Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Second Overtime: Thanks for all the memories, Kobe


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO -- My friendship with Kobe Bryant was neither personal nor familial. It was professional, one confined in the workplace of an NBA galaxy where he was a shining bright star and I was an afterthought.

I first saw him in the 2001 NBA Finals, which I covered. I wasn't a fan of his style back then. Too much self and a lot less team.

But as he grew his game through the years, morphing into a leader who willed his team to victories while making others around him better, I happily surrendered my allegiance.

Although I've watched him play several times in the flesh throughout his magnificent 20-year NBA career, I didn't speak to him until after five years since I first laid eyes on the wunderkind.

Being around Kobe inside a locker room always muted my voice with awe and intimidation.

But that changed last December 19, 2006. It was a Wednesday night and the Lakers were in my Chicago stomping grounds playing the Bulls at the United Center. Being in my home city washed me with confidence as I walked inside the visitors' locker room.

Just moments before entering sacred space, I watched him in action from my assigned seat 6 at the press box on section 115. He struggled and hit just 6-of-19 shots for a pedestrian 19 points, but he still mesmerized an entire stadium for simply being Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers locker was teeming with people when I got there, Small pockets of reporters surrounded players who were available for interviews. Luke Walton was alone and I interviewed him a little, kind of a warm up routine.

And then Kobe emerged, And I was suddenly on fire.

Nervous. Anxious. Incredulous.

Like an errant Catholic, who reluctantly, almost tearfully, confesses his sins to a sympathetic priest, I somehow managed to talk to Kobe. And he turned out to be so nice, so much so that he obliged me with a photo op and signed my press pass for the game that I attended in Los Angeles where he dropped 81 points just 11 months before.



After that initial meeting I've since spoken to Kobe several times. And if you have a good pair of eyes, you'll see some of those encounters documented through photographs in this column.

I spoke to him for the last time on January 28, 2016 when he made his final visit at the United Center.

Just like many of you, I am stunned with his sudden, painful demise.

Life is so unfair. And I am angry.

For years Kobe Bryant has given us so much joy on the basketball court and now that he is retired, we were robbed of the opportunity to root for him as a father, a husband, an entrepreneur and a fierce advocate for women's sports.

An old saying goes: "Death never surprises a wise man; he's always ready to go."

That doesn't apply to Kobe. A hero to millions, immensely gifted, wise beyond his 41 years. He was supposed to live forever.

Taken to soon, Too young. Too many tasks undone.

It's been three days since cruel fate took him, but I already miss Kobe Bryant.

Thanks for all the memories, Black Mamba.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.