Before anything else, the second Sunday of May, by tradition or lately thru aggressive business promotion, is declared as Mother’s Day. So in accordance to what is being celebrated, let me greet two days in advance the mother of my children, Denise, a happy Mom’s Day. Same goes to all the moms out there. A word of caution to husbands – this Sunday is our lifetime partner’s day. Unless you want to wake up dead on Monday, please behave. Palihug lang.
So mothers, make the most of your special day and enjoy the moment because the following day, a good number of you will be broken hearted because your husbands, sons and your person will join the continuing statistic on losing candidates for elective positions. Nganong mo enter!!!
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Speaking of mothers, a mom named Pamela is now being sued by her son who goes by the name of Kobe Bryant. Yeah, he’s the same Kobe from my beloved but eliminated Lakers that Forbes’ magazine says as the highest paid professional athlete.
Reason? Most of his basketball-related memorabilias from his early playing days left at their house were sold for an unspecified amount by his mother to an auction firm.
A player of Kobe’s stature would certainly accumulate priceless collectibles from his childhood days in Italy to his four years at Lower Merion High School and then his early beginnings in the NBA. I had a few of the guy’s basketball memorabilias at the height of the basketball card craze during the late 90s and now regretted disposing most of the stuff.
Reportedly, the lot is valued no lower than $1.5 million with two of the most coveted memorabilia being the 1998 All-Star ring (as reported) and the Lower Merion High maroon road jersey from his first year where he wore #24. What makes this jersey intriguing is that it is believed to be the only genuine #24 LMHS Kobe jersey in existence.
Add to the fact that Kobe wore the number 24 only during his first year and switched to #33 for the rest of his high school playing days. Collectors with really deep pockets would happily throw at least $30,000 for this sweat-stained basketball uniform. Reports don’t say if the jersey also smells. I’m not so sure about the All-Star ring though since it’s the first time that I knew that there is such a thing.
Goldin Auctions initially scheduled bidding for these items in June of this year but Kobe and his lawyers had filed a cease-and-desist order claiming that the items were his and that his mom disposed them without his knowledge. Goldin has counter-sued Kobe, asking for proof that the items being contested really belong to him. A decision from a judge is still pending.
For giving Goldin Auctions all the rights to the Kobe memorabilias, Pamela Bryant got a cool $450,000 down payment with a guaranteed 20% share of the rest of the proceeds. According to reports, she used the initial payment to buy a house in Nevada.
Kobe reportedly is not in good terms with his parents. His dad Joe is coaching a team in Thailand, the team currently playing in the Asian Basketball League (ABL). Chances are, he’s now lovey-dovey with another woman not necessarily named Pamela. The rift with his mom started when Kobe tried to give her $250,000 for a house but she refused the offer saying she wants a bigger and more expensive house. Yo, Kobe, with all your millions, you can give her a freakin’ palace with a kilometer-long pool and let her drown in the quagmire of opulence.
So, who wants to be Kobe-rich but is in constant conflict with his parents?