1 00:00:02,210 --> 00:00:06,700 Speaker 1: the other Ford for the final time. Number 24 4 2 00:00:11,130 --> 00:00:14,290 Speaker 1: time world champion will be. 3 00:00:18,739 --> 00:00:21,550 Speaker 1: There's 40 million people in Southern California that remember how 4 00:00:21,550 --> 00:00:22,650 Speaker 1: Kobe made him feel? 5 00:00:23,810 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: Kobe made people feel as confident as he was. He 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,380 Speaker 1: made people feel like, Don't worry, I got this. 7 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:31,350 Speaker 1: We're gonna be OK, 8 00:00:33,740 --> 00:00:37,900 Speaker 1: because I remember was a Sunday morning and looking into 9 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:41,940 Speaker 1: the sky and going like this is very unusual fog. 10 00:00:42,850 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: It was devastating. And I felt the vibe even when 11 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: I came back. How how the whole city got really 12 00:00:49,010 --> 00:00:51,150 Speaker 1: like they missed a member of the family. 13 00:00:52,140 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: I don't know, like I was just I was paralyzed 14 00:00:55,530 --> 00:00:56,260 Speaker 2: for a good six 15 00:00:56,260 --> 00:01:00,450 Speaker 1: hours. After I couldn't move, I couldn't respond to anything. 16 00:01:13,930 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: It's late at night 17 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:17,620 Speaker 1: and there's a cop standing in my room. 18 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:20,980 Speaker 1: He looks nervous 19 00:01:21,730 --> 00:01:23,350 Speaker 1: and uneasy about the whole situation. 20 00:01:25,740 --> 00:01:26,649 Speaker 1: You're the young guy, 21 00:01:27,500 --> 00:01:29,050 Speaker 1: maybe in his early twenties, 22 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:31,509 Speaker 1: and to me 23 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:34,850 Speaker 1: looks like someone who never planned on being a cop 24 00:01:37,310 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: like a high school athlete 25 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,670 Speaker 1: who figured joining the force were given the same rushed 26 00:01:41,670 --> 00:01:42,550 Speaker 1: a football listed. 27 00:01:44,860 --> 00:01:48,130 Speaker 1: I doubt he picture getting called to sell domestic violence cases. 28 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:53,900 Speaker 1: Maybe he imagined getting called to like bang shoot outs 29 00:01:54,540 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: or high speed chases on the 10 Freeway. 30 00:02:00,570 --> 00:02:01,190 Speaker 1: Instead, 31 00:02:01,740 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: he's right here 32 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:03,950 Speaker 1: in my bedroom, 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,590 Speaker 1: making small talk with an 11 year old kid 34 00:02:08,740 --> 00:02:10,970 Speaker 1: who just got into another fight with his mom's boyfriend. 35 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: What do you think of Kobe? 36 00:02:16,540 --> 00:02:18,470 Speaker 1: The cop said while grabbing the sports section of the 37 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:19,450 Speaker 1: paper on my desk. 38 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:21,210 Speaker 1: Koby faces on it. 39 00:02:22,139 --> 00:02:24,540 Speaker 2: He's too young to be in the N B. A. Right? 40 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:26,370 Speaker 1: I don't know. 41 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:28,549 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna be OK. 42 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:43,250 Speaker 1: Thistles. California Love on Water, Kobe 43 00:03:03,690 --> 00:03:07,070 Speaker 1: Channel nine Regularly scheduled programming will not be seen in 44 00:03:07,070 --> 00:03:09,739 Speaker 1: order that we may present the following sports special. 45 00:03:16,389 --> 00:03:18,889 Speaker 1: It always seemed like Lakers with the NBA's best team 46 00:03:19,470 --> 00:03:21,350 Speaker 1: and always had the league's best players 47 00:03:22,830 --> 00:03:26,530 Speaker 1: way. Have magic. Then, finally, 48 00:03:28,610 --> 00:03:31,230 Speaker 1: 66 way had Kareem 49 00:03:32,030 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: Goto will 50 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:34,020 Speaker 1: well, 51 00:03:34,540 --> 00:03:35,370 Speaker 1: Jerry West 52 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: Van Exel 53 00:03:40,150 --> 00:03:41,450 Speaker 1: and we had Nick Van Exel, too. 54 00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:46,860 Speaker 1: It felt like having a winning team with a big 55 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:47,950 Speaker 1: part of our cities. Magic, 56 00:03:55,340 --> 00:03:58,050 Speaker 1: almost like each player in each era, 57 00:03:58,860 --> 00:04:00,580 Speaker 1: gave us something different to be proud about, 58 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,630 Speaker 1: something to look forward to every night. Everyone wanted the 59 00:04:03,630 --> 00:04:06,730 Speaker 1: game on. My grandmother would always turn into the specialist, 60 00:04:06,810 --> 00:04:09,260 Speaker 1: the expert on why the Lakers won playing right, and 61 00:04:09,260 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: it would always be a running joke that, you know, 62 00:04:11,210 --> 00:04:13,170 Speaker 1: if she was coaching instead of Phil Jackson, that she 63 00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: would figure it out. And it's 64 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: it could have been a break from a busy work 65 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,450 Speaker 1: week or something to talk about. What co workers. 66 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: We all had the Lakers, 67 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:26,250 Speaker 1: and it felt like we were a part of them. 68 00:04:27,529 --> 00:04:29,779 Speaker 1: He's got above the three point line, taking a little 69 00:04:29,779 --> 00:04:30,750 Speaker 1: bit of time one dribble 70 00:04:49,110 --> 00:04:52,419 Speaker 1: and Kobe Bryant making his first appearance in Madison Square 71 00:04:52,450 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: Garden 18 years of age. 72 00:04:56,490 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: The week the cops showed about our home is the 73 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,190 Speaker 1: same week I first heard about Kobe, 74 00:05:00,930 --> 00:05:03,630 Speaker 1: the same summarized to record California love when it came 75 00:05:03,630 --> 00:05:04,310 Speaker 1: on the radio. 76 00:05:04,910 --> 00:05:07,750 Speaker 1: Most people in L. A were saying the same thing 77 00:05:07,750 --> 00:05:08,750 Speaker 1: the cops said that night. 