Kobe's Friend
04-23-2016, 09:24 PM
So I was feeling pretty lazy. Did what I would call a mild workout earlier in the day. Just didn't feel like doing anything else. Then I just rewatched Kobe's 60 point game. The highlights and did an hour of intense cardio at 3 am. I wa S just thinking this dude scored 60 (bleep) points in his last game at age 37 what's my excuse? There is none. Kobe is simply an inspiration to us all. When you're just not feeling it. When you're struggling. When life is trying to get you down all you have to do is think of the Mamba and everything he went through and overcame. We all have that Black Mamba in is. No quitting. No pouting. No whining, just (bleep) do it. Period. Push through everything and anything and get whatever needs to be done, done.
You see a man struggle through the last three seasons of his career. Struggling with what he's gonna do next and now he has a plan for himself and there's no reason to believe he won't have tremendous success in his next career. You see the way Kobe not only accepted challenges, but rose above them and challenged himself further. Pushing himself above and beyond. I'll never forget his postgame interview after losing in the 2003 playoffs to San Antonio when he was asked how hard he'd work in the summer and he not surprisingly said he'd push himself to exhaustion. I mean man that kind of commitment. That kind of emotion and passion for what you do is just unmistakable.
I know some people think athletes aren't great role models for kids and normally I'd concur, but this guy is just a different story to me. I think anyone whatever is your passion is should look up to this man. The way he demands success and sheer hard work, determination, and constantly refining his craft is just unlike anyone I've ever seen. We always hear if this guy ever reaches his potential or that guy does and it doesn't always happen. Other players get content and it's hard to blame them once you reach a certain point. What I and a lot would call a psychotic competitor much like Michael Jordan is what perfectly exemplifies Kobe Bryant. This dude was already argurably the best player in the league right after Shaq's decline and departure and already has three championships. Most guys would've said well "(bleep) y'all haters I got money and three rings I don't need to prove anyone wrong". Kobe said "no (bleep) you all I will prove you right, I will make you eat your words". I will be 10x the player I am now and damn if it wasn't for the Chris Paul debacle and subsequent Achilles tear Kobe would've likely ended up with at least six or seven.
Kobe is just flat out awesome man. I can't fathom how anyone can not appreciate and admire this man. To put that much in for such a lengthy period of time. Never backing down. Never ceasing from the immense pressure like we've seen others do. Overcoming early failures like the air balls against Utah when he was 18, or even later on in the Finals in 2004 and 2008 (Not that it was all his fault). That just takes such an incredible amount of mental toughness. As much admiration as I have for the great and I mean great Kareem, Magic, Shaq, etc. Kobe will always be my favorite Laker. Magic believes he's the best Laker. I agree with him although that will always be a great debate to have. Honestly I expected some dejection, some depression from Kobe's impending retirement. Knowing the man I grew up watching and became a basketball and Lakers fan was riding off into the sunset. Yet I'm not sad at all. I'm happy for him that he got to go out his way. He was able to have his retirement tour. He was able to show the young guys in that finale what it takes to reach this pinacle in a career.
I openly acknowledge it was emotional for me, but not in a sad way. Just in an appreciative way me just being so thrilled and feeling so lucky I got to see this man dominate for at the highest level, prove every single doubter along the way wrong, leading this team to the promise land time and time again, and just having one of the truly remarkable and historic careers. Ultimately Kobe obviously is beyond ecstatic he got to as he put it live out his dream. Playing for the best orginization for two decades, but I truly believe he is also very happy that he clearly was an inspiration to so many people. Seeing all these people show up for every game in his final season. It wasn't just about basketball. It was about life too. It was about all us fans showing immense respect and appreciation to a man who taught us all that quitting should never be in your vocabulary. That slacking off should never be an option. That chasing your dreams and absolutely driving yourself to the best of your ability should always be a no brainer.
