Coach Wayne Sherrer - The Loss of Kobe Bean Bryant

Sports cut through “Cultural Barriers” like nothing else in the human experience. At the same time, sports can wound us like only few things can. Today, like countless sports, basketball and Laker fans around the world, my heart aches over the passing of Kobe “Bean” Bryant, one of the game’s “True Giants.”

It’s crazy how our sports heroes become part of our extended families. In the case of Kobe, we watched him burst into the league like a wild colt, talented but somewhat reckless. As a Laker fan I watched him gradually refine his immense talent in route to becoming a champion, an MVP and one of the game’s signature players. Kobe’s focus, competitiveness, work ethic and willingness to risk failure endeared him to a generation of basketball fans.

As much as I admired him as an all-time Laker great, it’s been equally gratifying to watch the way he handled retirement. Kobe was graceful and professional; a true gentleman, an ambassador for sport who appeared totally committed to giving back to the game he loved. Words cannot describe my sadness at the loss of this basketball icon in the prime of his life as well as the others who perished in the crash, one of them being his young daughter. Kobe Bryant was a candle that burned so bright, sadly just not long enough. RIP #24 and thanks for the memories.