Kobe Bryant during a Lakers game against the Utah Jazz, 6 October 2015 – Marco Garcia / AP / SIPA
* Philippe Berry
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This is one of the greatest athletes in history. Quintuple NBA champion, 17-time All Star, Kobe Bryant will rank his sneakers in the closet 13 April 2016 – let’s be honest, the Lakers, last in the Western Conference, have no chance to qualify for the playoffs. So, the end of the regular season serves as a farewell tour for the Black Mamba, who responded to telephone questions from journalists of the foreign press on Monday. With, through, professionalism and unfailing infinite patience for a year to bang his head against the floor.

A bit of background for those unfamiliar with the principle of “conf call.” 146 journalists from 24 countries are on the line. On its name suggests, its publication and its territory. Want to ask a question? Press “* 1″. In 25 minutes, an athlete has time to answer about 20 questions, an eight chance to ask your own. The NBA does not filter the most interesting upstream. The moderator is calling your name, probably by order of arrival, and you can talk to Kobe. Politeness is to congratulate him on his career and thank him for his time, and then ask him the question. And Tuesday, as usual, we had:

  • The ethnocentric question, which everyone does not care. Often it is an Asian specialty: “I am from Shanghai, and you often stay in Shanghai. You count again come to Shanghai after when you are in retirement “(Yes, Kobe thinking about going to Shanghai to” promote basketball “and” help children “.)

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  • The sports ethnocentric question, which everyone cares, except the journalists of the same country: “I am Argentine, what do you think of Manu Ginobili and what it represents for Argentina? “(Think Kobe Manu” is a great player, a competitor ‘.)

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  • The question that nobody can understand because of an accent to cut with a knife or because the reporter calling from the cellar “SCRHHCHHSCRRHH SCHRHHHT FRRRRR Kobe PRRRRR KRRRRR, Do you agree? “(Kobe is polite and asked to repeat, but the sound is still as rotten. Next.)

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  • The question “What’s your advice to” which is the second worst in the world after “What is your slimming secret” celebrity journalists: “Dante Exum just tearing cruciate ligaments, advice to return good ? “(Kobe think Dante is” a fantastic young player “and” it will rebound. “

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  • The question you hate and Have you ever been asked 157 times in your career, but that you still relies a 158th time just to annoy you: “In the history of the NBA, between Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and all the others, what position are you classes behind them or with them? “(” I do not ask me what position I am, it’s kind of pointless debate. What is most interesting in a legend, it is the impact you had on the players of your time and the future generation “.)

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  • The issue son of a bitch, insulting limit “If the fans do not vote for you or that coaches do not choose you, do you want to have a ceremonial role at the All Star Game? “(” No. If this is the verdict, I will respect it. I was incredibly lucky to have participated in many All Star matches. At one point, you have to step down “).

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What Kobe he intend to do after hanging up? He considers a career as a consultant or coach? Or explore an artistic way, when he said he was passionate about “storytelling” after the documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse ? How will he manage his media empire? A career at the highest level she has destroyed her body? He regrets not having stopped at the top? His whopping contract he has delayed the reconstruction of the Lakers? We will never know

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