Kobe shoots down idea of eventual trade: 'I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers'

Kobe Bryant will go down in history as one of the greatest Los Angeles Lakers of all time, and he has no intention of sullying that legacy by playing elsewhere.

While there have been times when it appeared as if Bryant may ditch the forum blue and gold - he flirted with the Clippers in free agency in 2004 and briefly requested a trade in 2007 - the idea of him ending his career anywhere else seems asinine. It's impossible to picture Bryant with another team.

It's also the furthest thing from Bryant's mind at this point. Apparently, there are those who have suggested the Lakers should deal Bryant, both allowing him to play out his twilight years on a contender and allowing the Lakers to retool. Bryant steadfastly shot down the idea in an interview with Yahoo! Sports published Sunday:

      

I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career. But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers.
I believe in fighting through the tough times as well as enjoying the good times. It's my responsibility to get us to be the best that we can be. It's important that we approach that on a day-to-day basis.

It could be a trying year or two for Bryant as the Lakers try to build their way back to contention. Given the success he's enjoyed, Bryant doesn't see leaving during lean times as a realistic or honorable approach.

"I've enjoyed a great amount of success here," Bryant said. "You can't just enjoy the successful times and then run away from the bad ones. No, I don't even think about [departing]. I'm a Laker."

The idea of Bryant playing elsewhere, while something he and the franchise clearly considered in the past, no longer seems reasonable to even think about.

The reality is that his contract is onerous and nearly untradeable, anyway, and the return the Lakers would receive wouldn't be worth the public relations hit of trading away one of the franchise's greatest champions. From Bryant's perspective, chasing a sixth ring would cheapen his history with the Lakers. For both sides, there's just too much money in Bryant playing out his final years with the Lakers.

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Learn How To Impress A Girl With 10 Simple Tips

You have wanted to speak to her, but you just cannot seem to find the words.
You want to do something, but you have no idea what to do.
It is clear that other people want to get to know her intimately, but you desperately want to be the person that she chooses among all other options.
How can you do just that? Here are ten simple steps that you can follow to achieve this goal much sooner than you might think.

No. 1: Avoid All Other Distractions

One of the best ways that you can impress a girl is to make sure that you provide her with your undivided attention. This might be a little difficult to do at the beginning, especially if you are just meeting her officially for the first time or are in a crowded place.
However, this is one of the great methods for you to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. Do not:

• Take Any Calls
• Review Any Text Messages
• Check Your Emails

Word Of Advice: Just stay away from all mobile devices while you are talking to her. You may even be able to earn some points on her scoreboard simply by allowing your mobile device to ring or even turning it off in her presence, letting her know that she is the most important thing to you at that exact moment!

No. 2: Maintain Direct Eye Contact

Since she is fully aware that she has your undivided attention, the next step is to make sure that she can see that as well. Maintain direct eye contact at all times.

Studies have confirmed over the years that:

• Dropping Your Head – Observing the ground shows a lack of confidence, which is a major turn-off.
• Lifting It – Looking around and upwards can reflect a lack of attention or care in what (or who) you should be focusing on at that moment.

No. 3: Do Not Be Afraid Of Your Feelings

Throw away the old sayings that you should never be willing to express your feelings. A woman wants to know that you have emotions and that you are not afraid to express them to her.
Just be sure you do not overdo it, because she does want someone that simply does not have a backbone. Therefore, you want a “leaky faucet” of feelings expressed – not a flooded basement!

No. 4: Clean Yourself Up

Your dress and grooming will speak volumes to a chick even before you can say a single world. It does not matter what you look like.
There are plenty of people that do not naturally look like 10s on the Richter Scale of Hotness. However, you would be surprised at just how far your clothing and grooming will get you in this regard.

• Stay Shaved
• Dress Sharp
• Smell Fresh

Keep in mind that moderation is essential in this regard as well.

No. 5: Be A Gentlemen

Show her that chivalry is not dead with these easy techniques:

• Open doors for her even though it may require you to let go of your comfort zone.
• Pull out chairs for her whenever the opportunity presents itself.
• Offer her your coat or jacket when you know that is cold outside.

Just let her know that you are there to cater to her needs and to keep her safe.

No. 6: Be Social With Her Close Friends

Her close buddies are very important to her, so make sure that they are important to you as well. Get to know them by simply starting basic conversations with them and remembering their names.
This will go a long way, because once you get the friends on your side, she will become more committed to you as a result.

No. 7: Ask Questions To Know Her Better

When having a conversation with her, do not get too caught up in talking about yourself.
Even if she decides to ask you a question about your life, do not use this as an opportunity to recite the pages from your autobiography. That is the last thing that you want to do.
Instead, find creative ways to flip the conversation back in her direction – allowing her to talk about herself so that you can get a solid chance to get to know her better.

