John D. Rockefeller once said, “Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” John c. Maxwell the famous author, speaker and pastor said it this way, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” The abolitionist, Henry Ward Beecher, shut the building down with this one, “Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.”
Well playas…the cat that they once called Kobe Bean Bryant AKA “The Black Mamba” is OFFICIALLY a Hall of Famer. He’ll be inducted into the 2020 Class with the likes of Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Tamika Catchings. No one was surprised by his selection because he was one of the greatest to EVER lace them up.
I can remember when he showed up in Indianapolis for the last time as an active NBA player. The vibe in the building was NUTS, the atmosphere was crazy and the groupies were in full effect. You would have sworn it was the Finals in LA!! More than anything, Kobe knew the way, went the way and showed the way of a leader even when his career was ending. After 20 NBA seasons on a grind. He suited up and played as best he could dropping 19 points in a near miss of beating the Pacers. Indiana barely got out of the joint alive with an 89-87 win escaping what was almost a TERRIBLE loss at the time. They squandered a 17 point lead only to barely hold on to win.
But Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! There were so many Lakers fans in the building that night that it was essentially a Lakers home game. EVERY time Kobe touched the rock the crowd went crazy. He was a terrible 6-25 shooting but you wouldn’t have known that by sitting there watching the game without looking at the box score. Folks really came out to give one of the GREATEST hoopers to EVER live his respect and I appreciated him for understanding just how big that was.
Think about it, he had do that dog and pony show in EVERY arena for the remainder of the season and he was graceful with the media too. He did a full hour pre-game press conference. He didn’t do it in the locker room. He did it in the media room like it was the freaking playoffs.
The Mamba played 33 minutes when he didn’t have to (well…yeah he did, they’re paying him $24 million) and he met with the media for another full post-game press conference as well. Why? Because he understood that it was bigger than him. Cam Newton could have learned a thing or two about professionalism and how to handle yourself regardless of the outcome from Kobe.
Yeah, I get that the Super Bowl is bigger than some chump change game in Indianapolis on a Monday night when you’re on one of the worse teams in the NBA at the time. However, Kobe didn’t have to do any of it. He understood that he was one of the greatest players to play this game and he gave people an opportunity to experience his last rodeo. We appreciate that because he didn’t have to do it.
Big props to Kobe for being a leader and at least giving the fans their money’s worth! Congrats on becoming a Hall of Famer. Stop me when I start lyin’!
