MambaAndMe

Dear Kobe,

From the moment

I saw a brash young kid not shy away from the Moment

In the Forum of Champions.

I knew one thing was clear:

I would fall in love with you.

A love that got so deep, because you gave of yourself so much--

From your heart, mind and, most assuredly, your body

It touched my spirit

As a 9 year old boy, my first memories were of an aging Logo and a mighty Stilt.

Winning seemed so easy, 33 in a row to gold.

Yet it seemed more relief than joy to me.

The we got another 33

Whose consistent dominance is the greatest I've ever seen

Yet also seemed somehow joyless

Until something Magical arrived

and the combination of Joy and Greatness meshed into Dynasty.

Never did I think someone could replace that Magic in my heart.

Yet, in so many ways, Kobe, you did.

You played through the sweat and hurt

You took on every challenger

You rarely were the most athletic guy on the court.

Others were bigger, stronger, faster, could jump higher or could hold the ball like a melon.

But through your heart, peerless work ethic and sheer will

nobody was better.

Because it came from so much more than an elite skill set.

You called to me and millions of others.

You tried to do everything you could on the court for US.

You never took away from the game,

no "load management" for you.

That is what you did.

You made us feel alive, alive, alive,

every moment had to be seen.

You gave a man 15 years your senior, Laker Dreams, fulfilled.

And I'll always love you for it.

You made mistakes, bad ones, and became better from them.

Never doubted you would.

Never doubted you, whether it was a severe ankle injury,

a broken finger, torn ligament, whatever, you would step up to the line.

You didn't always make the "right" play,

but so, so often the best play.

Whether is was the double teams, lack of "superstar calls", the media's venom,

or the line of contenders that you always eclipsed.

You fought and so often conquered.

When you retired,

my heart and my mind understood.

It was time to say goodbye from basketball.

But somehow I knew I would still see you often

and the memories you inspired.

I never wanted to have to let you go

like this.

It is not ok. I'm not ok.

I want you to know,

I will savor every memory you gave me.

The good and the bad.

And please know, no matter what,

when I roll up a piece of paper.

It will remind me of the countless times, at the end of periods,

shot clocks, games.

That I wanted YOU to take the shot,

Who else?

I see it again, always.

5....4....3....2....1

Swish!

Love you always Kobe.