Kobe Bryant

There are times when I have to fight through multiple thoughts so that I can do this blog thing. I honestly had a pretty awesome subject matter today and felt pretty strong that it was going to be a powerful Word, but then he died.

There are people who have known me for years and never knew that I love sports…well, basketball. I love basketball. I buried that love for a while (that is a whole ‘notha blog post) but when Oklahoma City acquired the Thunder, my love could be hid no more.

To be a good fan, I had to denounce all other teams and players and claim allegiance to Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Scotty Brooks. I did so. But let’s be real clear, there was Kobe. I liked him so much, I had his rap tape! You know, the one with Tyra Banks singing on it! Any conversation about greatness somehow included yelling, “Kobe!”

But today, as much as I mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy, my heart is broken for his wife, Vanessa. She not only lost her life’s partner, she lost her daughter. Can you imagine? Unfortunately, I can and let me tell you that is not a club that you want to join. No parent should have to bury a child and should certainly not have to bury a child and a spouse at the same time.

There will be tributes. There will be songs. There will be t-shirts. There will be conspiracies. There will be criticisms. However, there will be pain unlike ever before and after the world has moved on to the next thing, there will still be pain, hopelessness, helplessness, and anger.

He may have been a legend and he will always have a legacy, but let’s be cognizant of the fact that no matter how much you felt for him, he was someone’s husband, father, son, uncle, cousin, and friend. #blackMamba #kobeandgigi