78 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,619 Speaker 1: Kobe Bryant last night to get first start as a 79 00:05:13,630 --> 00:05:14,770 Speaker 1: pro out of feel 80 00:05:15,370 --> 00:05:17,250 Speaker 1: good, I felt good going out 81 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:19,740 Speaker 1: starting lineup. I tried to 82 00:05:20,650 --> 00:05:22,700 Speaker 1: keep a straight face and keep a serious look, but 83 00:05:22,750 --> 00:05:24,310 Speaker 1: I can't help cracking a little smart. 84 00:05:25,540 --> 00:05:29,070 Speaker 1: I remember a lot of discussion with relatives of like 85 00:05:29,339 --> 00:05:31,530 Speaker 2: was it the right move. He should have went to college. 86 00:05:31,529 --> 00:05:32,300 Speaker 2: City of not once a 87 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:36,950 Speaker 1: college. Kobe's too young, Too inexperienced, too cocky. 88 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,390 Speaker 1: Speaking of high school, how big was the gym you 89 00:05:39,390 --> 00:05:43,909 Speaker 1: played in America? How many people? Uh, about 500 people. 500. 90 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,930 Speaker 1: This seats 26,000. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. 91 00:05:49,580 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Is this Cubbies that maybe he was all those things? 92 00:05:53,230 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: Maybe that's why I like him so much. 93 00:05:55,510 --> 00:05:57,390 Speaker 1: Well, the difference is you have to make a contribution 94 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,380 Speaker 1: early on. You know, you have to go in there 95 00:05:59,380 --> 00:05:59,779 Speaker 1: and 96 00:06:00,290 --> 00:06:03,870 Speaker 1: produce right away on get the ball into the big fella. Daddy, 97 00:06:03,870 --> 00:06:04,490 Speaker 1: some looks. 98 00:06:06,830 --> 00:06:07,909 Speaker 1: I don't know what it meant yet 99 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: that he would actually be a part of our lives 100 00:06:10,290 --> 00:06:11,850 Speaker 1: for the next 20 years, 101 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:14,300 Speaker 1: and he would change us 102 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:15,529 Speaker 1: forever. 103 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,740 Speaker 1: The same summer Cubby was drafted was the same some 104 00:06:24,740 --> 00:06:26,100 Speaker 1: of the Lakers traded for shack 105 00:06:28,180 --> 00:06:28,370 Speaker 1: with the 106 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:29,510 Speaker 1: Lakers. 107 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:30,979 Speaker 1: What about check 108 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: every day, whether it's in practice and he's blocking one 109 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: of my shots. So I'm getting a layup born with 110 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,390 Speaker 1: something like that. Now we're talking. We're giving advice to 111 00:06:39,390 --> 00:06:41,849 Speaker 1: one another, pumping each other up same time like my 112 00:06:41,850 --> 00:06:42,310 Speaker 1: older brother 113 00:06:44,460 --> 00:06:45,490 Speaker 1: as an 11 year old, 114 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:47,950 Speaker 1: it was all music to my ears. 115 00:06:49,910 --> 00:06:51,050 Speaker 1: Fastball with everything, 116 00:06:51,830 --> 00:06:55,700 Speaker 1: eh? My entire room filled with posters. I had Michael Jordan, 117 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:57,190 Speaker 1: Eddie Jones, 118 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,039 Speaker 1: and they use L A basketball national championship. Hosted. 119 00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:04,650 Speaker 1: I played in the park every day, all day, 120 00:07:05,339 --> 00:07:07,670 Speaker 1: sun up to sundown and we take some money with 121 00:07:07,670 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: me that I would hide in my socks to buy 122 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:10,950 Speaker 1: hot dog and soda for lunch. 123 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,140 Speaker 1: And if you were a real one, like I was 124 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: William T shirt got dirty. You flipped it around, 125 00:07:16,650 --> 00:07:17,590 Speaker 1: you kept on playing. 126 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:19,580 Speaker 1: But in hindsight, 127 00:07:20,590 --> 00:07:21,690 Speaker 1: that was kind of nasty. 128 00:07:22,940 --> 00:07:24,070 Speaker 1: But anyways, 129 00:07:32,530 --> 00:07:37,230 Speaker 2: for me, waas like a golden door because I knew 130 00:07:37,230 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: you had the ability to play. And you were very 131 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,380 Speaker 2: eclectic since you were little. So, to me, that was 132 00:07:44,390 --> 00:07:48,340 Speaker 2: the golden key to make it in life. 133 00:07:51,430 --> 00:07:52,630 Speaker 2: I mean, 134 00:07:53,270 --> 00:07:57,020 Speaker 2: I remember that so clearly so that every time I 135 00:07:57,020 --> 00:08:00,870 Speaker 2: go by that, that high school I, Joe your o 136 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:01,590 Speaker 2: por que 137 00:08:02,140 --> 00:08:03,650 Speaker 2: It was very emotional. 138 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,950 Speaker 2: It was your first JV game in your plane that 139 00:08:07,950 --> 00:08:11,910 Speaker 2: your first half and you were playing a mazy Now Oh, 140 00:08:11,910 --> 00:08:15,470 Speaker 2: my God. You were doing the go via style. I 141 00:08:15,470 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: don't remember what it's called me. 142 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:23,850 Speaker 2: Figaro's Yes, on Everybody was clapping. I was so happy. 143 00:08:24,740 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: And then after the have you you sat down on 144 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:29,450 Speaker 2: the floor. 145 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:33,910 Speaker 2: All I knew was that you were sitting down and 146 00:08:33,910 --> 00:08:38,170 Speaker 2: to me was a very sad moment because 147 00:08:39,030 --> 00:08:41,579 Speaker 2: that was my opportunity to see you 148 00:08:43,340 --> 00:08:46,550 Speaker 2: become a ah, a good student 149 00:08:47,450 --> 00:08:49,650 Speaker 2: and a basketball player. 150 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: And 151 00:08:52,650 --> 00:08:53,980 Speaker 2: after the game, 152 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,589 Speaker 2: I went up to you and I said Me, Ho, 153 00:08:57,590 --> 00:08:58,950 Speaker 2: what did you do? 154 00:08:59,540 --> 00:09:00,309 Speaker 2: Why 155 00:09:01,230 --> 00:09:02,650 Speaker 2: didn't you play? 156 00:09:03,540 --> 00:09:06,890 Speaker 2: And then you gave me a big hug and I said, Well, 157 00:09:06,890 --> 00:09:11,420 Speaker 2: what's going on? And you said, Mom, I made varsity. 158 00:09:11,530 --> 00:09:14,219 Speaker 2: So Coach took me out of the game because I 159 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:18,020 Speaker 2: made varsity. I'm in the varsity team now. Oh, my God. 160 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,189 Speaker 2: First I was crying because I was set. Now I'm 161 00:09:21,190 --> 00:09:22,380 Speaker 2: crying because I was. 162 00:09:30,540 --> 00:09:32,109 Speaker 1: My mom was able to send me to you sell 163 00:09:32,110 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: a basketball. 