{"id":20440,"date":"2021-05-16T11:06:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T16:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20440"},"modified":"2021-05-16T15:27:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T20:27:33","slug":"there-will-never-be-anyone-like-kobe-vanessa-bryant-kobe-bean-bryants-wife-delivers-an-emotional-hall-of-fame-ceremony-with-moving-tribute-to-kobe-and-thanks-michael-jordan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20440","title":{"rendered":"\u2018There will never be anyone like Kobe.\u2019 Vanessa Bryant, kobe bean bryant’s wife, delivers an emotional Hall of Fame ceremony with moving tribute to Kobe, and Thanks Michael Jordan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Vanessa Bryant Recalls How Late Husband Kobe Was ‘Looking Forward’ to Hall of Fame, Thanks Michael Jordan<\/h1>\n
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“He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed,” Vanessa Bryant recalled<\/strong><\/p>\n

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“He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed,” Vanessa Bryant recalled<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Michael Jordan<\/a> inducted his longtime friend and mentee, Kobe Bryant<\/a>, into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, 16 months after Bryant’s death in a helicopter accident.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The ceremony took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, a year after it was originally postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanessa Bryant made a moving acceptance speech on her late husband’s behalf as Jordan stood on the stage with her.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Last February, I called Michael and asked if he would introduce Kobe tonight and he graciously accepted. Thank you for being here, Michael. Kobe admired you, this means so much to us,” Vanessa told Jordan.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Later in her speech, she referenced Jordan when she mentioned how her late husband learned to appreciate his fans after watching the Chicago Bulls icon when he was younger. “People don’t know this but one of the reasons my husband played through injuries and pain was because he remembered being a little kid sitting in the nosebleeds with his dad to watch his favorite player play,” Vanessa said before looking at Jordan’s direction as the crowd cheered.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“He could recall the car ride, the convos and the excitement of being lucky enough to have a seat in the arena. Kobe didn’t want to disappoint his fans, especially the ones in the 300 sections that saved up to watch him play. The kids with the same excitement he once had. I remember I asked him why he couldn’t sit a game out because he was hurting, he said, ‘What about the fans who saved up to watch me play just once?’ He never forgot about his fans. If he could help it, he would play every minute of every game, he loved you all so much,” the Bryant matriarch said.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Also in her speech, Vanessa recalled having a conversation about the Hall of Fame ceremony with her Lakers great. “I wish my husband was here to accept this incredible award. He and Gigi deserve to be here to witness this. Gigi would be so proud to watch her daddy get enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. I know Kobe was looking forward to being here. He asked the Hall of Fame to specifically add a sixth ticket for Capri, he was so happy,” she said of their youngest daughter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed,” Vanessa added.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“My husband and I were sitting on our kitchen island, and he and I had a conversation about my mother[in-law] and father-in-law attending tonight’s enshrinement. I invited my mother[in-law] and father-in-law to tonight’s enshrinement to thank them one of the most amazing human beings into this world. Pam and Joe, thank you for raising Kobe to be exceptional. Thank you to all of Kobe’s family. Sharia, you’ve gone above and beyond. I love you,” she said about her sister-in-law.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Leading up to the ceremony, Jordan revealed how Bryant’s widow had personally chosen him to do the honors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I told her, ‘Look, I know this is a tough time. I’m always here if you need me,’ ” Jordan recalled in a recent interview with Jackie MacMullan of\u00a0ESPN<\/a>. “She answered back, ‘I would love it if you stood up for Kobe at the Hall of Fame.’ “<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“It’s going to be a great honor, to be honest. It’s like standing up for a family member,” he continued. “[Bryant] paid me the highest respect by trying to emulate certain things I did. And I can only repay that by showing my support and admiration for a guy who I felt was one of the greatest to ever play the game.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jordan also revealed his final text exchange with Bryant, who died alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others in January 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“This tequila is awesome,”\u00a0Bryant texted Jordan in early December 2019, referring to the Jordan-owned brand of tequila, Cincoro. After Jordan thanked Bryant, the two basketball legends then texted about family.