Crumbling a piece of paper, stepping back and yelling “Kobe” as you shoot a fadeaway jumper into a wastebasket has been a tradition for ages.
Retired five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California on Sunday morning. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, was among the nine total passengers who died in the crash. The helicopter was flying to Camarillo Airport in Ventura County, but it could not sustain the poor visibility conditions. Bryant was expected to coach his daughter Gianna’s Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, Team Mamba, at the Mamba Sports Academy.
Several sports teams, including the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball and FC Barcelona – two organizations Kobe Bryant admired, paid tribute to his exceptional career and to his precious daughter who was expected to carry on her father’s basketball legacy. Fans have been gathering around the Staples Center, “the House that Kobe Built,” all week, laying down Lakers memorabilia or purple and yellow flowers to pay their respects to the former Laker.
Kobe Bryant’s 20-season NBA career included 18 All-Star game appearances and countless broken records. After his unforgettable NBA career, he channeled his motivation into other projects, such as film and philanthropy. He became the first African American and first former professional athlete to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, which he won for “Dear Basketball” based off of his retirement poem.
Kobe Bryant spent two decades granting more than 250 wishes of children fighting life-threatening illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Bryant and his wife also established the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation to provide scholarships for and to promote leadership among young athletes. Through this foundation, the couple also made a $1 million donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A cultural ambassador, Bryant founded the Kobe Bryant China Fund to raise money for sports, educational and cultural youth programs in China.
Bryant inspired many people with his wisdom and admirable work ethic, which became known as the “Mamba Mentality.” When asked to describe the meaning behind his mindset, Bryant said, “To sum up what Mamba Mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself…It’s a constant quest to try to be better today than you were yesterday.” Mamba Mentality grew to inspire people to fight hard through their battles. For instance, one Kobe Bryant fan went viral by sharing a video of Bryant sending well wishes to the fan’s mother, who had been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Bryant sent his best thoughts, “You’ll be just fine. Mamba Mentality is staying all the way through.”
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna went viral a month before their passing in a video of Bryant breaking down the game to his 13-year-old basketball prodigy at a Nets game. He frequently expressed his pride for his daughters in interviews. ESPN’s Elle Duncan shared a heartfelt remembrance of her first encounter with Bryant during which they both bonded over the beauty of parenthood. “I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl dad,” Bryant told her. Since then, the term “girl dad” has spread rapidly and become a way for fathers to express their love for their daughters.
My biggest takeaway from this heart-wrenching tragedy is to never take your blessings for granted.
· Hug your loved ones tightly every chance you can.
· Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.
· Always be the best version of yourself.
To the NBA, he was a basketball star. To the city of Los Angeles, he was a legend. To young athletes and children, he was a role model. To his wife and four daughters, he was a loving husband and a dedicated “girl dad.” This is how Kobe Bryant wanted to be remembered.
“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly.” – Kobe Bryant
#MambaForever