State of the Union: Part Deux
A few weeks ago, I wrote a sort of State of the Union for RespectKobe.com, outlining some changes you could expect to see here. I’ve received a number of responses, and I want to take some time to respond to them here. Many Thanks First, I want to express my appreciation to all the readers who graciously encouraged me to attend to my personal needs first, and expressed understanding of the fact that I’ll only be able to update Respect Kobe as much as time permits (which, as I mentioned, may not be that often). I have long felt that Respect Kobe has been blessed with some of the best readers out there, and this has only confirmed that for me. Guest Articles Xrism asked if I might consider accepting guest articles. After giving this some thought, I’ve decided that I most definitely would be open to guest articles. If you’re interested in contributing a guest article, please email me to let me know what topic your topic will be. I may have some thoughts, or I may simple say, “Sounds good, go do it.” A note on guest writing: As I hope you have noticed, Respect Kobe has very high standards with regards to writing style and grammar. I also have a very strict requirement that all arguments made be well supported with facts, sources, and/or sound logical reasoning. Your contributions will be held to this standard. Here’s what this means:
As you may have already gathered from my list of requirements, anyone aspiring to contribute a guest article must be open to constructive criticism and to having their work edited. I will hold you to the same high standards that I impose on myself here at Respect Kobe, and you need to be comfortable with that. That said, I hope that doesn’t intimidate any of you. I don’t intend to criticize you or shoot you down; instead, I want to work with you to help you produce very high quality articles. I hope this will be a very comfortable, enjoyable process for you. Given all of the above, if you’re interested in contributing a guest article here at Respect Kobe, click the email link above and let me know what you want to write about! A Request for Assistance As you may have noticed, the articles I write often require a considerable amount of research. I have to compile statistics, pull quotes, and cite sources, in an effort to ensure that every point I make is thoroughly substantiated. As you might imagine, this can be very time consuming. I could use your help with some of that research. Some of the topics that I want to tackle in the future will require quite a lot of research. I could use your help compiling statistics, finding quotes (and links to their sources), and sifting through the ESPN and LA Times archives. For anyone interested, I will let you know via email exactly what I need you to do. In addition, I’d also like to open things up a bit, and ask for your input on some future articles I’ll be writing. While I always do my best to make sure I have a complete grasp of the topic I’m writing on, I’m sure there are often additional points that I could make, that I might not be thinking of. Therefore, I’d like to give you the opportunity to weigh in on some points that you think are relevant to a given topic that I plan to tackle, which will help me to ensure that I’m addressing all aspects of the issue. Both of these are ways that you could really help with some of the leg work that leads to a completed article. In addition to being huge helps to me, these are ways that you can become actively involved in the process, and take some ownership in the final result. If you’re interested in either helping out with the research or weighing in on aspects of an issue that should be addressed, click the email button above to let me know that you’re available. Donations Xrism also asked that I provide a means by which you guys can make donations. While I am not in any way asking you guys to support me financially, I do understand the desire to contribute to something you’re passionate about — and I know that many of you are as passionate about “the Kobe debate,” as I like to call it, as I am. Therefore, I will be providing a link via which you can donate to the Respect Kobe cause, via PayPal, Amazon, Google, or some similar means. You can expect to see that fairly soon. Hardwood Paroxysm As you have probably noticed, I am now a contributing author at Hardwood Paroxysm, writing a bi-weekly column on the 2008-09 MVP Race. While I’m sure that many of you will be very interested in the MVP discussion, as always, I’m sure you realize that any time I spend writing at Hardwood Paroxysm is time I can’t spend writing here. While that saddens me, I really am very excited about being part of the Hardwood Paroxysm crew, and it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m very excited about the vision at Hardwood Paroxysm, and there will be a lot of very exciting stuff going on there in the coming months and years. While this does affect my ability to continue my work here at Respect Kobe in the short term, it promises to be a great way for me to gain some exposure, which is one more step towards a full time writing gig — and in the long run, that is good news for Respect Kobe, as well. Thanks again to everyone, for understanding and for sticking with me as things change here at Respect Kobe, even as things slow down. Look for my Most Valuable Column at Hardwood Paroxysm, which will always be linked to here as well, and hopefully, with your help, this will be a great year here at Respect Kobe, as well. Strength & Honor. — Josh |
Filed Under Kobe Bryant | 12 Comments
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
I dont understand the whole donations thing. Is the money going to be used for personal reasons or is it being used somehow for the “the Kobe Debate?”
Josh – what commenting plug-in’s do you use if any. I love the options and flexibility readers have in editing and using HTML via the easy buttons and would like to add it to my blog as well.
Good luck and look forward to more Kobe vs. the world debates.
