Forget every negative and rediculous thing he has ever said about LeBron or your favorite player. On today’s First Take, while discussing NFL player Joseph Randle’s arrest, Skip Bayless suggested that Kobe’s 2003 rape case actually gave him “sizzle” and helped him sell sneakers!

“Remember Kobe pre-Eagle, Colorado? He failed in his first sneaker deal because he was just too clean cut and I think it was Adidas that had him first, correct me if I’m wrong, but he couldn’t sell sneakers because he didn’t have enough edge. But then post-Eagle, Colorado it brought a little attention to him, like it gave him a little bit of sizzle.”

Well, McDonalds and Nutella didn’t care for that “bit of sizzle” when they dropped him and Nike didn’t care for it either when they put him on the shelf for a 2 1/2 years.

 

The “Love Me or Hate Me” campaign of 2006 was Kobe’s first Nike campaign since the trial and it featured Kobe working out with the following voiceover.

“Love me or hate me — it’s one or the other. Always has been. Hate my game, my swagger. Hate my hunger. Hate that I’m a veteran, a champion. Hate that. Hate it with all your heart. And hate that I’m loved for the exact same reasons.”

Nike’s director of communication said the ad was “authentic, appropriate and definitely on point” and Kobe called it “real and honest.”

As honest as it was, it had it’s critics and was even made of by comedian Daniel Tosh (who is a big basketball fan) during his stand up special that came out that year.

But Daniel’s comments on Kobe, which shouldn’t be taken too seriously since he’s a comedian doing a comedy routine, were made with the intention of making people laugh while shocking a few others. Skip’s shocking comments, which should be taken seriously, were not made to make anybody laugh.

I think Skip should go on Tosh.0 for a web redemption.  He’s long overdue.