I don't know about the Kobe/A-Rod comparison that he goes for at the end of that article. Unlike Kobe, A-Rod is notorious for having won zero championship rings. And unlike A-Rod, Kobe is notorious for having been accused of rape. I do think McCoskey is right about the Kobe/Shaq break-up being the main thing that knocked Kobe down in the general public's estimation. He certainly deserved his share of blame for that, but one of the worst things about Miami's championship last season is that it completely cemented the fact that Shaq got off TOTALLY scott-free for that business in L.A. Though it was already starting right when he got to Miami. In the stories about he had lost a lot of weight after being traded to the Heat, the prevailing message was "Wow! What a great guy!" instead of "Gee, maybe the Lakers could have won even more titles if his a%$ hadn't gotten so fat."
