Kobe Bryant is Hated

The only thing more shocking than Kobe being suspended tonight for an unintentional elbow of Manu Ginobili back on Sunday is the lack of uproar in his defense. There is nothing on ESPN.com except the story by Chris Sheridan reporting on Kobe asking for an immediate appeal by the commissioner. Sheridan does insert his opinion on whether the suspension is justified.

I've only seen the replay on ESPN Motion from one angle. And I don't know if anything happened before that play that might've caused Kobe to want to elbow Ginobili. But I think this is the most insane suspension I've ever seen (excluding NCAA suspensions, of course).

Kobe has no on-court track record that would warrant such strict discipline. So it's reasonable to suspect that the NBA doesn't like him.

ESPN.com has had all afternoon to post a story or two in Kobe's defense, yet no writer has. ESPN.com's reporters must not like Kobe either.

Has there ever been an athlete quite like Kobe? Everyone raves about his talent, but that's about it. He is not beloved.