Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
The view from my hotel room. The weather is a little nicer than in New York right now.Sometimes in life, you just get to ball out of control. On Tuesday, Pat called me into his office and asked me what I was doing the rest of the week. Besides watching Stephen Curry drop buckets at the Garden, I was free. He then proceeded to ask if I might be interested in flying out to Los Angeles to meet Kobe Bryant and attend the launch of his new sneaker, the Zoom Kobe IV. Let’s just say it didn’t take me long to accept.
So when you ball with Nike, they take care of you. I arrive at LAX and proceed over to my hotel, which is none other than The Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey. Unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve ever been called Mr. Phillips before. I called my Mom and she thought I was on an episode of Punk’d.
If I have time, I might hit up the pool.In a little bit, I’ll be heading over to an undisclosed location to meet up with Mr. MVP and Eric Avar, Nike’s Creative Designer on the Zoom Kobe IV to discuss the design innovation behind the new and unconventional sneaker as it is unveiled publicly for the first time.
Come back later for pictures of the shoe, the event and tons of behind-the-scenes content.
Feel free to submit some questions for Kobe and I’ll see what I can do to get them answered…
December 11th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I miss the L.A. pollution.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
GEE...What up Home Skillet! says:
Aron could you ask Kobe if we will ever see 81 points or more again before he retires?
Have a good time and soak it alllll up pimpin. You only live once!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
GEE...What up Home Skillet! says:
That would be 81 points or more from him I mean.
Preeeeeeshate it!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Three Stacks says:
It’ll always be here waiting for you if you ever decide to come back, Spliff.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
fallinup says:
On behalf of everyone here in the Dime comments section, I’d like to extend a very envious and jealous middle finger to Aron.
Have fun working.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Vinny says:
AP-enjoy our wonderful LA weather and beautiful women!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Kobeef says:
Here’s a question (based on the images I’ve seen of the ZK4)
Low tops? What’s up with that? Is Kobe going to wear ankle braces to provide support or is the whole high tops/ankle support thing a myth?
Is Kobe nervous about following in Agent 0’s footsepts on the low tops trend?
PS - I hate you for those pictures.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
the antoine says:
ask kobe why hes playing such bad D and why does it seem uninterested.. this is coming from a die hard laker fan too
December 11th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
ian says:
those low top kobe sneakers are weak and for 120 bux????
screw it
December 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
YOUNGFED..."I'm at the call of duty but my metal gears solid" says:
Big Ups Aaron but I hope you brought a gas mask cause if not you just took about 2 weeks off your life with this visit. lol
December 11th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
justice(knicks fan) says:
Ask the nike guy where can i send over a capabilities package, superbowl is coming soon tampa is our home base…
jajmedia.org
December 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Blue says:
i ain’t jealous that you’re here in LA…i’m just jealous that this is your damn job!!!!!
big ups AP!!!! enjoy our beautiful city man! you came just in time too…the weather is beautiful for the next couple of days ’til the rain hits over the weekend.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
YOUNGFED..."I'm at the call of duty but my metal gears solid" says:
@Aaron
Ask kobe who he thinks has better handles than him.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Vinny says:
Damm Fed, it aint that bad out here! especialy near the ocean-now the valley is another story!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
weezy f says:
way to rub it in everyones face aron
December 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Rafa23 says:
@ young fed
where do you live again? ahhhh
ok, the can of the usa
December 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
MissChick says:
Ask Kobe if he still fights with Vanessa about him sleeping around. Also ask him if the nanny that hears his martial disputes still works at his house.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
rob stewart says:
Ask Kobe what is the craziest nickname someone ever tried to give him?
December 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Myrie says:
How can I get a job with Dime?
December 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
E$ says:
Someone has a “Man Crush” on Stephen Curry
December 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
rlf says:
@ misschick, he can’t ask that because kobe has never had a nanny. vanessa and her mom take care of the girls.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Mamba says:
Ask Kobe what it feels like to be the best basketball player on the planet, and how he plans to celebrate when the Lake Show rips up the C’s next June,
Enjoy the sights and weather, I miss LA
The new Kobe’s are clean, the whole ankle deal is a myth, have balled in lows, never had any issues
December 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Mamba says:
P.S. holler at my girl Amanda Bynes while you are out there, she was at the Lake Show game last night,
Have fun man!
December 11th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Jah says:
Ask Kobe if he’s regretting not having surgery on his finger in the off-season and…what one-on-one match-up he looks forward to the most (i.e., Paul Pierce, LeBron, ‘Melo, DWade, etc., etc.).
