Olympics reignite Kobe Bryant's passion

Did they even bother to keep score?

"I kept score," said Olympian Kobe Bryant, a smile back on his face and the competitive sparkle back in his eyes.

There was certainly no smile on Bryant's face roughly five weeks ago. That was the night his Lakers were crushed and humiliated by the Boston Celtics, 131-92, in the title-clinching game of the NBA Finals. Bryant was understandably somber, his swagger gone, his mood morose as he exited TD Banknorth Garden.

Bryant said he took a week off, even staying out of the gym, his second home, spent time with his family and just returned from a trip to Disney World in Florida.

"No Europe this year," he said Monday, "just Mickey."

He has returned to the court with his optimism and resolve restored, but now focused on a new goal: Olympic gold.

After finishing Monday's practice at Valley High, the first of four daily sessions, Bryant was asked again how he would equate winning the Olympic tournament with an NBA title.

"I think winning a gold medal is more important because you're playing for your country," he said, repeating what has become a kind of mantra. "You're not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the United States of America."

There was no joy on Bryant's face, however, when the subject turned to a Lakers loss on Friday -- when the team declined to match a four-year, $17-million offer sheet given to reserve forward Ronny Turiaf by the Golden State Warriors.

"I'm sad about it," said Bryant, who has been talking to Turiaf daily about the situation. "I wish we could have kept him. I love him as a person, I love him as a basketball player and I hate to see him leave. I just wish him all the best.

"He would much rather have stayed with us, but that's the nature of the NBA, man."

Bryant, like the rest of his organization, is waiting for the second shoe to drop. Sasha Vujacic, the reserve guard nicknamed "The Machine" because of his proclivity for cranking up shots, is, like Turiaf, a restricted free agent.

Vujacic has yet to come back to the Lakers with an offer sheet and, in recent days, General Manager Mitch Kupchak has been negotiating with Rob Pelinka, Vujacic's agent, about a new contract.