Writing Illini
Fansided

The legacy of Kobe Bryant and what he meant to my fandom

By Rees Woodcock

Fans gather at a makeshift candlelight memorial across from Staples center to mourn the death of former Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, California on January 26, 2020. - NBA legend Kobe Bryant died January 26 when a helicopter he was riding in crashed and burst into flames in thick fog, killing all nine people on board including his teenage daughter and plunging legions of fans around the world into mourning. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Fans gather at a makeshift candlelight memorial across from Staples center to mourn the death of former Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, California on January 26, 2020. - NBA legend Kobe Bryant died January 26 when a helicopter he was riding in crashed and burst into flames in thick fog, killing all nine people on board including his teenage daughter and plunging legions of fans around the world into mourning. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The sports world lost Kobe Bryant on Sunday morning, but he was more than just a basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

There is no reason to rehash what happened on Sunday. You can get that from every media source on the internet and television. But I am going to tell you what Kobe meant to me, and the impact I believe he had on the world.

I grew up on Kobe. Since I caught the end of the Michael Jordan era, he wasn’t as impactful to my sports world as Kobe. The Black Mamba was the first real superstar NBA player that I remember being fully invested in from start to finish. He was a legend.

Kobe is also a great example of a human being who made mistakes, correct mistakes and changed his life for the better. He learned from the lessons of his mistakes, and he was setting a great example for his kids and for fans who appreciated what he did on and off the court.

I will be the first to admit, I am a LeBron over Kobe guy when it comes to sports. This isn’t about that, though. Kobe was the Michael to most NBA players. LeBron talked about how he idolized Kobe growing up. A legend that can impact another legend as Kobe has done with LeBron is something special.

Kobe is gone from the face of this earth. He was way too young to leave us. But his legacy will live on. His example for life, family and the game of basketball will only continue to grow despite his physical being not being here. Kids everywhere will always remember him as a legend.

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I want to close this by saying that there will always be an open wound for the NBA. They lost one of the greatest on Sunday. We all lost one of the greatest on Sunday. So, if you are sitting at home or at the office and you are reading this, take that piece of paper next to you, ball it up and shoot it in the trash. Don’t forget to say, “Kobe” while doing so.

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