Photo. Jonathan MannionWe caught this today over on the Lakers blog Forum Blue & Gold. A reader wrote in about seeing Kobe at at Boston-area IHOP a few days ago:
Chise meets Kobe: In case you missed this, commenter Chise went to the game in Boston then was in an IHOP at 3 a.m. (I’m not going to ask why) where he ran into Kobe Bryant.
The highlight of the night came at 3 AM when I got to meet Kobe Bryant himself at the IHOP. Kobe was there eating pancakes at 3 AM all decked out in a suit and tie. Despite what people say, he’s a really cool guy. A lot of people were going up to him and getting autographs, pics, etc. He seemed to love it. We let him finish eating before we went up to see him. I shook his hand, told him he was the best, and wished him luck on the season. He was pretty cool even though a ridiculous amount of people kept going up to him. He was actually there for awhile too. I wish I had my camera though.
I was there with 4 friends from Boston and a friend of mine from home in Connecticut and they told me they were surprised he was so nice/cool. They had all figured he was a prick given what is said about him in the media. From what some people were saying, Kobe even paid the bill for like 5 tables or so of people that were sitting near his table. He just seemed like a real down to earth humble person.
It was crazy though because I have been a fan of Kobe’s since he first came into the league. I was about 13 then and now I’m 25, so I’ve got the jerseys, sneakers, etc. And it was so out of nowhere. Like, we came out of the bathroom and looked to the left and he was just sitting there. Can’t believe we passed right by his table and didn’t even realize he was there at first. And he was mad polite too. When I first shook his hand, you know, I told him he was my favorite player and the best in the league. He thanked me and I wished him good luck for the season and he said he thanks again and that he appreciated it. Just real humble, down to earth. Even if he was thinking to himself “I know I’m the best” or whatever, he didn’t act like a self-absorbed celebrity.
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November 26th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
2 Easy says:
So everyone’s cool with the fact that people are goin to Ihop at 3 in the mornin for pancakes and chillin? Damn those are crackhead hours. Y was he in full suit and tie at 3 goin to Ihop, hmmm. Well I used to hate Kobe but the last 3 years they’ve been doin a lot of interviews wit him and Ive noticed how sincere frank and humble (surprisingly) he seems to be. I was startin to like him till this trade shit started so now I dont kno where I stand. Its ironic, he has all the hlp in the world, has them all removed and then complains he doesnt have enough help. Irony’s a bitch
November 26th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Str8baller says:
2nd
November 26th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
freshouttatime says:
is this the ihop down on soldiers field road? its a normal thing if youre in boston to be goin there at ridiculous hours.
onto the bigger point, its good theres an alternative way of getting our opinions on celebrities/athletes than just magazines and articles; too often are views are skewed by sensationalist/skewed accounts and leave out the fact that people albeit extremely skilled people aren’t so different from the rest of the world
November 26th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Lucky Lester says:
I used to hate the guy - now I just watch in awe when he does his thing - seeing him for team USA, and how he owned the game even if the stats weren’t his - he’s one of the best pro athletes I’ve ever seen, in any sport - guy is magic.
I think people always want to believe they know athletes, how they are, cocky, confident, self absorbed, whatever. They’re just guys, and some are pricks and some are good fellas, just like me you and everyone else. I’m sure it has to be tough to stay humble when you’re the best in the world at something.
I know if I was the best in the world at freaking darts, I’d be talking shit to all my buddies… THis guy is the best in the world at hoops, a global game where billions of dollars are made - it’s good to hear he seems like a good guy - I’ve always liked him in interviews, and I dig how he’s honest…
I just don’t know what he was thinking getting married - dude, see Tom Brady - play your cards right!
November 26th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
seth says:
It’s nice to know that even Kobe Bryant gets high and must have pancakes.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
jay says:
that is odd. thought kobe was on a new low carb diet from the summer i know he dropped 20 lbs but eating pancakes is hardly….low carb…oh well! ticked he missed the bunny last night! not happy!
November 26th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
kevin says:
kobe is my favorite playa!! i am so jealous of someone who got to meet my dude. hope it was nice.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
seth says:
nice to see that even the mamba gets high and goes on a munchie run…lol
November 26th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Relax15 says:
He must have been hanging out with Prince and Charlie Murphy.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
shimo says:
That doesn’t suprise me about Kobe being a nice guy. I know a few people who have met Kobe. One friend HATED kobe with a passion until his grandmother and he met him and said he was a decent down to earth guy.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Charles-K says:
In every interview I have ever seen with Kobe, he has always been a gentleman, polite and intelligent. Although the media sometimes make him out to be some kind of heel, he is actually just a normal guy who is really really good at basketball. Sure he requests trades etc, but does that make him an ass? No that just means that he wants to win and not have to put up with the mediocre players that have surrounded him as of late. That is not to say he wasn’t an idiot about the whole Shaq thing, he was, but since then he has matured greatly.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:13 am
Jeff Cheung says:
hmmm, seems like he is having a late meal, but really he’s not if you factor in the time difference between east coast and west coast. A 12am IHOP meal doesn’t seem that outrageous to me. Nice to know kobe is eating healthy thou