NSL Insider - Vale Kobe

by jessedunne, updated on Tuesday, January 28 2020, 02:13 am EST

I grew up on Kobe. In Australia, in the late 90’s early 00’s we didn’t get league pass. Foxtel didn’t exist, so we couldn’t watch espn. YouTube wasn’t a thing either. My friends used to bring VHS and then DVD’s of whole games to school. So there was no highlights. I’d rush home and watch full lakers games, to see Kobe. I still remember leaving school early the day we got our hands on the 81 point game DVD, a few days after it had happened. We watched every minute and I remember thinking that he was unlike anyone or anything I ever saw. I could see it in his eyes. He hated losing more than he loved winning.

Then I was exposed to YouTube and Twitter. I got into fantasy nba and stats. Living in Australia was no longer a hinderance. I was a fully fledged NBA fan. It was at this time that I fell in love with Bron. I just saw Lebron as a more well rounded player. I never took to social media to voice my opinion. I didn’t get involved in the Kobe v LBJ. I did however focus less energy on Kobe and more on Lebron. Especially with the lakers struggling in Kobe’s twilight years.

This absolute tragedy today. That has made me feel sick in my stomach. That has made me cry and makes me feel like crying every couple of minutes. It’s reminded me of how much I loved Kobe. How much I idolises him. How much he has impacted my day to day life. I just work 9-5 and play local footy and basketball. But I chewed on my jersey. I yelled Kobe everyone time I played beer pong. I wanted to have his drive and his determination. I wanted to be the Kobe of my team. I wanted to try harder and work more than anyone else. All because I watched him do it on a DVD from 12,000 KMS away.

Watching those highlights today. “Buckle up for Kobe Bryant” his playoff game winner againts Steve Nash and the suns at staples. His dunk on Ben Wallace. His clutch buckets and Sam Cassels celebration againts the spurs. It all reminded me why I loved him. Why he was my hero. Why I spent all my pocket money to get my uncle to send out 3 Kobe jerseys. I dug one out of my closet today and haven’t taken it off. I think I’ll wear it to work tomorrow. I started writing this because I didn’t want to tweet, I didn’t know what to tweet. Who cares what I have to say, when you can hear from Shaq, The Logo and modern day stars. But I just wanted to put something down. I loved Kobe. And I am more in love with him now than ever. I can’t imagine what his family is going through. I hope they know the impact he has had all over the world. I hope that gives them some comfort.

I have never felt this sad about anything external like this before. I say retire 8 & 24 at every club. Make him the logo. He is a top 15 player of all time. Maybe 10. This is an unprecedented moment. I remember my dad telling me when Elvis died, he was 17 and he sat in his room and cried all day. I’m 29, and I sat in my room and cried today. When retiring, Kobe said he owes the fans and basketball more than it owes him. But I disagree. I owe Kobe a childhood of memories and lifetime if trying to love basketball 1 inch as much as he did. Vale Kobe.

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NSL Insider - Vale Kobe

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