Boston Fans Love Kobe Bryant

Either there were a lot of Laker fans in attendance at the TD Bank North Garden last night or Kobe Bryant is a Superstar that transcends rivalries. Last night during the Celtics v. Lakers game, the Garden fans started cheering loudly: "Kooobeee...Kooobeee". For a second there I thought the Lakers were playing at home at the Staples Center. The crowd's enthusiasm for Bryant picked up throughout the game and even ended with them lacing Kobe with an "M-V-P" chant. I know it's been years since the Lakers and Celtics played a meaningful game, but this rivalry still runs really deep. Even up to a few years ago the Celtics fans would still throw out that "beat L.A." chant whenever the Lakers would come to town.

This isn't the first time I've seen Kobe pull of such a feat. Prior to his infamous rape case, Bryant was pulling such moves on the fans of Laker rivals all across the league. During the 2002 season I was amazed when fans of the Lakers heated rivals the Utah Jazz were cheering Kobe's name throughout an entire game at the Delta Center. Obviously he lost a lot of that good will after his Colorado case. But now it seems as if he's starting to gain a little of that good will back. The way that Kobe is carrying himself as well as the way that he and his Laker teammates are playing this year has a lot to do with it. The Lakers and their style of play even has opposing homer bloggers admiring the way that they are playing.

"Your stock is rising number 24...Your stock is rising..."