Publisher's Memo
The sudden loss of Kobe Bryant leaves us all in shock. The sports world is heartbroken and numb. Tributes to Bryant continue to pour out all around us. Athletes from all over the world have expressed what Bryant meant to them as an inspiration and cultural icon.
Bryant died at 41-years-old in the tragic accident that took his life, the life of his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others. There are no words to convey the magnitude of this horrific event and the loss his wife and children are struggling to manage.
Bryant was an eighteen-time All-Star known for his remarkable scoring ability. He was also a three-time NBA title winner, a league MVP, one of the most decorated players in NBA history and winner of two Olympic Gold Medals for USA men’s basketball. Bryant was known for his relentless competitive drive and would stop at nothing to win. He pushed his teammates to be the best players they could be.
Bryant began his NBA career at 18-years-old. We watched him grow up right before our eyes. Bryant stayed with the Los Angeles Lakers for his entire twenty-year career, which is rare today. After retiring from the NBA, he co-created the Mamba Sports Academy as a joint business venture, where young people can pursue “holistic athletic training” in a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.
But beyond all of Bryant’s professional accomplishments, first and foremost, according to all who knew him well, he was a devoted family man. Bryant was by no means perfect, but in recent years it seemed clear that his priorities were straight. His untimely, tragic death is a stark reminder that life is fragile and short. We should focus on what really matters. We can acquire a laundry list of tangible items and remarkable achievements, but if there is no one to share them with, what does it all mean?
The loss of Bryant, someone who had absolutely everything the world can offer and seemed invincible, is a strong reminder that wasting time on negative energy and negative people is simply a loss of time. Time is our most precious commodity and for many it is the least appreciated and valued.
Live life to the fullest and focus on the positive. Don’t waste a minute, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Tragedy reminds us why time well spent matters most.
-Gary
