Kobe Bryant's Life-Death Relationship And Basketball In "Dear Basketball"

Animated snippet Dear Basketball (dailymotion)

JAKARTA - Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, United States (US). In the accident, Kobe's 13-year-old son, Gianna, was killed. Remembering Kobe is remembering a long story about the heroism of a sportsman. And the poem called Dear Basketball that he wrote is a true picture of the life-and-death relationship between Kobe and the orange ball.

For fans, Dear Bastketball is one of the most iconic memories of the basketball player nicknamed The Black Mamba. The poetry was translated into the medium of a short film by animator Glen Keane with Oscar-winning composer John Williams. The film also brought the 2018 Oscars to Kobe's arms and made him the first sportsman to win an Oscar.

Tells the story of a little Kobe's dream of becoming a basketball star and finally retiring from the LA Lakers - the only club he has played for in his career, the animation for Dear Basketball is made in a sketch style that moves in a stop motion plot.

The voice played by Williams was very good and evocative of emotion. His collaboration with Glen Keane is able to perfectly illustrate the profound message contained in Kobe's poetry. After all, winning an Oscar is something that Kobe could never have imagined.

"I don't know if that (winning the Oscar) is possible. I mean, as basketball players, we should be playing in silence and dribbling. But, I'm glad we did a little more than that," said Kobe in his victory speech.

In the speech, Kobe also thanked his wife, Vanessa and their three daughters. Kober said: You are my inspiration.

As reported by ESPN, Kobe expressed his joy after accepting awards to reporters in the interview room. "Honestly, getting an award like this feels better than winning something in the championship. I swear, "said Kobe describing his happiness.

Retirement poetry

The poem Dear Basketball was written by Kobe after he retired from basketball. The poem tells the story of his dream of becoming a basketball player who has been nurtured since he was a child. The dream of the man who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, August 23, 1978 was very big. He even made rolled socks into the basketball he played when he was six years old.

If there is anything that inspires Kobe's most passion for basketball, it is a video of the LA Lakers game called La Lakers Highlights 1983. The video is a powerful inspiration to Kobe, as depicted in Dear Basketball.

Below is a verse of the poem Dear Basketball that Kobe wrote:

From the moment

I started rolling my dad's tube socks

And shooting imaginary

Game-winning shots

In the Great Western Forum

I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep I gave you my all -

From my mind & body

To my spirit & soul.

As a six-year-old boy

Deeply in love with you

I never saw the end of the tunnel.

I only saw myself

Running out of one.

And so I ran.

I ran up and down every court

After every loose ball for you.

You asked for my hustle

I gave you my heart

Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt

Not because challenge called me

But because YOU called me.

I did everything for YOU

Because that's what you do

When someone makes you feel as

Alive as you've made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream

And I'll always love you for it.

But I can't love you obsessively for much longer.

This season is all I have left to give.

My heart can take the pounding

My mind can handle the grind

But my body knows it's time to say goodbye.

And that's OK.

I'm ready to let you go.

I want you to know now

So we both can savor every moment we have left together.

The good and the bad.

We have given each other

All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what I do next

I'll always be that kid

With the rolled up socks

Garbage can in the corner

: 05 seconds on the clock

Ball in my hands.

5… 4… 3… 2… 1

Love you always,

Kobe