On October 10, 2018 my son Joshua and I met Kobe Bryant.
After I moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Southern California in 1972 I became a life-long Los Angeles Lakers fan. I watched the Lakers through the good times and the bad, although I must say that the good times far outweighed the bad – and they were more frequent.
I witnessed the three-peat that was a Los Angeles team coached by Phil Jackson and led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe. Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Ron Harper, Robert Horry, and Brian Shaw were some of the names that I cheered for in those years.
Seven years later, in 2009 and then 2010, I was fortunate to root for my team as the Lakers won two more titles led by Kobe and Pau Gasol. Those teams still included Derek Fisher, but now included Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza/Metta World Peace.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to five NBA championships and I probably watched every game of those Finals series. So when my 8th grade daughter Katie was scheduled to play a basketball game against the school that 7th grade Gianna Bryant attended, I thought we might have a chance to meet, face-to-face, one of the best to ever play the game.
I told Josh to grab a Kobe card and a Sharpie. I did the same and we headed out to the game. When we entered the gym the 7th grade game was taking place. Katie was playing in the 8th grade game, which was coming up next. I scanned the crowd in the bleachers and yes, there he was. Bryant was sitting alone enjoying the game that Gianna was playing on the court below. I knew better than to interrupt him when his daughter was playing.
So we waited. When the game ended he descended from the bleachers onto the gym floor. There was no crowd around him, only one man. As they talked I approached Kobe and asked him if he would mind signing a card for my son and I. Kobe was very kind and said that he had to say goodbye to his wife and kids (I assume they were driving home in a separate car) and then he would come back and sign for us.
A few minutes later he returned and signed a card for each of us. Mine is pictured below and Joshua’s is one of the treasures of his collection. We had the opportunity to talk with Kobe and tell him that we were planning on going to Springfield, Massachusetts for his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He joked about having a goal of writing the shortest speech for the occasion.
I appreciate the few minutes that Kobe set aside to talk with us and sign our cards. Kobe took the time to make a difference that day to a boy and his Dad. We were speaking with a basketball legend who will be remembered not only for what he did on the basketball court, but for the many people that he positively impacted off the court.
Joshua and I were devastated to learn of the horrific helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant and seven other people on January 26, 2020. Nine people, who had so much potential remaining in their lives and who were loved and respected by many, were gone in an instant.
And yes, even though Kobe will not be there, my son and I are still planning on attending the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Springfield later this year. I am sure that there will be a worthy tribute to a man who was one of the best ever at what he did, a man who entertained millions of fans for two decades. Rest in peace, Kobe.
2004 Upper Deck Glass Auto
Signed In-Person by Kobe Bryant
