Disclaimer: I’m emotional writing this. Please forgive any errors.
January 26, 2020
Sunday. We ate a big breakfast – waffles, eggs and apples. Our lounging around the house caused us to miss church, so we watched church on television (I’ll work on that). Then my son read two chapters from his children’s bible. David becoming king and Psalm 23. I had him read the twenty-third Psalm a few times. I told him there were certain scriptures and chapters in the bible that Christians quote regularly – Genesis 1:1, Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 23 and others.
We played, we read, we watched television. It was a lazy Sunday until my husband told me about a post on Facebook. I didn’t want to believe it. It had to be a hoax. I checked all the sites that post the news, doubted their credibility.
I went old school and waited to see it on the news. Confirmation. Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and reportedly seven unnamed precious lives had died in a helicopter crash. I cried.
In the hours that followed, my family joined thousands mourning the loss of Kobe, Gianna, and their friends. We are devastated. I kept thinking of Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, their children, parents, family and friends. I cried for their pain of losing a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, and mentor. My thoughts traveled to of all the people that he inspired in his short forty-one years. I cried as a fan. My tears were for the ways he inspired me to embrace greatness over twenty-something years in my career and personal life. I thought of Gianna inspiring the younger generation in her very short thirteen years. I cried for Gianna and every young child that has died. The loss that the families of the other passengers had to be feeling. I cried for the pain that they must feel. The unfairness of finding out on social media.
This loss is unfathomable. Kobe Bryant was my favorite athlete of all time. I believe that he was the greatest basketball player ever. I was a huge Kobe fan and because of that I cheered for the Lakers for all twenty years that he played. When he retired, I continued to cheer for the Lakers, Warriors (because KD and Steph), the Rockets (hometown team) and other great players. But while he played, no one could garner my attention like Kobe.
I had one entertainment dream – to see Kobe Bryant play in the Staples Center. In the early 2000s, we were kinda broke when I told my then-boyfriend this dream. Thinking about the cost of a flight to Los Angeles, the hotel, and Lakers tickets, he promised that we could see him every year when he came to Houston. But that wasn’t good enough. I didn’t care how much it would cost. I wanted to be among the cheering fans donning purple and gold in his arena. “Nah, we can save up because we’re going,” I said.
It was 2015 before my entertainment dream was fulfilled. Two weeks later when Kobe announced his retirement, I thanked God that I didn’t back down about seeing my favorite basketball player of all time play at home. That game was everything that I imagined. It was an experience, seeing the players announced before their home crowd, watching them warm up, looking at the championship banners, enjoying the game without feeling like a traitor to my hometown team, and seeing Kobe’s greatness.
I’m glad God blessed him with a wife, four beautiful daughters, and everyone that he loved. From his interviews, it was obvious how much he loved his family and how proud he was of his daughters. I’m glad he got his farewell basketball tour. I’m glad he got to feel the love of fans before his end. I’m glad the Lakers retired both numbers. I’m glad he’ll be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. I’m glad he’d begun his second chapter as an author and storyteller. I’m filled with joy thinking of all the special moments that we witnessed in his career.
I’m grateful that he developed the Mamba mentality that I will apply to my own career. In the past, I would joke that I was using Mamba Mentality when I would get in a zone with my career. I will take it a step further and work on being the best version of myself.
Kobe – you meant so much to myself and my family. We will miss you. Vanessa – I am lifting you up in prayer. So many of us are praying for you. My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who passed in this tragic event. Let’s all lift their loved ones up in prayer. God will hear our prayers.
Rest in Peace, Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, and Ara Zobayan.
*** I’ve included an old blog post below. Reposted from my old website. This blog was originally was posted April 2016
Kobe Bryant: The Legend and My Family’s Basketball Hero
Kobe Bryant’s last game aired well after my young son’s bedtime. My husband and I marveled at our favorite player showcasing his skills in one of the most impressive performances in NBA history. Once the weekend came, our son was finally able to watch the game.
As he bounced a basketball on the floor and stared at the television, he had only one question. “Can they beat Kobe Bryant?”
Not wanting to ruin the ending, I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“No one can beat Kobe!” he professed with more confidence than the basketball great.
That’s what we taught him. In his world, Kobe is the best of the best – the greatest player of all time. From the moment we learned we were having a son, my husband bought a Lakers onesie. Then, came the Lakers monogrammed burp cloths and Kobe t-shirts. When he outgrew one Kobe t-shirt, we bought another. Mamba shoes. Kobe jerseys.
He’s watched many basketball games and enjoys seeing the athletes run up and down the court. He cheers when they make shots and is disappointed when they brick them. Show him a picture of another basketball star and while he’ll know their occupation, he’ll have no idea of the greatness that’s attached to their names. But, show him Kobe and he knows.
Though he didn’t witness many of Kobe’s career feats, he’s heard the stories of how we’ve cheered for Kobe over his twenty-year-career. The cakes we got to celebrate the five championships. The time his dad was in Minnesota and I was in Pittsburgh during game four vs the Nets and we talked on the phone the entire game. Then we threw our phones down and celebrated when they won. The posters that hung in our first apartment. The times we coordinated outfits to cheer on the Lakers. The game winning shots – we don’t have a favorite, but I can still remember us running around the room chanting “Kobe” after those daggers. And of course, he is aware of the times we disagreed with sports writers for criticizing our basketball hero.
He’s heard our stories, but he also has his own Kobe memories. He’s cheered him on from our den and in the Staples Center.
Our family’s love for Kobe was natural. We were drawn to the star’s confidence. Didn’t matter if he missed the previous shot, he’d still bet on himself and with the same confidence shoot the ball. Swish!
We applied that lesson to our lives. Whenever I’m afraid of speaking in public, I meditate on 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Then, I think of Kobe’s confidence. If he was ever afraid to take that shot, he didn’t show it. If he was ever defeated by the criticism, we never knew.
Even though he has five NBA championships, two Finals MVP trophies, and a regular season MVP trophy, the criticism was always there. Listing all of his accomplishments would take a few more paragraphs. I don’t know why he was criticized so much, but that actually made me more of a fan. Seeing someone not care of what others thought of him influenced me to do the same. Rise to greatness despite anyone else’s doubts or criticisms. I teach this lesson to my son. Though he’s still young, I want him to one day be a confident man.
I felt a mixture of emotions on Mamba Day and the days after. Happiness that I got a chance to see Kobe play in the Los Angeles, New Orleans, and several times in Houston including his last game against the Rockets. Pride that one of my favorite athletes is being celebrated by his peers and fans across the world. Glee at him putting up 60 points in his final NBA game. But also, sadness that I’ll never see him play professional basketball again.
It’s been a great ride, and now I have to explain what retirement means to my child.
No more on-court basketball stats to rank up.
No more games winning shots.
No more championships.
No more kisses in the Staples’ tunnel between Kobe and Vanessa and their daughters.
But we’ll have many memories from what Kobe Bryant did on the court and what he has meant to his fans.
Thanks Kobe, for twenty years of greatness!