Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

I wanted to hear from Phil in the worst way.

 

Same here, went through a box of Kleenex. She really brought home what kind of man Kobe really was. We witnessed one of the greatest basketball players in history. It was an honor.

 

It’s been tough for me even to talk hoops since he passed. I don’t know how any of them were able to stand there and get through a speech.

 

This showed that once again, the Lakers are the most professional franchise in sports. The way they have handled this entire ordeal has been beautiful. I didn't agree with some of the speakers being chosen... I thought Jerry West, Jeannie Buss, Phil Jackson, and Magic should have all said something. Maybe they were invited to but chose not to as well. Diana Taurasi's joke about LeBron not having a fadeaway shot even today was just terrible timing... I have no idea why that was necessary at all. I was listening to MJ's speech driving home. Man, it was amazing to hear him speak. I did also read that Vanessa Bryant plans on suing the company that was responsible for hiring the pilot. At the end of the day, it was an accident but I can understand her reasoning for doing so as well.

 

I wasn't able to see this live, but I just saw Vanessa and Mike... and I pretty much lost it. It had been a fair amount of days since I last shed tears because of this tragedy, but first listening to Mike was so sad. Then I saw Vanessa's speech about Gianna and there I was crying again. Again wondering to myself if all of this is actually real. I think even now there's still a part of me that just tries to convince itself that the helicopter crash never really happened at all.

This is something that I will carry in my heart forever honestly, not just in the negative, sad way of thinking of the crash, but I am completely sure that if I'm lucky enough to one day be an old man, and as long as my brain is working properly, I will always declare myself a Kobe Bryant fan, and I will always consider myself really lucky for having been able to follow his career from the day he first played in the NBA until the day he scored 60 and said goodbye.

I'm also incredibly sad that we're never going to see Gigi grow and probably become a WNBA player. As Lakers fans we've been seeing Gigi in the sidelines since she was a baby. We didn't know her, but she was there, celebrating with Kobe when the Lakers did great and all, and then we were seeing a whole lot of her in the post-retirement Kobe era, and it was so enjoyable! Watching this little Kobe Bryant female version becoming a fantastic player with Daddy Kobe teaching and enjoying the best time of his life. It was a joy to see them both.

RIP Kobe and Gigi, you will both be dearly missed by a whole lot of people.

 

I recorded it and have not had a chance to watch yet and I know it will be hard. But I just came across on yahoo MJ's speech as mentioned above. Here it is. Amazing. Honest. Real.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/michae...to-look-at-another-crying-meme-204159010.html

 

It's interesting during the years how the sports media or media in general tried to make sure Kobe was seen as the anti-thesis to MJ, only for Kobe to be one of the few if not only player MJ, personally liked & connected with.

I wonder how those media people feel now? Did all of that for nothing. MJ always said Kobe mirrored him the most, he didn't mind the comparisons.

 

I had to stop watching after seeing Vanessa cry in pain. Seeing such a beautiful sweet soul lose her young child & husband really hits home.

Seeing her hurt was hard. I'm so happy people wrapped their arms around her and her girls during this tough time.

 

Man I cried again today, didn't think I would. Vanessa was hurt but man was she strong.

 

All the emotions of a few weeks ago came rushing back again today. Damn.

 

It would have been nice to hear from Kobe’s parents. Some youth stories would have tied the reflections together.

 

not sure I can bring myself to watch this seeing how this isn't real anyways. Kobe's probably kicking back slinging brews with Elvis somewhere grinning.

 

She was an inspiration, she loved Kobe. Nice to hear that Kobe was such a great dad and husband.