Everyone came out to celebrate this years 2009 GQ Men Of The Year December issue. It was a star studded event at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, CA where Kobe Bryant was named “Champion Of The Year”.

During the interview, when Joel Lovell brought up two comments, one made by the Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson describing Kobe as “uncoachable” and Tex Winter questioning if Kobe had “ever listened to anyone”. Kobe’s response was pure genius and explains not only why he is such a great player but a super star in every aspect of his life!

“I take those comments as a compliment,” Kobe said when I brought them up. “I’m not the type of guy who’s going to jump over a wall just because you tell me to. I want to know the thinking behind it.” And then added “Those guys both know how I think about the game. They know how I work.”

For all of us fans we know and see with every game just how hard Kobe has worked along with his teammates to get the Lakers where they are now, world champions! You can’t teach greatness, you have to be born with it. Kobe definitely shows us through his charitable efforts and basketball that he was born with a density to be GREAT. He doesn’t let anything stand in his way, hence the title “Champion Of The Year”! As an inspiration to his fans by achieving greatness, he opens the space for his fans to strive to be better not only in sports but in life.

You will be able to get your hands on a hardcopy of this issue November 24, 2009. If you are like me and can’t wait, you can download the issue as an IPhone application on Itunes.