A Legacy Built in Earnest
An Ode to Kobe Bryant
As an aspiring sports journalist, a question that I am often asked is, “Who is your dream interview?”
My answer is always the same… at least it was until this past Sunday.
Kobe Bean Bryant.
I would ask him what it was like growing up as an American in Europe. I would ask about when he understood that his mentality was different than most. I would ask about how he handled the lofty expectations imposed upon him from such a young age. I would ask what advice the Kobe that stepped off the court at age 37 would have given the Kobe that was drafted at age 17. I would ask if Mamba Mentality was a trait that was innate or learned.
Now, I’ll never get to.
But this isn’t about me. I am just one of millions upon millions of people that Kobe impacted over the course of his all-too-short life. This is about the man himself, and the legacy that he left in his wake.
Kobe’s legacy is a complicated one — not because his influence is in question, but rather because his impact so vast, that it is difficult to truly define what he meant to basketball, sports, and our society as a whole.
We can talk about his imprint on his friends and family. Kobe the friend, the husband, and the father was setting up to be just as great as Kobe the athlete. The saddest aspect of Kobe’s death is the fact that he was stripped of the fulfillment that comes with watching his daughters mature.
We can talk about his imprint on the city of Los Angeles: Ice Cube put it perfectly in saying that Kobe was “some of the glue that holds LA together,” in the midst of gang violence, racial tensions, and class hostilities. Kobe was one of few figures in the city that could mutually unite behind.
And, of course, we can talk about his imprint on the game of basketball. He is undeniably one of the greatest players to ever grace the court. Anyone who ever watched the man play knew it. He dared to follow in the footsteps of the most iconic player — and succeeded in the most iconic NBA franchise. He was an integral part of the globalization of the NBA: the news of his death rocked not just the United States, but all of North America, Asia, Europe, and just about every other place with a knowledge of the game of basketball. Players that came after him, especially those that were mentored by him, aspired to be him. For many, Kobe was the source of inspiration for picking up a basketball.
But the part of Kobe that was most universal, the part that can speak to any athlete, musician, entertainer, journalist, businessperson, or any other individual with aspirations, was his tenacious work ethic. This aspect of Kobe will be most remembered, primarily because it was so rare: many claim to aspire to walk the walk, but very few are willing to sacrifice what it takes to do so. But time and again, Kobe proved that his obsessive work ethic was matched only by his desire for greatness.
For this reason, we all can take comfort in knowing that his life did not end in vain. Kobe Bryant made the most of every single second he spent on this earth for 41 years. And though he was taken from us far too soon, he lived a life worth its weight in gold (and purple) by refusing to be outworked.
That is the lesson he left behind. Even for a person as immortal as Kobe seemed, life is fragile. The dark truth is that it can be taken from us in an instant. So, while we are blessed to be here, it is upon us to honor Kobe’s legacy by making the most of every moment, by working to be the best we can be in every facet of life.
So, who is my dream interview now that the Mamba is no longer with us? I can’t really say. What I do know, however, is that I am going to bust my ass for the opportunity.
Because that is what Kobe Bryant taught all of us.
