The man, the myth, the legend or other wise known as Kobe Bryant is taking his talents to Hollywood. Not only is the Los Angeles Laker star going to make his film debut but he is also becoming the first athlete to have a hand and foot print cemented outside of the world renown Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

The cementing will put him on the sidewalk next to some of the most well known faces seen on film including Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Wayne, Brad Pitt and Will Smith. This is a big honor in the world of the stars, which Bryant has been in for 14 years. Bryant is finally hitting the big stage.

I’m surprised it has taken this long to happen being he plays in Los Angeles, which in-case Google Maps doesn’t load, is only 11 minutes from Hollywood. There have been NBA superstars on the big screen before: Shaquille O’Neal was in one of the corniest movies ever, Kazaam, Ray Allen stared as Jesus Shuttlesworth in He Got Game and Michael Jordan played as himself in Space Jam. The last one gets me…is Bryant trying to equal or surpass Jordan in all aspects of greatness.

It seems Bryant’s basketball career isabout accomplishing the accolades and being considered one of the best just like Jordan. At this point, his career isn’t far off as we hear the comparisons every time Kobe does something he hasn’t before. I’ve heard a few people around the media including Dan Patrick say, “He won five rings, but he doesn’t have Jordan’s six.” Jordan won four MVP awards while Bryant only has one, but Bryant scored 81 points in a game and Jordan only scored 69 in a game. The this and thats, plus and minuses will go on forever, honestly, forever.

If this goes on in basketball, why wouldn’t it happen on a different stage such as film. Space Jam opened the book of Jordan to a bunch of kids who had never seen a Chicago Bulls game before. MJ was linked to young  kid’s every morning favorites named Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Taz and Tweety; add Bill Murray to bring a comedic scene and the movie locked up fans in three genres: sports, cartoons and comedy.

What will Kobe try to do?

Maybe Bryant will team up with the directors of High School Musical and be in HSM25 or help Harry Potter destroy his nemesis in the next movie.

Ryan Ward of the Examiner.com posted Bryant’s first film is an eight minute short film to help promote his new shoe, Nike Zoom Kobe VI.

Does anyone really need a short movie to advertise a shoe, especially if your name is Kobe Bryant? No, that would be a waste of time if there wasn’t another project behind it such as creating an acting resume.

Let’s face it, the 32-year old Bryant, is not going to play basketball forever. Actually, If the Lakers continue to make deep runs in the playoffs, he might only have two or three years as a top notch player. He will not be on the court when he can’t play anymore compared to other NBA greats who keep on chugging with no legs. Bryant has to be the best at what he does. This means, he is probably looking for a back up plan, seems only natural for him to get into movies after being in the film atmosphere for 14 years.

This brings me back to Jordan. Bryant can’t win three more MVP awards because of other stars in the NBA including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. But, he can make more money in the box office to become the best NBA actor of all-time. I’m talking about a man who thrives on being the greatest, not the best, but the greatest. If he can’t do it in the NBA, even though he’ll die trying, why not one up Jordan on the big screen?

I will not be surprised if Bryant is seen or featured in a big budget Hollywood film in the next six months to a year and as his NBA career winds down, he’ll make more appearances.