I realize that life is so much bigger than sports, but to those of us involved in sports culture this is big, and this one hurts. I wasn’t a Kobe fan, I didn’t like his style or his personality. I’ve always hated the Lakers and told my kids they weren’t allowed to wear Lakers gear. I always rooted against him hoping somebody could overcome his fierce competitive drive. It never happened. Kobe and his Mamba mentality always seemed to come thru. Even when he retired I watched as he put up 60 points in his final game. He had an amazing drive and work ethic that you had to respect.
But I’m crushed by hearing of his sudden and shocking death. I’m crushed because I’m a fan of redemptive stories I love seeing people learn from mistakes, and “Get It” in life. The most recent pictures of Kobe weren’t ones where he was coming at people’s throats but looking to build others up. Seeing clips of him hanging out and coaching his daughter changed the way I now looked at him. I loved listening to him talk about the game of basketball and how to break it down. I loved hearing the pride in his voice for his family. I loved hearing and seeing his redemptive story. And so today hurts because I don’t want to see redemptive stories end.
I’ve never had an athlete that I looked up to die so tragically, but I know that my favorite athletes I feel like I know as friends. I love Charles Barkley because I feel like I played like Charles Barkley and that he has a sense of humor that would make him a friend. I’ve stuck with him thru many mistakes, joys, and triumphs. So my heart also hurts for all the kids and fans who loved him, looked up to him and felt like he was a friend. Yes it’s true that many people die every day, but not many people die who were loved by so many and who felt like they knew him. That is the beauty of sports! Sports are truly a gift and a way to connect people.
I’m crushed for his family. I have been blessed with 4 kids (2 daughters) and we’ve had an incredible year of seeing the time we spent with our kids on soccer fields or basketball courts bring a harvest of people seeing the gifts and the light they have in them. I cherish those moments even more so now. I can’t wait to make more moments. My heart breaks for the families involved. They just thought they were going to a basketball tournament spending time with their family. Go play ________ with your kids! Basketball, Dolls, Dance, Soccer, Chess, Go spend time with them hang out with them. Life is short!
Finally it also helps bring some small perspective that we as Skybacher Ministries have to keep going! That even though what we do is often times seen as just playing games with kids, it’s so much more than that! It’s helping people work through their own redemptive stories and bring glory to the Creator of it all!
Psalm 34:8 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”