164 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: It's where I met college stars and people who I 165 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:37,699 Speaker 1: looked up to 166 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,069 Speaker 1: U C L. A. Players who had just won a 167 00:09:40,070 --> 00:09:41,350 Speaker 1: national championship. That year, 168 00:09:45,429 --> 00:09:47,230 Speaker 1: I learned how to become a better basketball player. 169 00:09:48,510 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: We played in games and their drills all day long. 170 00:09:51,410 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: 1000 dorms. I'm own room, and it felt like a resort. 171 00:09:55,290 --> 00:09:58,260 Speaker 1: It was like, almost like a teenage sandals. You know, 172 00:09:58,260 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: it was so much fun. We had pizza for every meal. No, 173 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,050 Speaker 1: but I'm not joking us literally. What? 174 00:10:03,710 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: Thompson is a very, very good three point shooter off 175 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:08,980 Speaker 1: on the way. 176 00:10:12,010 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: All that training came in handy years later when I 177 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,950 Speaker 1: played a visual in basketball and then professionally 178 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,250 Speaker 1: will be with only six years older than me. 179 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:25,530 Speaker 1: Close enough to feel similar, but old enough to look 180 00:10:25,530 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: up to. 181 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 1: Oh, my goodness. 182 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:37,329 Speaker 1: Yeah. 183 00:10:39,410 --> 00:10:41,450 Speaker 1: He was smooth, handsome, 184 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:45,150 Speaker 1: and had confidence unlike any other 17 year old I knew. 185 00:10:46,660 --> 00:10:47,270 Speaker 1: And 186 00:10:48,140 --> 00:10:50,910 Speaker 1: he had just taken brandy to prom that year, 187 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: which was the most baller thing you could do. Especially 188 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,810 Speaker 1: when you're a high school kid. So you knew right 189 00:10:58,809 --> 00:11:00,660 Speaker 1: off the bat that he had a ton of confidence. 190 00:11:00,670 --> 00:11:02,650 Speaker 1: A ton of flair, 191 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:05,490 Speaker 1: Moto the 192 00:11:06,030 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: A to the no. To the beat of the motion. 193 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:12,939 Speaker 1: Yep. Brandy. 194 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,390 Speaker 1: Hey, was a star in my eyes from the first 195 00:11:22,390 --> 00:11:24,490 Speaker 1: moment he arrived in l. A. And he felt like 196 00:11:24,490 --> 00:11:25,250 Speaker 1: an older brother. 197 00:11:26,290 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: He was fearless 198 00:11:28,410 --> 00:11:30,390 Speaker 1: and That's something all about like you relate to. 199 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,310 Speaker 1: And it didn't matter where you lived the Westside, downtown, 200 00:11:34,809 --> 00:11:37,050 Speaker 1: South Central or the side. 201 00:11:37,929 --> 00:11:38,650 Speaker 1: It was all the same. 202 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,670 Speaker 1: Even though Kobe had his Doubters after only a few years, 203 00:11:47,870 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: he proved them wrong. 204 00:11:49,570 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: I 205 00:11:51,790 --> 00:11:52,290 Speaker 1: mean, 206 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:54,500 Speaker 1: I'm not saying he was a player. 207 00:11:55,890 --> 00:11:57,250 Speaker 1: Second four. 208 00:12:00,100 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: I know, I know. I know. 209 00:12:02,050 --> 00:12:04,170 Speaker 1: He did air ball a few times during the make 210 00:12:04,170 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: of Jazz playoff series. I mean, I was kind of like, 211 00:12:06,929 --> 00:12:09,660 Speaker 1: you know, like, really, you're just gonna cheap air balling 212 00:12:09,660 --> 00:12:13,219 Speaker 1: like this crazy. But if that moment doesn't happen, I 213 00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:15,300 Speaker 1: don't know if Kobe becomes from Kobe is. 214 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:19,230 Speaker 1: And it still didn't faze him, and it didn't wreck 215 00:12:19,230 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: his confidence, at least not outwardly. Not one bit. 216 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:23,650 Speaker 1: Oh, in that one time 217 00:12:24,510 --> 00:12:26,239 Speaker 1: when he got a cold two piece by New York 218 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:27,420 Speaker 1: Knicks guard Chris Childs. 219 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:32,630 Speaker 1: Child twice. 220 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:36,860 Speaker 1: That was crazy. 221 00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:39,380 Speaker 1: But it also didn't stop him 222 00:12:40,230 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 1: when they played the Sacramento Kings. That was heat and 223 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,949 Speaker 1: the way he used to fight with Doug Christie. Kobe 224 00:12:45,950 --> 00:12:49,780 Speaker 1: sitting there just bobbing and staring at Doug Christie face 225 00:12:49,780 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 1: to face. He goes to make Kobe flinch, and Kobe 226 00:12:52,570 --> 00:12:55,929 Speaker 1: does not flinch. He does not bat an eye. It's 227 00:12:55,929 --> 00:12:57,990 Speaker 1: the most singular moment that tells you everything you need 228 00:12:57,990 --> 00:13:00,290 Speaker 1: to know about Kobe Bryant in the face of somebody 229 00:13:00,290 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: gonna pop him in the face. 230 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:04,349 Speaker 1: He's not even moved. 231 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,329 Speaker 1: During my sophomore year in high school, racial tensions between 232 00:13:19,330 --> 00:13:20,570 Speaker 1: students really exploded. 233 00:13:21,140 --> 00:13:22,450 Speaker 1: They were all over L A county. 234 00:13:23,140 --> 00:13:24,750 Speaker 1: The root of the violence was unclear, 235 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:26,670 Speaker 1: but one thing Waas 236 00:13:28,309 --> 00:13:30,060 Speaker 1: like a brown students were getting swept up in. 237 00:13:36,670 --> 00:13:39,530 Speaker 1: People were fighting on their way to school, at school 238 00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:40,770 Speaker 1: and after school. 