LEBRON -- AND KOBE -- STILL MASTER OF PUPPETS FOR NIKE
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is taunting LeBron James.
 Bryant is in the face of James  who is sitting on a couch playing video games. Bryant is in a tizzy  pretending he can't find his three NBA championship rings.
 James  who hasn't won an NBA title yet  is doing his best to ignore Bryant's antics  but it's proving more difficult than knocking down a game-winning jumper against the Orlando Magic.
 Bryant grabs three chocolate chip cookies and explains they resemble his three lost rings. He tells James he must be hungry for them  then hastily eats them. James finally cracks and points out the championship rings in a display case under Bryant's nose.
 The scenario isn't real  but it sure is comical. These versions of Bryant and James are played by puppets in Nike commercials. The campaign is so popular that there are six versions  and all are still scheduled to run through the NBA Finals even though the Lakers are playing Orlando  not Cleveland.
 John Wooden -- who won 10 national championships as UCLA's coach -- has hailed Bryant for improvements  but he's partial to James as well.
 People argue the merits of Bryant  30  versus James  24  in commercials and coffeehouses and on radio call-in shows.
 Bryant has been the dominant player for the past few years  but more folks have King James now residing on that throne.
 Jerry West recently said James surpassed Bryant as a player  creating much controversy  but the former Lakers player and general manager -- who made the trade to bring Bryant to Los Angeles -- stands by that statement.
 "It's never been forced " Wilkins said. "It's never been about pitching LeBron versus Kobe in the finals. It's more about celebrating what these guys have accomplished on the court. It's about what LeBron has been able to do in winning his first MVP.
 "It's about what Kobe has managed to do in his best seasons. It's two of the best players in the world  if not the two best in the world.
 West said he'd rather have Bryant take the last shot  but Wooden said he'd be comfortable with either player with the ball on his hands and the game on the line. Wooden was impressed with James' 3-pointer to win Game 2 against Orlando. West thinks Bryant having someone pushing him is a good thing.
[TGT] is taunting LeBron James.
 [TGT] is in the face of James  who is sitting on a couch playing video games. [TGT] is in a tizzy  pretending [TGT] can't find [TGT] three NBA championship rings.
 James  who hasn't won an NBA title yet  is doing his best to ignore [TGT]'s antics  but it's proving more difficult than knocking down a game-winning jumper against the Orlando Magic.
 [TGT] grabs three chocolate chip cookies and explains they resemble [TGT] three lost rings. [TGT] tells James he must be hungry for them  then hastily eats them. James finally cracks and points out the championship rings in a display case under [TGT]'s nose.
 The scenario isn't real  but it sure is comical. These versions of [TGT] and James are played by puppets in Nike commercials. The campaign is so popular that there are six versions  and all are still scheduled to run through the NBA Finals even though the Lakers are playing Orlando  not Cleveland.
 John Wooden -- who won 10 national championships as UCLA's coach -- has hailed [TGT] for improvements  but he's partial to James as well.
 People argue the merits of Bryant  30  versus James  24  in commercials and coffeehouses and on radio call-in shows.
 [TGT] has been the dominant player for the past few years  but more folks have King James now residing on that throne.
 Jerry West recently said James surpassed [TGT] as a player  creating much controversy  but the former Lakers player and general manager -- who made the trade to bring [TGT] to Los Angeles -- stands by that statement.
 "It's never been forced " Wilkins said. "It's never been about pitching LeBron versus [TGT] in the finals. It's more about celebrating what these guys have accomplished on the court. It's about what LeBron has been able to do in winning his first MVP.
 "It's about what [TGT] has managed to do in his best seasons. It's two of the best players in the world  if not the two best in the world.
 West said he'd rather have [TGT] take the last shot  but Wooden said he'd be comfortable with either player with the ball on his hands and the game on the line. Wooden was impressed with James' 3-pointer to win Game 2 against Orlando. West thinks [TGT] having someone pushing him is a good thing.