There's nothing quite like an elder telling you how things were like in the "good old days.""These guys today..." is a famous opener for NBA veterans such as Charles Barkley and others, who think today's stars couldn't put up with the physicality and rigors of yesteryear.Most of it hogwash, and generally it's hard to hear it from these guys.Kobe Bryant has been going on a bit of a media tour these past couple days, appearing on various shows including ABC's pre-game show on Sunday. Thankfully, he didn't take the well-worn path of dogging on today's stars.On Monday, Kobe appeared on ESPN's "First Take," pontificating on his post-basketball life."It's a blessing," Kobe said of enjoying retirement. "When you grow up playing a game your whole life, and this is what you identify yourself with the whole time, it's very hard to find something else. I've been very fortunate to find a passion that I love every bit as much as basketball."He's talking about his various companies under the Kobe, Inc. brand, which includes media projects, merchandise, and gaming and technology businesses.

A relentless competitor with a legendary work ethic, Kobe was asked about the latest controversy in the NBA. It's about star players such as LeBron James sitting out some regular season games to rest and preserve their bodies through the long run and the playoffs.

Here's what the Black Mamba had to say:

"The problem is, for a family who spends their hard-earned money to come and watch their favorite players play and they show up and the player's not playing," Kobe said. "I felt like if you could play, if you can play, you should go out there and play."

On the other hand, he sat on the fence a little bit, giving guys like LeBron a bit of a pass on the issue.

"LeBron has done so much for the game," Kobe said. "He's earned the opportunity to take a rest."

So, there you have it.

Maybe he means some of the other lesser stars in the NBA haven't done enough to earn that rest?

But when it comes down to it, though, how many of those "other lesser stars" are the types of players families spend that "hard-earned money" just to see?

Doesn't LeBron lead a pretty short list of those players? Isn't it just LeBron and Stephen Curry, with possible one more name or two?

I guess we now have just seen Kobe the Competitor turn into Kobe the Politician or Corporate Kobe.

And that's fine too. He's earned that right.