You made a 6 year old kid believe men could fly. You made me believe superheroes were real. The first airball I ever saw in my life was your first game off the bench. The first time I saw someone look like they couldfly was when you won the dunk contest. The first professional sports game I ever went to was watching you at the Forum. The first celebrity autogrpah I ever got was yours when I wrote you a letter in 1998. The first buzzer beater I ever saw was your against Charlotte in ‘02. The first time I witnessed “mind over matter” on the basketball court was watching you take over in OT against the Pacers in ‘00 when Shaq fouled out. The first time I came to understand why people cried watching sports was watching you literally will yourself to a championship with a mangled shooting hand in ‘10. The drunkest I ever got was the night you ruptured your achilles. I remember thinking about how much worse I’d feel when we were both old men and I would hear of your passing. But life never works out the way you expect it to, and even though this news comes decades too soon, if there’s anything you’ve left us, it’s the legacy of RELENTLESSly pursuing greatness that inspired so many to chase after their dreams. Thank you for being a constant reminder of how much tireless work ethic is required to truly achieve excellence. Thank you for everything. #RIP #Kobe #MyGoat