Bryant fan remembers the star

TRIBUTE

By SIBONA KALA
I FELL in love with the game of basketball through watching Michael Jordan documentaries and highlights but it was Kobe Bryant that kept me intrigued in pursuing my goals and aspirations in the sport. I have been a Kobe fan since I was a teenager.
I watched his every move on the court, his footwork, his stance, fade away jump shots, his jersey bite, and his free-throw techniques.

I tried to mimic everything.
He is the reason why I wear the number 8 jersey. Even after his retirement, he went on to pursue other career paths but mostly he was a father to his four daughters. Even though he was one of the greatest basketball players of this generation, that will not compare to what he actually is…a great father, a husband, a son, a brother and a positive role model,” Kala said.
It’s been over three weeks since that tragic crash and it still seems unreal. It’s like a dream. His passing will resonate in my head for a while. It’s one of those moments where you will never forget what you were doing when you first heard the news.

A former Papua New Guinea international basketballer joined thousands around the world in remembering NBA and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

I just made a cup of tea that morning and sat on the couch to have my breakfast. That’s when my phone starting buzzing. And to hear the news his daughter Gianna Bryant was in the same fatal crash, just hurts even more. As soon as I heard the news that morning, I just dropped breakfast, went back into the room and held my daughter a little bit longer than usual while she was fast asleep.
That week I decided to post on my Facebook, a call out for a pickup basketball game at Ela Beach courts on the February 8, to honour the late Kobe Bryant. Instead of playing 21, we bent the rules a little. First to score 24 points wins. If you go pass 24 your team will be disqualified and your score will reset to 8 points. The aim is to finish right on 24 points. (8 and 24 are both Kobe Bryant’s jerseys numbers) I had no idea how much of an impact it will create but to see people from totally different walks of life all came together for this was just overwhelming.
Many people turned up to play in their Kobe Bryant and Lakers jerseys. Others came in different NBA team jerseys but everyone came for one reason, for Kobe. That day, I strengthened some brotherhood ties, reconnected with some former ballers and actually met new friends who I never thought I’d associate myself with. It’s amazing how the game can connect people.
After the games, we all gathered at centre court and just reflected on what a tragic start of the year 2020. Starting with the Bush Fires in Australia to Nations raging wars against each other to devastating natural disasters, and virus outbreaks going on in other parts of the world and then that crash that took 9 lives including Kobe Bryant and his beautiful daughter GiGi. In tribute to that we lit nine lanterns and released them with a prayer for the families grieving. With all the chaos happening in the world so far, it was just good to be in a moment where we could all just get together and recognize the privilege of having this gift of life and how precious every second means.
And if there was one thing I’d take from Kobe’s legacy, is that Mamba Mentality. The relentless pursuit of hardwork and mental toughness you need to develop in achieving your goals whether it’s in basketball or any other career path.
Push your limits to be the better version of yourself every day. That will always be the one main life lesson I’d take to heart and try pass that onto the next generation.
Thank you Kobe Bryant for making a difference and impacting on lives all over the world, including your fans on the other side of the world, your diehard fans in Papua New Guinea. You will be missed.
In the words of the man himself, Mamba out!