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Yes, sir. Family good?<\/a>”\u00a0Bryant asked.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“All good. Yours?” Jordan responded.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“All good,” Bryant said back.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to ESPN, Jordan then changed the subject to Bryant’s coaching Gianna and her basketball team.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Happy holidays<\/a>,”\u00a0Jordan wrote to Bryant before adding a laughing emoji,\u00a0“and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Ah, back at you, man,”\u00a0Bryant replied.\u00a0“Hey, coach, I’m sitting on the bench right now, and we’re blowing this team out. 45-8.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As another testament to their friendship, Jordan \u2014 who owns the Charlotte Hornets \u2014 spoke about Bryant during a memorial at Staples Center last year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“It may be a surprise to people that Kobe and I were very close friends<\/a>,” he said during the event. “He was like a little brother. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I took great pride as I got to know Kobe Bryant, that he was just trying to be a better person,” he continued, in part. “We talked about business, we talked about family, we talked about everything, he was just trying to be a better person.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Memorial Hall of Fame ceremony, when Vanessa Bryant closed out the event with a moving, emotional and brilliant speech honoring her late husband, Kobe Bryant.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What was expected to be an amazing induction night when Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and others were named to the 2020 class became one that was filled with triumph, celebration and also sadness Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryant\u2019s untimely death on Jan. 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash that also killed his daughter Gianna and seven others changed the focus of the ceremony from celebration to tribute. Bryant was the final of the nine inductees and Vanessa, dressed in a purple pantsuit, gracefully addressed the audience and the world for 12 minutes, discussing her husband\u2019s accomplishments and thanking him for being a father to their four daughters and a husband \u201cwho learned from his mistakes.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was obvious after Bryant\u2019s death that this ceremony would be like no other in Naismith history. No first-ballot inductee had ever died before their induction and the Hall spent months carefully planning a program that honored Bryant and allowed Vanessa to speak on his behalf.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It has been the Hall\u2019s policy to have family members of a posthumous inductee speak on pre-recorded video. But they made a special and necessary exception for Vanessa, who was remarkably steady during her address.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI used to always avoid praising my husband in public because I felt like he got enough praise from his fans around the world and someone had to bring him back to reality,\u201d she opened. \u201cRight now I\u2019m sure he\u2019s laughing in heaven because I\u2019m about to praise him in public for his accomplishments on one of the most public stages.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI can see him now, arms folded, with a huge grin saying, \u2018Isn\u2019t this some (expletive).\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The crowd, filled with masked Hall of Famers and a limited ticketed audience, roared in laughter and applause. It was a melancholy moment but Vanessa quickly encapsulated her husband\u2019s passion and brash personality.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish my husband was here to accept this incredible award,\u201d she continued. \u201cHe and GiGi deserve to be here to witness this. GiGi would be so proud to watch her daddy get enshrined into the basketball Hall of Fame. I know Kobe was really looking forward to being here.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Vanessa Bryant held the hands of her daughters, Capri and Bianka, as she left the stage Saturday<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When he considered his possible induction, Bryant planned to ask for a sixth ticket for his newborn daughter Capri. All three of his daughters were in attendance with the two youngest posing for photos with his award following the ceremony.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere will never be anyone like Kobe,\u201d she said. \u201cHe was one of a kind. He was special. He was humble, off the court but bigger than life. I don\u2019t have a speech prepared for my husband because he winged every single speech. He was intelligent, eloquent and gifted at many things, including public speaking. However I do know he would thank everyone that helped him get here, including the people that doubted him and the people that worked against him and told him he couldn\u2019t attain his goals.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe would thank them for motivating him to be here. After all, he proved you wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

