RIP KOBE BRYANT

Heroes Come and Go BUT LEGENDS Are Forever

KOBE BRYANT ENERGIZED LOS ANGELES LIKE FEW PEOPLE HAVE

Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with sublime skills and an unquenchable competitive fire. He earned Los Angeles’ eternal adoration during his two decades as the fierce soul of the beloved Lakers, and he was respected by basketball fans from every place with a hoop and a dream, including his native Philadelphia and in Italy, his other childhood home.

Less than four years into his retirement, Bryant was seizing new challenges and working to inspire his daughters’ generation through sports and storytelling when his next chapter ended shockingly early.

Bryant, the 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career all with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26, 2020. He was 41.

The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna as well as five other passengers including the pilot, died.

Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic. He traveled to practices and games by helicopter before his playing career ended in 2016. He continued to use them after retirement as he attended to his new ventures, which included a burgeoning entertainment company that recently produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film. The basketball world and Los Angeles reacted with an outpouring of pain and disbelief.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary ... but he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”

The crash occurred about 20 miles from Mamba Sports Academy, Bryant’s basketball training complex in Newbury Park, California. A youth basketball tournament — the Mamba Cup — was scheduled for a second day of competition Sunday at the facility, and Bryant had attended the opening day Saturday with Gianna.

Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters. He had been a vocal booster of women’s sports since his retirement, coaching and mentoring basketball players around the world while also backing women’s soccer and other endeavors. Bryant retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, all scored in Lakers purple and gold.

LEGENDS ARE FOREVER

Black Mamba

Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1996, only a month after having been drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, they traded him to the L.A. Lakers for center, Vlade Divac. Bryant was the first guard to be drafted into the NBA straight out of high school.

Position

Small forward, shooting guard

Jersey Number

24 (Los Angeles Lakers, 2007-2016 8 (Los Angeles Lakers, 1997-2006)

Games Played

1346

Points Per Game

25.0

Rebounds Per Game

5.2

3-Point Field Goal Percentage

32.9

Free Throw Percentage

83.7

Birthplace

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Family

Parents: Joe & Pamela Bryant Wife: Vanessa Laine Bryant Children: Natalia Diamante Bryant (b. 2003), Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (b. 2006) Bianka Bella Bryant (b. 2016) Capri Kobe Bryant (b. 2019) Sisters: Sharia Bryant, Shaya Bryant

Movies/TV Shows (Acted In)

“The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows” (2017) “Daddy’s Home” (2015) “Bette” (2000) “Moesha” (1996)

Movies/TV Shows

(Writing/Creator) “Detail” (2018-2019) “Dear Basketball” (short; 2017)

Published Works

“The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” (2018)

Albums

“K.O.B.E.” (2000)

IN LOVING MEMORY

Vanessa Bryant’s Farewell Speech

“Babe, you take care of our Gigi. I got Nani, BB, & Coco. We’re still the best team.”

On February 24, 2020, during Kobe Bryant’s Memorial at the Staples Center, Vanessa Bryant, his wife of nineteen years, delivered a heart-wrenching speech bidding farewell to her 13-year old daughter Gigi and love of her life, Kobe. Here are some excerpts from Vanessa’s Farewell Speech.

