Kobe's Summer Vacation

JULY 20
While covering the U.S. national team practice at the Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV , a gang of reporters earnestly chronicles an interview between a surprisingly cordial Kobe and longtime critic T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times. This proves conclusively that, even in Vegas, there is not nearly enough to do. During the interview Kobe says he and Bynum have talked and "we're fine."

JULY 22
Kobe hits the game-winning shot in an intrasquad scrimmage that caps a successful U.S. training camp. Watching at home, Bynum notices at least two teammates who were open when Kobe took the shot.

AUG. 3
MediaTakeOut.com, a website specializing in "urban gossip," reports that Bryant and wife Vanessa are on the verge of divorce. (The story is picked up by the website of L.A. 's CBS affiliate but quickly removed.) Recent headlines from this site--we're not making this up--include: WHY IS DENZEL WASHINGTON AND HIS GREASY JHERI CURL HUGGIN' UP ON JULIA ROBERTS !!! AND R&B SINGER MARIO: MY MOTHER IS A CRACK HEAD!!! Kobe denies the divorce story and defends Staples Center regular Denzel's hair as "so not greasy."

AUG. 8
Kobe gets a thunderous ovation from the Jimmy Kimmel Live audience and, looking marvelous in white slacks and a light green blazer with cream pocket square, reveals that he tweaked his back while vacuuming the house under orders from Vanessa, whom Kimmel introduces to the studio audience. He shoots! He defends! He cleans the damn house! Take that, MediaTakeOut.com!

AUG. 23
As Kobe stands at the foul line during the United States ' 123--59 rout of the Virgin Islands in the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifier in Las Vegas , the crowd surprises him with a chorus of Happy Birthday in recognition of his 29th. Kobe ponders that rare arena serenade that doesn't include the phrase Ko-Be Sucks! and goes on to play superbly as the U.S. storms through the tournament.

SEPT. 7
During the Nike-sponsored Kobe Bryant Supernatural Asia Tour, Kobe delights audiences in five cities with a smorgasbord of slam dunks and gives thanks that there are no teammates on the floor to pass the ball to.

OCT. 1
At the Lakers ' media day before the team opens camp, Bynum denies Kobe's claim that they had talked over the summer. Kobe later clarifies his earlier statement to say that they had exchanged text messages, though Bynum doesn't remember that either. " Kwame Brown might not be much of a player," says Bryant , "but you send him a text message, the dude is on top of it. I'm thinking maybe he should start at center."

OCT. 11
Responding to the previous day's out-of-the-blue comments by Buss that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for Bryant , Kobe cryptically says in a statement that Buss's remarks "provided more insight to a conversation we shared in Barcelona earlier this summer." Turns out Buss didn't like the paella all that much either.

OCT. 17
Kobe returns to practice after staying away for three days in a might-be-a-minor-injury, might-be-a-boycott absence that is construed by many as his stronger response to Buss 's Oct. 10 remarks. As SI went to press on Monday night, number 24 was still in the purple-and-gold fold--but if you run into him, make sure the batteries are working on your camera. He might have something to say.

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