After Michael Jordan retired I was honestly depressed and less interested in the NBA but something happened over the course of several years to change that and it was the emergence of Kobe Bryant who inherited the mantle and brought back the amazing highlights. If the game was on the line he'd want the ball in his hands for the last shot. He had ice water in his veins and was clutch. It will take you a while to watch all his game winning shots on YouTube.
There have been many competitive players in the NBA over the years but he was definitely one of the most intense and competitive individuals of all time. His dedication was so extreme and legendary that there are regular joke memes that exaggerate what the Black Mamba did after a game or in the off season to improve his game.
I'm sure today band wagon fans are coming out of the woodwork and I'm not going to pretend that Kobe was my favorite player or that I never criticized him over the years in this blog. I enjoyed watching the Lakers under his leadership and almost always rooted for them to win unless they were playing the Jazz, but after his retirement it was painful to watch the Lakers like their heart was missing. I've been watching the Lakers regularly and just a couple weeks ago was thinking how much I like what I saw from the retired Kobe. He seemed more at ease and relaxed and like less of a competitor. Seeing him speak Slovenian to Luca court side during a game or watching him cheer on the current squad at home games with his kids just made him seem more likable. The fans loved him and would always cheer for him as he'd leave the Staples Center.
Anyway, I'm still having a hard time believing this happened. One reason it is so hard to internalize is because it reminds us how fragile life is. This happened to a rich, talented, famous, smart, good looking, multi-lingual guy who seemed to have what everyone in the world would want. I was expecting to see him continue work in Hollywood, business, and possibly coaching in the future. I didn't see this coming.
It was a privilege to watch Kobe play for so many years and as sad as this is for his family and the fans, I look forward to the tributes that we will surely see in the coming days from his teammates, opponents, and fans. Rest in Peace.
There have been many competitive players in the NBA over the years but he was definitely one of the most intense and competitive individuals of all time. His dedication was so extreme and legendary that there are regular joke memes that exaggerate what the Black Mamba did after a game or in the off season to improve his game.
I'm sure today band wagon fans are coming out of the woodwork and I'm not going to pretend that Kobe was my favorite player or that I never criticized him over the years in this blog. I enjoyed watching the Lakers under his leadership and almost always rooted for them to win unless they were playing the Jazz, but after his retirement it was painful to watch the Lakers like their heart was missing. I've been watching the Lakers regularly and just a couple weeks ago was thinking how much I like what I saw from the retired Kobe. He seemed more at ease and relaxed and like less of a competitor. Seeing him speak Slovenian to Luca court side during a game or watching him cheer on the current squad at home games with his kids just made him seem more likable. The fans loved him and would always cheer for him as he'd leave the Staples Center.
Anyway, I'm still having a hard time believing this happened. One reason it is so hard to internalize is because it reminds us how fragile life is. This happened to a rich, talented, famous, smart, good looking, multi-lingual guy who seemed to have what everyone in the world would want. I was expecting to see him continue work in Hollywood, business, and possibly coaching in the future. I didn't see this coming.
It was a privilege to watch Kobe play for so many years and as sad as this is for his family and the fans, I look forward to the tributes that we will surely see in the coming days from his teammates, opponents, and fans. Rest in Peace.
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