Thank You, Kobe

As a kid growing up in South Florida in the ‘90s, football was king.

Sure, the HEAT were perennial playoff contenders, with exciting guys such as Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning and Dan Majerle, but the Dolphins still had the town at that time.

And as an impressionable nine-year-old, football was kind of what I gravitated towards.

That was until I was introduced to one, Kobe Bean Bryant.

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I found out about him, but it likely was in a commercial circa 1998 or 1999. (Yes, people had to watch commercials back then.)

At this point, Kobe’s presence and influence was undeniable. From Sprite commercials to his own series of video games, Kobe was a big part of pop culture. And on the court, he was essentially tasked with moving the league forward after Michael Jordan retired for the first time.

It’s safe to say he did just that.

Some of my fondest childhood memories entail pool parties at my neighbor’s house while watching Shaq and Kobe’s Lakers on NBC every Sunday in the Spring.

To this day, NBC’s iconic theme makes me think of this play:



I remember, much to my friends’ chagrin, playing as only Shaq and Kobe on NBA Showtime.

I remember running to all the Scholastic Book Fairs in my Kobe jersey (which I wore to school every Friday), just to buy SI For Kids or a Kobe-related book.

I remember yelling “Kobe” while shooting on the hoop outside my house.

Slowly but surely, I found myself emulating his turnaround jumpers, his competitiveness and his knack for big shots.

But above all else, his global reach was unquestionable.

Even if you weren’t a basketball fan, you still knew who Kobe Bryant was.

And that’s the sign of a true icon.

So, thank you, Kobe.

Thank you for making such an impact on a nine-year-old kid that he would eventually go on to work in the league that you took by storm for 20 seasons.

R.I.P. to all those who lost their lives in that terrible helicopter crash on Sunday.