By Branson Nash, KTXT-FM
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” This was not just any quote from Kobe Bryant, it was his mantra. It is not often the world comes to a standstill, but on January 26th it froze. It froze to mourn the loss of one of its biggest role models.
Kobe on the court was just different. He was like nothing anybody has ever seen before, and probably will never see again. He had the skill set to play any position on the court, and the mentality to take on any opponent standing in front of him. It is easy to ramble on about all the accomplishments Kobe accomplished on the hardwood, but that is not what made Kobe special. Kobe was not a global influence because he could hit a fadeaway on the baseline, he was an influence because of the person he was and was still becoming.
The “Mamba Mentality” that Kobe embodied on the court was even more evident in him when he was outside of the arena. Kobe did not want to be defined by just a basketball player. Therefore, when he retired he set out to accomplish more. In just two years after retiring, Kobe already made it on the stage of the Oscars as an Academy award winner. However, anybody who knew Kobe would tell you that his biggest accomplishments were not his successes, but rather the success of those he fought for.
Maybe nobody was a bigger advocate of the growth of women’s sports than Kobe. A big reason for that was the birth of his four daughters. From the stories of Elle Duncan on Sportscenter, he never once regretted not having a boy. He just wanted his kids to chase their dreams. Which is exactly how his second-oldest, GiGi, lived her life. Kobe never worried about his legacy in the NBA dying off because he was confident it would carry on with GiGi. After all, for Kobe, it was never about him but his daughters. He did everything in his power to be the best dad he possibly could be. He encouraged his daughters to live courageously, and he was with them every step of the way. Whether it was from the bench as a coach, the bleachers as a fan, or at home as a father, he was always there.
In his shortened time on Earth, Kobe made such an impact that he will be felt for years to come. The locals in Los Angeles will radiate the stories Kobe gave them to future generations. Basketball players at every level will continue to rock the newest Kobe basketball shoes and bear the “Mamba Mentality.” Kids from halfway across the globe will still shout “Kobe” every time they shoot a crumpled-up ball of paper into a trash can. In their home in Southern California, Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri Bryant will continue to bear the legacy of Kobe and will keep the Mamba Mentality alive, both on and off the court.
This tragedy touched people from every corner of the world. KTXT offers out prayers, thoughts, and condolences to the Bryant family, but also the Altobelli, Mauser, Zobayan, and Chester families, all gone too soon. We ask that their legacies continue to live on.
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