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What Kobe Bean Bryant Meant to Basketball
And what Kobe Bean Bryant’s Memorial Meant to Me
What Kobe Bean Bryant Meant to Basketball — My Tribute
Watching MJ cry on stage at Kobe Bryant’s memorial will never be forgotten for me. I actually had to turn the Kobe Bryant Memorial YouTube service off. I was 17 when 18-year old Kobe was drafted into the NBA. And I want to get this off my sagging 40-year old man chest right away:
I despised Kobe Bryant’s game and confidence for most of my life.
Until right now, actually.
When he died something hurt inside me. But watching MJ speak, some ball of emotional thread quickly uncoiled inside me. It unwound and played inside my chest like a kitten pawing at catnip. I sit typing about this. What is it? Fear. Anger. Jealousy? Or maybe I am mad at Kobe because he represented something I couldn’t or didn’t do. I couldn’t wake up at 4:00 a.m. and train, then practice twice or play later in the day. I didn’t have the guts to challenge any man on a court. I didn’t have the gusto to attack MJ or LeBron James or Stephon Marbury with a ball in my hands. To be honest, I was truly angry Kobe had not only more talent than me but worked harder.
