Love and adoration are actions, not simply soundbites, and social media posts. It’s exhibiting up on your hero’s household when he can’t.
Kobe Bryant’s oldest daughter, Natalia, just lately filed a request for a restraining order in opposition to a person that has allegedly been stalking her, sending undesirable messages on social media, and has tried to go to her twice on campus at USC. According to reviews, the person’s identify is Dwayne Cortez Toliver Kemp, and he’s 32. Kemp has been arrested or convicted 4 occasions, is believed to be a gun fanatic, and has been contacting Bryant since 2020. He even allegedly despatched her an image of Kobe with a message that learn, “Thankful For Him Birthing You, Hopefully We Can Birth Him… ‘Kobe.’”
Wild, proper? But, have you learnt what’s even wilder?
The hush from present and former gamers.
From carrying his footwear to patterning their sport after his, and brazenly discussing how a lot his profession and demise affected them since Kobe and Giana Bryant’s tragic passings, basketball gamers of all ages have opened up in a manner that’s not often seen. Their vulnerability has been refreshing.
“I got you today,” is what Celtics star Jayson Tatum texted to Kobe’s cellphone earlier than Game 7 of final season’s Eastern Conference Finals, as he wore a Lakers-colored wristband with Bryant’s No. 24 on it.
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While moments like that exemplify how a lot Bryant was revered, and is missed by gamers, it additionally makes you query why extra of them aren’t talking up about Natalia’s scenario. And that’s to not say that issues haven’t been achieved in personal. But, actual love is clear in entrance of and behind closed doorways.
Last fall, Kobe’s household was within the information once more when Los Angeles County requested that Vaness Bryant take a psych examination to show her emotional misery claims after it had been revealed that the sheriff’s division’s inside investigation found that deputies shared photographs of victims’ stays after the helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Giana, and 7 others. Vanessa was then ordered by a choose to show over her remedy data courting again to 2017 as a part of her invasion of privateness lawsuit in opposition to L.A. County.
The similar public silence round Natalia’s scenario from the NBA and its gamers is similar sort that occurred when Vanessa was being put via the wringer by the authorized system and regulation enforcement.
“When people use the ‘Mamba Mentality,’ you guys don’t do that,” Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers just lately stated on the “All the Smoke” podcast about gamers utilizing Bryant’s mantra. “You’re not him. Nobody should be allowed to say that. I’m sorry. There is nobody there like him.
“When people say that, it bothers me and I’m like, I don’t pretend like I do that, but I’m like, you don’t get to say that. That’s not a throwaway line. … I’m sorry, but that went with him. Come up with something else.”
A couple of months in the past, Vanessa Bryant gained her case in opposition to Los Angeles County to the tune of $16 million — and she donated the proceeds to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that Kobe and Gianna have been concerned in that offers alternatives to underprivileged younger athletes. The “Mamba Mentality” is alive and nicely inside the Bryant family.
For the second time inside the final 12 months, two of a very powerful folks in Kobe Bryant’s life have been confronted with adversity. And, sadly, every time, it’s appeared like they’ve gone it alone with none assist from the basketball world. Hopefully, help came about behind the scenes and continues to take action. But if it hasn’t, disgrace on each participant that’s ever publicly referred to Kobe Bryant as a brother, mentor, or good friend.