Thoughts from the Staples Center

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The Hot Corner

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It still doesn’t feel real.
NBA legend and Los Angeles icon Kobe Bryant is dead. He was 41 years old.
As I am sure you are aware by now, Bryant died in a helicopter crash outside of LA, alongside his 13-year old daughter Gianna and seven others.
I had the same response as what it seems many others had: Disbelief.
I grew up just outside of San Antonio in Hondo, a town about the size of Snyder. Being so close to San Antonio, it was natural for us to be Spurs fans. My dad also grew up in Hondo and his family had been Spurs fans all his life, so we were also carrying on a family tradition.
During the tenure of the Big Three, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs were by-and-large the best organization in basketball, making over 20 consecutive trips to the playoffs and winning five championships. The only team that consistently challenged them in that era was the Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers.
So naturally, growing up, Bryant was the enemy. I didn’t think much of him because he played for the bad guys. It wasn’t until I grew older that I understood and appreciated how special of a player and human being he was.
Bryant inspired people. Many of today’s NBA players were drawn to the sport by Bryant’s play on the court. His approach of accepting nothing short of victory and doing whatever it took to get there became a model for young, aspiring athletes to follow.
The ‘Mamba’ mentality is something I think we can all learn from and use in our lives, no matter the goals you are working toward.
His sudden death has hit close to home. I think it has with others as well.
Bryant had wrapped up his illustrious playing career a few seasons ago and these days could be seen regularly with his new passion: his family.
Gianna, the daughter that was killed in the helicopter accident with him, was 13 years old and was already making a name for herself in the basketball world.
She had publicly spoken about her goal of playing in the WNBA and carrying on her father’s legacy. In fact, the helicopter was reportedly headed to Bryant’s basketball facility for one of her basketball games.
It won’t be too much longer before I begin my own family. I am getting married in June and my fiance and I will set out on that journey in the next few years.
Hearing that his family not only lost a husband and father, but a daughter who was only starting to become her own person as well, is so depressing.
I think Max Kellerman from ESPN’s First Take said it best.
“There was something about Kobe Bryant that was so present and alive and invincible, that the idea that the sun comes up today and he is not in the world seems unreal,” he said.
The world lost a great one Sunday. Rest in peace Kobe.

Reed Graff is the sports editor for the Snyder Daily News. Comments about his column may be sent to sports@snyderdailynews.com