this series decider. After the festivities of Bloemfontein came the sober reminder that the Boks, a team on the rise, remain vulnerable when neutralized in confrontation.

For a large part of this match England’s defensive heroics frustrated South Africa, exposed limitations in the decision-making and emphasized just how important Jaque Fourie remains to the World Cup challenge.

With go forward minimal in the opening hour, the Boks missed Danie Rossouw’s physicality in attacking Jonny Wilkinson’s channel and without Fourie in the midfield there was never the threat of a linebreak fashioned through sheer strength.

Wynand Olivier, at No 13, was poor. The Bulls midfielder is a player who can excel when running into space, but when forced to make an impression in a congested contest he went missing. The likes of New Zealand and France won’t be as charitable in midfield team selections come the World Cup.

In tighter matches, again read France and New Zealand at the World Cup, a Bok team shifting the ball laterally and aimlessly will get beaten.

England showed a heart beat, but outside of good old fashioned guts, they offered nothing in attack. They didn’t have the backs to trouble the Boks, but they did have enough conviction in the forwards to leave the Boks bewildered at their inability to break the first line of defence in that first hour.

There was courage in the English performance and there was a definite fatigue about the Boks. You combine those two factors and you have a contest. Defensive heroics kept England competitive, but they were never going to challenge for a famous result.

You sensed the Bok players knew that and while the mind may have been willing, the legs certainly weren’t. Those Bulls and Sharks players who have been on an emotional high for the last month predictably lacked the intensity of the last two weekends.

Even so, Jake White would have expected better decision-making from the 8, 9 and 10 axis. Pierre Spies, when running against tired legs in the last quarter, was colossal but in the first hour the performance was more average than exceptional.

Spies scored two cracking tries and some saw it as enough justification for the man of the match award. It is not an opinion I shared with the masses.

The Bulls loose-forward has every attribute to be a great, but to deny what he is getting wrong at the moment would be to deny how good he should become. He has flaws in his game and they were evidence when Saturday’s test was still a contest.

Schalk Burger again was monumental and the pick of the forwards. There is substance to his game, as there is to the make-up of Juan Smith’s weekly contributions.

The Boks won well, scored 50 points for a second successive weekend against England, and yet there still wasn’t a sense of satisfaction. Bryan Habana’s individual brilliance shouldn’t mask the frailties of a back division that never threatened from structured play.

There was much to celebrate about the Boks win, but equally there was as much to keep all of South Africa humble. The Boks are a good team, but they showed in Pretoria they’re not yet the finished team.

Talk of a World Cup win is premature. Let’s first beat New Zealand in Durban.

Posted by keo - keo.co.za

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

RUGBY: Castaignede: ABs next best as well

04/06/2007

Marc Hinton - yahooxtra.net.nz

Veteran French fullback Thomas Castaignede believes Graham Henry's all-conquering All Blacks aren't just the No 1 side in world rugby, but they're the next best as well.

Though he's not going as far as handing the World Cup over just yet, hinting that the French still have "something special" up their sleeves for October.

The 32-year-old 53-test international reaffirmed his view that New Zealand possesses the two best teams in world rugby after playing in the 11-42 defeat to an albeit scratchy first-up All Black performance at Eden Park on Saturday night.

New Zealand coach Henry left a number of his first-choice internationals out of their opening fixture of the year, yet the All Blacks still scored five tries to one in a comfortable victory over a makeshift French outfit missing pretty much all of its first-choice stars.

And Castaignede made no secret of his admiration for the New Zealand game after the test in an interview with Yahoo!Xtra Rugby.

"I tell you the main problem in the world of rugby at the moment is in a series of games the All Blacks are the best team, and the second best team are probably the All Blacks B," said the French fullback.

"When you see a guy like [Daniel] Carter who is the best No 10 in the world going out and see a guy like [Nick] Evans coming in and really moving the ball well, creating gaps for others. Of course around him he's got some good players, but he's another magician and I think that's the key point of the All Blacks.

"They've got so many talented players who are able to move the ball. You've got the power, but you've also got the skills and that's everything in the game."

But the Saracens star who's hoping to make the cut for an international swansong at this year's World Cup, says the hosts of the global event won't be rolling over later in the year.

"Next Saturday will be a tough game for us again. We don't have all our potential, but we'll fight hard like we did [at Eden Park].

"But the World Cup will be something different. We'll have so much pressure, but we'll have a different team. We've got some power too, when we want to deliver. In November it was quite hard but we are better than what we showed in November, and the World Cup will be something special."

In terms of the second test in Wellington this week, Castaignede expects some adjustments to be made by the tourists, but is realistic enough to know the task doesn't get any easier against a New Zealand side with a game under its belts and set to welcome back a big gun or two.

"We will try to see what went wrong and try to fix it, but it's not going to be easy. Especially with my big friend Jerry Collins who I think is going to come back to action. Outside of rugby he's very, very nice, but on the pitch he's not really funny. He's a tough guy."

But Castaignede did say he believed this controversial touring group could yet have some spinoffs for French rugby down the line.

"Rugby doesn't stop after the World Cup," said the always outspoken international who will retire at the end of this year. "There will be a French team after the World Cup and some of the guys you see here might be the guys of the future. It's really exciting for them to start in such hard conditions, because I think you can't find something harder. That will help them build to become better players."

Castaignede was happy enough with the "fight" shown by the French in the opening test, but was disappointed they weren't able to gain more possession and exert more pressure of their own.

