Kobe Bryant: "Dear basketball"

Esta madrugada ha anunciado su retirada del baloncesto uno de los más grandes escoltas de todos los tiempos. El tercer máximo anotador de la NBA de la historia. Poco más que añadir.
La Manba Negra. El gran Kobe Bryant ha escrito una carta de despedida al deporte que le ha dado todo... y la verdad es que el componente emotivo de las líneas que Kobe ha escrito es alto... así que si estás un poco sensible, déjalo para otro momento.
Dedicado a los que amamos este deporte y nos educamos con sus valores... y a mi hermano Javi en particular
Dear Basketball,
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
KOBE BRYANT / LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Y ahora, como pequeño homenaje por mi parte a Kobe Bryant y a todos los lectores de este blog amantes del baloncesto (que se a ciencia cierta que los hay), os dejo estos tres vídeos que nos muestran las semajanzas de Kobe con el único e inigualable Michael Jordan
Disfrutadlo porque es impresionante