239 00:13:43,010 --> 00:13:45,020 Speaker 1: Me and my friends wanted to stay clear of it all, 240 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:47,730 Speaker 1: so we stayed in the gym and played basketball. 241 00:13:51,020 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: I carried my basketball wherever I went as a form 242 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:54,250 Speaker 1: of communication. 243 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:00,290 Speaker 1: I carried it on the bus, 244 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:01,950 Speaker 1: dribbled it down the street 245 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,150 Speaker 1: and had it by my side. All day long. 246 00:14:05,340 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: It felt like it became a part of my body 247 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 1: because I knew if people saw him with that, they'd 248 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: be like, Oh, 249 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:14,850 Speaker 1: he just plays basketball. He's cool 250 00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: And it worked. 251 00:14:19,820 --> 00:14:23,650 Speaker 1: People were fighting outside the gym, but inside black and 252 00:14:23,650 --> 00:14:25,530 Speaker 1: brown teens were trying to be just like Kobe 253 00:14:26,930 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: way all worth Jersey. 254 00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:32,330 Speaker 1: Kobe was easy to love. 255 00:14:34,340 --> 00:14:35,580 Speaker 1: He takes to the finals 256 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:37,530 Speaker 1: and we won again 257 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,780 Speaker 1: and again. Dad Stuff puts up a three 258 00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:59,450 Speaker 1: and again four years Kobe way. 259 00:15:05,340 --> 00:15:08,930 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers were so important because they 260 00:15:08,930 --> 00:15:09,350 Speaker 2: gave us 261 00:15:09,350 --> 00:15:12,950 Speaker 1: just on opportunity to celebrate victory that everyone could be 262 00:15:12,950 --> 00:15:16,100 Speaker 1: a part of, You know, when it comes to sports. Yeah, 263 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:19,980 Speaker 1: there's no divide they're coming from, you know, an immigrant 264 00:15:19,990 --> 00:15:23,430 Speaker 1: Arab Americans family, my uncles and my dad Like that's 265 00:15:23,430 --> 00:15:26,060 Speaker 1: how they learn English watching the n behave. 266 00:15:27,140 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: By the time I was in 7th and 8th grade, 267 00:15:30,450 --> 00:15:33,540 Speaker 1: it was just like everyday Kobe Bryant Laker T shirt. 268 00:15:33,550 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: He was plastered all over my walls. I would save 269 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,090 Speaker 1: every single newspaper clipping that came out and people didn't 270 00:15:39,090 --> 00:15:41,180 Speaker 1: know me by my real name. My friends called me 271 00:15:41,180 --> 00:15:42,550 Speaker 1: Kobe year. Mrs. Bryant, 272 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:45,900 Speaker 1: we yelled 273 00:15:45,910 --> 00:15:46,550 Speaker 2: cov 274 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 2: Kobe! Kobe! 275 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,420 Speaker 1: Whenever we shot paper into trash cans during class. 276 00:15:53,940 --> 00:15:54,650 Speaker 1: Man, 277 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: I got in trouble for that. So many times 278 00:15:58,340 --> 00:16:00,970 Speaker 1: we yelled it on the courts in Venice and Al 279 00:16:00,970 --> 00:16:01,750 Speaker 1: in East L. A. 280 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,100 Speaker 1: You don't need to love basketball to love Kobe. 281 00:16:07,210 --> 00:16:07,950 Speaker 1: What's the game? 282 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:13,050 Speaker 1: Kobe Oven Estimate in 1999 when he was 20 when 283 00:16:13,050 --> 00:16:13,780 Speaker 1: she was 17. 284 00:16:15,510 --> 00:16:17,450 Speaker 1: He was trying to be a rapper and met her 285 00:16:17,450 --> 00:16:20,060 Speaker 1: on the set of a music video. You do remember 286 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: who recorded a song, right? 287 00:16:28,860 --> 00:16:30,450 Speaker 1: For some reason, 288 00:16:30,980 --> 00:16:33,190 Speaker 1: I was really involved in the relationship gossip. 289 00:16:34,750 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: It's hard to pinpoint 290 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: what exactly makes 291 00:16:39,820 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: a person the one for you, but you just know 292 00:16:42,590 --> 00:16:45,330 Speaker 1: love is a funny thing. I can't explain it and 293 00:16:45,330 --> 00:16:46,260 Speaker 1: I don't understand it. 294 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,670 Speaker 1: But all I know is you caught my heart and 295 00:16:50,670 --> 00:16:51,860 Speaker 1: I just need actually was the one. 296 00:16:52,710 --> 00:16:54,150 Speaker 1: I wanted the relationship to work. 297 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: Maybe it was because it was something I wish my 298 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:56,950 Speaker 1: parents 299 00:17:04,030 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: Vanessa, also felt really relatable to me. 300 00:17:06,869 --> 00:17:08,419 Speaker 1: She reminded me of one of my cousins 301 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,690 Speaker 1: and was only a couple years older than me. 302 00:17:17,690 --> 00:17:20,129 Speaker 1: But when they married and the city's biggest hero had 303 00:17:20,130 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: these black Mexican daughters, I felt an immediate emotional attachment 304 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,109 Speaker 1: to them. Do you think your daughter might want to 305 00:17:25,109 --> 00:17:27,660 Speaker 1: play in the WNBA? She does, For sure she does. 306 00:17:27,670 --> 00:17:31,550 Speaker 1: I don't mean this kid. Wouldn't that be great, man 307 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:36,189 Speaker 1: Thier Best thing. The best thing that happens when you 308 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: go out and fans come up to me and she'll 309 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,540 Speaker 1: be standing next to me would be like and you 310 00:17:40,540 --> 00:17:42,139 Speaker 1: gotta have a boy. U and V gotta have a 311 00:17:42,140 --> 00:17:45,770 Speaker 1: boy may have somebody carry on the tradition legacy. She's like, Oh, 312 00:17:46,490 --> 00:17:47,290 Speaker 1: I got this 313 00:17:52,070 --> 00:17:53,790 Speaker 1: Saw parts of myself in their daughters 314 00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:56,449 Speaker 1: in Jonah in a Dahlia 315 00:17:56,970 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: in the identity questions I knew they had because 316 00:18:00,340 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 1: I had them, too. 317 00:18:02,380 --> 00:18:05,020 Speaker 1: Those girls and I probably had different lives, but seeing 318 00:18:05,020 --> 00:18:06,950 Speaker 1: more Children like them was really beautiful to me. 319 00:18:07,770 --> 00:18:11,070 Speaker 1: Kobe Minister's family didn't solve the city's racial problems, but 320 00:18:11,070 --> 00:18:12,550 Speaker 1: it shared the same to our spirits. 