Kobe Bryant: July 2009 Archives

Sources close to Lamar Odom have told BSO that Odom will re-sign with the Lakers.

Odom will sign a 4 year 33 million dollar contract to stay with the champs.

Lamar Odom holds not only his fate, but the fate of the whole league in his hands. If he resigns with the Lakers they are clearly the favorites to repeat. And if he decides to take the offer from the Miami Heat that could change the balance of power in the East.

Obviously, Odom would prefer to stay with the Lakers. The Miami Heat offer has been on the table the last couple of weeks and hasn't changed. The only thing differennce is D. Wade has flown to LA to try and recruit Odom, but the money has stayed the same. And reports are that Lakers owner Jerry Buss has actually dropped his initial offer.

Everyone is assuming that the exchange of Ron Artest for Trevor Ariza makes the Lakers a better team. Right now Artest is a better all-around player than Ariza, but may not be a better fit for the Lakers. Ariza knew his role as a defender and spot of 3-point shooter and didnt demand the ball fir perfectly with a team that has Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Artest likes and needs the ball in his hands. How is he going to fit in the triangle offense? Artest is not a great stand still 3 point shooter. So thinking that Artest can take the place of both Odom and Ariza is comincal when he may not even be as good a fit for the Lakers as Ariza was.

When we talk about athletes we speak about "aura" a lot.

It is obvious to see what separates the legends from the very good. Vince Carter is a very good player, but Kobe Bryant is a legend. Chad Pennington is a very good quarterback, but Tom Brady is a legend. In essence some people just have a star quality that outshines their competitors.

The same could be said in regards to women. I will be the first to admit I have been blessed to have met and befriended some beautiful women in my day.

Honestly the young lady who helped me cover the ESPYs killed 99% of the ladies on the red carpet (sorry no picture but you can follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/StilettoJill). The young lady who I went to the after party with (http://www.twitter.com/stepupangie) people kept stopping us because they thought she was Kim Kardashian (no one thought I was Reggie Bush by the way. Shocking isn't it).

Sources inside of Ron Artest's camp have confirmed with me a CBS Sports report that Artest has verbally committed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers is true.

The person right now who is feeling sick is Trevor Ariza while he agent has been blowing smoke about him wanting out of LA privately I heard from his people that he didn't want to go.

He is definitely gone now.