Kobe bryant speech as a 17yr old is riveting
Kobe bryant speech as a 17yr old is riveting
Um, my name is Kobe Bryant. I'm 17 years Old and I've been lucky enough to live Not only in different parts of the United States, but uh, Europe as well. My father played professional Basketball. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, and San Diego Clippers. He played professional Basketball for eight years. And uh after A year he after his eighth year he Decided that it would be best for him to Move on and to take his talent Elsewhere. So we packed our bags and Moved to Italy where uh he played professional Basketball again for eight years. At the Time I was only 6 years old and I was Pretty much clueless about the whole Situation. But my parents basically told Me, "Kobe, you're going to an Italian School. We want you to learn a new Language." And uh when you're young, you Just basically do whatever your parents Tell you to do with no questions asked. So I said, "Fine. I'm going learn this New language, which I did. I can speak Italian fluently. I met a lot of new Faces, a lot of interesting people. And you know, Italy became my home. My Heart is there. my heart will always be There. So, it's very hard. My father Told us that he's retiring from the game
Of basketball and that it was time for Us to come back to America. I didn't want to come back and My sisters didn't want to come back. But When it was time to start school, I Thought that me and my sisters would be Together, the same school, just like in Italy. But my sisters were older than I Was. They were starting high school. So Shar and Shay attended L Marian High School and I was stuck at Balakinwood Middle School And it was very hard getting adjusted Simply because I had a lot of trouble Understanding English and the slang. But One thing I had in common with some of My other students and classmates was Basketball. And unfortunately because of the lack of Communication with my peers, I wasn't Invited to parties or you know friendly Gatherings on the weekend. So on Fridays And Saturdays I would go in my recck Room with my basketball and basically Dribble myself to Sleep. And I think that that was the Best thing that could have ever happened To me because during those lonely hours In the recck room, I discovered the Hunger, the Motivation, and the desire to be the Best possible basketball player that I Could be. And you know, here I am today
Giving an old presentation in English Class, not only in front of Mr. Riy's Camera, but the camera of Prism and ESPN. And I enjoy it. I enjoy all Attention because it's a great feeling To know that you set a goal for yourself And you were able to reach that goal and To knock it Down. I have a big decision coming up And that's whether or not you go to College or straight to the NBA. The thing that bothers me the most about This decision is when I'm walking down The street, I'm walking in the mall Going to get a hat or something and Somebody I've never ever seen Before comes up to me and tells me what They want me to Do. I'm like, what's going on here? I Know you. I mean, they're coming up to Me and saying, well, I think you should Do this. I think you do that. I want you To do this. This what I think you're Going to do. And I'm just sitting there Listening like, "Oh, okay. Nice. Nice. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Nice meeting You. Bye-bye. But, you know, it comes with The territory and I move on and I Understand that. I've admired a lot of People. People such as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Emtt Smith, and Entertainers such as Michael Jackson, And Janet Jackson. But the two people
That I admire the most are my mother and My father. Because when things were Going great or whether things were going Bad, they were always there for me. For instance, if I just played a great Basketball game, had 40 points or Whatever, I'm getting all this positive Feedback from people who are at the Game. My head is swelling up and Everything. My parents would be the First people to tell me, "Hey, look, you Played a great game, but there's no need For your head to get all big. There's no Need for you to get cocky and think that The world owes you Something. But and at the same time when Things are bad, things are going bad, They'll come up to me and say, "Hey, you Know, there's another day. The sun will Come out tomorrow. It's time for you to Move on and Uh go for bigger and bigger sights, such A set some bigger goals." And I thank Them. I love them with all my heart. And I thank you all. You've been a great Audience. And thank you [Applause]
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