321 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:14,949 Speaker 1: At times, 322 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,990 Speaker 1: Kobe flew higher than any human I thought could. 323 00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:21,710 Speaker 1: And then there were also moments 324 00:18:22,910 --> 00:18:25,750 Speaker 1: like at a resort hotel in Eagle, Colorado, that he 325 00:18:25,750 --> 00:18:27,570 Speaker 1: felt human flawed 326 00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: and, to some, 327 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:30,990 Speaker 1: even a villain. 328 00:18:31,910 --> 00:18:33,469 Speaker 1: Sit here for you guys 329 00:18:34,270 --> 00:18:35,350 Speaker 1: furious at myself. 330 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:37,180 Speaker 1: Discuss it at myself. 331 00:18:37,730 --> 00:18:38,660 Speaker 1: We're making a mistake 332 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: of 333 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:40,670 Speaker 1: adultery 334 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: like No, not not the not the person that I've 335 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: fell so passionately defends my values. I have learned that 336 00:18:49,570 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: the people that I look up Teoh 337 00:18:51,940 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 2: so many of them have found ways or have done 338 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,020 Speaker 2: things that disappoint me in the end. So here I am, 339 00:18:57,020 --> 00:18:59,810 Speaker 2: tempering the way that I look up to somebody I 340 00:18:59,820 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 2: want to stay 341 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,530 Speaker 1: back. Then I had this generalization that the culture of 342 00:19:04,530 --> 00:19:07,450 Speaker 1: the N B. A was a womanising culture. 343 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:09,260 Speaker 1: And so I Ono's 344 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,770 Speaker 1: wasn't surprised. Later, when you start to understand the 345 00:19:12,770 --> 00:19:13,980 Speaker 2: details and you're like, you 346 00:19:13,980 --> 00:19:17,050 Speaker 1: understand how heavy this is courses, it's disappointing. 347 00:19:18,470 --> 00:19:19,659 Speaker 1: As a high school senior, 348 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,590 Speaker 1: it was hard to reconcile the image of Kobe 349 00:19:23,140 --> 00:19:25,770 Speaker 1: and the reality that he had been charged with sexual assault. 350 00:19:26,740 --> 00:19:29,350 Speaker 1: Part of me really wanted to ignore the allegations, 351 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,530 Speaker 1: while a different part of me wanted to understand what 352 00:19:32,530 --> 00:19:35,369 Speaker 1: would lead coupled to commit adultery and forced himself on 353 00:19:35,369 --> 00:19:36,300 Speaker 1: a 19 year old woman. 354 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,860 Speaker 1: He even admitted to understanding that for her 355 00:19:41,070 --> 00:19:42,659 Speaker 1: it was not consensual. 356 00:19:43,869 --> 00:19:46,450 Speaker 1: It was in stark contrast to the wholesome image that 357 00:19:46,450 --> 00:19:48,109 Speaker 1: so many of us believed in 358 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:50,500 Speaker 1: that I believed in 359 00:19:52,140 --> 00:19:54,230 Speaker 1: when he lived and people don't talk about this. He 360 00:19:54,230 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: was very polarized, a za ballplayer. He could be marked 361 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,260 Speaker 1: a selfish as a companion and marriage. He could be 362 00:20:02,260 --> 00:20:03,050 Speaker 1: marked as a cheater 363 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,380 Speaker 1: and the court of law. If you know some people 364 00:20:07,380 --> 00:20:09,669 Speaker 1: don't forgive people, he could be looked at as a 365 00:20:09,670 --> 00:20:10,210 Speaker 1: rapist 366 00:20:12,140 --> 00:20:14,449 Speaker 1: sports heroes are sometimes a form of escape. 367 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,170 Speaker 1: It can allow us to enter a world removed from 368 00:20:17,170 --> 00:20:17,890 Speaker 1: our day to day. 369 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,990 Speaker 1: It's like they're a vessel to help us travel back 370 00:20:20,990 --> 00:20:23,890 Speaker 1: to a time. Went all the dreams we had, its 371 00:20:23,890 --> 00:20:25,540 Speaker 1: Children still seem viable 372 00:20:26,180 --> 00:20:27,690 Speaker 1: and, like they had a chance to come in. True 373 00:20:29,109 --> 00:20:31,850 Speaker 1: Kobe was that for a lot of people, 374 00:20:33,010 --> 00:20:35,060 Speaker 1: the news that he had been charged with sexual assault 375 00:20:35,060 --> 00:20:38,270 Speaker 1: forced people to question their beliefs and even question their 376 00:20:38,270 --> 00:20:38,900 Speaker 1: own dreams. 377 00:20:41,330 --> 00:20:42,860 Speaker 1: He had a long way to fall, 378 00:20:43,630 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: and when he fell, 379 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,510 Speaker 1: it felt like we all fell to. 380 00:20:47,590 --> 00:20:48,350 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry 381 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,950 Speaker 1: to put you through this. Put our family through this 382 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: taps in the senior from California 383 00:21:05,030 --> 00:21:07,409 Speaker 1: when I was a student athlete at the University of Portland. 384 00:21:07,830 --> 00:21:09,260 Speaker 1: I'll come back to L. A. Every summer. 385 00:21:10,350 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: I came back home to be with friends and family 386 00:21:12,950 --> 00:21:14,580 Speaker 1: and to train for the upcoming season. 387 00:21:15,740 --> 00:21:17,590 Speaker 1: I played in summer pickup games at U. C. L. A. 388 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,780 Speaker 1: And it felt special to be there. People like Baron Davis, 389 00:21:21,910 --> 00:21:26,260 Speaker 1: Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce and other well known MBA players. 390 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:30,910 Speaker 1: The gym was filled with agents and fans and students 391 00:21:30,980 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: who watched as we played inside of a three court 392 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: hard with Jim. 393 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,300 Speaker 1: I sometimes play in a few games a day with 394 00:21:37,310 --> 00:21:38,780 Speaker 1: all these people I admired, 395 00:21:39,570 --> 00:21:42,170 Speaker 1: but who didn't know who I waas and would mostly 396 00:21:42,170 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: refer to me not by my name 397 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:45,660 Speaker 1: but by the color of my shirt. 