Kobe RIP

Many people believe death is just the next chapter in living.  A chapter we don't understand and that many times comes to a very sudden end.   All sports fans morn today at the loss of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, Orange County Baseball Coach John Altobelli and family, along with Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester with her middle school aged daughter Payton.

Death for a 41 year old basketball legend and young kids doesn't make.  Our brains just can't process it.   Everyday whether at work or at home, we try to solve every problem, find a solution to every issue.   Death doesn't have a solution, its the true meaning of final.   It just doesn't make any sense and very hard to process.  

Whether you were a Kobe fan or not, you had to admire his work ethic.  We have all seen gifted athletes not work hard and limit their career or championship opportunities.  That wasn't Kobe, he worked hard at everything, including in practice.   He knew his talent was a gift and he wasn't going to take that for granted.   He also wasn't perfect, many thought he was too competitive, sometimes not a great teammate, and of course had the allegation in Colorado.  

I believe Kobe's direct tie to the University of Michigan was through his agent and now Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.  Who was of course a former Michigan Basketball player that played during the FAB 5 run.  Yes, I'm sure Juwan knew Kobe as every NBA Basketball player did as well.   Kobe's new VC firm also invested into FocusMotion, a technology company started by two U of M Ross alums Cavan Canavan and Grant Hughes.

Kobe w/ FocusMotion at NYSE on 8/22/2016 from michiganross.umich.edu

If your wondering, Kobe used helicopters regularly to beat the traffic in LA.  He would even take a helicopter to games during his career.  After he retired, I recall an adverting spot of him getting in a helicopter from his new non-basketball office.   The helicopter ride on Sunday morning was supposed to be a 15-20 minute ride from Orange County Airport to the Mamba Sports Academy where they were  hosting a girls basketball tournament.   It was about an 85 mile drive if they had elected to go that route on Sunday morning.  

Today, I don't morn for the basketball player, he lived his dream.  I morn for the 41 year old father, the children who had their future taken away, John Altobelli and his wife, Christina Mauser an Elementary School Basketball Coach, and Sarah Chester.   I also morn for all the families of the victims in the crash and wish them peace of mind as soon as they are able to find it.  

This is just another example that life isn't fair and many times way too short. 



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/01/kobe-rip.html