No. 8: Compliment Her In Moderation

You should always compliment her in moderation. Do not just use blanket statements that are not tailored specifically to her. Commenting on her eyes, hair, clothes, etc. are only effective if you have actually taken the time to explore her eyes, hair or dress.
For instance, do not praise her stuff without being able to explain why you like it in detail. Think about how many times she has already heard, “Your dress is so beautiful”.

Stand out from all of the others by following yours up with a detailed yet brief explanation about why you think so (it can be color, style, texture, designer name, etc.).
Remember: Always be sure that you can back up your statements with reasoning!

No. 9: Show Her Substance, Not Money

The last thing that you want to do is to try and impress her with a bunch of money and materialistic things.
Buying her drinks, meals, clothing, jewelry, etc. may seem impressive but that is actually the right bait for the wrong women. These are all things that should come in due time after you have been able to sweep her off of her feet and start to build a relationship – not before.
You can do so much more by showing her that you have substance and are looking for someone else that has it too.

No. 10: Be Self-Conscious But Not Too Cocky

Confidence is the golden ticket that will allow you to get through the double doors of her heart. Even though you might not have any idea whether or not she will offer you an invitation, you have to be confident in the chance that you just might do that.

Allow your self-conscious to show clearly through the way that you act when you are around her and how boldly you speak to her, following all of the other steps mentioned above.
Word Of Advice: Just make sure that you do not cross the thin line that separates confidence from cockiness.

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The 9 Best Places To Meet The Hottest Women

If you have really been having a hard time finding girls of your dreams – we are talking about total 10 knockouts here – then the odds are pretty good that you’ve been looking in all the wrong places.
Sure, gorgeous women are all around us each and every single day – but there are definitely specific locations that real beauties frequent much more often than other, and if you want to land one of these diamonds in the rough you need to put yourself in the position to do so.
Without any further chick-talk, here are nine of the very best areas to meet jaw-dropping lovely ladies on a regular basis!

No. 1: Local Community College

Your local community college (or, if your area supports major universities) is always going to be a fantastic possibility to get to know some of the hottest chicks you’ll ever see.
All of these are between the ages of 18 and 22 (and maybe just a bit older), guaranteeing that they are in the prime of their lives – and just starting to discover all of their sexuality. We are talking about women that are knockouts through and through, young enough to have all the energy you need but old enough to give you the ride of your life!
If you’re trying to find hot ladies, you will definitely want to check out the local college and universities for sure!

No. 2: The Bookstore

The bookstore is another fantastic place to stumble upon gorgeous chicks, but not just the physical beauties that you’ll see anywhere but those that have a hidden intelligence about them that is exciting, intriguing, and truly sexy!
These aren’t the kind of girls that you will find falling out of bar-stools on the weekends, but instead those that are moving forward towards real goals and making something of their lives – sexy, driven, motivated and ambitious women that also happened to be a rather good-looking as well!

No. 3: The Dog Park

Your local dog park is definitely going to be a place that you want to check out when you’re trying to meet beautiful ladies, as you’ll know that they are fun, playful, and loyal – much like the little furry family members that they have brought for a bit of exercise and entertainment.
It’s even better if you have your own dog to bring to the park, especially if it gets along well with their little pooch. All you have to do is recommend that you get together in the future for more pet play dates, and eventually you’ll find the petting in the future to have absolutely nothing to do with your dogs.

No. 4: Shopping Malls

You’d be hard-pressed to find even a single woman on the planet doesn’t enjoy going out with their girlfriends and getting in a bit of shopping, which has the added benefit of all but guaranteeing that you’ll be able to meet packs of gorgeous women.
Yes, that’s right, you’re going to need to approach lovely girls in groups when you find them at the shopping mall – but if your game is tight and you have something to offer, it’s actually an extra hidden benefit because of the extreme confidence that this kind of move conveys.

No. 5: The Wedding Parties

There is just something about a wedding that brings out the best in women, getting them all jacked up and excited by the prospect of some weekend romance and a hook up.
On top of time, absolutely no one wants to look awful in a dress or down, so the odds are fantastic that they’ve been doing absolutely everything they can’t to get in top shape and it pulled out all the stops as far as their makeup, hair, and fashion are concerned.
Combine that with the booze, music, and everyone staying in the same hotel, and you have a perfect combination for some pretty wild times!

No. 6: The Gym (Including Yoga, Fitness & Pilates Classes)

Yes, you will run into “Project Girls” that are trying to get into the best shape of their lives at the gym but may still have a bit of a ways to go.
However, you’ll also find absolute knockouts that are already in tip top condition and just doing everything they can to maintain that gorgeous figure and healthy lifestyle.
Again, these women are sexy not just because of the way they look but also because of the incredible habits they are instilling on a regular basis – and there’s nothing more attractive than a naked fit woman!

No. 7: On The Public Transportation & Subways

Everyone needs to get where they’re going, and areas in major cities in the subway can be a perfect place to run into people that you never would have in the past.
However, you need to be pretty smooth about picking up gorgeous women on public transportation or the subway – they probably been hit on by some creeps in the past, and are going to have natural defenses up just as high as they get.
Again, make sure that your game is tight and you should have no problems – but certainly respect their space if they just aren’t feeling it.

