Random NBA Photo of the Day: Kobe's "Ice Mamba" Jacket.

Via: @mcten

After severely spraining his ankle on the foot of Dahntay Jones in the finals seconds against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, Kobe was questionable to play in Indiana on Friday. Although Bryant did miraculously play the entire 12 minutes of the first quarter, he would sit out for the rest of the game, without a single point to rest his injury. In the end, everything worked out, as the Lakers would get the win on the road and distance themselves from the looming Utah Jazz, who are hoping to take their spot back in the playoffs. Of course to prepare himself for such a game, Kobe at the age of 34 had to go under treatments after treatments to make sure his ankle would be able to hold up in response to the stress of the game. And it wouldn't be Kobe if he didn't team up with Nike to make a "Ice Mamba" jacket to commemorate this game in the case, that Kobe would go off for one of those historic games, where he shrugs off the injury to get the victory for his team. Unfortunately, the fictional campaign that I made up, was short-lived, as the Laker would fail to overcome the pain from his bloated ankle and lose the opportunity for his own version of those iconic Jordan games. It's okay though, you will always have 81.

Kobe Bryant's only fear is bees.

Have you ever wondered what scares a 5 time NBA Champion, 2 time Finals MVP, 15 time All-Star and the man that never flinches? Well, when asked about his fears, Kobe, after the hard fought victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, admitted to his fear of bees.

Kobe on fear of failure: "Fear? Fear for what? Only thing I fear is bees."
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) March 9, 2013 

Kobe when asked about 'fear': "I don't f--- with bees, man. Other than that, I'm not afraid of nothing."
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 9, 2013

I am with Kobe on this, bees are the worst. You can not swing at those things like other insects to rid of them, because you do not want to aggravate bees, they have this thing called a "stinger." The only thing you can do is let those hellish six legged monsters violate you, as they crawl up and down your back, while you hope that they will leave on their own. I swear, every second they are on your body and is slowly inching towards your head, it is equivalent to watching a man with a chainsaw closing in on your leg. I think you get the message. Here is an interesting theory, I wonder if this ever played a factor in Kobe's decision to not play for Hornets. It must have bugged him to play for the only thing he is scared of. (Pun totally and completely intended, not sorry.)

Via: Deadspin

Kobe Bryant got a new nickname.

You know how Kobe never really got a nickname from anybody, so he labeled himself as the "Black Mamba," which he somehow made work in those Nike ad campaigns. Anyways it looks like someone finally stepped up to the challenge and I am  not too sure how I feel about it.

From ESPN:

"I was in my coffin a few years ago," Bryant said, gladly reminding the media that plenty of the pundits and scribes out there have soiled hands from prematurely throwing dirt on his grave. "Vino is out of the barrel."  

"Vino" is the new nickname Bryant adopted after a writer for his advertising agency called him it in a text after Bryant had three highlight reel variety dunks Thursday against Minnesota. 

Sure he did, Kobe. I know you totally did not make up another nickname for yourself and give credit to some random dude, so you don't look fool. Come on, man. you have been in the league for 17 years, we all know what you are up to. Just a heads up, in the future if you want to give yourself a nickname, in, I don't know, maybe in retirement, please choose something, someone will actually use and call you by. The name "Kobe" is already hard to top as it is.