Farewell To Kobe Bryant, The Basketball Legend Who Made Us Dream
Real giants don’t live in fairy tales. They live in the real world. And sometimes even on the basketball courts. Kobe Bryant was more than one of the biggest stars in the NBA; he was, and always will be, one of those figures who make children and adults dream. A giant who gathered millions of people in front of the television to make them love basketball.
Half the world was left speechless after the news of his death. Kobe Bryant, 41, his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others were killed after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in a residential area of Los Angeles. A fatal accident that left the world of sport a little more orphaned. Where the Black Mamba was one of the most beloved icons.
Today, fans, athletes, politicians, celebrities and anonymous who admired him pay homage to him. Everyone does it in their own way, but there are many who spontaneously gathered on a field to commemorate a man who never ceased to be a kid who was passionate about basketball, the ball and the basket in which to shoot everyone. her dreams.
Kobe Bryant, Black Mamba , a man with a winning mentality
They called him the Black Mamba because he was the most dangerous in the field. Legend has it that he chose it himself after seeing Tarantino’s film Kill Bill and that it is this attitude, that of never giving up, that has defined much of his professional life. “If you see me fighting for a bear, pray for the bear” , he said and it was such a need to progress, to always give the best of himself, that he trained more than anyone else. .
His achievements testify to the effects of this mentality and the exceptional genius that defined him. Five NBA championship rings, one league MVP, two Olympic gold medals, a record of 18 consecutive selections in the NBA All-Star Game, four NBA Most Valuable Player… He even won an Academy Award for a short film on his life.
He was that giant who wore the Lakers’ gold and purple ; an almost hypnotic figure on the basketball court due to his ability to score goals and also because of this personality which won him the favor of the public and, above all, of the players who made up his team. He did whatever it took for his team. Namely encouragement from the sidelines to bring water to his teammates.
The kid who loved basketball
It is said that Kobe Bryant was born with a basketball. He had passion in his genes, which were passed down to him from his own father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, also a professional player and the same ones that unfortunately his daughter Gianna wore, who was already making a name for herself in this sporting world.
Kobe spent much of his childhood in Italy, where his father played. It wasn’t until 1991, and back in the United States, that he began to establish himself as a young star in the basketball world. It was in Philadelphia when he was in high school.
His skill, maturity and exceptional play were such that he didn’t have to go through college like many of the best basketball players in the world. At only 18, he was already playing in the NBA. At 21, he appeared in Forbes magazine. He also had million dollar sponsorship deals with Adidas, Sprite, Mattel, Spalding and Giorgio Armani.
Kobe Bryant, 20-year career between shadows and lights
Kobe Bryant ended his career leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016. He did so after a 20-year career behind him in an epic game. He was playing against the Utah Jazz and he scored 60 points in one night. The whole crowd repeated his name over and over again. By invoking an idol and letting go in turn, the Black Mamba , this giant who had made them dream so much.
Her career was crowned with success, but also clouded by such controversial episodes as the accusation of rape of a 19-year-old girl who worked in a hotel. The case ended with an amicable settlement and a public apology from the player.
An unfinished project: support for women’s basketball
The lives cut off by the drama not only leave wounds and a void, but also destroy personal projects and dreams. Kobe Bryant has made women’s basketball a recognized category along with men’s basketball. He gave it the same height and the same projection.
He had indeed concentrated his efforts on the second of his four daughters, Gianna Maria-Onore. The latter was already making a name for herself in this world, guided by her father. In fact, it was common to see them both in stadium stands when the Lakers were playing. Enveloped in complicity and affection. And driven by the same overwhelming passion for basketball.
On January 26, they were on their way to a game Gianna was to play that afternoon. None of them were able to get by. Their lives, their traces, have been lost forever, leaving a dream and a life project unfinished.
The world of sport mourns this absence. Although the legacy of the Black Mamba will forever be remembered as one of the most dazzling stars in the world of basketball.
Our thoughts An open letter after a separation, which can illustrate how a person feels after such an abrupt and painful moment.
