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From Me to You:
Kobe Bryant – Getting to Know Him After He’s Gone
Kobe Bryant and Gianna in 2013I have spent a lot of today thinking about the unpredictability of life and why things happen the way they do. The helicopter crash, the meaningless deaths of all on board including the basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old prodigy daughter Gianna. Why such unhappy endings in real life?
The random nature of life is the enigma we have to face time and again. There is just so much sadness all around, especially if you think that at 41, Bryant had so many more years of an enriching life ahead. His daughter’s was a life which had yet to bloom
For those who may not be sports buffs and may not know enough about this iconic superstar, who may not have the full details of the tragedy – here is detailed reporting from The New York Times of the story as it unfolds.
Kobe Bryant Dies in a Helicopter Crash: Live Updates
As you process the tragedy, one way of paying tribute is to watch ‘Dear Basketball’ – an animated short film that Bryant had created back in 2018 and which won the Oscar for best animated film. As you watch this you begin to understand who he really was and how passionate he was about the sport – it was his very soul. Right from the time he was six, with bunched up socks serving as a ball – to the time he retired from the sport – basketball was his life, his reason for being. Watch this lovely short – you will love it and understand what a full life Kobe Bryant lived and why he is the torch-bearer for so many dreamers and strivers.
Kobe Bryant’s ‘Dear Basketball’
As the scores who have paid tribute on the Youtube site of ‘Dear Basketballl, one wrote: “This isn’t just about basketball… this is about chasing after something you’ve fallen in love with as a kid. It’s about chasing a dream you’ve always had, with everything you’ve got. This is a love letter to childhood hopes and dreams.”
Another fan Izzah Kamrat wrote: “This hurts to watch. To hear his voice, hearing about the passion he had for the game. The blood, sweat and tears. The sacrifices. The injuries. The wins and the loses. He truly gave his all for this sport. He was a phenomenal player. And even after his retirement, the work he continued to pursue, donating money, starting organizations, helping others. He’s the kind of person I strive to be. He set a great example for his generation, my generation, and the ones to come. Thank you, Kobe.”
Colton McMullin wrote: Anyone here reminiscing on his life? He was so much more than a basketball player. He created so much hope for young kids all around the world.”
So as I ponder like I’m prone to do, agonize about life and death and the true meaning of life, this little film ‘Dear Basketball’ makes me understand what makes living precious and worthwhile, and what we all must strive to do – have passion for what we care about and what we believe in.
Kobe Bryant
Finally, here’s one more tribute from a fan to show you how far passion can travel:
Written by VV:
“Kobe, you really did inspire me to be who i am today. You’ve taught me the ultimate intensity, that bliss that only comes with focus and confidence. I’m hurt I won’t be able to see you grow old and how you were going to transition, I believe it would have been your greatest feat. You and your daughter would have become the greatest basketball duo of all time, and I cant explain how sad I am that I’ll never get to see it.
I bought your jersey when I was 12 and I had always hoped to one day have you sign it, daam :/. Keep Gianna safe, it’s really shitty she had to be on that chopper with u :/ and keep giving your strength to those who mourned you, cause even though the world empty, youd still tell us to wake up tomorrow at 5am and get to damn work.
Thanks again, you were my childhood hero, my sports coach and my life coach. You taught people how to approach the game of life, and what you have to do to win. Thanks for showing by example what poise, hard work, swag, and instincts are, and how to carry yourself. Gone but not forgotten my friend.”
Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who writes for several international publications. Twitter@lavinamelwani & @lassiwithlavina
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