http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-usahoops22-2008jul22,0,7226148.story
From the Los Angeles Times
Olympics reignite Kobe Bryant's passion
The Lakers guard is hungry for a gold medal after losing in the NBA Finals.
He's also sad to see Ronny Turiaf leave but optimistic that Sasha Vujacic
will re-sign with L.A.
By Steve Springer
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 22, 2008
LAS VEGAS -- The U.S. Olympic men's basketball team opened its final week of
practice on home soil Monday before heading to China with a scrimmage
against a select team consisting of such NBA rookies as O.J. Mayo and
Derrick Rose and such veterans as Andre Iguodala and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Did they even bother to keep score?
"I kept score," said Olympian Kobe Bryant, a smile back on his face and the
competitive sparkle back in his eyes.
There was certainly no smile on Bryant's face roughly five weeks ago. That
was the night his Lakers were crushed and humiliated by the Boston Celtics,
131-92, in the title-clinching game of the NBA Finals. Bryant was
understandably somber, his swagger gone, his mood morose as he exited TD
Banknorth Garden.
Bryant said he took a week off, even staying out of the gym, his second
home, spent time with his family and just returned from a trip to Disney
World in Florida.
"No Europe this year," he said Monday, "just Mickey."
He has returned to the court with his optimism and resolve restored, but now
focused on a new goal: Olympic gold.
After finishing Monday's practice at Valley High, the first of four daily
sessions, Bryant was asked again how he would equate winning the Olympic
tournament with an NBA title.
"I think winning a gold medal is more important because you're playing for
your country," he said, repeating what has become a kind of mantra. "You're
not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the
United States of America."
There was no joy on Bryant's face, however, when the subject turned to a
Lakers loss on Friday -- when the team declined to match a four-year,
$17-million offer sheet given to reserve forward Ronny Turiaf by the Golden
State Warriors.
"I'm sad about it," said Bryant, who has been talking to Turiaf daily about
the situation. "I wish we could have kept him. I love him as a person, I
love him as a basketball player and I hate to see him leave. I just wish him
all the best.
"He would much rather have stayed with us, but that's the nature of the NBA,
man."
Bryant, like the rest of his organization, is waiting for the second shoe to
drop. Sasha Vujacic, the reserve guard nicknamed "The Machine" because of
his proclivity for cranking up shots, is, like Turiaf, a restricted free
agent.
Vujacic has yet to come back to the Lakers with an offer sheet and, in
recent days, General Manager Mitch Kupchak has been negotiating with Rob
Pelinka, Vujacic's agent, about a new contract.
"I'm optimistic that we can re-sign Sasha," Bryant said. "We definitely
should. He's turned into a fantastic player for us and I would hate to see
us lose two of our key guys off the bench."
Bryant's optimism may be bolstered by more than just hope since he and
Vujacic have the same agent.
There will be one constant when Bryant takes the court for the U.S. -- the
injury to his right pinkie suffered in February. Although a ligament was
torn and a small fragment of bone pulled off, Bryant decided against surgery
until after the NBA season and the Olympics.
The time off since last month hasn't changed anything.
"It's completely torn," Bryant said, "so rest isn't going to do anything for
it. It's still going to be painful until I get it fixed.
"I'm used to it. It feels normal to me now because I've been playing with it
for such a long time. It's not a hindrance whatsoever. I got whacked on it
pretty good during the season. I mean, right on it. When that happens, it
will go dead for about a minute or two, but then it will come right back and
be fine. I still play with the tape on it. I will be doing that until I get
it fixed."
Bryant said he would undergo surgery to repair the finger after the
Olympics, and figured the rehabilitation process would take about three
weeks.
For now, Bryant is focused on Aug. 10 when the U.S. opens Olympic play
against the host nation, China.
"There's a lot of excitement and a lot of enthusiasm on this team," he said.
"We are ready and can't wait to get going."
He was reminded that, four years ago at the Athens Olympics, the U.S. team
was often booed.
"The fans aren't going to block my jump shot," he said. "I think, for us, it
gives us the focus and the intensity to do the job, to play the right way.
We want their fans to boo. That's what makes the game fun, makes it
passionate. We have our fans. They have their fans. Let's get it on."
steve.springer.RemoveThis@latimes.com
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