Kobe! Since I can remember shooting your crumbled up trash in the trashcan and yelling “Kobe” was the norm that we all did. Being from SoCal, Kobe Bryant was the first basketball player I really knew since I grew up a football and baseball guy.

That’s who Kobe was, he was an omnipresent figure that was part of my life without me even really knowing it. Once I got older I learned more about the legend and his work ethic, his confidence on the field, the Mamba mentality, and I couldn’t help but respect him, even though I’m a diehard of his crosstown rivals.

Kobe made it okay to be cocky, his entire way of playing, if there’s a will there’s a way and the rewards of outworking everyone is something I still live by today. This is why I think I, like millions of others, felt the pain and sadness at his tragic passing. The ultimate punch to the gut was that he along with 8 others lost their lives, including his beautiful daughter Gianna.

His Impact

I remember hearing the news and just being in disbelief. I was all over Twitter and Google trying to find more, trying to make sense of this. “It couldn’t be Kobe, he’s a legend!” To me, Kobe was supposed to live forever, he was supposed to make an impact for AT LEAST another 50 or so years and then pass peacefully as we all do with old age.

But at 41, Kobe had just begun his journey into changing the world, Gigi at 13 had just gotten a taste of what the world had to offer. It still almost brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. With all the stories I hear about Kobe, all the players who like me grew up admiring the mighty Kobe Bryant only to be reminded that even legends aren’t immortal.

It’s not fair, I don’t think anyone can really ever make sense of Kobe or deny the impact he made on LA, the impact he made on sports, the impact he made in our generation.

An Inspiration For A Generation

“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will”- Chester Palahniuk. We were all met with the harsh reminder that every day is a gift and we never know what day will be our last. The best way to live is to make an impact every day and to live life every day to the fullest. Kobe did just that, he played every game like it was his last, he talked to every person like if it was his last time ever seeing them, he brought it out and inspired hundreds upon hundreds of athletes to pursue their dreams.

Kobe once said he wanted to die young, he wanted to inspire as many people as possible and he wanted his kids to do the same. He lived his life like he wanted, to the fullest and whether you loved or hated Kobe you couldn’t help but admire him.

A City United

“There is hope beyond the suffering, joy beyond the tears, peace in every tragedy, love that conquers fear”- Phil Wickham. In spite of the tragedy, the city came together and celebrated Kobe, no fighting or debating just hugs, reassurance, and condolences. We were all hurting and we all had a reason to cry as we lost a childhood hero that touched so many of us in so many different ways.