I Hate You Kobe Byrant

Photo credit: Ramiro Pianarosa

I hate you Kobe Bryant.

I hate you for playing in the NBA for 20 years and constantly playing at the highest level you could play at. I hate you for being one of the greatest basketball players ever and creating an argument of who the true G.O.A.T. is. For playing at a level that pushed everyone around you to be the absolute best they could be. For winning five NBA Championships and numerous other accolades during your tenure. I hate you for taking glory away from so many of my favorite players growing up and for not allowing them to ever win a championship.

I hate you for retiring from basketball and immediately becoming a role model I admired. I hate you for stepping into filmmaking and winning an Oscar, something incredible actor and actresses have been seeking their lifetime and never won. For being a role model to so many people just because you were humble, quiet, and hard-working.

I hate you for being a true family man. The way you acted with all of your daughters and wife is something precious that everyone takes for granted. I hate you for being the gold standard of fathers and for a young child to look up to and admire.

I hate you for pushing yourself every single day to be better than you were the day before. For constantly chasing a dream you may never have been able to achieve, but understood that no matter what, you thought you could. I hate that you were so good at everything you did, but so good because you wanted to be good. I hate that you have pushed me to be better than I thought I could be just because you were you and I am me.

I hate that I grew up in the 90s and watched you from your first game to your last. I hate that I watched you grow up through your adult life and saw you through the end. That when you passed away, a part of my childhood is now gone. I hate that I have your jersey in my closet from when I was eight years old and now I have to tell my children who you were.

I hate that you’re gone too soon and that your daughters will grow up not knowing how great of a human you were. I hate that your family and friends have to struggle and cope with you being gone.

For everything Kobe, I thank you, and people around the world thank you for everything.

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