Even though Kobe is retired I still find myself constantly wearing his jersey. Matter of fact just got some Kobe sneakers. He's had a tremendous impact on my life and that kind of admiration will never go away. A decade from now I'll still be thanking and appreciating Kobe. No doubt. Just watching some old highlights and just having a huge smile on my face because of the fact that I got to see all these great games. I didn't have to watch tape like I did with those that came before. I saw it with my own eyes. I witnessed (bleep) history. Saying Kobe was great, was sensational, was terrific, doesn't even do it justice. The man was Superman for two decades. Now he's put up the cape, but we won't ever forget how he saved us and the Lakers franchise. Time and time again.
You see a man struggle through the last three seasons of his career. Struggling with what he's gonna do next and now he has a plan for himself and there's no reason to believe he won't have tremendous success in his next career. You see the way Kobe not only accepted challenges, but rose above them and challenged himself further. Pushing himself above and beyond. I'll never forget his postgame interview after losing in the 2003 playoffs to San Antonio when he was asked how hard he'd work in the summer and he not surprisingly said he'd push himself to exhaustion. I mean man that kind of commitment. That kind of emotion and passion for what you do is just unmistakable.
I know some people think athletes aren't great role models for kids and normally I'd concur, but this guy is just a different story to me. I think anyone whatever is your passion is should look up to this man. The way he demands success and sheer hard work, determination, and constantly refining his craft is just unlike anyone I've ever seen. We always hear if this guy ever reaches his potential or that guy does and it doesn't always happen. Other players get content and it's hard to blame them once you reach a certain point. What I and a lot would call a psychotic competitor much like Michael Jordan is what perfectly exemplifies Kobe Bryant. This dude was already argurably the best player in the league right after Shaq's decline and departure and already has three championships. Most guys would've said well "(bleep) y'all haters I got money and three rings I don't need to prove anyone wrong". Kobe said "no (bleep) you all I will prove you right, I will make you eat your words". I will be 10x the player I am now and damn if it wasn't for the Chris Paul debacle and subsequent Achilles tear Kobe would've likely ended up with at least six or seven.
Kobe is just flat out awesome man. I can't fathom how anyone can not appreciate and admire this man. To put that much in for such a lengthy period of time. Never backing down. Never ceasing from the immense pressure like we've seen others do. Overcoming early failures like the air balls against Utah when he was 18, or even later on in the Finals in 2004 and 2008 (Not that it was all his fault). That just takes such an incredible amount of mental toughness. As much admiration as I have for the great and I mean great Kareem, Magic, Shaq, etc. Kobe will always be my favorite Laker. Magic believes he's the best Laker. I agree with him although that will always be a great debate to have. Honestly I expected some dejection, some depression from Kobe's impending retirement. Knowing the man I grew up watching and became a basketball and Lakers fan was riding off into the sunset. Yet I'm not sad at all. I'm happy for him that he got to go out his way. He was able to have his retirement tour. He was able to show the young guys in that finale what it takes to reach this pinacle in a career.
I openly acknowledge it was emotional for me, but not in a sad way. Just in an appreciative way me just being so thrilled and feeling so lucky I got to see this man dominate for at the highest level, prove every single doubter along the way wrong, leading this team to the promise land time and time again, and just having one of the truly remarkable and historic careers. Ultimately Kobe obviously is beyond ecstatic he got to as he put it live out his dream. Playing for the best orginization for two decades, but I truly believe he is also very happy that he clearly was an inspiration to so many people. Seeing all these people show up for every game in his final season. It wasn't just about basketball. It was about life too. It was about all us fans showing immense respect and appreciation to a man who taught us all that quitting should never be in your vocabulary. That slacking off should never be an option. That chasing your dreams and absolutely driving yourself to the best of your ability should always be a no brainer.
Even though Kobe is retired I still find myself constantly wearing his jersey. Matter of fact just got some Kobe sneakers. He's had a tremendous impact on my life and that kind of admiration will never go away. A decade from now I'll still be thanking and appreciating Kobe. No doubt. Just watching some old highlights and just having a huge smile on my face because of the fact that I got to see all these great games. I didn't have to watch tape like I did with those that came before. I saw it with my own eyes. I witnessed (bleep) history. Saying Kobe was great, was sensational, was terrific, doesn't even do it justice. The man was Superman for two decades. Now he's put up the cape, but we won't ever forget how he saved us and the Lakers franchise. Time and time again.