When he passed, I was on top of Bear Mountain about to drop in on a run. My phone had many messages asking if I was ok from various friends. That’s when I knew Kobe died. My hero. The only hero I’ve had in life. Kobe was a punk kid I could relate to in my teenage years. Breaking boundaries. Standing up to others!
On that mountain I yelled Kobe is dead! Helicopter crash! People told me to shut up cause I sounded crazy. I rode down, my mask was filled with tears. Could barely stand. The entire Big Bear Mountain slowly started exiting and ended the day…sad…in shock. Our hero was gone!
Took me awhile to talk about this again. With kids and a diehard love for the Lakers, I had to reconcile Kobe. Turn this negative into a positive.
Kobe is better than Jordan. Better than James. At least to me. Somehow Kobe and Tupac morphed into the same guy in my subconscious – a dude throwing up a middle finger and shocking the world. That was #8 Kobe. Young. Heals quick. High vert!
I’m over 40 now so that younger Kobe is gone. Today, I’m more of a number 24 Kobe – beaten the f up, but still showing up to work. Displaying an insane amount of grit. Mind over matter! Bring it! You verse me! Kobe!
by PBecian