Word…
December 11th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Ask Kobe… Shaq or Bynum and why
December 11th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
ash238 says:
Enjoy the trip!
Ask Kobe what’s really good with his “logo” and how he feels it relates to him.
I read somewhere that it is an ancient Samurai symbol that speaks to kobe’s “balance” or something abstract like that, and that consumers are supposed to make the linkages.
If Nike doesn’t know how it connects, how are we supposed to?
I figure he must’ve liked it for some reason, so any insight into why would be interesting….
also on the “logo” why pick something that doesn’t hold well on a shoe alone? jumpman has replaced the swoosh on many shoes successfully but kobe’s just don’t cut it….they should hire me to design something….hahahah…..
December 11th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
doug says:
Miss chick if the nanny still hears the “martial disputes” you might wanna mix in a spell check or get checked for your dislexia, trying to rip a guy or go Chris Rock on a blog session doesn’t work if you can’t spell…Those shoes Kobe is pushing are buns,I wouldn’t take a pair if they were giving them out. He’s an idiot if he plays in those he’s going to have to tape up extra heavy you mine as well wear a pair of canvas vans or old chucky t’s shoe technology as made such advancement why is this guy digressing…And I must admit Kobe’s game has been looking real subpar and unispired as of late, one must get there swagger back.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
bballinca says:
#1 little to no air pollution this time of year with the nice breezes. I can probably see Catalina Island today from the top of Mt. Wilson.
Enjoy your snow shovel!!!
December 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
doug says:
Mamba limited time at a rec.center in a pair of low tops doesn’t disprove that low tops increase your chances of rolling your ankle or make it a myth. With no ankle protection or support your chances of rolling the ankle increase. This guy was inspired by soccer player…Kobe, man your not a soccer player, your a ball player, remember you play a real sport that requires that you wear a real shoe, not that crap your pushing now.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
doug says:
I feel you bballinca, haters want a reason to hate on L.A.They take a run at things like air pollution but we don’t have to put chains on our tires nor do we have to rack our brains thinking of a hispanic person to name our yearly hurricane after. Cali’s where it’s at.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
junior says:
congrats.thats all i have to say
December 11th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
BEdger says:
I’d simply like to know how your mom ever heard of punk’d
December 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Hoveys Home says:
Hit up Tony P’s Seaside Grill while you’re out here, shit is on point!
December 11th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Simon says:
I think you should tell Kobe how you think Rondo is going to win 5 titles, and then ask him what he thinks about the situation. Enjoy the trip and let us know how it is!
December 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Mamba says:
Understood Doug,
I questioned the low top when I first saw it, but if I’m not mistaken, and I’m sure yall can help me with this, but didnt MJ ball for a while in a pair of lows? Because I rememebr they made a low top version of the XI’s,
December 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
doug says:
i believe your right Mamba, I recall J balling in some lows too. I just think it’s a bad idea.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Big Sia says:
Damn son…
December 11th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
JCARR says:
Good luck… and do you get a police escort to the event?
Ask kobe how many more championships he expects to win???
December 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Ansonious says:
I know you do boxing training to help your game out but anyways who would you like to put the gloves on and spar with in the NBA?
December 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Hoveys Home says:
doug says:
Miss chick if the nanny still hears the “martial disputes” you might wanna mix in a spell check or get checked for your dislexia, trying to rip a guy or go Chris Rock on a blog session doesn’t work if you can’t spell…Those shoes Kobe is pushing are buns,I wouldn’t take a pair if they were giving them out. He’s an idiot if he plays in those he’s going to have to tape up extra heavy you mine as well wear a pair of canvas vans or old chucky t’s shoe technology as made such advancement why is this guy digressing…And I must admit Kobe’s game has been looking real subpar and unispired as of late, one must get there swagger back.
LOL @ this… Who needs spell check again??
December 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Aron says:
Thanks for all the questions guys!
@BEdger
My Mom has definitely watched Punk’d.
@Hoveys Home
Hittin’ up Tony P’s tonight! They were closed last night when I went out.
@JCARR
Haha. No police escort to the event, but a ride in a Lincoln Towncar was nice.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
VINNY says:
try Aunt Kizzys also-good soul food!
December 11th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Aron says:
Oh yea?! Where’s that?
December 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am
vinny says:
oh my bad- didnt see the question- if your still in LA its on 523 washington blvd.- near via marina blvd.!
December 13th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Noah T says:
ask him what he would have to say to larry bird if he were to meet him.