Bryant shows how excellence can defeat all

It was hard to tell whether this was Kobe Bryant I was watching Tuesday night, or Michael Jordan, or even Tiger Woods.

Somehow they all blurred together as the Lakers beat the Bulls 96-87 in the United Center.

"Kobe had a dominant game," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said of Bryant's 42 points, sounding like coaches used to sound after Jordan dominated them.

In a way these Bulls must have felt like, say, the Clippers did in the 1990s. You know, back then Jordan would lead the Bulls into L.A. or some other NBA outpost and either clobber the opponent into defeat or tweak it into submission.

The worst for other teams would be when Jordan had the flu or a gimpy ankle or food poisoning or something sure to limit his performance. Then His Airness would score something like 50 points.

The 19-4 Lakers are those Bulls now, the 8-15 Bulls are those Clippers, and Bryant with a broken finger on his shooting hand is Jordan with some aching body part.

On this night Bryant wasn't the person accused of sexual assault in Colorado in 2003. Not any more than back then Jordan was the person involved in gambling controversies.

Each was a basketball player in a zone that sports fans seem capable of compartmentalizing from the person behaving dubiously off the court.

Tiger Woods - well, it'll be interesting to see whether golf fans separate scandal from sand shots.

Before the game, Phil Jackson was asked whether Bryant was like Jordan in his ability to play over a health issue.

"Without a doubt," said the current Lakers/former Bulls coach. "He plays to the challenge of the elements, and this is one."

The same question could have been asked earlier this year when Woods returned to golf after a serious knee injury.

Anyway, Jackson also was asked whether Woods' current predicament could be put in the context of Bryant's six years ago. He responded with something about the public building people up to tear them down and referenced - what else? - Jordan's gambling episodes as an example.

Yes, the blur just keeps on blurring, doesn't it?

Every Bryant touch of the ball was accompanied by the crowd's oooohs, every basket by its ahhhhs. Michael Jordan, indeed.

"The great players find a way to be effective," Del Negro said. "I know how hard (Bryant) works. The great players figure out a way to get better."

To be honest, because of that '03 charge against Bryant, I always feel a little dirty marveling at his performances.

Yet, like most basketball fans I'm still entertained by Bryant's play, just as I was by Jordan's despite his indiscretions.

"(Bryant's) the best player in the world," Bulls center Joakim Noah said.

Bryant was booed here during introductions, but that seemed more for what he does to beat the Bulls than anything he might have done in that Colorado hotel room.

Tiger Woods should be so fortunate when he returns to the PGA Tour, so fortunate to be judged by what he does on the golf course rather than whatever he did off it.

We'll have to wait until then to see how much blurrier the blur gets.