By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 3 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (AP) Polling Indicates Kobe Bryant to Win MVP in Close Race Over Hornet's Paul
"For once, the marketing lived up to the hype. The number one cede Hornets versus the number three Lakers. Perenial MVP contender Kobe Bryant versus upstart up-and-comer MVP favorite Chris Paul.
And for once, the marketing lived up to the hype. With the sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center chanting, “MVP, MVP, MVP,” the Los Angeles Lakers scored a 107-104 home court win over the first place Hornets on Friday night in a nationally-scrutinized game. The game, however, was a mere afterthought in the battle that won over the heart and minds of NBA fans everywhere.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is official, Kobe Bryant is the MVP over Chris Paul . . . by a knockout. According to courtside observers and ESPN insiders, it wasn't just Paul's 4 for 13 shooting or Kobe's Jordanesque, behind-the-back slam dunk which took the wind out of the guts of the Hornets, it was . . . well, for lack of a kinder term, domination. Kobe's near triple-double was one but one of the the many reasons that he had now laid undisputed claim to the MVP. His control of the game and the mastery of his opponent left no doubt of not only who would win the MVP, but which team is now the hands down favorite to win it all. An immediate post-game poll by AP and the Gallup polling company confirmed- Kobe now has a decisive solid 8% lead among elligible NBA-certified MVP voters with a preference (more than the 2% polling margin of error). Even TNT commenator Charles Barkley, until recently a vocal Paul-for-MVP supporter switched gears, stating "
Stick a fork in it, it is done, the race is over, Kobe has it."
http://www.AP/Lakers-Hornets/KobePaul.com/column
