Kobe Bryant On Postgame Interviews, Dog Poop & Guitar Hero

Kobe Bryant sits down w/ LA Times magazine and discusses everything under the sun–his attitude, dog poop, “checking” ppl, and a little bit of food. Peep a few excerpts below:

LA Times Magaziine: You’re very relaxed. Of course, we’re talking as you’re getting a manicure and a facial before you have your makeup put on. Is this a side of your personality you’d like more people to see?
I think people, especially here in Los Angeles, are starting to understand me a lot more in terms of what I’m like personality-wise. I’m relaxed, laid back, pretty funny, smartass. I like having a good time.

You take heat because of your demeanor in postgame interviews, especially if you lost.
Well, everybody gets upset. But if I’m being short, I’m being short. It’s not like I’m telling people to go F-off. It is what it is. At the end of the day, you play to win. I do whatever it takes to get my team in the best position of winning, and when it’s over, we’re celebrating again with another parade—then everybody is happy. But wouldn’t it benefit you if the media in L.A. saw this side of your personality more?
It probably wouldn’t be helpful for them, because they have to write and sell stories. And you can’t have everybody saying positive things all the time. It’s just not going to work, even though this is, like, my city when it comes to sports, you know what I mean? You gotta have people on one side of the fence and people on the other. If not, the story’s not compelling. The people who truly know me know what I’m like. There have been people who try to say things that aren’t fair, and I check them. And then they don’t like me because I checked them.

When you say check them, what do you mean?
Call them out. I’m not going to be a pushover. If I’m going to talk to you, I’m going to talk to you respectfully. I’m comfortable in my own skin. If I’m upset, I’m upset—write about it. If I’m happy, I’m happy—write about it. I’m gonna just be me, and let them report what they’re gonna report.

Ah, of course. So, what else can you tell us about yourself?
I love dogs, I hate bees, I love snakes. And I hate dog s–t. I absolutely hate dog s–t.

So what do you do when dogs poop in front of the house?
Clean it up. [Laughs.]

Wait, you’re out there with a—
Pooper scooper? Yeah, I’ve done it a few times. Every once in a while, you have to.

That helps keeps you grounded, I’m sure, but most would think you’d have someone whose job is to pick up your dog poop.
I do, but they have to have off days. And the dog doesn’t say, “Oh, it’s my walker’s day off, so I’m not gonna s–t today! When they gotta go, they gotta go. And somebody’s gotta pick it up.

You’re playing Guitar Hero at an event with Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis after this. You play a pretty mean air guitar?
Oh, yeah, man—everybody can play a mean air guitar! I’ll be rocking out!

Here for full story. (((That white and the model poses are DREADFUL.)))