398 00:21:46,420 --> 00:21:48,690 Speaker 1: There's to be like a blue, a red, 399 00:21:49,310 --> 00:21:49,970 Speaker 1: a grey. 400 00:21:51,100 --> 00:21:51,970 Speaker 1: It took months, 401 00:21:53,250 --> 00:21:55,300 Speaker 1: but the first time one of those MBA players call 402 00:21:55,300 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: me by name 403 00:21:56,830 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: Man. 404 00:21:58,140 --> 00:21:58,850 Speaker 1: It felt great, 405 00:22:04,140 --> 00:22:06,380 Speaker 1: but something even more unbelievable happen next. 406 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: Oh shit, that's Kobe. 407 00:22:15,140 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: Kobe walked in windows. 408 00:22:17,490 --> 00:22:21,650 Speaker 1: Sneakers stop there! Squeaks. Basketballs were caught and held that 409 00:22:21,650 --> 00:22:22,449 Speaker 1: golf laughter 410 00:22:23,109 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: Stop that in the air. The silence made you more 411 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:28,060 Speaker 1: aware of the smell to place 412 00:22:28,750 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: sports cream, Old spice, deodorant, sweat way. We're all looking 413 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:33,850 Speaker 1: at Kobe. 414 00:22:34,740 --> 00:22:39,379 Speaker 1: He was wearing black sunglasses, a track suit, Jordan threes. 415 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,180 Speaker 1: Literally in my mind. I'm watching him walk and I'm 416 00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:43,170 Speaker 1: like 417 00:22:44,210 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 1: with the golden aura 418 00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:46,550 Speaker 1: shit that spoke. 419 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:47,300 Speaker 1: It 420 00:22:50,930 --> 00:22:51,950 Speaker 1: was wild. 421 00:22:54,340 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: He might have been floating. 422 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:56,850 Speaker 1: I don't know. 423 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:58,619 Speaker 1: He probably Waas. 424 00:23:00,010 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: The guy was definitely floating. 425 00:23:04,340 --> 00:23:06,270 Speaker 1: He walked up to our group and greeted the people 426 00:23:06,270 --> 00:23:09,380 Speaker 1: he knew like Coach hazard, my high school basketball coach, 427 00:23:09,770 --> 00:23:11,670 Speaker 1: who at that point in his life was a Laker scout. 428 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,189 Speaker 1: I hope they would shake my hand, too. 429 00:23:15,210 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: But instead, 430 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:18,220 Speaker 1: it just gave me a quick head. Not 431 00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:20,930 Speaker 1: half hour later, 432 00:23:22,730 --> 00:23:23,690 Speaker 1: first game was underway. 433 00:23:25,340 --> 00:23:28,140 Speaker 1: I was playing against Kobe. 434 00:23:32,380 --> 00:23:34,429 Speaker 1: I wasn't even mad that I wasn't on Kobe's team. 435 00:23:34,750 --> 00:23:35,629 Speaker 1: I was just happy to be there. 436 00:23:40,109 --> 00:23:40,929 Speaker 1: So I'm on the court 437 00:23:41,820 --> 00:23:43,130 Speaker 1: and I'm trying to do my job. 438 00:23:43,740 --> 00:23:44,790 Speaker 1: I'm trying to guard my guy 439 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,150 Speaker 1: and I'm failing because 440 00:23:49,910 --> 00:23:51,010 Speaker 1: I'm just watching Kobe the hotel, 441 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:56,410 Speaker 1: and he is so in control of his body. It's crazy. 442 00:23:59,130 --> 00:24:02,730 Speaker 1: It felt like watching the most highly trained Broadway dancer 443 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:06,810 Speaker 1: fell poetic. 444 00:24:09,990 --> 00:24:12,450 Speaker 1: About 10 minutes later, 445 00:24:13,210 --> 00:24:14,980 Speaker 1: Kobe accidentally starts to guard me. 446 00:24:17,609 --> 00:24:19,550 Speaker 1: Next thing I know, I'm under the basket. 447 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: This is me and Kobe, 448 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:24,350 Speaker 1: and he's grabbing on my T shirt. 449 00:24:28,030 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 1: So I faked. Going left. I spin away, releasing his 450 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:31,449 Speaker 1: grip 451 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:33,730 Speaker 1: and use the screen set by one of my teammates 452 00:24:33,730 --> 00:24:34,260 Speaker 1: to get open. 453 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: I spread to get the ball. 454 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: He's right behind me. 455 00:24:49,940 --> 00:24:50,740 Speaker 1: He's on my tail. 456 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,570 Speaker 1: The ball lands in my hands, 457 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:57,870 Speaker 1: a square, my feet 458 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,010 Speaker 1: and I said, my eyes in the room 459 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,770 Speaker 1: and release the ball high in the air as Kobe struggle, 460 00:25:04,770 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: sticking over the screen. 461 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: Swift 462 00:25:17,210 --> 00:25:17,780 Speaker 1: buckets. 463 00:25:27,940 --> 00:25:29,950 Speaker 1: So we actually ended up losing the game. 464 00:25:30,890 --> 00:25:34,190 Speaker 1: What's going on, Kobe with a big win for me. 465 00:25:35,380 --> 00:25:36,350 Speaker 1: An hour later, 466 00:25:36,940 --> 00:25:39,050 Speaker 1: we all called it quits and began cooling down. 467 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: Hundreds of you sell a students. I heard that Kobe 468 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:42,709 Speaker 1: was on campus. 469 00:25:43,540 --> 00:25:44,900 Speaker 1: In a matter of minutes. 470 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: The entire gym was swarming with students. 471 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,450 Speaker 1: A group of campus police approached Kobe 472 00:25:52,090 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 1: inform the human barricade around him while he put his 473 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,090 Speaker 1: tracksuit back on. 474 00:25:56,170 --> 00:25:58,950 Speaker 1: Kobe looks a coach hazard and he goes a shed. 475 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,649 Speaker 1: Can you walk into my car and coach Isar goes, Yeah, 476 00:26:02,650 --> 00:26:03,110 Speaker 1: let's do it! 477 00:26:03,710 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: Seconds later, I joined them. 478 00:26:07,490 --> 00:26:10,170 Speaker 1: I found myself on Kobe's left side as we made 479 00:26:10,170 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: our way through campus on a bright summer day, 480 00:26:13,140 --> 00:26:14,450 Speaker 1: and I'm looking to cover the whole time. 481 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: Earlier 482 00:26:16,710 --> 00:26:19,129 Speaker 1: on the basketball court, off strong play, cool 483 00:26:20,210 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 1: walking next to him, 484 00:26:21,980 --> 00:26:22,850 Speaker 1: I lost my shit 485 00:26:23,420 --> 00:26:24,550 Speaker 1: of that 10 year old kid again, 486 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: bright eyed, excited hype to be walking next to Kobe 487 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:29,500 Speaker 1: Bryant 488 00:26:30,730 --> 00:26:32,070 Speaker 1: and in what universe. 