The Unexpected Grief For Kobe Bean Bryant

I feel like I need to start this whole thing by stating this: I am not a Kobe fan, I am not a Lakers fan. In fact, for the most part I am quite the opposite. I will actively antagonise my friends Kobe and Lakers fandom, poking and prodding in search of a bite to which they usually oblige.

What is written above is the exact reason I was so shocked by how hard I took the news of Kobe Bryant’s death. Maybe it was some deep seated admiration for the 5 time champion that I would never admit to, maybe it was the fact I am 4 weeks away from being a father for the first time so I relate to this a different way than I might have even a year ago, maybe it was just the overall devastation to several direct families and millions of people around the world this crash caused. I feel it was the most awful of perfect storms that combined all these things that gave me a reality hit I don’t remember having felt before.

I had just opened my eyes and rolled over for my girlfriend to tell me the news and as I shot up immediately, suddenly wider awake than ever, and reached for my phone, the main thought running through my head was what I’m sure a lot of people would have been thinking as the news broke to them. “Nah not Kobe, it must be a hoax or a mistake or something. Kobe’s invincible”. Unfortunately, it was all too real, and as my heart filled and my eyes swelled, I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

This is the point in which my feelings totally took me by surprise. I don’t feel you can just glaze over the Colorado incident. Ultimately the case did not go to trial and was settled out of court, but reading the evidence at hand years later once I had the maturity to understand and comprehend what had happened, I came to a simple conclusion.  I hated Kobe for what he was accused of, what he had put that woman through and that was essentially that.

I feel it is situations like he was in that can ultimately define a person’s character for better or for worse. As I started to reflect on Kobe, I started to see a man who wanted to better himself and grow from what had happened, no matter how inexcusable it was. He began to not only re-dedicate his life to his basketball, but to also being a better family man and a better person. You can see the results as he slowly managed to rebuild his reputation, through the rest of his career and in retirement. You can read about it from the numerous accounts of his generosity of time and even financial aid, you can see it in the joy of his kids faces whenever the camera cut to them when he went out and dropped a damn 60 piece in his last game, you could see it in every photo and video of him and Gigi whether they were working out on the court or watching a game courtside while the master passed down knowledge to the student, the fact that he wasn’t NBA superstar Kobe Bryant when he died, he was just a dad going to watch his kid play basketball. That last point is one that really sticks with me.

I reflected on these things throughout the day and came to the conclusion that many other people already knew; I respected the hell out of Kobe Bryant. I respected him because I hated him, I respected him because I rooted against him, I respected him because he was the ultimate villain to everyone not in the purple and gold, literally telling supporters of the opposing teams that he was going to rip their hearts out, and I respect him still because despite all these things, here I am pouring my heart out over him. He was an idol to many, he was a cold blooded, no eff giving, singular driving force the closest thing to Michael we have seen, the creator of Mamba Mentality which so many people aspire to and use in their everyday lives. He was a man who didn’t let a torn Achilles stop him, simply pinch the calf to make sure it stays in place long enough to take free throws, he was a man who would simply shoot left handed if his right arm wasn’t hanging correctly, he would beat you at every aspect of the game and be damn sure to let you know about it. He was one of the last of a dying breed of player who wouldn’t socialise and fraternise with the enemy, winning was everything. He is also the reason for my favourite vine — if you have been on the internet as long as me, you know the one. Guy runs across a room, launches himself over a white table, drops a ball into a red cup all while screaming KOBE at the top of his lungs. 7 seconds of absolute fire that was played on repeat from this guy right here.

Kobe leaves a hole far bigger than LA in this world and I truly hope he, his future superstar WNBA daughter Gigi and the other 7 passengers involved rest in peace.