Remembering Kobe Bryant, One Year Later

Today marks one year since the helicopter crash that killed everyone on board, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. I remember getting a phone call from my sister Katie after watching UConn lose to Tulsa in overtime. The day already sucked, but when I answered that call, I couldn’t believe it. I thought my sister was playing some sick joke, but when I opened up Twitter, TMZ had announced the death of Kobe Bryant. As a Celtics fan, I grew up disliking Kobe, because of the rivalry and I didn’t know how good of a person he was. I ended up loving Kobe for who he was, and what he meant to the NBA, no matter who you were rooting for. I remember his 60 point performance in his final game of his career. How loud STAPLES Center was. Kobe meant a lot to the city of Los Angeles, a city that I lived in throughout my preschool years. One of my first friends ever would talk to me about how amazing he was. He even got me a Lakers t-shirt for my birthday. My parents weren’t happy about that. From his Slam Dunk Contest to his first NBA Championship to his 81 point game to his “Redeem Team” performances, to his last game (60 points), we love and miss you, Kobe. Hope you’re smiling down on all of us in heaven.