Twenty-twenty has been a year to remember…. as it has taught us lessons and made us face situations that were unimaginable. All the activities we enjoyed and have taken for granted were suddenly changed. No matter what side of the country you call home, we all had our own taste of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty to face. But as Angelenos, twenty-twenty was more than Covid-19 and the pandemic, it has been deeper than that, it’s been personal. It felt like the clouds over our beautiful city were darker than anywhere else in the world.
There’s nothing quite like sports when it comes to bringing people together. Whether it’s an untamed rivalry or simply a small showing of sportsmanship, sports can solve conflicts and provide universal inspiration. With the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, the City of Los Angeles was desperately in search of a ray of hope, for a bright light to fight through the dark clouds above us.
As countless murals popped up throughout the city, in memory of our beloved son; “For Kobe” became our battle cry. Our mentality changed, how we viewed hardships and situations no longer blanketed our feelings and weighed us down, the residents of Los Angeles adopted the Mamba Mentality. We became obsessed with reaching our goals and having no fear, we wanted to not only win but dominate. As a city, we knew there was one thing left to do to honor the man that blessed us with countless memories. “For Kobe”
With the weight of an entire city on their shoulders, the Los Angeles Lakers became the 2020 NBA Champions and dedicated the trophy to Kobe and Gigi Bryant. It was the ray of hope we needed, the one thing that would help our heavy hearts find closure in an otherwise horrible year full of sorrow and loss. Knowing Kobe and his thought process, he’d probably tell you that we weren’t done yet. “For Kobe”
Dedicating their season to the Bryant Family, the Los Angeles Dodgers also captured the 2020 Championship, giving us something else to celebrate, sing about, dance to, and cry for. Whether you’re a fan of sports or not — in this complicated and divisive world — sometimes it the perfect remedy to bring us together after and during dreadful times.
“For Kobe”
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