Kobe Bryant Becomes First Athlete to be Honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame

By Christo Varghese Posted Feb 21st 2011 04:45AM

LA Lakers player Kobe Bryant became the first ever non-actor to be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

E! Online is reporting that the five-time NBA champion became the first athlete to be honored at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, when on Saturday afternoon his hands and sneaker-clad feet were immortalized in cement.

During the ceremony Bryant said, "I feel like I've grown up in this city, and we've had a lot of ups and downs, but here we are-five championships, plenty of more to go, and I just feel extremely honored to be able to do this."

And when asked on whether he would be ever seen on the silver screen, Bryant reportedly told his fans not to expect an acting career from him anytime soon.

Ceremony host Jimmy Kimmel took some playful digs at the superstar on the very topic.

"It's fitting that Kobe Bryant would have a place in Grauman's Chinese Theatre because although he's not an actor nor does he have any experience in theatrical arts he is -- wait, why is this fitting?" Kimmel joked.

He continued, "The closest Kobe's come to acting is pretending he's going to pass the ball to Luke Walton."

On Sunday, Bryant went on to lead the West team to victory at the NBA All-Star game and took home his fourth all-star MVP award.

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Comments

(21)

Monday 21 February

By ibchr

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Everyone knows that honor, like everything else in hollywood, is bought, not earned.

By rudewaitress

I thought the Walk of Fame was different than Grauman's Chinese Theater. Grauman's, where Bryant somehow ended up, is where many of the great stars of Hollywoods Golden Age have been immortalized with their footprints and handprints in cement. The Walk of Fame goes on for blocks and blocks with a large STAR and the person's name on the sidewalk. Those sre fairly easy to get...somebody just has to pay for it. If Bryant is now at Grauman's, it's an insult to those who were true Hollywood stars.

By Trevor

I'm thrilled that we in America will honor a rapist. That's awesome...really awesome.

By mike

That goes to show you how fake Hollywood really is.

By Dave

You have got to be kidding me,,, he rapes and beats a young girl and we give him a star??? God help us

You have got to be kidding me,,he beats and rapes a young girl and we give him a star??? God help us

By Mike

Ridiculous!

By KAREN

I TOTALLY AGREE. IT ISN'T WHO YOU KNOW. WHEN AN ACCUSED RAPIST GETS HONORED, THE HOLLYWOOD CROWD IS SCREWED UP. THEY HONOR RAPISTS, DRUG ADDICTS, THIEVES ETC. THEY STICK TOGETHER. NONE OF THEM HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN.

By jennir655

OMG, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????? He does NOT deserve this!! So the guy can play basketball, so what! The walk of fame are for those who truly have earned a place on it and deserce to be honored. Give him a stupid trophy made out of gold or something if that's what he'd want but NOT this!! What's wrong with the idiots that decided this???

By John F.C. Taylor

What I want to say is not something fit for public consumption. At best, I think, it has to remain in line with the others. Are you kidding? Allowing him to buy a spot there is just beyond belief.

I thought the "Walk of Fame" was reserved for actors!? What's next, are they going to put reality TV actors on there too!? Hey I know, lets put professional wrestlers on there too! Stupid!

By Tom

As much as I think that most actors and actresses today are self-absorbed, plastic people, this is still an insult to them.
The Walk of Fame was created to give recognition to people who had heavily contributed to the success of the movie industry.

This action is akin to awarding a politicion entry into the NFL Hall of Fame because he attended a couple of football games (and probably with tickets given to him illegally by some industry or other special interest group).

Oh wait...., maybe they honored Kobe for his great performance when, while being marrid, he bufu'd that desk clerk in his hotel room.
I guess I never realized that porn stars were also honored in the Walk of Fame.

By Tera Boyd

Absolutely insane. Honoring a rapist..Now all we need is a star to "honor" Mike Vick and Mike Tyson..People make me sick.

By Margaret

We should all be so lucky to be honored for our crimes and mistakes in life. I work soooooooooooooooooo hard in life and no one recognizes me except myself! Tell me what i am doing wrong - I am hard worker, honest, kind, generous, loving wife and mom. I can get a basketball in a hoop from 20 feet away!

By REB

Whose Next? O J Simpson?

By KR

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Either is ridiculous but OJ would at least be more deserving since he did 'act'in several films. Bryant has no business in Hollywood other than cruising for hookers.

By robral61

I just looked up the Definition of Caucasian and to my Surprise the definition is somebody who is from Very Light to Brown Skin. That makes me wonder just how many People who say they are Black are really Caucasian. Obama
Happy Black History Month

By Dorinda

You are all a bunch of stupid morons. A girl goes to the hotel door of a musician or athlete alone on the road and goes in and shuts the door, and doesn't want to have sex with him? You pitiful self rightous freaks. Thank God the judge had more sense than any of you to see her story had no merit, and she was after money. You are all pitifully stupid.

By Tell It Like It Is

Things are not always as they appear. Reason innocent 'till guilt proven. Was girl forcibly taken 2 hotel? If not, must hve hd her reason(s) 4 going there. Not certain if Bryant deserving of honor, but sick and tired of people being "found guilty" OUTSIDE court. Popeaters are not jury of peers.

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