The Drive Down the Lane of Life & Into Greatness

Where to start. I did not know Kobe Bryant personally. I never met him and never saw him play live but watch him I did. Kobe immediately set the NBA on fire with a tall lanky and yet sturdy frame that allowed him to both maneuver like a smaller guard, and yet post up and shoot down below the basket.

And post up and shoot he did. Some of the best post up turn around jump shots ever taken in the sport of Professional basketball were taken by Kobe Bryant, usually sinking not only baskets but the hearts of the opposing team and their fans.

Even at the tender young age of 18, Kobe demonstrated a drive for winning like that of another basketball great, Michael Jordan. Kobe demanded greatness from himself and his teammates. He did not settle for second best, and always strived to be better even when he already was the best. There are stories of Kobe spending hours shooting and practicing before and even after a game, always in pursuit of being the best.

As a person and a man, many of us watched him grow up into full fledged manhood both on and off the court. Kobe had some growing up to do in front of the cameras, especially when facing some serious personal adversities. Kobe was part of the one two punch the Lakers had when Shaq O'neal was his team mate, but they themselves almost had a one two punch between themselves. Then Kobe had to face a criminal case brought on by an encounter with a female while in Denver, Colorado. At a young age, he faced challenges that would buckle and break most, especially under all the lights, and yet he fought back for all the things he loved; his family and his desire to win through basketball. Kobe took those lessons to become a better person, coming out stronger and even more dedicated to both his family and his pro-basketball career as demonstrated by the success he had with both.

It seems as though only yesterday he hung up his basketball shoes to become a more dedicated family man as well as a business entrepreneur. He was seeking to be greater than what he already was at both of these parts of his life. Kobe was a father of four beautiful daughters as well as actively working on his venture capital funding business.

That is why Kobe Bryant was more than just a man, or an MVP pro-basketball player Champion, athlete, businessman entrepreneur, celebrity or any other epithet you can think of naming him. Simply put,

KOBE BRYANT will always be just one word; GREATNESS

All rewards from this Post are going to @drutter's project Mission: Agua-Possible (MAP), to help bring a water pump to a family and its community in Venezuela in honor of KOBE BRYANT.

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