Sadness.
Most people who know me think that I am a “girly-girl”. I am. What most would not see is that I am at heart an athlete, ever striving to be one. It started with my dad who loved all sports and growing up in a small town whose only respectable sport was basketball. Basketball was the thing that made me understand so many things about life, about the power of dedication and teamwork. I love basketball. Local, College (March madness – what fun!) and the NBA.
Black Mamba. When I left Arkansas and moved to Los Angeles, it was after I had experienced the Razorbacks going to the Final Four with Sidney Moncrief at OU with my dad, and after my dad had died of a sudden heart attack at 43 years old. He never saw Kobe Bryant play. But if he had, I know he would have said “that kid is amazing”. Well, maybe not that adjective, but with respect certainly. #girldad
When I saw the brutally true claim from TMZ (they are evil!) that Kobe was dead in a helicopter crash, I honestly broke down and cried. Because over the years, I became not only a huge Lakers fan but a devotee of Kobe, champions and a respected legion who saw that talent, mistakes, perseverance were a part of great people. It’s who I strive to become. Kobe was my touchstone and although he was retired, he was still an influence of greatness on so many levels , volunteering his time and talent to develop programs of champions.
Seriously, I cried most of the day of January 26th, and still get teary thinking about it. That’s part of my “girly-girl” side. People who know me at a deep level called and I was bawling like a baby.
Here’s what I learned from basketball and from Kobe.
Let’s start with the ability to control your outcome. Being able to control the outcome (dribbling: get the ball and keep it), being able to defend (physical movement to prevent your opponent’s forward motion); defending at the critical moment (stop others from moving forward), being able to move it forward (throwing or dribbling to get down the court), hitting the ball from outside for the most points (3 pointers versus two pointers? Kobe was the King!) or losing with grace (honor others who play better than you). Sportsmanship is something that he did with excellence.
Practice makes perfect. Kobe was the ultimate athlete who believed in putting in the work. His work ethic was legendary, both on and off the court. Here’s the thing. The man did make mistakes in his life. When he joined the NBA, he was 17 years old. He was surrounded with ‘opportunity’ to be a bad boy. Some of those he took. Yet, what he did in those 20 years in the NBA and for the NBA was nothing short of a miracle.
His legacy was trying to be disturbed with his legal battles over a night with a girl that went awry. But he recovered and continued to be a champion.
What does being a champion mean?
?It means continuing to be the best person/athlete that you can be when you join an international league, join the world in a public way, or become a dad. Or just be a an honorable human being.
It means overcoming adversity, moving forward with your head up, even when you make mistakes.
It means being a leader. Taking young players and helping them be a part of the team. Taking the reins when you need to lead. (No disrespect to Phil).
It means showing up every day when you are tired, are injured, or are feeling defeated. It is commitment to be your best self, both physically and mentally. Not getting defeated with life’s challenges.
When the Lakers won the championships, both with Shaq and again without, I was celebrating life. I had his number 24 jersey and my husband found his number 8 jersey on Ebay. I still have them both.
Friday night, I watched Lebron come on the stage to play after he had just broken Kobe’s total scoring record and moved into the number 3 position of all-time NBA scoring records just the night before he died. Kobe sent him congratulations, and I believe Lebron spoke from the heart. Lebron has big shoes to fill. He always has. I’m not sure that he has the class to be the man that Kobe was: On the court, in the gym, in the press, on contributing to the betterment of the world. (see Kobe’s resume), but I hope that another champion will be repping the Lakers.
Sometimes, I watch players that I’ve seen playing at college level and are now in the NBA, and how their egos are crazy inflated, and I hope that they find the dedication and grace that Kobe was able to discover. I hope they can set an example to kids who see basketball as their path.
Kobe was someone to follow, to admire, to love, to model. RIP Kobe, Gianna, and to all the family members onboard that Sikorsky who were champions, loved basketball and were dedicated to the game. Everyone on board were dedicated champions, and if they were in Kobe’s inner circle, their stars were just as bright.
My heart is still broken over Kobe not being in this world, and the nine souls on board that were lost. But I hope that champions still emerge in this world and people continue to make the world a better place because of Kobe setting the standards!
#mambaout #girldad