By Andrew Power, Contributing Writer
The death of Kobe Bryant on Jan. 26 sent shockwaves through the basketball community and the world at large. As a five-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 18-time all-star, NBA MVP and fourth-place holder in career scoring, Bryant was considered a legend on the court by many.
His life and career have been eulogized by athletes, celebrities and individuals across the world. Likewise, the St. Bonaventure community has also seen a degree of mourning for the future Hall of Famer, with students from multiple backgrounds and experiences coming forward to share their feelings.
Junior Christine Touranjoe grew up an intense Kobe Bryant fan and couldn’t believe when the news arrived.
“I just cried a lot; it’s hard not to cry a lot over something so heartbreaking. I’m praying for his family so much too,” said Touranjoe. “I remember being little and getting so excited for Laker games just to watch him play. You could feel his energy and passion just watching him.”
Touranjoe’s all-time favorite moment was when Bryant gave an alley-oop pass to Shaquille O’Neal in game seven of the 2000 Western Conference Finals to cap a 17-point comeback over the Portland Trailblazers.
For many, Bryant’s impact transcended the game of basketball, and his influence bled into the public consciousness.
Grace Weber, a sophomore, said she has never been a major basketball fan, but she often took notice of how incredible his work ethic was.
“That was him,” said Weber. “An example of hard work and dedication in everything.”
Jack Wiles, a captain on the St. Bonaventure men’s rugby team, said he always admired the leadership that Bryant displayed. He believes that teammates feed off of a leader who has the power to make the team better. Wiles also mentioned the famous “mamba mentality” and said he believes every athlete needs the same passion as Bryant.
“Basketball is much more individual than rugby, but as a captain, Kobe is one of the best to model, and while Kobe took matters into his own hands often, he led by example,” said Wiles. “It is contagious and it truly elevates the success of the team. This is something I truly respect and strive to emulate.”
Over the past week, tributes for Bryant have surfaced worldwide, including in Italy, where he lived for seven years of his childhood.
Sophomore Sebastiano Villani, who is from Parma, Italy, said he grew to love basketball because of Bryant.
“When I was younger, I was never a big basketball fan,” he said. “Then a friend told me about Kobe, and I started watching basketball and rooted for the Lakers because of him.”
Villani now describes himself as a lifelong basketball fan.
As an athlete, public figure, filmmaker and father, the cultural impact that Bryant produced in his life and death spans across the world. While the Staples Center in Los Angeles holds memorials in his honor, members of the St. Bonaventure community 3,000 miles away have taken their own time to remember the massive influence he played on their lives.
powersaj17@bonaventure.edu