489 00:26:33,100 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: So I get to score of basket on Kobe 490 00:26:35,590 --> 00:26:38,050 Speaker 1: and walk next to him in the same day. 491 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:40,350 Speaker 1: This is the craziest moment of my life, 492 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:42,450 Speaker 1: and I'm looking at Kobe walking. 493 00:26:43,690 --> 00:26:46,370 Speaker 1: His eyes are staring at the whole campus. 494 00:26:46,940 --> 00:26:50,090 Speaker 1: He's like, so observant of everything that's going on around him, 495 00:26:51,660 --> 00:26:52,590 Speaker 1: but he doesn't see me. 496 00:26:53,580 --> 00:26:54,810 Speaker 1: Or maybe he does, but 497 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:56,889 Speaker 1: he plays it cool and doesn't show it. 498 00:26:58,619 --> 00:26:59,670 Speaker 1: But then he looks at me 499 00:27:00,730 --> 00:27:02,260 Speaker 1: and like my whole life, just stopped 500 00:27:03,490 --> 00:27:04,510 Speaker 1: and he opens his mouth 501 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:06,810 Speaker 1: and he says, 502 00:27:08,530 --> 00:27:08,950 Speaker 1: Man, 503 00:27:10,250 --> 00:27:11,450 Speaker 1: college would have been fun and all, 504 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,260 Speaker 1: but I know about that fucking school work. 505 00:27:16,930 --> 00:27:18,060 Speaker 1: And then, like a minute later, 506 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:20,129 Speaker 1: Kobe gets in his car 507 00:27:21,150 --> 00:27:21,949 Speaker 1: and drives off, 508 00:27:26,510 --> 00:27:27,780 Speaker 1: but I'm still shook. 509 00:27:28,420 --> 00:27:29,820 Speaker 1: Kobe looked at me and spoke to me. 510 00:27:31,220 --> 00:27:33,050 Speaker 1: And it's a moment that I'll never forget ever. 511 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,880 Speaker 1: I got dozens of texts with the same three words. 512 00:28:14,910 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: Is it true? Is it true those three words with 513 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:22,020 Speaker 1: no other other context at all? Um, nothing else. And 514 00:28:22,220 --> 00:28:23,580 Speaker 1: it was almost a Ziff. 515 00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:27,550 Speaker 1: The text were coming from the same person. Everyone in 516 00:28:27,550 --> 00:28:29,780 Speaker 1: Los Angeles became the same person for a second, and 517 00:28:29,780 --> 00:28:32,910 Speaker 1: they were hoping that they would get a no back. 518 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:37,389 Speaker 1: But unfortunately, every answer to that question is a true 519 00:28:37,609 --> 00:28:38,850 Speaker 1: turned out to be a yes 520 00:28:39,730 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 2: good afternoon from New York were coming on the air 521 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,540 Speaker 2: with breaking news. Very sad news to tell the 522 00:28:44,540 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: sports world. The L. A Times is reporting that on 523 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,420 Speaker 1: January 26 Kobe and his daughter and seven other people 524 00:28:50,430 --> 00:28:51,370 Speaker 1: were in a helicopter 525 00:28:52,850 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: they were flying above. Calabasas is on their way to 526 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:56,660 Speaker 1: house his basketball camp, 527 00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: the helicopter crashing around 10 a.m. 528 00:29:03,130 --> 00:29:04,780 Speaker 1: Because at that point I kind of knew that it 529 00:29:04,780 --> 00:29:07,910 Speaker 1: was true. I got a message from one of my 530 00:29:07,910 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: classmates in seventh grade. I have no idea how this 531 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,150 Speaker 1: dude got my number, but he was like You were 532 00:29:13,150 --> 00:29:14,550 Speaker 1: the first person I thought of. 533 00:29:15,140 --> 00:29:18,030 Speaker 1: I don't know, like I was just I was paralyzed 534 00:29:19,390 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 2: for a good six 535 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:20,950 Speaker 1: hours. After 536 00:29:21,780 --> 00:29:25,340 Speaker 1: I couldn't move, I couldn't respond to anything. A body 537 00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:28,300 Speaker 1: like not win number, light lost feeling. I started shaking. 538 00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:29,290 Speaker 1: I never thought like 539 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:31,950 Speaker 1: I couldn't believe that on my heart would like a 540 00:29:31,950 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: shattered all like there's no way. 541 00:29:35,140 --> 00:29:38,390 Speaker 1: What's crazy is that you know that text read that 542 00:29:38,420 --> 00:29:40,660 Speaker 1: it's me, you, Jordan and Mint 543 00:29:41,330 --> 00:29:43,270 Speaker 1: like. That's how I found out like 544 00:29:43,980 --> 00:29:48,930 Speaker 1: Yeah, like men texted that thread like some like TMZ, 545 00:29:48,940 --> 00:29:51,860 Speaker 1: you know, story. And like That's how I found out, man, 546 00:29:51,860 --> 00:29:52,850 Speaker 1: I could not believe it. 547 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,290 Speaker 1: I cried for almost three hours in my room 548 00:29:58,500 --> 00:29:59,100 Speaker 1: alone 549 00:30:00,140 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: and thought about Kobe. 550 00:30:03,940 --> 00:30:04,910 Speaker 1: And then I went outside. 551 00:30:07,150 --> 00:30:08,550 Speaker 1: Within hours of the news breaking, 552 00:30:09,790 --> 00:30:12,220 Speaker 1: I saw so many people were in Kobe jerseys 553 00:30:13,530 --> 00:30:14,110 Speaker 1: Number eight, 554 00:30:15,340 --> 00:30:16,260 Speaker 1: Number 24. 555 00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:18,950 Speaker 1: It felt like the whole city. I went, uh, 556 00:30:20,390 --> 00:30:21,980 Speaker 1: people who looked like they had never played a day 557 00:30:21,980 --> 00:30:23,090 Speaker 1: of ASAP on their lives, 558 00:30:24,140 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: But they all had on his jersey, 559 00:30:27,030 --> 00:30:29,050 Speaker 1: I drove by a woman who cried as she bought 560 00:30:29,050 --> 00:30:30,610 Speaker 1: roses from a man on Slosson. 561 00:30:31,690 --> 00:30:33,090 Speaker 1: I think she was crying for Kobe 562 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:35,850 Speaker 1: on a different three. Coyner. 