After that statement, all-time great Michael Jordan, who presented Bryant and was standing behind Vanessa, began smiling.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cUsually people thank everyone that has helped them get here,\u201d she continued. \u201cBut since I don\u2019t have Kobe\u2019s specific list, I want to thank my husband. He did the work. He broke those records and he inspired people to be great.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for never missing a birthday, a dance recital, a school workshop, show-and-tell or any games our daughters played in. Thank you for loving me to last lifetimes and every lifetime, I choose you.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The tragedy of Bryant\u2019s death reverberated throughout the world. Bryant became a staunch supporter of women\u2019s basketball after his career and began counseling many younger NBA players, including the Celtics\u2019 Jayson Tatum.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

He squeezed every drop of passion and fortitude out of his 20-year career and left the game at peace. In his final trip to Boston, Celtics president Danny Ainge and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck presented Bryant with a piece of the Celtics\u2019 parquet floor.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

He was lauded following his playing days as one of the game\u2019s fiercest competitors and relentless workers. And the fact that had won an Academy Award, opened a basketball academy and began writing children\u2019s books hinted that he was headed for a landmark post-career life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations Baby,\u201d Vanessa concluded. \u201cAll of your hard work and sacrifice has paid off. You once told me, if you\u2019re going to bet on someone, bet on yourself. I\u2019m glad you bet on yourself you overachiever. You did it. You\u2019re in the Hall of Fame now. You\u2019re not just an MVP, you\u2019re an all-time great.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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‘He’s still winning’: Kobe Bryant inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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REMEMBERING KOBE BRYANT<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNERS<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On January 26, 2020, the world lost Kobe Bryant, one of the most well-known and respected sports icons. We lost our friend and business partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kobe was more than a founding partner at Bryant Stibel. He was a family man and a creative visionary who quickly became an accomplished entrepreneur and investor. While he was known as one of the greatest athletes of all time, his time off the court was becoming just as remarkable.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kobe was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, an NBA Most Valuable Player, a 15-time All-NBA player, an 18-time NBA All-Star and the NBA\u2019s No. 4 all-time scoring leader. As CEO of Kobe Inc. and Granity Studios, Kobe became a New York Times best-selling author for his young adult Wizenard Series, and an Academy Award recipient for best animated short film, \u201cDear Basketball.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Kobe partnered with Stibel & Co. at Bryant Stibel\u2019s inception in 2013 as his basketball career was entering its final years. He was one of 10 General Partners at the firm, bringing a passion and entrepreneurial spirit that helped launch and shape the firm\u2019s strategic direction. Kobe recognized that entrepreneurs shared a similar work ethic and dedication that is found in the very best athletes. He shared a passion for helping businesses creatively tell their story and find their brand truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We will forever be heartbroken to lose Kobe as a colleague and a friend. He of all people would want us to continue helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams and create sustainable, long-term success stories.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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LEARN MORE ABOUT KOBE BRYANT \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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THE MAMBA\/MAMBACITA FOUNDATION \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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ACADEMY AWARD WINNER<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A SHORT FILM BY GRANITY STUDIOS \u2192<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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THE WIZENARD SERIES:
\nTRAINING CAMP<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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THE WIZENARD SERIES:
\nLEGACY & THE QUEEN<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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EPOCA:
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MAMBA MENTALITY:
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KOBE\u2019S LEGENDARY LEGACY<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As we exit 2020 and enter more optimistic times, we find ourselves reflecting upon the events of the past year. There is not a day that passes that we don\u2019t think about Kobe or what we were building together at Bryant Stibel.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As in sports, Kobe\u2019s efforts in the world of business and investing are leaving a legacy we can all be proud of.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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To date, Bryant Stibel as a firm has invested in over 40 businesses with approximately 75% still active and growing. While 2020 had its fair share of ups and downs, over the past year we saw our portfolio grow and our companies masterfully handle macro events, most namely COVID-19, and continue to flourish.<\/p>\n

Bryant Stibel companies such as Epic Games<\/a> and Scopely<\/a> raised huge rounds to fuel their growth. Other portfolio companies such as TeamViewer<\/a>, LegalZoom<\/a>, ringDNA<\/a>, VIPKid<\/a>, Tile<\/a>, etc. continued to grow their businesses and market share significantly. Cholula<\/a> \u2013 our favorite hot sauce company \u2013 was acquired by McCormick for $800M. And lastly, Art of Sport<\/a>, a company we helped start and Kobe actively engaged with, can now be found rolled out nationwide through all 1,600 Target stores and the company is well on its way to becoming a global brand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Many may not know that Kobe was a strong proponent of financial literacy and providing athletes with access to smart financial advice during and after their careers. In that spirit, we created partnerships with a handful of firms to enable athletes to get access to global deal flow. Since setting down this path, our partnership with Permira<\/a>, a global investment firm founded in 1985 with a total committed capital of approximately $50BN, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into companies across the globe over the past few years with our participation through Bryant Stibel Permira Growth Opportunities Fund I<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lastly, but most importantly, we saw our community and social responsibility<\/a> efforts accelerate, focusing on the things that mean the most to each of us \u2013 helping others and doing what\u2019s right. The partners of our firm continued to stay active lending our time, money and resources to the causes that mean the most to us. We are proud to work with a wide range of partners and organizations to focus on racial equity and inclusion, education and giving back to our community and will continue to make that a significant part of our mission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/header>\n

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Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant, accepted her husband’s admission into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday night on his behalf, saying that he’s still winning even after he’s gone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I used to always avoid praising my husband in public because I felt like he got enough praise from his fans around the world and someone had to bring him back to reality,” Vanessa Bryant said at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. “Right now, I’m sure he’s laughing in heaven because I’m about to praise him in public for his accomplishments on one of the most public stages. I can see him now, arms folded, with a huge grin saying, ‘Isn’t this some s—?’<\/strong><\/p>\n

“He’s still winning.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class is one of the most star-studded of all time, led by Bryant and fellow NBA legends Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan — a trio that Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> star LeBron James<\/a> said earlier Saturday is better than any in the history of the institution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There has not been a better Big Three to go in at the same time,” James said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Still, the focus of the night, and the weekend, was understandably on the man who wasn’t there, in the wake of the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others on Jan. 26, 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vanessa Bryant’s speech, given with Bryant’s idol, Michael Jordan, standing next to her as his presenter into the Hall of Fame, focused on her relationship with her husband, as well as his with his children.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I don’t have a speech prepared by my husband because he winged every single speech,” she said. “He was intelligent, eloquent and gifted at many things, including public speaking. However, I do know that he would thank everyone that helped him get here, including the people that doubted him and the people that worked against him and told him that he couldn’t attain his goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n