This quote from The Sandlot is what immediately popped into my head when hearing the news of Kobe Bryant's death and has stayed with me for the last 24 hours.
It is with a really heavy heart that I write this. Yesterday we lost a legend not just in the sports world but in society. The impact Kobe has had on the game of basketball is immeasurable. Not only did he win 5 NBA Titles with the Los Angeles Lakers but he created and brought to light the mentality and work ethic needed to succeed at the highest level. After hearing and watching plenty of thoughts and recollections of Kobe in the last 24 hours, it is obvious that his Mamba Mentality and work ethic is what resonated with not only basketball players but so many athletes and people around the world.
While it has been a crazy 24 hours and emotions have gone back and forth from sadness to admiration, I cannot write this without thinking about his family and all those families involved in this tragedy. Not only was a legend lost in the basketball world but a highly successful JUCO Baseball coach and his daughter was lost in this accident along with 5 others. Please keep all of their families and those affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
I have been thinking about why this has affected me so much as someone who did not grow up a Lakers fan or even a Kobe Bryant fan when I was younger. I remember seeing Kobe Bryant play in Milwaukee in probably the early 2000's. It was after he had won titles with the Lakers and as a young fan of the game, I did not like Kobe. He played for the Lakers and was the best player in the league, it was easy not to like him. Then on this night against the Bucks that dislike grew as he hit a game winning shot as time expired and he grabbed his croch for the crowd to see. I remember talking with my dad on the drive home about how that was classless and my respect for Kobe had diminished even more.
So now again I ask why has this loss affected me and why did I find it hard to go to our first official college baseball practice last night? For me I think it all comes back to his Mamba mentality. As I got older and went through high school, college and now as an adult and being able to continue to watch the impact Kobe was having on the world, my respect for him grew. By the time Kobe won his next two titles with the Lakers, I remember my view on him was changing and I was respecting him more and more and that continued to this day. As someone who believes in working hard and earning everything that is given to you, Kobe and the Mamba mentality embraced that mantra. I remember seeing videos or pictures of him working on his craft at unforsaken hours, but you know what, Kobe was not going to let anyone say that they were out working him.
Lastly, I saw the way he interacted with fans, with opponents, and how he was a mentor for so many young athletes and he embraced that role. That is how I am always going to remember Kobe now. You look at any of these videos, articles, stories that are surfacing now and how Kobe impacted not just professional athletes but youth, high school and college athletes everywhere, you see how genuine he was in trying to help and care for others.
The one video I have seen that I think sums up Kobe the best is from Lebron's post game interview after passing Kobe in points the night before the accident.
My one lasting takeaway from Kobe is this: You have 24 hours a day to get better, how are you using that time?
Kobe you were more than a hero, you were a legend that will never die.
