The On Deck Circle

This article has been submitted by Trevor Smith.

“You’ve changed things… forever. There’s no going back. See, to them, you’re just a freak.” – The Joker

It comes as no great surprise to those that know me that I have a small number of things for which my enthusiasm is borderline obsessive. Chief among these compulsions are basketball and comic books. My preoccupation with both started at a young age and resonates to this day. Interestingly enough, there is a central figure in each domain that drives the engine of my fixation. For roundball, it is Kobe Bryant. For literary devotion, it is the Batman. Call it what you will: man-crushes, fan-boy drive, or just someone in need of a new girlfriend. Regardless, this faithfulness has served me well. With The Dark Knight arriving in theatres today, it seemed appropriate that I finally put forth a contention I have reserved in private for some time: that when scrutinized and studied, Kobe Bryant’s narrative can be bracketed with that of Gotham’s protector.

(Before delving into the Kobe-as-Bruce comparison, I feel obligated to say a few words about the film, having seen it last night. After leaving the theatre at nearly 3am, I walked away with a gamut of emotions: I was impressed yet shell-shocked, provoked yet beaten down. As a certifiable Bat-nut, I have been following every grain of this production and eagerly anticipating it since Oldman handed Bale that card at the end of Begins. I knew going in I would love the movie before I even got to the theatre. But preconceived bias aside, I can honestly call this a masterpiece. It blows Begins, my previous favorite film, completely out of the water. Every shot is exactly where it should to be and not a scene is wasted. The Dark Knight is more art than industry (how it avoided an ‘R’ rating I have no idea), more poetry than popcorn. It is darker than any movie of its kind and it succeeds in being jarringly arresting. It’s not a great comic film, it is a great film period. As for Heath? Believe the hype: he is a force of nature, ripping through the film and owning any frame he touches. If you have a pulse, see this film.)

There are several degrees of comparison that must withstand examination in saying Kobe Bean Bryant is Los Angeles’ Dark Knight. What follows below is a list of the principal rational I use in justifying that assertion.

Obsessive: It has long been documented that Bryant is a man driven by an inexhaustible competitive fire that to many would appear fanatical. He is pathologically consumed by basketball, and more specifically, by his goal being the best player ever. His obsession is at once his greatest strength and his biggest weakness: it pushes him to train and prepare harder than anyone in the NBA, but it also gives him a hero or messiah complex that sees him having to constantly save the day. Bruce Wayne is no different. He is driven from within by a fusion of uncontrollable rage, guilt and loss. Inescapable pangs of conscience drives what is his unquenchable thirst for justice and retribution.

Loner: Both men are borderline sociopaths, loners with near-psychopathic personalities whose behavior is antisocial and lacks a firm grasp of reality. For Wayne, this manifests itself via his dressing up as a bat and stalking the criminal underworld. For Bryant, it is displayed through his singular focus to be a lone-wolf and seemingly push away any outside assistance in his quest for immortal greatness.

Dual personality: Kobe and Bruce are both men wearing masks, and each assumes a myriad of roles depending on the situation. For Wayne, Bruce the Billionaire Playboy is his mask to the world, hiding his true convictions and quality of character behind false pretentiousness, wealth, and opportunity. Bryant meanwhile has always been an enigma as a public figure: from one appearance to another he seems to shift his personality and tries to model himself and his public image against whatever he thinks the populace wants from him. That he often comes off as confused and spoiled is hardly surprising.

Dark and Brooding: Each of these men are conflicted, misunderstood anti-heroes. Kobe is easily the most polarizing sports figure since Mike Tyson, and evokes a level of response from the public (be it good or bad) that is unlike anyone else. That said, he generally comes of as withdrawn and musing. That there are concealed or dire part to his personality seems clear. Bruce is likewise a polarizing and extreme figure. Though he seems less sycophantic than Bryant, he is nonetheless a challenging hero to root for as he continuously blurs the line between justice and vigilantism.

Fear: Bryant and Wayne both deploy fear as their primary weapon. For Kobe, fear festers in the hearts of his opponents as a result of his ability to seize control of a game at a moment’s notice. Bruce, too, uses fear, turning it against those that pray on the fearful. He knows criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot. Both men disregard authority and use cognitive excellence (whether it be through cunning defense or designing Bat-gadgets) to overcome others.

Redemption: Just as fear propels both men, vengeance drives them. Kobe seeks vengeance against Shaq and all those that would downplay his importance in LA’s championships. Bruce is clearly driven by the need to avenge his parent’s murder. Both icons seek to gain redemption for past failings and loss through their current drive.

Two-face: As a key figure in Batman’s rogue gallery, Harvey Dent is an essential component of the Caped Crusaders war on crime. Once a dear friend and trusted ally to both Bruce Wayne and the Batman, Dent crossed over as a result of his scarring to become the villainous Two-face. Bryant has his own Two-face named Shaq. Just as Dent and Batman disagreed about methods and extremes, so too did Bryant and O’Neal. Together they formed a pair that struck fear into everyone that opposed them. O’Neal gregarious nature and comedic timing endear him to the majority of the public, just as Dent’s posterboy looks and charm once did, and while O’Neal publicly played the White Knight, Bryant did what was necessary in the shadows.

Alfred: Wayne’s closest ally and mentor has often disagreed with him, his methods, and his obsession, yet has always returned to stand beside him and help him in his quest. Phil Jackson and Bryant have had a long history together and more than their fair-share of dust ups and blowouts. But just as Pennyworth eventually always returns to the fold for Bruce, so too does the Zen Master (even if its just to collect his $10 million a season).

Sidekicks: Though both men are generally thought of as introverts and lone wolves, they have had their share of partners in their respective fights. For sake of argument, here is how I see their allies matching up: Caron Butler is Nightwing (left, perhaps too soon, to explore his own potential and achieve considerable success alone); Tim Drake is Lamar Odom (childlike in his behavior but always possessing just enough talent and potential to make you wonder what the future might hold for him, even if he is still dependent totally on our main hero); and Pau Gasol as Jim Gordon (who is capable and talented in his own right, yet needs the help of the main protagonist and showed an inability to go it alone).

Superman: The Last Son of Krypton looms over everything Bruce does, for he is at once everything Wayne is and is not. He is a hero that cannot be compromised, a champion for truth and justice that shares Batman’s frustrations with society’s tolerance of evildoers. He is also an icon that stands something far beyond his actions alone: he is an everlasting symbol of hope. That said, he is also loved where Bruce is hated, he is seen as completely virtuous where Bruce operates with shades of grey, and he has the benefit of being first and oldest in the pantheon of heroes. Bryant’s Ka-el is, of course, Michael Jordan, the shadow of whom looms over Kobe in the way only a man that can fly could. MJ is the standard bearer for Bryant, and his very existence diminishes Kobe’s heroics to the majority of people.

Joker: He is a frighteningly unfettered psychopath. He is a terrorist who often operates without demands, conscience, or reason. He kills not for infamy or fame, but for the simple love of mayhem. He is a true agent of chaos without a motive beyond havoc. Ladies and gentleman, Ron Artest! (I kid, I kid).

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What one chooses to take away from this comparison is entirely up to you. Should you see the juxtaposition as valid and viable, it may help to color your understanding of Bryant moving forward into next month’s Olympics. Should you think the correlation absurd and laughable, it will mean nothing (though if that’s the case, I’d ask….why so serious?). Either way, for Kobe Bryant and for Bruce Wayne the narrative will continue and most assuredly fanboys like myself will be watching.

“Either you die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”- Harvey Dent

This article has been submitted by Trevor Smith.