Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant does’t have to do much to attract a crowd. The crowd comes to him. That comes with the territory when you’re often regarded as the numero uno basketball player in the world. It also comes with the heavily-shouldered weight of reaching back and touching others.
Bryant seems to be doing more than a pretty job of this. In fact, Bryant, with people tugging at him in all directions, manages to do a superb number of deftly handling all that comes his way with his status of a global icon. Part of this equation is Bryant’s sincere efforts to transform the life of young people, locally and abroad.
Whether it’s flashing that mega-watt smile that is warm enough to make a mother’s heart melt while posing for photos or embracing a youth living on the streets, Bryant exemplifies and carries what a true model is. For the last seven years, many teenagers and young people have gotten a chance to have an up close and personal experience with the NBA’s biggest star while attending the Kobe Bryant Basketball Academy (KBBA).
This year’s Kobe Bryant Basketball Academy, held at UC Santa Barbara, saw more than 500 young people from ages 8 to 18, come out and receive the opportunity of a lifetime of greeting and meeting Bryant, while learning to pick up the basic fundamentals of the sport of basketball. Part of the drills, include learning the Flex offense, the Princeton offense and the Triangle offense.
Basketball wizardy isn’t the only area of focus. Bullying and self-esteem are critical issues facing many young people today. The campers got the message about both topics from motivational speakers. Of course, the big deal is Bryant engaging his audience, giving encouragement, teaching and educating.
Though he is still somewhat hobbled as he still recuperates from a torn achilles injury, Bryant still made time for his devoted young followers. And that beats any trading card of Bryant that the campers may pick up from any national retailer or local sports memorabilia event they attend.
The long philanthropic arm of Bryant continues to reach where it matters the most: with young people. Everyone this side of the moon knows about Kobe Bryant the NBA megastar. His efforts to have dominant “impact” on society as a well-entrusted humanitarian is registering with people around the globe just as well.
Bryant and some of his NBA colleagues went down and helped out survivors of the devastating mess left behind by Hurricane Katrina. He has been well-endowed with helping homeless youths get their lives turned out through the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KBFF).
In the fall of 2012, Bryant led a contingent of over 10,000 people on a march to help bring attention to the permeating and persistent homeless problem in Los Angeles. Bryant may be the determined, deadly viper on the basketball court known as the Black Mamba, but his deference to helping others off the court is just as equally penetrating.
That is a fact that young people attending the Kobe Bryant Basketball Academy the last seven years can attest to.
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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