No. 8: Coffee Shops

Coffee shops have become the new bar when it comes to drumming up some fun and romance, mostly because they are so much more casual in the perfect setting for “day dates”.
Find a local coffee shop in your neighborhood that you can become a “regular” at, and you’ll be able to enjoy a boost of social proof every single time you bring a new girl in!

No. 9: Night Clubs & Bars

 

Last, but certainly not least, you can always fall back on the “old standard” of hitting up nightclubs and bars to pick out the gorgeous girls that are taking in all of the nightlife in your city.
You’ll definitely need to bring your A game here as well, as there is going to be a tremendous amount of competition for the really hot women in this club and you’re going to need to do whatever you can to beat them out.

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The Top 5 Money Problems Americans Face

Most of us are no strangers to financial issues. You may have heard about the groundbreaking AP research from last year, which found that 4 out of 5 American adults are faced with economic insecurity at some point during their lives. This means that 80 percent of us have felt the worry and anxiety associated with losing a job, living on an income that’s near the poverty level, or being reliant on some form of welfare.
This statistic is shocking to most people who hear it as we often think only the lower earners (the lower and lower-middle class) deal with serious money problems. To find out the vast majority of Americans have been in this same boat is not only surprising, it’s a bit disconcerting. Even when we achieve a level of financial security and freedom we have to wonder, is it permanent? Many Americans fear for their financial future.

A recent survey by Money-Rates asked people about their financial worries, regrets, and fears. The survey was conducted by Op4G and it polled 2,000 respondents, asking them the questions: What would you like to change most about your financial behavior? And also, how would you put a $10,000 windfall to use?
Using the result of this Money-Rates survey, coupled with information from last year’s survey and other resources, we ranked the top financial problems people are facing these days.

1. Problems making ends meet, let alone feeling comfortable

Regularly meeting essential expenses was the most common financial concern among the survey participants. More than one-third (35 percent) of the Money-Rates survey respondents said that paying regular financial obligations — bills, a mortgage or rent payment, credit card payments, etc. — was their biggest financial worry. With so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, it’s no surprise that people having trouble paying for these essentials.
While some survey respondents worried about needs, others worried more about wants. A large portion of the men surveyed (more men than women) said financial comfort was at the top of their priority list. Last year’s survey results indicated that financial comfort was high on the priorities list, as three out of 10 (just over 30 percent) of those surveyed identified their single biggest financial worry as “ensuring I have enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.”

2. Living for today

According to a Federal Reserve survey release from earlier this year, “Thirty-one percent of non-retired respondents reported having no retirement savings or pension, including 19 percent of those ages 55 to 64.”
With close to one-in-five of those near retirement having zero retirement savings, it’s no wonder so many respondents (40 percent) cited a lack of savings as their biggest financial regret, and another 36 percent of people said they feared they would not be able to retire comfortably.

On top of these individuals who regret not saving, there are also those individuals who are, for the most part, completely focused on the present. According to that same Federal Reserve release, 24 percent of people have given little thought to retirement planning and another 25 percent have given no thought to retirement planning at all.

3. Accumulating too much debt

If $10,000 fell out of the sky and into your lap, how would you use it? Around four in 10 (41 percent) of those who participated in the Money-Rates survey would pay down debt with that money. High amounts of debt is a large concern for many Americans. Last year’s survey found that around one out of five people (20 percent) feel that accumulating too much debt is their biggest financial regret.
The average household’s credit card debt exceeds $7,000, according to Nerd Wallet. In addition to this debt, many Americans also have to worry about mortgages, car loans, and of course student loans. Last year’s Money-Rates survey also found that 8 percent of people feel that paying student loans is their biggest financial worry.

4. Making poor purchasing and investing decisions

Some American households are still feeling the sting of the recession. According to the Federal Reserve survey, “over 60 percent of respondents reported that their families were either ‘doing okay’ or ‘living comfortably’ financially; although one-fourth said that they were ‘just getting by’ financially and another 13 percent said they were struggling to do so.”
Even those who no longer feel the impact of the economic downturn still have to face the results of their own decision making. A large portion of the survey respondents (46 percent of men and 26 percent of women) acknowledge the impact of their financial decisions and say they’d like to work towards making wiser investment or purchasing decisions.

5. Being unable to enjoy money

On the entirely opposite end of the spectrum, there is that handful of people out there who are completely money-conscious. These individuals are financially healthy, they budget and plan where every penny is going to go, and their financial future is secure (as much as it can be).
Nearly 12 percent respondents from last year’s survey said their biggest financial regret was being too cheap and not allowing themselves to enjoy their money. A little over 10 percent of respondents said that if they could change only one thing about the way they handle money, they would enjoy their money and spend it a bit more freely.

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