Kobe Bryant – A Tribute to Life and Legacy

We are all aware, by now, that basketball great Kobe Bryant and eight others (one being his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna) perished Sunday morning in a fateful helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. However, are we amply aware of what Kobe Bryant’s life meant as a whole?

Inspiration

In 1996, at the tender age of 17, Kobe Bryant was one of the rare 45 players to make the unfathomable leap from high school to the NBA. That’s essentially equivalent to taking a high school graduate and tossing them straight into a doctoral program at an Ivy League institution! Yes, that quixotic.

However, Bryant not only rose to the occassion, he retired as the #4 All-Time Leading Scorer in NBA history and a 5-time NBA Championship winner. Bryant, also known as The Black Mamba, was the epitome of ‘you can do anything you put your mind to.’ He showed us that ‘impossible’ rightfully means ‘I’m Possible.’ Because of Kobe Bryant, millions of people around the globe have learned that no goal is out of reach, and all is attainable with the application of faith, dedication and determination.

Motivation

As a motivational figure, Kobe Bryant gave even Gary Vaynerchuk and Tony Robbins a run for their money. Bryant routinely and consistently fed us with motivational jewels such as: “We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it,” and “If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be.”

Aside from quotes, Bryant delivered numerous motivational speeches, as well. Kobe toured schools (ranging from middle schools to colleges), sports camps (includng his own Mamba Sports Academy), and venues around the world providing lectures rich with inspiration and zeal. It’s said, “He who saves the life of one man saves the entire world,” and we’re certain that The Black Mamba‘s motivational endeavors saved many lives by furnishing auditors with the tools to empower themselves.

Personality

Both on and off the court, Kobe Bryant was a sheer character. Like, how ’bout the time he moonwalked at the free throw line? Or, what about the infamous ESPN commercial when he ordered 81 olives for his martini in front of Jalen Rose? Ha, ha!

If we had to pinpoint the primary thing we’re going to miss about Kobe Bryant, it may be his sense of humor. He made us realize that working hard towards your goals is more than fine — however, at the same time, don’t take life too seriously — take time out to stop and have some fun. And Bryant, beyond any doubt, definitely had a lot of fun.

Love

Everyone that’s experienced love knows two things: 1. it’s the best aspect of life, and 2. it’s not easy. A lot of times, love requires a fight. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for,” claims the renowned phrase, and what is worth having more than love? Nothing.

An extremely transparent public figure, Kobe Bryant had one of the biggest hearts ever and proudly wore it upon his sleeve. Kobe fought to become arguably the greatest NBA shooting guard, ever. When sex abuse accusations against him surfaced, Kobe openly fought to hold onto his wife and keep his marriage intact. On her way to potentially becoming a WNBA superstar, Kobe taught Gianna how to be a warrior and diligently work at honing her craft. We love(d) Kobe Bryant, because Kobe Bryant walked in love, gave love, instructed love and embodied love.

Kobe – in a relatively dark world, thank you for being a blinding light. We love you, forever and always. Sleep in peace.