Christien Louviere

That is a direct quote from Kobe Bryant in an interview this Friday past with NBC’s Chris Collinsworth (download link).  I picked up on this story from an opinion piece on the WSJ.  The piece mentions that TV commentators keep opining that the Olympics are all about the brotherhood of man, rather than national ambition or patriotism.  The Olympics should and are about two things:

1)    Competition, aka Bragging Rights
2)    Class, aka True Character

Excerpt from the interview:
Collinsworth: Where does the patriotism come from inside of you? Historically, what is it?

Kobe: Well, you know it’s just our country, it’s… we believe is the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it’s just a sense of pride that you have; that you say ‘You know what? Our country is the best!’

Collinsworth: Is that a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you’re fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by.

Kobe: No, it’s a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor.

Collinsworth’s reaction gets under my skin.  A ‘cool’ thing to say???  This should be applauded!!  Reading an American newspaper, people think that everyone around the globe hates us and that is simply not true.  Collinsworth gives off the impression that Kobe should not maintain an elitist attitude.  Why not?  It’s made us the country that everyone in the world strives to be in some way.    At this very moment, immigrants are trying to move their families here to give them a shot at life.

Kobe seems to know what he has here and is proud to represent that.  Kobe has never been one of my favorite athletes, but he’s gained back some favor with me.  The USA may be in trouble if the majority thinks like Collinsworth.  However, I’ve been in various bars watching people like Bryant, Phelps and fantastic American athletes do their thing; and I haven’t seen a lack of pride.