An Ode to My Idol

An 8 piece tribute to Kobe Bryant, by Manu Khanna

01 The Love of Basketball

The moment I saw you on TV
I was captivated.
A 12-year-old kid in Sri Lanka
I could barely fathom that you were real.
I nagged my father, I bugged him
Till he brought home a pair of Kobe II’s.
Wearing them for the first time
I was convinced
These belong to another paradigm.
Kobe,
I love the game of basketball
All thanks to YOU.

02 Superman Is Real

10 years ago a trip to Boston
Formed the memory of a lifetime.
It was a cold, frigid afternoon
The 12-year-old kid inside me was dreaming:

What a perfect day for a Kobe game-winner.

Walking into TD Garden
You could feel the energy, the excitement.
The game zipped by
I tried to absorb every single moment.
Less than 8 seconds to go
You made the dream a reality.
My first NBA game
My first Kobe game
What more could I ask for?
I had always seen Superman on TV
This was the day I realized YOU were real.

03 There is Always Hope

The fear you instilled into opponents
Was the hope we thrived on.
Every Laker fan had a prayer
It simply said we have Kobe.
There was a mythical presence
When you were on the court.
Practically unstoppable
A warrior that fought every battle.
This wasn’t about basketball
It was the heart of a champion.
As if the God’s were listening
Somehow YOU would always come through.

04 Perfection Requires Obsession

Through everything you did
Countless lessons were taught.
An aura that was inexplainable
An obsession few could understand.
It left me awestruck
Wondering how to peel the layers.
Beethoven, Picasso
The grace of a ballet dancer.
There were familiarities
Noticeable when the game slowed down.
We were witnessing an artist go to work
When YOU played basketball.

05 You Are Human

Now this is going to be fun
Read Sports Illustrated’s 2012 cover print.
The only thing that held up
Was your will and determination.
Leading up to April
I was in disbelief that are you human.
Your relentless drive
It created a magical force.
A surreal moment
Watching you go down.
Championship aspirations disappeared
With one innocent step.
It was a sign of embracing a new reality
YOU were human all along.

06 Basketball Will Never Be the Same

A day that was inevitable
Yet difficult to prepare for.
Knowing the game is losing its best student
I regret not being there.
The farewell tour set the stage
To reminisce on the past two decades.
A constant reminder
Of the blood, sweat, and tears.
Expectations of a stellar show
This was Hollywood after all.
An epic send off well deserved
YOU did one for the ages.

07 We Are All Mortal

Speechless
In utter disbelief.
Wanting to wake up
From the horrible nightmare.
Instantly realizing
How fragile we all are.
A community
That lost a hero.
A family
Who lost a devoted father.
A wife
Who lost a loving husband.
A hall of fame induction speech
That will never be.
A dream of working together
Shattered instantly.
I wasn’t ready for the truth
YOU were mortal this whole time.

08 Forever Thankful

Grateful
To have witnessed 8 games of artistry.
With memories
That are unforgettable.
Lessons
That will last a lifetime.
A legend
That will live forever.
Kobe,
I love the game of basketball
All thanks to YOU.

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