ATLANTA - Charles "The Fat Bro" Barkley expressed what a lot of Laker haters felt when the guys in purple and gold somehow managed to make it into the NBA playoffs without their star player, court coach, and head cheerleader Kobe Bryant.
Barkley said that the Los Angeles Lakers are one lucky bunch of dudes. He heard that El Vino as Kobe nicknamed himself, stated that even if he was hurt he would will the Lakers to make it into the playoffs.
Bryant has always felt that he has a gift of being able to yell, scream, and holler at his teammates and it makes them play much, much better.
Even Pau Gasol has said that when he hears Kobe hollering like a crazy banshee it inspires him to run faster, jump higher, and drink more Gatorade.
Steve Blake has said that Kobe is his idol, next to Vice-President Joe Biden.
Coach Mike D'Antoni just shrugs his shoulders and says, "Hell, I still get paid no matter what - so if KB wants to take all of the credit for our good fortune then so be it."
SIDENOTE: Charles Barkley said that the number seven seed Lakers will play the number two seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. So El Vino had better get his vocal chords ready to do a whole, hell of a lot of screaming, yelling, and hollering.
