Maybe it Should be Named the Most Valuable David Hasselhoff Fan Award.....

Kobe Bryant:

1) Four consecutive 50+ point games.............................that's great!

2) Second consecutive All-Star MVP Winner..................amazing!

3) NBA First Team All Defense.......................................again!

4) Ten 50+ point games in one season...........................incredible!

5) Second straight scoring title.....................................what a feat!

6) Carrying a team of role players into the playoffs.......how?????

7) NBA MVP.................................................................Nah!!!!

I officially move the NBA to rename its annual MVP award the "MVPP" award, the last two letters to signify both the award's worth and the fact that the honor now goes to the "Most Valuable Popular Player" instead of the league's best baller.

Watching Kobe Bryant and the Lakers this year reminded me of 1992, watching some of those foreign national teams play against the Dream Team in the Summer Olympics. Many of those foreign national teams had maybe one player who could come even close to competing with his counterpart on the U.S. team, and the whole team was centered around getting that one player the ball so the score wouldn't get too embarrassing. The one great player on the losing team would get 30 points but no one else would even top 10. The only difference between those teams and the Lakers this year is that when that team went home without a medal, no one called the player selfish, and he was a national hero for taking on the best players in the world near single-handedly.

Yes, Kobe is selfish, egotistical, a little crazy, incapable of sharing the spotlight well with other great players, and engages in consent-questionable intercourse outside of marriage with very young girls. And the fact that he paid good money, more than most people make in a year, to put an automatic transmission on a Lamborghini should cost him the title of Most Valuable Auto Enthuisast. However, he’s also far and away the best player in the NBA, and the only player on the Lakers who scored or played defense this season.

Dirk Nowitzki is a great player on a great team. He doesnt play defense very well, and is fed the ball by an amazing supporting cast. Also note his team didnt make it any further than Kobe’s team in the playoffs, despite tons more talent. Steve Nash is an amazing player on the most talented team in the NBA. He is a consummate pro, a hard worker, and unlike Kobe, makes all of his teammates better. However, his numbers this season are below his MVP numbers (except in assists), and he could not handle the double and triple teams thrown at Kobe this year. Put Nash on the Lakers instead of Kobe, and you’re looking at a 30 win season.

Kobe for MVP: Because it's the Most Valuable Player Award, not the Award for player you'd trust most with your girlfriend.