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LAist readers might be tired of the controversy, but someone is betting that at least 50,000 people still want more Kobe.
The "Kobe Video," which shows the embattled Laker bashing the organization and Andrew Bynum -- and swearing a lot -- is now available for sale on the official Kobe Video site.
In case you hadn't heard, the video was shot by two guys who have not identified themselves, but claim to have caught Bryant on a cell phone camera in a parking lot. The mystery men offered to sell the video to various news outlets and also contacted the Lakers and Kobe looking to make a buck. An unknown Lakers fan reportedly offered them $100,000 to buy the video and keep it private, but the "Kobe Video guys" didn't bite. They decided they would make that money by selling the video online for $1.99 per download -- starting tonight.
Once the sellers have reached their goal of 50,000 orders, buyers will receive the 24-second video and a short audio clip in which Kobe apparently tells the guys to "get a Bulls uniform." The video's owners won't send it out until they've reached the threshold, since the clip would end up on YouTube faster than you could say "Kobe's a whiner."
Not surprisingly, the authenticity of the video has been questioned, but Basketball News writer Eric Pincus said he's confident it's really Bryant.
The KobeVideo.com site gives shoutouts to a mortgage corporation, a design group, AOL Sports, and an accounting/insurance firm. What is going on here? Are they selling advertising on their site, too?
As an aside, is it possible Kobe's in on the whole thing and is just trying to get himself traded? More importantly, is there any way 50,000 people going to pay $1.99 to see this thing? Kobe complaining about the Lakers and using some colorful language -- what's the big deal?
