Remembering Kobe

When speaking about Kobe this past year, I've always felt the need to mention that I was far from being a fan most of his career. But I'd also have to mention that I've never cried more about someone's passing of whom I did not personally know. And for me, thats what makes the life and times of Kobe Bean Bryant such an amazing story. He came into the league as a brash young player straight outta high school, only the fourth player to ever do so. He was arrogant and a ball hog to say the least. I don't think there was any other player I could stand less than the lil fro Kobe of the early 2000s. He was just so damn cocky in those days, but you couldn't deny that he was hands down one of the most dynamic players at the time. Then there was the sexual assault case, and it felt like it might be the downfall of a great athlete due to scandal. I vividly remember his press conferences during those times and the way he would repeatedly lick his lips when answering questions. He was 24 at the time, a very young man, going thru unimaginable turmoil right when his career was truly taking off. But he faced the music like a man and admitted his infidelity publicly, and even acknowledged the difficult reality of the encounter between him and the woman in Colorado, saying, "I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter". Looking back at his statement, it feels so ahead of its time now living in the post "Me Too" reckoning. It might have been at this moment, things changed for Kobe. Slowly, he became more thoughtful, a better teammate, and became a father for the 2nd time. The years to fallow, Kobe became one of the hardest working players. His grit, perseverance and clutch performances made him the NBA icon of the era. For so many, he is the greatest to ever play the game. And as much as I hate having the argument, sports fans will always love debate, and Kobe has so many that will fight for his honor forever. His last game, will always be a memory I treasure. It was the end of the 15-16 season, and the Golden State Warriors were on the cusp of making NBA history by surpassing The Chicago Bulls with the most wins in an NBA regular season. I was at a bar looking forward to watch this momentous occasion while simultaneously watching Kobes last game. As it became clear down the stretch that Kobe was having a hell of a game, it almost started to feel as if time stood still. The entire bar was absolutely glued to the Kobe game, and hung on every shot he took. All of a sudden, The Warriors game was thoroughly irrelevant as everyone watched the NBA veteran showed tf out! 60 points later, a totally in awe crowd got to hear a beautiful farewell speech, and the unforgettable mic drop moment that is, "MAMBA OUT"! As he left basketball in the capacity of player, he became one of the sports greatest ambassadors. Having 4 daughters, he was especially outspoken about gender equity in sports and the importance of the WNBA. Then, he began to coach his daughter Giana, and the next chapter of his life was truly starting to begin. Unfortunately for so many, that chapter didn't get a chance to be fully written, and lived, by both him and his beautiful daughter, Giana. He was so well spoke, he literally was trilingual (english, spanish, italian), so thoughtful and funny. He wanted to teach the game to anyone that wanted to listen, he was passionate about pursuing other endeavors, including writing. He would’ve been great at that too. Actually he already was, he won an Oscar for, "Dear Basketball”, the best animated short film featuring the poem he wrote to announce his retirement from basketball. He was such a larger than life figure, there was no doubt that the greatness he showed on the court would translate even further off. As a father myself, the thing i like to take away the most from his life; the fierceness he showed as a girl dad. Our legacies as parents is truly with the children we raise. The love he showed for his 4 daughters was so apart of who he was as human being, and that will always transcend the heartbreak of loosing him, his beautiful daughter Giana, and the 7 other beautiful souls we lost a year ago today. I’ll always miss you Kobe.