In addition to raising some goosebumps, Kobe Bryant’s interview with Chris Collinsworth during Friday night’s Olympics coverage has also raised some hackles.
Collinsworth: Where does the patriotism come from inside of you? Historically, what is it?
Kobe: Well, you know it’s just our country, it’s… we believe is the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it’s just a sense of pride that you have; that you say ‘You know what? Our country is the best!’
Collinsworth: Is that a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you’re fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by.
Kobe: No, it’s a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor.
The NBC transcript adds the quotes around cool. But at least to these old eyes there isn’t much in Mr. Collinsworth’s demeanor (and I don’t mean the fact that he didn’t flex the index and middle fingers of both hands to add the quotes) to indicate that his use of the word was anything but straightforward. See for yourself.