it's not gear but does Laker toilet paper count with a picture of Kobe on every sheet count?
Maybe it's just me, but for some reason, I could never get myself to hate Kobe.
I could easily hate Lebron or Wade (Wade is actually my least favorite player) but I've always been very impressed with Kobe as a player.
I know he comes off as arrogant and full of himself but maybe it's his excellence on the court over the years (pre last season, when he started breaking down) that's the reason why I've never really disliked him.
Even during the 2010 finals, the one Laker that I really hated was World Peace because he was such a dink (and that lucky three pointer in game 7.)
Even Gasol got under my skin because of the trash talking to KG and the fact he got away with coming down with a rebound without bouncing the ball in game 7 as well.
But with Kobe, I just expected him to always be good and come up with the clutch plays.