Dear Kobe:

[CooleyAsCanBe]

I'm not a Kobe fan, and I support the suspension, but I don't think he is intending to hit defenders in the face when he swings his arm out after a shot.

I remember him doing this in a game last year, can't remember who against, and he got the call. It was at the buzzer, Lakers were down by three, and I think he hit all three free throws and ended up winning the game. The replay clearly showed that the contact was from Kobe swinging his arm to the side, not any action by the well-positioned defender.

The fact that he isn't trying to punch players doesn't excuse the cheap practice, but I see it more like Reggie Miller's leg flair's to draw contact than an intentional elbow to the throat a la Oakley or Laimbeer.