Dear Kobe

DEAR KOBE:

FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE MOVED FORWARD ON MY OWN JOURNEY TO GREATNESS, IT SO HAPPENS THAT STILL, I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU; IT’S AMAZING HOW WE THINK CERTAIN THINGS IN LIFE ARE PERHAPS INEVITABLE, EVEN THOSE OF US WHO ARE AWARE OF THE EVER EVAPORATING NATURE OF LIFE, AND THE “PLANS” WE MAKE UP FOR IT.

I WAS SO CERTAIN THAT BEFORE EITHER ONE OF US PASSED AWAY FROM THIS LIFETIME, I WOULD MEET YOU. I WAS SO CERTAIN THAT I WOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU JUST HOW YOU INSPIRED ME, SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. KOBE BRYANT ALWAYS MADE THE SHOT, SO WHENEVER I MADE THE SHOT - WHENEVER I SUCCEEDED AT ANYTHING - I WAS KOBE BRYANT.

YOU SHOWED ME HOW IT’S MEANT TO BE DONE, WITH DEDICATION, STRENGTH AND LOVE.

IN 2018, 2 YEARS BEFORE YOU PASSED AWAY, I WROTE A BOOK TITLED “FINDING FREEDOM”, IN THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK I MAKE A REFERENCE TO YOU AND YOUR GREATNESS. I WAS SO CERTAIN YOU WOULD GET TO READ IT, AND THAT YOU WOULD KNOW JUST HOW YOU INSPIRED A KID LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF WEST AFRICA.

SO AT THIS TIME I WILL RELEASE THE SNIPPET OF THIS CHAPTER - THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE BOOK - WHICH REFERENCES YOU, FOR THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN IF ONLY SLIGHTLY, WHO YOU WERE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING BIG FELLA, THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME!

MUCH LOVE, KIO BRIGGS.

#MAMBAFOREVER