On the TunneySide of Sports February 3, 2020 #781 Up next… Kobe –A Tribute!
After further review… “I will always be that kid with the rolled-up socks, garbage can in the corner, ball in my hand, five seconds on the clock, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…” Bang! That’s the way Kobe lived his life and tragically–so tragically- that’s the way his life ended. That Sikorsky S-76 helicopter fell helplessly from the sky over Calabasas, California crashing into a field that left nine people dead including Kobe Bryant, his 13-year old daughter, Gianna, called Gigi, a talented basketball player, and seven other close friends.
The group was on its way to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball camp. While each of their deaths was a great loss, the passing of Kobe caught the eye of the world. Yes, indeed, Kobe was an international legend. While the TunneySide has often derided the use of the term G.O.A.T., it is vital now that we place the name of K.O.B.E. there!
When this 17-18-year old kid from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania declared he was not going to college, but straight into the National Basketball Association, many were skeptical that any youth could perform at that level. Still, the Charlotte Hornets drafted him in the 13th round; then immediately traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Not many, maybe no one, expected much from this high school kid with no college basketball experience, let alone education. Well, maybe NBA Hall of Famer, Jerry West did. Kobe spoke 3 languages fluently.
Few can achieve the status of having a single name. Although he had Bryant on the back of his playing jersey, he played for the name on the front – Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. But he was always known as Kobe. Not many can achieve that status – Wilt, Michael, LeBron, Shaq, Magic, Kareem, Oscar and maybe a couple of others. When Kobe was asked why he changed his Lakers number from “8” to “24,” he is reported to have said, “That’s what I think about basketball. I think about it 24-hours a day!”
He always was moving on. Following his last game (scoring 60-points BTW), he made a documentary movie called Dear Basketball, for which he won an Oscar – it’s good to be in Hollywood! Kobe said, “I did everything for you (basketball) because that’s what you do when someone makes you feel as alive as you made me feel.”
His real love turned to his family with his daughter, Gigi, competing as a 13-year old basketball phenom. Both Kobe and Gigi didn’t choose the way they died (none of us do). But they did choose the way to do something they both loved doing – playing basketball — 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… God Bless you all!
Will you give your thoughts and prayers to your loved ones who have moved on?
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