"It's not positive," he added. "It's positive when you go back from a game and you won it. It would have been very positive if we had of scored one more try, but we didn't have really any opportunity. We saw that when we put them under pressure they can be fragile too, and that's a key point to learn for the future."

View larger image

Richie McCaw runs the French ragged©Getty Images

Still, there's no doubt the one time backline wizard is just rapt to be in New Zealand once again.

"Can you believe I've done my first game against New Zealand 12 years ago. I'm proud of that. When you play in New Zealand it's always like a dream as a player. It's the best that you can see. I was there in '94 when the French beat the All Blacks, and that was a magic moment.

"I hope we can do that in the World Cup too."

But will he be there to be part of dream home triumph?

"I hope so," says the likeable English-based Frenchman. "We will see. I hope I can bring something with my experience and my legs. Even though they are getting tired, I still feel I have something to give."

*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog

Basketball: Kobe should take a page from LeBron's book

Mark Kriegel / FOXSports.com

As viewed from Los Angeles, a town that has been more egregiously indulgent of Kobe Bryant than any of its teen starlets, the Cavaliers post-game press conference came as a welcome event. After Cleveland's improbable victory over the Detroit Pistons, one would expect LeBron James at the podium. Less expected, however, was one Daniel "Boobie" Gibson, a second-round pick out of Texas. At 21, Boobie's not much. He's neither big, nor, as his draft status suggests, did he arrive in Cleveland with much of a rep. In fact, he spent most of his rookie season — the regular portion of which concluded with averages of 16.5 minutes and 4.5 points — on the bench. In other words, he's exactly the kind of scrub Kobe Bryant would whine about having to play with. But there he was, the unlikely hero of an historic upset. His line in the boxscore included 31 points, 19 in the fourth quarter when Detroit and Rasheed Wallace imploded for the last time. When asked to what he attributed his great good fortune, Gibson could not have been more clear. "From day one," he said, "LeBron's been in my corner." I found myself wondering if Kobe was watching. I sure hoped he was, as he had subjected me to a miserable couple of days during which he thought to air his demands. Said demands might be summarized thusly: Trade me. I want to be a Laker. Trade me. I want to be a Laker. Trade me. I want to be a Laker for life. Lindsay Lohan, recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, made more sense when she cracked up her convertible on Sunset. In keeping with this starlet theme, one can't help but think the timing of the tantrum had something to do with the ascent of James and the Cavaliers. Perhaps Kobe couldn't stand the lack of attention this time of year. Or, perhaps he knows that the comparison with LeBron James does not flatter him at all. Bryant keeps complaining about the Lakers' lack of talent. But with the case of Boobie Gibson now in evidence, I would submit that there's not much difference between the talent level surrounding James and Bryant. In fact, let's dispatch right here with the fictitious notion that the Lakers without Kobe are a bunch of scrubs. LeBron James doesn't have anyone nearly as talented as Lamar Odom. The difference is how each star treats the talent around him. Can you imagine any of the Lakers saying about Kobe what Gibson said about LeBron? No. Boobie Gibson went on about how James would encourage him after practice. "Keep shooting," he told the rookie. "Don't worry about nothing." "My teammates," said James, "(are) my family." To watch the Cleveland-Detroit series was acknowledge James' greatness. He shoots when he has to, and from as far as need be. He can attack the rim like Bryant, but see the court like Magic Johnson. Still, his strength and quickness suggest yet another Laker legend, James Worthy. But even more striking than his individual attributes was the unmistakable sense that guys liked playing with, and for, LeBron James. Last month, on the eve of the Cavaliers engagement with the Nets, Richard Jefferson was asked to assess the degree of difficulty in trying to guard James. The key, said Jefferson, was "he gets his teammates involved...It's not just the LeBron show. He's not a Kobe Bryant where he's just going to go out there and score at all costs." Great players are supposed to endow the players around them with greatness. Kobe Bryant does not. While James is about winning, Kobe is about Kobe. Kobe Bryant is driving a wedge between him and the rest of the Lakers. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press) In relation to his teammates, Bryant inhabits a parallel universe, separate and unequal. Perhaps you recall former Laker Chucky Atkins remarking with some frustration, "Kobe's the GM of this team." I'll not forget the way he showed up his teammate, Luke Walton, who had the temerity to pass the ball back to him during an overtime loss to the Knicks. And while there's some fantastic revisionism emanating from the Lakers' high command, you may remember that even his own coach couldn't stand him. You think anything has really changed? Kobe Bryant doesn't instill confidence in the guys in the locker room. He communicates by text message. In fairness, it's worth mentioning that Bryant plays in the West, where the Cavaliers would have had a much more difficult time. Also, there were injuries to key Lakers this past season, especially the one to Lamar Odom. But this idea that Bryant cannot deign to trust his teammates is nonsense. No one's asking him to trust Boobie Gibson. Again, put Bryant in context: this is a guy who couldn't trust Shaquille O'Neal. Kobe Bryant is going to be 29 soon, and entering his 12th NBA season. He provided a partial template for LeBron James. He was the first, a basketball prodigy with a huge sneaker deal before he left high school. James is only 22, and about to play in his first Finals. But suddenly this gap in age and experience counts for nothing. It is James who now sets the example. In watching him, Bryant may yet learn the difference between a starlet and a star. Mark Kriegel is a national columnist for FOXSports.com. He is the author of Namath: A Biography and Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, both New York Times bestsellers. He also was an award-winning sports columnist at the New York Post and the New York Daily News. *Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog