Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol now own a horse together

Teammates show their bonds in many ways, whether by picking each other up after falls on the court or going out to dinner together on road trips. They're coworkers, but also often friends, and that means they sometimes get together outside of the team context, too. Some even go into business together.

Most, however, do not co-own horses. So it's something of a surprise to learn that Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers now own a horse together. The Associated Press has the details:

Bryant and Gasol bid against each other for an ownership stake in a 4-year-old gelding named Siempre Mio as part of a Lakers Foundation fundraiser at Riviera Country Club on Tuesday night.

Santa Anita Park chief executive officer Mark Verge donated a 25 percent stake in the gelding along with a day at the races as part of a live auction. 

''Pao Gasol [sic] bid first, but then he and Kobe got into a little bit of a bidding war. Kobe won the bidding at $8,000,'' Doug O'Neill, who trains the gelding, said Wednesday.

Verge then offered Gasol a chance to buy a 25 percent interest in the horse in exchange for a donation to the Lakers Foundation. Part of the deal was that the new owners pay no expenses in the horse's care and training.
Bryant is as competitive as athletes come, so it's easy to imagine him winning the auction just because he wanted to beat out one of his teammates.

Nevertheless, it's a real partnership, although who knows how much each will care about Siempre Mio if he doesn't win any races. Not having to pay any bills can make owners lose interest fast. via Ball Don't Lie