Bryant Fined for Passing

LOS ANGELES – The NBA playoffs just started, but there is already turmoil in the Lakers camp. A team spokesman announced that all-star guard Kobe Bryant has been fined an undisclosed amount for passing the ball in game 1 of the series against Phoenix.

“I should know better,” said a disappointed Bryant. “My teammates count on me to score every time we have the ball. There’s no excuse for what I did.”

The controversy stems from a third quarter play in which Bryant was falling out of bounds on the baseline under his own basket. “There were three guys around me and I saw Smush (Parker) alone in the lane. I passed it. I was wrong. I should have taken the shot over the backboard.”

Naturally, Parker wasn’t expecting the pass. The ball glanced off his head and was quickly picked up by Suns guard Steve Nash.

Head coach Phil Jackson watch the event with a blank look on his face. “Frankly, I was stunned. He plays 82 games getting ready for the playoffs and in the first game he just forgets? I’d suspend him if we didn’t have to…you know…score.”

Despite letting down his team, Bryant says he’s moving forward. “I apologized in a team meeting and promised that I wouldn’t pass the ball again. They’re cool with that.”