|
In this time of mourning, I just want to say thank you,
Kobe.
Growing up in Los Angeles, you were everything for me. You
introduced me to winning at an extremely young age. When I
was born in 1999, you were a three-year veteran in the NBA
and in my first three years of life, you helped the Lakers
win three straight league finals. Although I was too young
to remember those championship years, I do remember you
leading the Lakers to two more NBA finals in 2009 and 2010.
Your ability to be a winner inspired my interest in sports
and competition, and it has been a passion of mine ever
since. And while winning is great, it was the way you won
that stuck with me.
Your “Mamba Mentality” of being your best self and making
sure nobody worked harder than you is a work ethic you
consistently lived by, and I have been aiming to emulate you
in that regard.
You also had infectious confidence in your game that gave
viewers confidence in themselves. I remember when you played
your final game on April 13, 2016. Everyone remembers the
60-point performance, but people may forget that you
struggled early on in that game, going just 7-20 from the
field in the first half. Several players would have just
stopped shooting at that point, but you remained confident
in your training and took 30 more shot attempts.
Your confidence influenced a generation of kids who watched
you play. When I started playing organized basketball, you
were in the midst of your MVP season and all I could hear at
practice was “Kobe!” every time someone attempted a shot.
When it came to shooting a fadeaway jumper or having a
pre-free throw ritual, every kid tried to emulate your
style.
You also were a symbol that brought unity in the city of Los
Angeles. When the Lakers won their championships, you
brought the city together at the championship parades. I
personally remember waiting for several hours just to see a
glimpse of you.
When you played your final game, the country was heading
into a heated presidential election. Watching you play
though, people were able to detach from the stress of the
real world and enjoy your play. Whether it was your first
game or your last, you always put on a show and you gave
your fans everything you could offer.
As someone who uses sports to connect with people, you
helped me find the confidence to have conversations. With
you being such a global figure, it didn’t matter how much
the other person was invested in sports. We could always
have a conversation about Kobe. With deeply rooted sports
fans, I have formed so many close relationships that started
by debating where Kobe stands as the greatest of all time
(GOAT).
Beyond my life though, you meant so much more to the world.
You helped globalize the game of basketball, making the NBA
popular in China. At a time when WNBA players struggle to
receive support, you served as an advocate for the league.
As a family man, you showed what it means to be a father,
taking interest in your daughters’ passions and putting them
in positions to succeed. When Gianna’s favorite player was
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, you took her to Hawks games
to watch Young firsthand.
Thank you, Kobe, for all the memories. You, Gianna and the
seven others were taken way too soon, and this world will
never be the same.
Arthur Cribbs is a junior journalism major from Los Angeles.
He is a Rhoden Fellow at ESPN for TheUndefeated.com. He also
works with the Department of Athletics at Howard University
and was a production manager for WHUT’s Spotlight Network.
|
