As an avid basketball fan, I've watched a lot of NBA and I've generally rooted for the underdog. In my case that lead me to take great joy in watching the guys I root for beat the favored guy. I say this this because obviously I rooted against folks like Kobe. Because he was the gold standard, the best at what basketball players did. And not just the best, not just best when it suited him, the best even when losing, trying to over-achieve even when ahead. And I took great joy in watching my favorite (D. Wade) beat him because it really meant something because Kobe was that good.
Taught himself to play piano
When it comes to Kobe, it was an interesting parallel because, he was close to my age (just a year younger) and driven to be the best. As I learned more facts about him, growing up in Italy, speaking multiple languages, embracing life, embracing culture, to me I found a way to be his fan outside of basketball. Because in this drive I saw so much of myself. I was brought up to shoot for the stars no matter what, live life with no regrets, and to always trust God. Like Kobe, I always felt there was room for improvement in all aspects of my life, between being a father to my sons, a good husband, and a good employee. Like Kobe, I was an eternal student of everything and wanted to master what ever I tried. And because of these things, I understood him.
In 2013 when he tore his Achilles, I found my way to rooting for him as the basketball player. Like I said, I root for the under-dog. At this point because I saw so much of myself in him. I wanted him to come back, and he did in his own way, capping off his career with a night for the ages.
Seeing him blossom during his retirement into all these ventures, I was tickled and excited. Winning that Oscar for his animated film “Dear Basketball”, it was inspiring to me. Getting the glimpses of him as the family man was amazing. It made him even more real to me.
Soooooo…… when my cousin texted me with the initial reports about his demise on Sunday (January 26th) like everyone I was in disbelief. I found myself commenting on every Facebook thread saying its not official TMZ can’t be right. I couldn’t let it be right, not necessarily for me, but I knew how much Kobe meant to so many people, and from being a closet fan of Kobe the person, my secular side considered him one of the good ones.
As we all know, the news was quickly confirmed, and the stomach punches kept coming, his daughter was him, and 7 others. We learned they were all on their way to basketball practice/game. Doing regular people stuff, doing routine family stuff. :(
With his death, these stories have been flooding in about Kobe. How he looked after so many people, how he moved quietly in helping people, it quietly confirmed who he was. That Mamba mentality wasn’t just about basketball. He gave his everything into everything he did.
I hurt for this whole situation, the families all irreparably damaged by this accident. I hurt for the fans of Kobe. He meant a lot to them, and I think its okay to cry over losing a hero, whether you met them or not.
I can’t help but think that with this tragedy we should take two things from this:
We must seize the day, we gotta keep pushing. Cliche yes, but it has to be said.