By TAMARA SMITH
Student Intern
It’s not about the celebrity, it’s about the impact.
Kobe Bryant, legendary and professional NBA player, and Gianna Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, sadly passed in a tragic helicopter accident in Calabasas, Calif. on Jan. 26 while traveling to his youth basketball academy. Seven others sadly lost their lives in this accident including John Altobelli, an Orange Coast College baseball coach who was 27 years old.
Previous to this tragic accident, Lebron James surpassed Kobe for third on the all-time scoring list. As well as Lebron passing an extraordinary goal, Bryant was supposed to be able to witness himself being inducted into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame this year. For these monumental milestones to occur for both close in relationship players, and then for the horrific events of the following day to take place, surely makes the devastation of Bryant’s passing hit the fans and NBA harder.
What is important to take from the devastation is the impact Bryant had on society as a whole. After his passing thousands of fans, celebrities and even Barack Obama himself took to social media to write meaningful words of hope and encouragement both for the Bryant family, and for us fans. While reading their well written words, and even watching news channel stations cover the event, it’s noticeable that they all had one thing in common. Kobe Bryant was in fact a basketball player, but his journey and mentality transcended throughout mankind.
He was a player who strictly focused on the game. A player who encouraged society to become greater and not stop until they have reached their true goals. It is rare in our modern day to have someone with such a high platform, influence many in such a positive and productive manner. Even those who were not particularly fans of basketball or sports in general, were still impacted by what this individual stood for.
Only hours after his passing did hundreds of fans gather with flowers, basketballs, photographs, jerseys and art outside of the Los Angeles Staples Center to make their message clear; we will never forget his legacy and we will continue on this point forward to proceed with “Mamba Mentality.”
“Mamba mentality is you’re going, you’re competing, you’re not worried about the end result,” Kobe once stated when revealing his new Nike shoe in 2017. We have the ability to do better, to become better, to be the most legendary versions of ourselves that we could possibly become. Kobe’s drive and determination alone, showed millions of people that they too, once entered into the productive mindset, have the ability to fight for their future.
Kobe Bryant will forever be remembered through the hearts of many for decades to come. We will never forget what an honor it was to witness such a legend play for a sport he deeply believed in, never forget the youth he inspired to follow their dreams, and never forget a passionate individual who pledged that personal growth would be the only way to reach our true potential.
He was a baller, a mentor, a single minded player in the pursuit of excellence, a father, the Mamba, and a complex individual who will forever be remembered.
In the spirit of Kobe Bryant, it is only right to leave you with the following quote Lebron James made during his heartfelt speech in honor of the valuable player on Jan 23. while wearing Bryant’s famous number 24 Lakers jersey.
“So in the words of Kobe Bryant, ‘Mamba out’. But in the words of us, ‘Not forgotten’. Live on brother.”
