Bryant should appreciate hometown

When Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant went to Philadelphia to participate in the All-Star game last weekend, he thought that he would be celebrating his accomplishments as an NBA basketball player. What he got was a rude awakening.\nDuring his 31 point performance, Bryant was consistently booed. It happened every time he touched the ball, and most noticeably, when he was awarded his Most Valuable Player trophy.\nThe fans from Philadelphia were bitter with Bryant, not because his West team beat their East team in the game, but because they feel that he has abandoned the city that raised him.\nBryant's history is well documented. The son of former 76er Joe Bryant, he went to high school at Lower Merion, after which he jumped straight to the NBA.\nSince his success, though, he has rarely returned, and the people who watched him as a youngster feel that he owes them something.\nThis raises an interesting question: Should athletes be expected to remain committed to their hometowns? I believe the answer is yes. Not because they owe the city or its citizens, but because they help to create an identity for a place that can never be erased.\n Cities love their products. I am from Indianapolis, and we are very proud to claim athletes as "our own." From NBA hall-of-famer Oscar Robertson to current Toronto Raptor Eric Montross, to Arizona basketball standout Jason Gardner, we are proud of what we have been able to produce.\nWhether they like it or not, these citizens-turned-celebrities represent where they come from, and to forget it or ignore it sends a message that their original communities were of little significance to them.\nPhiladelphia is more special than many cities in that many celebrities are loyal to it long after they leave. Actors Will Smith and Bruce Willis can often be seen at basketball games and have created a sense of pride for the city that Kobe Bryant has ignored.\nBryant spent eight years away from Philadelphia as his father played in Italy but returned for high school. While his ties to the city may not be as strong as lifelong citizens, he must recognize that the time he spent there was important to the people who knew him and who were affected by his presence. \nEven in Bryant's case, he should recognize the fans that encouraged him during his high school basketball career as he undoubtedly entertained thousands of his peers in small gyms across the city.\nJust last week, former Hoosier Isiah Thomas attended the IU-Iowa basketball game and received a roaring ovation when introduced over the loudspeaker. Thomas was only here in Bloomington for two years, but IU basketball fans always claim him as a Hoosier and certainly appreciate every time he recognizes the place that helped him achieve greatness.\nFans understand that things change. Bryant was a member of the opposition when he was in Philadelphia last June for the NBA Finals. He told the media that he was representing Los Angeles because that is who he played for. Nobody expects him to go easy on his hometown or remain loyal to the team he grew up watching, but that does not mean total abandonment.\nAthletes and other celebrities must realize that their accomplishments make the people who have crossed their paths proud. People who grew up in a city can identify with each other, even if they have never met. Kobe Bryant may have only spent a small portion of his life in Philadelphia, but his time there was honored and appreciated. Through Bryant, the city has built a slightly stronger identity.\nIt is his responsibility to show his own appreciation for the identity that the city has given him.