Kobe

Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images

I had to take a day to process. It’s not often you see the mood of an entire city reverberate throughout the world. The overcast nature of the city mirroring the grief expressed by those who cheered for and against the man. But that’s what happens when an icon passes, especially one who transcended the game.

In many ways, it seems unfair that after giving the game he loved so much twenty years of his hustle and heart that he was just starting to settle into a hard-earned retirement — pursuing new creative ventures and passing the torch as a mentor to the next generation of driven athletes.

In other ways, it was almost poetic that the last recorded message on his social media will forever read as a respectful nod to LeBron James for passing his all-time scoring record.

But it’s downright cruel that his life would end en route to taking his daughter to the very game that defined his soul.

In life and in death, basketball never left Kobe Bryant.

The thing I loved most was that the man unabashedly repped Los Angeles through and through. We often get our fair share of haters who project their own fears and disillusion to this great city. Kobe found a way to weaponize that hate and used it as fuel for an unrelenting drive.

That drive gave us more than pride. It inspired. It pushed the competition to greater, thrilling heights. And on a handful of occasions, it brought us together.

I absorbed far more coverage than I planned to. I sat by the TV, waiting to hear from Magic and Jerry, looking for some kind of solace from Laker royalty. But the moment Magic referred to Kobe as “the greatest Laker of all time,” it finally hit. Gone were the diversions of arguing over the greatest of all time moniker or whom would beat whom in their prime. What remained was a group of legends eulogizing one of their own. Humanity.

At that moment, I heard enough. I stopped, took a brief moment of reflection, and got right back to editing a video. Knowing full well the best way to honor a man who infamously expected excellence from those around him was to get right back to work on my craft.

And with that, I offer this simple perspective to those still struggling to cope: relentlessly pursue excellence.

That is the best way to honor the legacy of a competitive madman. Take your passion and relentlessly pursue it at every waking moment.

Define that however you need.

Whether it means being the best athlete, the best friend, or even the best parent you can be. Because 41 years is far too young, but judging from the thousands who gathered at the Staples Center and all of those who’ve chimed in over the world, it’s downright impossible to argue that they weren’t well spent.

And in doing so, you don’t only honor Kobe, but the eight other people whose lives were cut short of possibilities.

Go.