UPDATE: For The Win reports that Jurgen Klinsmann apologized to Bryant, saying his quotes are being taken out of context and that he is a big Kobe Bryant fan:
I have to say that I think there are some people who tried to take quotes out of context, because I’m a big Kobe Bryant fan. It was said in the same way I have said always. It’s great what you achieved up until now but still you can always prove it today and tomorrow. There was absolutely nothing negative meant towards Kobe, who I admire a lot and who I’ve watched many times.
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When it was announced that the Los Angeles Lakers had extended Kobe Bryant for two years at nearly $25 million per year, many fans were torn about how to feel. Many were happy that Bryant would finish his career in Los Angeles, but the price tag is steep for someone of Bryant’s age.
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Most people subscribe to the rule of paying someone for what they are going to do rather than what they have done in the past. One person who agrees with that sentiment is US Men’s National Soccer Coach Jurgen Klinnsman, who used Bryant’s extension in explaining to Business Insider why he left Landon Donovan off the World Cup roster:
This always happens in America […] Kobe Bryant, for example — why does he get a two-year contract extension for $50 million? Because of what he is going to do in the next two years for the Lakers? Of course not. Of course not. He gets it because of what he has done before. It makes no sense. Why do you pay for what has already happened?
Klinnsman came under fire for leaving Donovan, the most famous American soccer player of all-time, off the World Cup roster. This would likely have been Donovan’s final World Cup and most believe he deserved to at least be on the team.
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While Klinnsman makes a decent point about paying for what has already happened, using it in this context doesn’t make too much sense. The World Cup isn’t about money, it’s about national pride and being the best. If Donovan was the best, he should have been on the team.
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Lakers News- Kobe Bryant Jealous Of Tim Duncan?
