Sports and the economy; Kobe Bryant is an entrepreneur

Sports and the Economy looks at the effect the current economic conditions are having on sports leagues, teams and fans across the country.

Kobe Bryant gets paid about $22 million annually from the Los Angeles Lakers. On top of that base, Fortune Magazine estimates that in 2007 Kobe made $16 million in endorsements.

Like many athletes today Kobe has an official website. It is located at kb24.com. I’m not going to lie, as far as athlete website go, it’s pretty damn nice.

FanHouse via LAballtalk reported that Kobe is now offering a “premium membership” to KB24.com. Here is what you receive for your $49.95:

I’m all about free market economics. I love capitalism, totally belive in it. However, I have to call a spade a spade. This is insanity.

First, why does Kobe need an extra couple grand? Second, who the heck is going to buy this?

Other athletes are blogging for free at sites like Yardbarker or have their own personal webspace like Chris Cooley. Cooley sells ads and pushes endorsements, and again, that is all totally fine. But he does not have the balls to charge FANS of his to read his thoughts and buy his crappy t-shirt. Cooley instead has a plug for a charitable cancer research organization.

If you remember, Cooley also took a picture of his junk and posted it to his blog (by mistake) earlier this season. For $49.95 I better be getting “all access” to  Kobe, his wife Vanessa and maybe even some exclusive footage from that night back in 2003 in Denver. You remember the one. Too soon?

People are going through some really tough times financially. The current economic state is not one to relish. People all across the country are looking for ways to supplement their normal income. If Kobe really sees fit to charge the already hurting NBA fan for access to his thoughts, to shake his hand and a t-shirt… than so be it. It just doesn’t give an already unlikeable guy anymore credibility in the humanitarian department.