Best Thing I Heard Today 1/26/20

“Tomorrow is not promised.” Narlie R. Hinton

“It’s been a devastating loss for humanity.” Jalen Rose

I heard my grandmother’s voice today as I learned of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. She was saying, “Tomorrow is not promised.” My grandmother passed away on January 4, 2001. It was the day after my birthday. It was a day that I will never forget...much like today. Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He was the greatest player of his era. However, I wasn’t a Lakers fan at the time. I often have said that I wasn’t a Kobe fan, but I had tremendous respect for his game and contribution to basketball. I recently began to follow Kobe’s life beyond the court. His legendary work ethic did not stop when he retired from playing. From his family, to his business to his Oscar, Kobe Bryant gave his all in every aspect of his life. Until today, I never knew how connected I was to Kobe Bryant even though I never cheered for his team. After all, I am a life long Philadelphia 76ers fan. My favorite player is Allen Iverson and I grew up idolizing Dr. J. However, today I realized that as an athlete and an NBA fan, I am inextricably connected and powerfully inspired by Kobe Bryant. The Mamba mentality is exactly what I’ve tried to inspire in the teams that I have coached. Kobe will remain an inspiration for me and so many others when we think of greatness. Like Stephen A said, he would want us to “Go for it!” That’s his legacy...A legacy of excellence. Kobe Bryant entered the league as a teenager and left the league as a legend. His 41 years were full of milestones and record breaking feats on the court. However, for me, I will forever remember the relationships that he had with his children and specifically his daughter Gianna (Gigi) who perished by his side. Kobe left this world being a great Dad. He leaves a legacy of love and an overwhelming commitment to excellence for all of us to aspire. As my grandmother said, “Tomorrow is not promised.” We only have this moment. It is up to us to contribute in a way that mimics Kobe’s example.  There were 8 games in the NBA today. Suddenly, the judging of players and the claiming of teams wasn’t that important. It didn’t matter to me who won. It was a day of reflection, sorrow and gratitude for a man, his daughter and his friends who left this world tragically. Jalen Rose said about Kobe’s passing, “It’s been a devastating loss for humanity.” In this moment, I tend to agree. However, I cling to the possibility that something great can happen even in the worst of tragedies. Let’s choose to see God at work. May we all mourn, but then rise with that Mamba Mentality. Thank God for Kobe.