Mamba Appreciation

An Ode To Black Mamba

Story and Photos by Landy Waight Design by Michael Quintero

About two weeks after the Los Angeles Lakers secured their 17th franchise championship, I took a trip to Downtown LA to watch the Dodgers try and win another championship for the city (which they eventually did).

While there, I walked the streets surrounding the Staples Center, looking at all the murals dedicated to Kobe Bryant. Still high on the Lakers winning the title, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

Proud that we had found our way back to greatness after a decade of defeat. Proud that the Lakers and Dodgers won it all in what’s considered one of the craziest years in sports and life. Most of all, I was proud that Angelos celebrated a championship the year we lost our most loved player of all time.

When Kobe passed away earlier in the year, I knew that the only real way to honor him was to win a championship. Yeah, everyone would understand if the Lakers didn’t pull it off, it was a rough year but deep down the city knew.

We all knew that Kobe Bean Bryant cared about one thing and one thing only, championships, this one’s for you Bean.