I don’t know if anyone who reads this blog knows what a huge basketball fan I am. If you follow me on Twitter, you definitely know as I tweet almost daily about games and my favorite players.
Yesterday, I was watching a movie and had not been on my phone. After the movie ended, I picked up my phone and saw the headline ‘ ‘Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash’ I felt my heart sink into my gut. This is a sick hoax right? I could not process it, I’m telling you. My hands were shaking as I scrolled Twitter.
A few minutes later, I saw a tweet saying his 4 daughters were with him in the crash and I seriously started to panic. I felt like someone kicked me in the chest and stomach. This can’t be happening. No, no, no, God please no, I yelled.
Finally after frantically refreshing twitter for updates, the tragic news was confirmed that Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter Gianna Maria Bryant, also a basketball player, were 2 of the 9 passengers that died in the crash yesterday morning in Calabasas, California
Devastated Lakers fans and sports fans from all over the world were mourning one of the greats, if not the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Kobe, the black mamba, dead? How is that possible? It’s hard to believe if you have followed Kobe’s career. The man seemed to be indestructible. Kobe was the reason I watched basketball. He was my favorite player for years. No one was more captivating on the court.
When I watched him in his prime, I felt like I was watching a real life super hero. Who can make shots like that? Who can keep going with injuries? Who can get a crowd so fired up that a regular game feels like the playoffs? Kobe Bryant, that’s who. This was my generation’s GOAT.
I was too young to watch Jordan. But Kobe… Kobe was the king of L.A. and everyone knew it. Even if you didn’t watch sports, you knew about Kobe. Even Celtics fans had to respect Kobe’s talent and will to win. His work ethic was unparalleled. The man pushed himself to greatness. He defied odds. He broke records. He made history. 
Friend, Lebron James, who just passed Kobe for 3rd in all time scoring list last night celebrated with his mentor’s full support and belief in him. 
This was literally last night.
I watched this before I went to bed. I woke up and was making croissants, talking to someone about how I took Kobe’s advice last year on a major decision. Kobe was like a father figure for many people who didn’t have their father to go to for advice.
He was the inspiring leader you listen to when you don’t know what to do, or if you can do it at all. Kobe will always tell you to do it. Push yourself and go after it, because if you don’t, you will always look back and wonder what could have been. 
Celebrities and professional athletes weighed in on the tragedy as the day unfolded.
As you can see, Kobe Bryant touched all different types of people, and in that way, we see that we aren’t so different after all. Human beings are relatively the same. We are moved when something hits so hard that you know at any moment it could hit you too.
Death, especially unexpected death, is horrifying. Death in general, does not discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are a great athlete, a child, or the local cashier or lawn man. It can touch any one of us at any time and when it touches a world famous beloved athlete and his daughter at the same time, we all hurt. We hurt for his family and the families of the other 7 passengers. And we hurt for our own family. We fear that it could somehow happen to us.
Yesterday I saw for the first time in a LONG time, people who are usually divided on everything, grieve together.
For this loss was not only a loss to sports, but it reminds us all that loss is coming. It’s coming for all of us one day. Hold your family and loved ones close. Squash petty beefs with people. Let the little squabbles go. We only have a certain amount of time on this planet, some of us less than others. Don’t waste it. Push yourself to do better, to be better.
Keep the Mamba Mentality alive forever.
All of us here at Glam Syndicate want to extend our deepest condolences to the Bryant family, baseball coach John Altobelli’s, his wife and daughter’s family, and the families and loved ones of the other lost lives of this tragic crash.
Rest In Peace
Glam Syndicate 
So very true. Thank you for sharing.
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