NBA Finals: Kobe's Quest for a Fourth Championship Ring

This year's NBA Final will match Kobe Bryant's Lakers against Dwight Howard's Magic. It will be an exciting series, even if it isn't the series the NBA wanted. For the last few weeks the league has used commercials and sports media to capitalize on a possible Kobe vs. LeBron matchup. But, LeBron's Cavs did not live up to the expectations.

Now the story changes. Instead of the two best players in the league battling for a championship, the NBA and its fans will watch a team with basketball's premiere big man try to muscle his way to a championship against the league's most talented guard. A guard whose competitive spirit may not match Michael Jordan's, but comes so close it is at times hard to tell the two apart.

The most interesting storyline here though is Kobe's attempt to win his fourth championship ring, the first without teammate Shaquille O'Neal. It is also his chance to make a clean break from his past. His career to this point can be easily seen as layers of colored sand in a glass vase. The first layer is filled with the bright yellow of youthful exuberance. This layer is made up of championships sprinkled with an adoring public and a wide smile. Next is the layer of dark blue and gray defined by the events that occurred in Colorado. This layer is overflowing with scrutiny, growing pains, and alienation of teammates, fans, and most importantly his spouse. It is a layer of regret. This is what makes him who he is, but does not necessarily define him. He is now in a layer colored with the purple of redemption. His image has been battered and he now finds himself having won a small amount of the public over from his time at the Olympics representing his country. Only a championship trophy stands in the way of a new layer forming. A future layer, one that might see the scowl that covers his face on most nights, disappear.

He wears a new number, has new teammates, and a wife that has forgiven him. Now he just needs to break from the drama that has surrounded him. His quest for a fourth championship has seen him mature as a basketball player. He can do it all on the court. Kobe actively attempts to listen to Phil Jackson, run the offense, and get his teammates involved. Humbled last year in the series loss to Boston, Kobe relies on others much more. But he is also in his prime. This is the climax of this story. Kobe will never have such a great opportunity where so many of his skills are so easily at his disposal. Soon his body will start to betray him. Soon the aches and pains will mount. Competition will only get more fierce.

So the NBA has a Final that is much different than they expected. They have new stories to explore. But, still, at the heart of it all stands Kobe. A man who many cannot root for. A basketball player many would hope to see vanquished. Truth be told, it isn't as easy to like Kobe as it once was. Let's just hope that whatever happens, Kobe does begin a new layer in his professional career. A new layer colored for those that try to root for him with his infectious.