@Rob,
Good question. Honestly, I can’t say I understand it, either. Here’s my best answer.
My preference, of course, would be for donations to contribute directly to making Respect Kobe possible. But frankly, there are very few costs involved with running Respect Kobe. The primary expense is in the currency of time spent — and, as I’ve mentioned, time is something I don’t have a lot of.
It’s not unfathomable that, if a whole bunch of people donated on a regular basis, the income would be enough for me to treat Respect Kobe as my day job — which would allow me to spend all day, five days a week, writing for Respect Kobe. Were that ever to happen, though I personally don’t foresee it, then you could definitely say that those contributions would be going directly towards making Respect Kobe possible.
When it boils down to it, it is not money or resources that make Respect Kobe run — those are things I already have for other purposes, and it does not cost me anything extra to use them for Respect Kobe. So, when it really comes down to it, what makes Respect Kobe run is me. The more time I have, the more effort I can put into it, and the more effort I put into it, the more articles you get. In that sense, I suppose you could say that a donation to me is a donation to Respect Kobe.
But I want to be really clear about this: This is not my idea, and I am not, in any way, asking for donations, or advocating that my readers support me financially. I am doing this because people have requested it. Hopefully, I’ve given you a pretty candid response as to what the money, if any, will be used for. Knowing that, if you or anyone else chooses to make a donation, I’m very grateful. But that is entirely up to you. I am not asking for it; I am simply making it possible because others have asked for it.
Again, I just want to say that I’m not expecting or asking that the readers of this site try and support me financially. Respect Kobe is not a subscription site, and it never will be. I’m going to do this either way, with whatever time I have available. If I reach a point, via any means, where I’m able to support my family financially while at the same time having a significant amount of free time during the day, y’all know that I’ll be using that time to dig into “the Kobe debate” even more.
@Dannie,
I actually got your email a while back. Sorry for not responding. I’ll get back to you via email shortly.
It’s cool Josh, you know I got your back and whenever you post that paypal so that I can contribute, I will donate what I can to help out.
Kobe blows and he’s showing it in the Olympics. Lebron is so much better
I’d be more than happy to help you look up anything you need Josh. Email me at lalball_81@hotmail.com.
Kobe brought his MVP form today against the aussies. The gold is coming our way!
On a side note, this video of Lebron dacing all over the place is being billed his gold medal dance. Watch Kobe at the 9 sec mark be like, “enough of this show boat!” Its pretty funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl4vXgwsxPM
Everybody played with heart and passion. And contrary to popular belief, every US basketball team BESIDES the 92′ team wanted to win as a team as well.
Heres what we saw over this basketball tourny.
Dwyane Wade is healthy so he just might reassurt himself as the best player in the L’Eastern Conference again.
Go King James. He played well for team USA. He’s had enough time to rest and practice before the Olympics since his team was knocked out in the 2nd round of the playoffs. And it showed. Great energy.
Guess the MVP was a little overworked from playing 103 games this past season. Leading one of the youngest teams in the league with only one other ONE TIME All Star to the best record in thee most competitive conference in NBA history including 6 games in the NBA FINALS against a Hall of Fame team and doing so with a broken shooting hand.
I’m guessing a few of the other starters would have a tough time knowing what its like since none of the other Starters besides Kidd have ever won a game in the Finals.
But in the game that mattered of course Bryant came through in the clutch scoring 13 points and 2 assists in the final 8 minutes of the game. 20 points, and (a game high) 6 assists. 50% shooting.
Kobe had his hand in 17 points of the last 8 minutes.
No Bryant. No Gold
Hmmmmmm. Would have been 2004 all over again.
Sorry Anonymous writer.
But once again Bryant showed why he is the best player in the world.
Hey Josh,
Will be spreading this site all over the bloggosphere especially to some local radio station comment boards. AM570 Los Angeles with the Loose Cannons (Mychael Thompson, Vic the Bric and Steve Hartman).
If you wouldnt mind.
Hey Josh,
Long time no talk. The recent Basketball Olympics gold medal victory where Kobe proved himself that he’s best of the best reminded me of you.
Funny, the commentator of the gold medal match said that in time desperation, people will see who Coach K trusts in the final moments. And oh yeah, Team USA was in a crisis: Spain just hit a 3-pters with 8 or so minutes to go in the 4th, bringing them within 2 pts of the US’ lead.
Then Coach K let the Mamba loose.
Good F***ing game.
I know you’ve been busy. I hope everything has been all right with you. I hope one day you will become a professional sports writer.
Keep in touch,
MV
Man im a broke ass college student and i cant give you any money to update this site more often, but you need to come back and write more about Kobe. I mean you changed 3 of my friends minds on who the best player is in the league just cause of your writing on this site isnt that enough? Please come back