563 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,210 Speaker 1: I saw the same guy who sell rest in peace 564 00:30:39,210 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: Nipsey Hustle shirts 565 00:30:40,940 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: now selling rest in peace. Kobe ones. 566 00:30:44,420 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: When FC was killed, 567 00:30:46,830 --> 00:30:48,450 Speaker 1: I felt like South Central mourned. 568 00:30:49,740 --> 00:30:50,790 Speaker 1: But when Kobe died, 569 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:52,610 Speaker 1: I felt larger. 570 00:30:53,740 --> 00:30:55,300 Speaker 1: I felt like the whole city felt it 571 00:30:56,540 --> 00:30:57,350 Speaker 1: and the world 572 00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 2: I lost it. 573 00:30:59,690 --> 00:31:01,980 Speaker 2: I was crying. I couldn't believe it. 574 00:31:03,140 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 2: You were the one who gave me the news. 575 00:31:06,530 --> 00:31:07,890 Speaker 2: I knew your said, 576 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,930 Speaker 2: and I knew inside of me that I lost. Like 577 00:31:12,090 --> 00:31:15,250 Speaker 2: like a family member. It's just like you've lost your 578 00:31:15,250 --> 00:31:15,850 Speaker 2: role model, 579 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:20,350 Speaker 2: somebody important in my son's life, 580 00:31:21,050 --> 00:31:21,990 Speaker 2: someone who 581 00:31:22,740 --> 00:31:25,350 Speaker 2: help me change my son. 582 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: Honestly, sometimes I feel like the only time we come 583 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:32,220 Speaker 1: together now layer during extremes. 584 00:31:33,540 --> 00:31:36,540 Speaker 1: It's like we're really great is celebrating and we're really great. 585 00:31:36,540 --> 00:31:38,850 Speaker 1: A grieving, but nothing in between. 586 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:44,950 Speaker 1: We come together in grief after disasters, fires, earthquakes and pandemics. 587 00:31:45,980 --> 00:31:46,850 Speaker 1: We were shaken. 588 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:48,850 Speaker 1: We reach out to help each other. 589 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,050 Speaker 1: Kobe wasn't a fire or an earthquake, 590 00:31:52,710 --> 00:31:54,070 Speaker 1: but it's definitely changed. 591 00:31:57,330 --> 00:32:00,970 Speaker 1: Some rumors say that Kobe held onto G as a 592 00:32:00,970 --> 00:32:02,050 Speaker 1: helicopter crashed, 593 00:32:03,590 --> 00:32:06,690 Speaker 1: and maybe there's something beautiful to take from that. 594 00:32:08,540 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: Maybe that's the one thing we can do. Moving forward 595 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:12,260 Speaker 1: is hold each other. 596 00:32:13,690 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: You know, when I was at the memorial service, particularly 597 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:20,970 Speaker 1: just days after he died in the areas outside the 598 00:32:20,970 --> 00:32:24,620 Speaker 1: Staples Center, when they were putting flowers out for him, 599 00:32:24,770 --> 00:32:24,900 Speaker 1: I 600 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:25,450 Speaker 2: mean, you just 601 00:32:25,450 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: saw a beautiful picture of L. A. You have the Latinos, 602 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:31,650 Speaker 1: you have the Armenians, you have the Russians, 603 00:32:31,650 --> 00:32:34,110 Speaker 2: little Eastern, African, American, Caucasian. You 604 00:32:34,110 --> 00:32:37,740 Speaker 1: saw every color Asian Americans and not just brought me 605 00:32:37,740 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: so much joy because that was Kobe. 606 00:32:41,870 --> 00:32:46,430 Speaker 1: Kobe's legacy is restoring the unity that l. A was 607 00:32:46,430 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: always intended to have. 608 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:54,340 Speaker 1: When Kobe was good, 609 00:32:55,340 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: he was great. 610 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,070 Speaker 1: When l A is good, it's also great. 611 00:33:03,340 --> 00:33:03,810 Speaker 1: Kobe, 612 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:06,050 Speaker 1: this is a thank you 613 00:33:07,980 --> 00:33:09,260 Speaker 1: a really big thank you. 614 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: Thank you. From that kid on his bed in his 615 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,540 Speaker 1: room talking to a cop who didn't know what you 616 00:33:15,540 --> 00:33:16,260 Speaker 1: would mean to me. 617 00:33:17,140 --> 00:33:20,180 Speaker 1: Thank you for giving me something to root for. Thank 618 00:33:20,180 --> 00:33:20,980 Speaker 1: you for playing 619 00:33:22,430 --> 00:33:23,660 Speaker 1: and making me want to play 620 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:27,260 Speaker 1: for keeping me on the court and out of trouble. 621 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:29,770 Speaker 1: You really saved my life. 622 00:33:33,910 --> 00:33:34,650 Speaker 1: And my mom 623 00:33:35,250 --> 00:33:39,370 Speaker 1: wants to say thank you to thank you, Kobe. Thank you, 624 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: Kobe. 625 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:12,350 Speaker 1: Special thanks to 626 00:34:13,270 --> 00:34:16,250 Speaker 1: Iliana Jihad Zack Will rich 627 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:19,870 Speaker 1: Lorena Yoob Dr Lori for Idris 628 00:34:20,500 --> 00:34:25,380 Speaker 1: David Tripler Eugene O Nicholas Rowe's Lisa Kwan 629 00:34:25,940 --> 00:34:28,230 Speaker 1: Jack Thomas My mama 630 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: a Martinez. 631 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:32,589 Speaker 1: And so here also, uh, 632 00:34:33,620 --> 00:34:35,580 Speaker 1: all these people helped us remember Kobe 633 00:34:37,170 --> 00:34:40,109 Speaker 1: and remind us of who we are and who he waas. 634 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: The lead producer for this episode is Tameka Adams 635 00:34:46,140 --> 00:34:47,770 Speaker 1: supporting producers. Meghan Tan. 636 00:34:48,340 --> 00:34:49,900 Speaker 1: Our editor is Arlen Knicks 637 00:34:50,580 --> 00:34:52,549 Speaker 1: and our producer is Elizabeth Chicano. 638 00:34:53,340 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: Valentino Rivera is our engineer. 639 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:00,080 Speaker 1: Original music by Andrew Ethan this'll Episode Ruined by me, 640 00:35:00,380 --> 00:35:01,840 Speaker 1: Walter Thompson Hernandez 641 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: With help from Tameka Adams and our winnicks 642 00:35:05,870 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 1: Angela Brahms Dad is the executive producer. 643 00:35:09,070 --> 00:35:11,620 Speaker 1: California love is a production of Aaliyah's studios. 644 00:35:12,739 --> 00:35:15,350 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. E really appreciate you.