I was never into sports (and still am not), but if there was any sport I knew most about, it would definitely be basketball. Growing up, the only basketball team I knew was the Lakers, and the only basketball player I knew was Kobe Bryant. In my mind, basketball is Kobe and Kobe is basketball.
The first basketball game I actually watched was the LA Lakers versus the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals (unfortunately, Lakers lost this game). This was when I learned how you get points in basketball: 2 points inside the curve, 3 points outside the curve, and if everybody lines up on both sides while you stand in the middle in front of the basket, it’s 1 point if you make it. If the referee blows the whistle in the middle of the game, chances are, someone did something bad (my way of saying they fouled). You’re probably already imagining how much I know about the other sports if this is how much I know about basketball.
Every time a player missed a shot, my reaction would be, What! I thought these are professional basketball players who would make it into the basket every time! Every time I saw Kobe shooting, I’d focus really hard and think, C’mon Kobe, make it in there, you can do it! I’m pretty sure he hears my thoughts because he would usually make it in.
Although I’ve never really followed any basketball updates about Kobe, I always knew and heard about all the great things he did. To hear about the helicopter crash on Sunday morning was shocking and devastating. It hurts to see someone so amazing and inspirational leave so suddenly and tragically. I can’t even imagine what was going through his head the moment he realized that he, his beloved daughter Gigi, and the rest of the friends and families on the helicopter might not make it to their game. Many questions that may never be answered came up as I read through more and more articles and reports on the crash and his life. Was he able to comfort his daughter and be by her side as it was happening? What were the last things he said and did? I had no idea that he was Catholic, and found out that he had just gone to Mass that morning before the incident. I started reading about how his faith had impacted his life too.
The news is hard to digest. It really made me think about how no matter how great of a person you are, how many things you’ve accomplished in your life, how much money you’ve saved up – it doesn’t make you live any longer. What you can do is take what you have to enhance your life: do things that make you happy, travel to places you’ve always wanted to go to, spend time with those you love. Life is fragile, and your life could be taken at any moment. Your next breath could be your last, and you won’t even see it coming. When you are faced with death, there’s only so much you can control.
It is heartbreaking not only for the families of those involved in the crash, but also for the entire community and all those who have looked up to Kobe as a role model around the world. Thank you, Kobe, for all that you’ve done and all that you’ve shown and taught us. You have had an impact on many lives, and will continue to be an inspiration for many. You will be missed, but will forever stay in our hearts. May you, Gigi, and everyone else who were on the helicopter rest in peace.
