Like so many others, we shed a lot of tears at our house yesterday. When I received the text from my best coaching friend, I was stunned, in disbelief and overwhelmed by sadness. Our heart’s break for the families who’ve been shattered by this tragedy, for the other little girls that were lost. There’s been so much said about the greatness of Kobe, and it’s my hope that the stories and tributes to this iconic legend never stop, for as long as we remember, as long as we speak of his greatness as a father, as a man, as an athlete, as a storyteller, he’ll always exist. We grew up on Magic and Jordan, but we grew up WITH Kobe. Nobody worked harder, nobody was more ruthless & relentless on the court, he was an assassin who embodied the old-school style of hoops that us 90’s youth love. His approach to the game, his mindset, his commitment to his craft, his dogged determination, his curiosity, his attention to detail (oh that footwork and that beautiful film of his that had me crying over and over again Sunday), his drive, his competitive fire and love for life, should serve as an inspiration to all. Kobe was a generational talent. But that’s not why we cried yesterday, and it’s not why we cry today.
It’s for Kobe the man, Kobe the father, Gianna the person, that we cry. Jalen Rose said it best, “This is a loss for all of humanity.” I loved Kobe the basketball player. But it is Kobe the father I most admire. He was so much more than an athlete. He was a man committed to inspiring and mentoring our youth. A storyteller, mentor, teacher, brilliant & beautiful human, Kobe lived a life that matters. But what makes my heartbreak the most is the loss of his beautiful and special daughter, who hadn’t had the chance to chase her dreams.
As a father to a bountiful little girl, one year younger than Kobe’s, I cried every time I saw images of Kobe with his radiant little girl yesterday. The loss of Gigi is unthinkable. What a gift Kobe and Gianna were to this world, those smiles, their kindness, their love and grace. Like millions of others, my heart aches for his daughters, for his wife, for his family and friends, for the other seven lives lost.
Perspective is a powerful thing. No matter how hard we tried, we could never be like Kobe on the court, we could only admire and celebrate his greatness. But when I see the images of him with his daughter, I finally relate to a contemporary hero, because just like Kobe, being a dad to a bountiful young girl is my highest calling. To share that with a hero is pretty damn special.
It’s not what we do that matters, it’s who we are, it’s how we live, it’s how we love. As a coach, presenter & author, I often reference the greatness of the Black Mamba, and I’ve never been more inspired by him than I have since he left the game of basketball (a game we love). I never met the great Kobe Bryant, but I grew up with him in my living room, I studied him, admired him, respected him, and now, we’ll honor him and his beautiful Gianna. We may not be able to be like Kobe on the hardwood, but we can be like Kobe with our daughters, with our passions, with our relentless pursuit and drive to make a positive impact, to honor this precious gift we’re given, this one shot at life.
With nothin’ but love, mwl