Mamba
Kobe,
I just heard the news. My wife came and told me and I didn’t believe it at first. I immediately got up to grab my phone to see if TMZ was wrong. My phone was full of alerts and text messages from friends and family also informing me of the news. Everyone knows how much you mean to me.
You weren’t a friend to me. You weren’t family. Hell, I’m not even an athlete. However, your work ethic is what got me through a lot of challenges in my life. Your relentless passion for mastering what you loved is why I am successful. Your competitive nature and study of your opponents is why I am successful. Your methodical approach to improving yourself is why I’m successful.
I enjoyed watching you win, YOUR way. As time passes and the game (life) changes, we see winners from all angles. I liked the way you won. You weren’t the biggest, strongest, smartest, or most skilled. But when I look at how you won, it was satisfying to watch because I knew how hard you worked and how you also motivated others around you. Even when you won, I could see still the fire in your eyes. You wanted more. You were satisfied with success but never complacent at your progress. You had that chip on your shoulder needed to compete at any level.
I related to you the most out of anyone on this planet because you were an outsider growing up and so was I. Growing up in the military was awkward for me at times. I was always the new kid. Everywhere I went I was one of the few black kids in my neighborhood or I was one of the few black kids in my classes. I often felt misunderstood, as did you. People looked at me different. I didn’t fit in with any race or group of kids. I was just Me. Too “black” for the white kids and too “white” for the black kids. This chip on my shoulder led me to find my own version of your Mamba Mentality; Push. A lot of people don’t know that I made that rally cry for myself because of you. It’s a word that forces me to keep going when others didn’t believe in me. If I wanted to succeed, I always told myself "You believe in You." That’s what you taught me.
Kobe, you’re a remarkable father. Your willingness to adapt your wisdom in a palatable way for your children to learn is inspiring me in ways I didn’t know it would. I won’t be the father that feels invalidated by their children’s path because they didn’t have it the same as me. You changed the game (life) for so many people. We love you.
Sincerely,
Matthew Gissentanna