“Kobe was known as a fierce competitor on the basketball court. The greatest of all time, a writer and Oscar winner, and the Black Mamba. But to me, he was Kob-Kob, my boo-boo, my bae-boo. My papi chulo. I was his Vivi, his principesa, his reina, his Queen Mamba and his Veeski-mineski, Fabu-leeski. I couldn’t see him as a celebrity, nor just an incredible basketball player. He was my sweet husband, and the beautiful father of our children. He was mine. He was my everything. Kobe and I have been together since I was 17 and-a-half years old. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his wife, his best friend, his confidant, and his protector. He was the most amazing husband. Koby loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. He was the early bird, and I was the night owl. I was fire and he was ice, and vice versa at times. We balanced each other out. He would do anything for me. I have no idea how I deserved a man that loved and wanted me more than Kobe. He was charismatic, a gentleman. He was loving adoring and romantic. Kobe wanted us to renew our vows. He wanted Natalia to take over his company, and he wanted to travel the world together. We had always talked about how we would be the fun grandparents to our daughter’s children. He would have been the coolest grandpa. Kobe was the MVP of girl dads, or MVD. He never left the toilet seat up. He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. He taught them how to be brave and how to keep pushing forward when things get tough. And when Kobe retired from the NBA, he took over dropping off and picking up our girls from school since I was at home pregnant with Bianca and just recently home nursing Capri. He helped put baby Bianca and Capri to sleep almost every night. He would sing them silly songs in the shower and continue making them laugh and smile as he lathered them with lotion and got them ready for bed. He had magic arms that could put Capri to sleep in only a few minutes. He said he had it down to a science, eight times up and down our hallway. He loved taking Bianca to Fashion Island to watch her play in the koi pond area. Their most recent visit to the koi pond was the evening before he and Gigi passed. He told me he wished he would have convinced Natalia to play basketball, so they could have spent even more time together. But he also wanted her to pursue her own passion. He watched Natalia play in a volleyball tournament on her birthday, on January, 19 and he noticed how she’s a very intelligent player. He was convinced she would have made a great point guard with her vision of the court. And he told me that he wanted Bianca and Capri to take a basketball, when they got older, so he could spend just as much time with them, as he did with Gigi. Now they won’t have their daddy and sister here to teach them, and that is truly a loss I do not understand but I’m so thankful Kobe heard Coco say “Dada.” He isn’t going to be able to walk our girls down the aisle or spin me around the dance floor while singing “PYT” to me. But I want my daughters to know and remember the amazing person, husband and father he was, the kind of man that wanted to teach the future generations to be better, and keep them from making his own mistakes. He always liked working and doing projects to improve kids’ lives. He taught us all valuable lessons about life and sports through his MBA career. He was thoughtful and wrote the best love letters and cards and Gigi had his wonderful ability to express her feelings to pick up paper and make you feel her love through her words. She was thoughtful like him. They were so easy to love. Everyone naturally gravitated towards them. They were funny, happy, silly, and they loved life. They were so full of joy an adventure. God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other. He had to bring them home to Heaven together. Babe, you take care of our GiGi, I got Nani, BB, & Coco. We’re still the best team. We love and miss you Booboo & Gigi. May you both rest in peace, and have fun in Heaven. Until we meet again one day. We love you both, and miss you. Forever and always, Mommy.”

IN LOVING MEMORY

KOBE & VANESSA BRYANT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant met in 1999 during a music video shoot when Vanessa was a 17-year old high school student from Orange County and Kobe was a 20-year-old rising star for the Los Angeles Lakers. The couple had their first date at Disneyland and six months after meeting, once Vanessa turned eighteen, Kobe proposed and they got married on April 18, 2001. Their 19-year marriage had its ups and downs but in the end, their love prevailed and they welcomed four daughters. Here is a collection of some of the couples happy and memorable red carpet moments throughout the years.

IN LOVING MEMORY

Kobe Bryant’s tragic death broke my heart and also brought loving memories of my dad

By Susana Marquez

Basketball has always been my favorite sport! I started playing at the age of five and fell in love with the game. A Laker fan at heart, the purple and gold run deep through my veins. Growing up, my father and I watched every Laker game possible and in the mornings, we would discuss the games and read the newspaper’s sports section. Needless to say, there was no question I would try out for the basketball team in high school. Unfortunately, right around the time of try-outs, my dad became very ill. I vividly remember visiting him at the hospital to tell him I had made the basketball team and showing him my uniform. He looked at me with pride and said that I would eventually go play for the Lakers. Mind you, there was no WNBA at that time.

During the summer of 1998 I was invited to go to the Santa Monica Pier for a basketball event led by none other than Kobe Bryant. By this time, my house had already become a Kobe Bryant-fan household. I even had posters of him on my bedroom wall. We knew he would lead the Los Angeles Lakers to greatness. Kobe was my idol. I remember trying to emulate his moves on the court. Needless to say, on this hot summer day in 1998, I was over the moon with excitement about possibly meeting him. Although my dad’s health continued deteriorating, he drove me out to Santa Monica. The event was crowded and the day was very hot. My parents waited for me as I made my way to stand in line for a Kobe meet and greet. It felt like an eternity before Kobe arrived and I kept checking on my father who seemed tired and restless. At one point I asked my dad if he preferred going home, knowing that I’d probably miss out on meeting Kobe. Buy my dad replied, “Get in line and meet your idol. We will be here waiting for you.” I hugged my dad tightly with tears in my eyes because even as his illness progressed, he was making a sacrifice to be there since he knew what meeting Kobe meant to me.

When Kobe arrived, he gave a brief speech about his love for the game, his drive and determination and his love for the Lakers. He was confident. He was built for greatness and he oozed confidence even at 19-years-old. He promised championships and everyone believed him. He had not yet reached Black Mamba status then, but it was easy to see that we was headed to the top.

As I got closer to meeting Kobe and the line got longer behind me, news reporters pulled him away. I felt heartbroken because he was leaving and so was my chance to meet him. But he turned around and asked, “Hey, what’s your name?” I yelled out my name and he replied: “Susie! I will be right back, wait right there.” I looked up to my parents. My dad gave me a thumbs up which meant he was fine with continuing to wait. Suddenly, I saw Kobe Bryant coming toward me, signaling to meet him where he was now standing. I ran to meet him and greeted him with excitement quickly telling him how much he meant to me as a basketball player and how thrilled I was over the fact that he was a Laker. We took pictures and he signed a few items for me. For a moment in time, Kobe Bryant felt like a friend, not a famous athlete.

