Cancelations Come in Pairs for Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant being linked to a proposed slate of exhibitions games never to be and NBA games being canceled: two things you can set your watch to these days.

It seemingly all came crashing down today. All hope is not loss but the hopeless proposition of a 50-50 split is still proving problematic. So too is any chance of Kobe Bryant balling anywhere except the NBA.

Imagine the irony. Bryant continues to be linked to doomed attempts to play elsewhere. Meanwhile the league he and every other NBAer want to play for continues to take away opportunities.

A week’s worth of goodwill went by the wayside today as the prickly topic of an even revenue split again reared its ugly head. Needles to say the sides parted ways leaving David Stern to his own devices. As you’d expect, Executioner Stern sliced another two weeks off the calendar leaving the NBA without a single contest to be played in November of 2011.

As if that weren’t enough pain for Laker faithful, another expectedly cruel blow was dealt. How anyone can continue to assume Kobe Bryant will ever participate in an organized game without the NBA logo on his gear is baffling.

The barnstorming tour of All-Stars fell apart before it ever came together as that slate of games was also wiped from existence today. Bryant was set to play in Puerto Rico on Sunday. Instead he’ll likely be watching his Eagles play the Cowboys.

Two ominous signs that unfolded in a matter of hours have dealt another blow to the hopes of hoops.

While LSL is trying to remain optimistic, the warning sings are harder to ignore than Salma Hayek sunbathing sans top. What happens next is a mystery. I guess we know not to take any talks of progress or Kobe playing elsewhere too serious. The warning signs are there. Are we delusional, hopeful or paranoid? I can’t tell anymore. All I know is the basketball world is falling apart and we’re watching helplessly.