Imrem: No tears for Kobe here

Sorry, but nothing.

No emotions at all in this space over Kobe Bryant's final game Sunday night in the United Center.

I attended Bryant's goodbye news conference and watched what's left of him play in the Lakers' 126-115 loss to the Bulls.

Cameras followed Bryant into and around the building. The crowd cheered his pregame introduction. Bulls' players give him congratulatory hugs and high-fives.

The video screen over midcourt said, “Thank you, Kobe” and Bryant was referred to as “this generation's Michael Jordan.”

Then it was over with 45.3 seconds left in the game. Bryant walked off to more cheers and at the end received one final embrace from former L.A. teammate Pau Gasol.

I couldn't argue with the sentiment but felt awkward for not feeling all tingly, especially now that Bryant himself has been all warm and fuzzy as his career winds down.

Bryant complimented the Bulls while talking about how he almost joined them last decade. He also was reverential toward Michael Jordan schooling him 20 years ago.

“I found him extremely open to being a mentor,” Bryant said of Jordan. “I don't think people understand how that impacted me as a player.”

It was all so sweet.

So why was I was ho-humming through the event while the rest of the basketball world is going ga-ga over Bryant's farewell tour?

My conclusion is that Kobe Bryant doesn't move me because, well, as great as he was he never did become Michael Jordan.

He wanted to. He tried to. He couldn't.

The rest of America fantasized about being like Mike, too, but Kobe actually thought he could be.

So if the question is Kobe or not Kobe, for me the answer is not Kobe.

Nobody has been Jordan, of course. Someone will be some day, but it'll have to be one of the next Kobe Bryants who gives it a try.

On this night Bryant was running the UC court in the shadow of Jordan's retired No. 23 dangling from the rafters.

What else is new? Bryant never quite reached Jordan's level of excellence or charisma.

That was Bryant's intention. He was going to do everything Jordan did the way Jordan did it.

Bryant said that after growing up in Italy, “When I came to the States I studied Michael exclusively.”

Anyone trying to equal or surpass Jordan better be different from Jordan — like LeBron James is for example — because being similar to Jordan will fall short of Jordan.

Bryant sounded like he figured that out by now. Jordan certainly did, which is why doesn't fear his legacy is being threatened by the cover band in a Lakers' uniform.

It's interesting that as a parting gift during all-star weekend, Jordan gave Bryant every pair of Air Jordan sneakers in the series.

Knowing Jordan's competitiveness, that might have been his way of saying, “You can walk in my tracks, kid, but you can't fill my shoes.”

Kobe Bryant was great in his own right, for sure. He was everything Jordan was — athletic, competitive, physically strong, mentally tough. He did so much of what Jordan did — score, pass, rebound, defend, win championships.

It was a tremendous package. It just didn't add up to Jordan. Close, yes, but, no, not as good.

Once you've seen the real monument like we here did, it's difficult to be excited about even the closest replica.

That's the only explanation I can think of for not feeling what I don't feel about Kobe Bryant.