And while Kobe laughed and smiled about it, anyone who knew what Bryant was all about knew there was fire and venom behind that charming smile. "I laughed, I did. I thought, you know, it was—I ...

Simers remembered. Such was the venom that Kobe possessed, a fierce determination to prove his doubters wrong and silence any criticism, whether intentional or not. Related: "I may get beat to a ...