Today, I am dressed in all black to honor the career of the Black Mamba, aka Kobe Bean Bryant. The farewell tour ends tonight. The man I grew up watching and truly idolizing calls it a career. He will walk onto the Staples Center floor as a player one last time. We will see one more last fade-away jump shot. One more quick pull-up three. One more up-and-under move (STILL making defenders look silly, in game number 1,346.) One more free-throw attempt, where most of his meaningful points have come. One more. That’s all we have left of a truly marvelous career. This man has epitomized what it means to be an NBA player. His hard work and dedication to his craft has done damages to his cronies and brought success to himself and his teammates…with perhaps a tad more drama than one would want (it is Hollywood after all).
Thank you, for perfecting your game. Thank you, for bringing championships to my city of Los Angeles. Thank you, for understanding what it means to be a Laker. You truly represented the Purple & Gold with pride, honor, and love. You represented our fan base with honor, and we showed you love in return (some could call it worship). You spawned a new generation of fans thanks to your grit, pride, and love of the game. Tonight, when the clock is close to zero, all of us will stop and remember…everything. From the first time we all saw the gold number eight, the air-balls in Utah, the lob to Shaq, Back-to-back-to-back, to “I got one more than Shaq, and you can take that to the bank”, to making two free throws with a ruptured Achilles tendon (and then walking off, not carried off, walking). When the final lights at Staples dim, and the arena fades to black, we are only left with memories. Kobe Bryant, the man and future former-Laker (this was very hard to write) will walk out. The Legend of the Black Mamba will stay in Staples, hanging in the rafters with the numbers “8” & “24”, a chilling reminder his venom.
As I prepare to watch his final act, I feel as if I’m saying goodbye to a loved one, and I know I am not alone in this. Our great city weeps tonight. I’ve grown up with this dude playing basketball for MY team, the Los Angeles Lakers. And while I will continue to root for the team and support them even in times of dire, like…now, it won’t be the same. I won’t be the same. Kobe has an impact on me that only a select person can understand because he’s had the same profound effect on them too. I always here there are two types of Lakers fans: Kobe Fans, and Lakers fans. Shit man, I’m both. I love the Lakers, but I also love Kobe. Him being on the Lakers made it perfect. Forever when I shoot a basketball, and especially when I shoot paper into a trash can, the only thing I know how to say is “Kobe!” (swish…usually).

Tonight is all about the man who has given us so much: 20 years, 18x All-Star, 15x All NBA, 12x All Defense, MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 5x Champion. Thank you, Kobe. In your final act, beat the team that you first failed against. How fitting, Kobe Bean Bryant, with another shot to beat the Jazz. So many people have tried to argue against the MJ comparison, and yet another familiar scene. I’m lucky to have seen both, but if you ask me…I’m taking Kobe. I can’t pick against Kobe. Not after what I’ve seen. What we’ve witnessed.
One more.
Crowd chants: M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!
Crowd chants: K-O-B-E! K-O-B-E! K-O-B-E! K-O-B-E!
One More… Kobe? Is this really the end?

-Mamba Out-

 

-Brandon