When I received the news about his death on January 26, 2020, I thought it was a cruel joke. But as news outlets started confirming the story one by one, I immediately became angry and broke down. How was it that such a young, amazing man was dead? As the news unraveled that his daughter Gianna was with him, I could not bear the awful news. His death affected me for months and it triggered the tragic passing of my father and the bond we built throughout the years which included the love of basketball. Kobe Bryant’s passing was tragic but his legacy is never-ending. Kobe is a gift to Los Angeles and his game is like a beautifully orchestrated music piece. There will be no other basketball player that brings the city of Los Angeles to its knees in sorrow in the same manner we were brought to our feet with nervous excitement. R.I.P. Kobe Bryant.

IN LOVING MEMORY MAMBA LIVES ON

Kobe Bryant Mural by Artist Jonas Never | Location: 1336 Lebannon St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Father and Daughter Basketball Angeles Mural by Artist Sloe | Location: W. Pico Blvd. & S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90015 Soon after Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, numerous artists took to the streets of Los Angeles to capture his legacy in paint. Many of the murals we found depict the bond between Kobe and his 13-year old daughter Gigi. They died together in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. In her final words during the memorial held at Staples Center, Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant said: “God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other. He had to bring them home to Heaven together.”

Mambas Forever Mural by Artist Sloe | Location: 1361 Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna hugging Mural by Artist Bandit Graffiti | Location: 7753 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 The Mamba Mentality Mural by Artist HIJACK | Location: 519 S. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Legends are Forever Kobe Bryant Mural by Artist Chris Chanyang Shim | 800 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

WOMEN’S MARCH LA

In 2020 women are rising to affirm that women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights. Women’s March LA creates a space in the midst of Los Angeles for powerful speakers, artists, activists and community leaders to rise and share work aligned with the Women’s March Platform. The 4th Annual Women’s March LA was held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 and represented a moment when Los Angeles women gathered together for justice, equity, and power. Today’s era is a testament to the fact that women are rising to power and demanding justice for people of all genders, ages, races, cultures, political affiliations, disabilities and backgrounds. In the 2018 midterm election, a record-breaking 103 women were elected to Congress and have risen to assert powerful and courageous leadership in every area from the economy to foreign policy to government accountability.

On January 21, 2017, the Women’s March was the largest single-day protest in U.S. history with over seven million women and allies marching throughout the world. 1.2 million of those marching for gender justice and equality were right here in Los Angeles. Women’s March Foundation grew from that initial moment and has organized a march for women’s rights in LA each year since, with over 2.2 million marchers taking part. And women are still rising.

JULIE PODOLEC THE MODERN POP

Even an old grocery cart with a rusty metal frame looks chic when Julie Podolec steps into the scene, loads it with bright boxes of Modern Pop frozen bars and pushes it down a Laguna Beach parking lot for a photo shoot.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL CARRILLO

Julie Podolec and her husband launched their frozen bar business in 2015 when they couldn’t find anything in the frozen aisles they felt good about giving their teething son. “When we couldn’t find what we needed, we created it”, says Podolec. “We were truly shocked that something so simple like a fruit bar was loaded with over 20 grams of sugar. We knew this old classic was due for a makeover!”

Nearly five years later, Modern Pop has proven to be a successful endeavor for Podolec who started out by blending simple whole fruits, lemon, lime and water in her kitchen. To sweeten the pops, she added a few drops of agave. “They were simple, real, and exactly what I was searching for. It was something anyone could make at home, but I knew we could save people the time and the hassle,” she explains. The pops are now available in six different flavors and sold at more than 3,000 locations nationwide, including major grocery chains like Ralph’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Albertsons/ Safeway. A lot can be attributed to the success of Modern Pop— the bars are tasty, they’re fat-free, made with only a handful of ingredients and only 45-60 calories per bar. But perhaps what stands out the most is Podolec’s remarkable marketing and branding strategy. The product packaging is delightfully inviting, publicizing Laguna Beach as the birthplace of the brand. And the company’s promotional materials including the website and social media posts often feature the petite and energetic mom of two. Podolec is Modern Pop. She has used her charisma and love of bright 1950’s-era fashion to serve as the face of the brand. She promotes Modern Pop with bright red lipstick, colorful outfits, a multi-colored selection of sunglasses and plenty of pizazz, usually posing in front of classic cars, SoCal landmarks and vibrant backdrops. “We don’t view ourselves as another fruit pop. Modern Pop is a California inspired Fruit brand that prides itself on simplicity of ingredients and always ‘putting fruit first,’” explains Podolec. “We believe in putting ‘pops’ of color and life into otherwise stale categories.”