Kobe Bryant died on Sunday and I, after finally looking up what they are, have been going through the stages of grief in a pretty textbook manner. The last eight or so hours have been a haze. I would have never expected his death to affect me in such a profound way, but then again, I guess I never considered him dying.
My sadness in the aftermath of his death is largely selfish. I wish I didn’t have to live in a world without him in it. He’s been a part of my life for all of it. He’s been a major part of one of my favorite things in life, basketball. Knowing Kobe Bryant is no longer in the same world as I am makes me feel sick to my stomach. It reminds me of my own mortality as well as the mortality of everyone I love.
The question for me all day has been why? Not why did he die, or why him. I’ve stopped trying to figure out those unanswerable questions a long time ago. But why has his death, the death of a man I have never met, nor ever really cheered for or particularly loved, hit me with such force?
Perhaps it is that I don’t know a life without Kobe Bryant being at least nominally involved. Maybe it’s because Kobe is tied to my childhood, and in childhood you never considered things may not turn out well in the end or that people ever died before they reached old age. Now I, unfortunately, definitively know that not everyone makes it to old age, that there’s not always answers to every question, and that things don’t always turn out well.
Or it could be something simply human in me that can’t stop, for the life of me, thinking about his wife and three kids and how they must feel right now.
It could be how he played the game, too. Non-sports fans, or even casual sports fans, often wonder why we care so much. It’s a fair thought. But Kobe’s passion justified ours. Watch one of Kobe’s performances and then tell me with a straight face that this is all just a game. I dare you.
I also began to like Kobe a lot more in recent years. The Colorado incident rubbed a lot of us the wrong way, and so I wasn’t always exactly eager to pat him on the back for his on-court successes. My goal here is not to minimize the victim from that situation nor to remind everyone of a man’s worst moment not even a day after he died.
Instead, I think that should serve as a reminder to us that we aren’t locked in to the person we are today. Just as Kobe worked tirelessly on his game, he seemed to work on himself. There’s no doubt Kobe boarded that helicopter today as a far different man than he was in 2003. That should be the lone comforting fact in the unfathomable news that’s been hurled at us today.
There has been much said today about Kobe’s work ethic, and for good reason. One of Kobe’s finest traits was that he glorified working hard at your craft. But his sudden death also reminded me that it’s okay not to work so hard all the time.
I probably, logistically speaking, should have worked hard Saturday night. I’ve got a lot to get done these days. But it was one of my best friend’s birthdays, so I forced myself to head out. The result? I had a great time with some of my closest friends. In retrospect, as we consider life and death in the wake of the Kobe’s passing, I found comfort in that.
Because in the end, all we have is the memories. I’m going to think hard about that moving forward. I want to liken taking my chance at making memories like Kobe taking shots on the floor. Take a lot of ‘em, hopefully make a lot of ‘em, and in the end, look back and not regret a single one.
Share Still Gotta Come Through Chicago:
This week’s thread will be, as it often is, a bit of a therapy session. This time it’ll feel more real, though. Chicago-related or not—doesn’t matter. On a day like today it feels good to have a community of people to chat with about one of the worst days in the history of American sports.
So post something, anything: Favorite Kobe memory, how he impacted your relationship with sports, or just generally how you’re feeling. I can’t wait to hear.
Here is some Kobe-related content that I’ve collected today that I think is worth sharing.
A truly unbelievable spur-of-the-moment interview from this young man. I saw this clip before it blew up and found myself watching it five times in a row.
“Hopefully it inspires people to be the best version of themselves… then maybe we can be idolized one day.”
Mike Breen, one of the the best broadcasters in sports, admitting that he didn’t feel like broadcasting today:
"Just don't feel like broadcasting. I know a lot of the players don't feel like playing. It's just a sad, sad day." Mike Breen speaking emotionally about Kobe's death at the start of the Nets-Knicks gameThis music really did a number on me. Feel like it’s been playing in the background of my life for all of today. Hard to believe he’s gone:
One of the best videos of all-time. Kobe emulating exact Michael Jordan moves, and the film switching back and forth between them. If there’s one thing that Kobe and this newsletter have in common, it’s our shared obsession for the man that once said you Still Gotta Come Through Chicago.
From the man himself:
It’s tough to transition from that, man. But duty calls, and I think Kobe would tell me to go ahead and pump out a newsletter anyway. So let’s do this.
We covered a lot on Friday—so make sure to check that out for a comprehensive breakdown of all things Chicago sports, including:
-Coach Q’s return to the United Center; Patrick Kane’s milestone moment (1,000 points); and the Blackhawks recent success
-More Jim Boylen gaffes; Zach LaVine, his All-Star candidacy, and what his play means to the Bulls’ success; and a general Bulls state of the union
-The Kris Bryant grievance and a farewell to Pedro Strop
-Rick Hahn’s updates on Nick Madrigal and Michael Kopech
-A breakdown of the Bears offensive coordinator hire
To the new subscribers—thanks for hopping onboard.
Bulls:
The Bulls announced Friday that Lauri Markkanen would be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks with an early stress reaction in his pelvis. That puts him out for nearly the next 20 games.
“It is disappointing,” Markkanen said. “I just feel like I want to be out there and help the team. So it sucks to be out.”
Markkanen missed 30 games last year and will now miss close to that this year. Wendell Carter Jr. missed 38 games last year and will probably miss close to that this year as well.
What? For one, you’re never going to be in the playoffs if your organization regularly shuts people down in the middle of the season for precautionary reasons. One of the Bulls front office’s most common tactics to escape criticism is injuries. When you’re willingly sidelining guys, you don’t get to make those excuses at the end of the year press conference.
Since 2016, the Bulls have 753 games missed due to injury, according to Spotrac. That’s tied for 4th in the NBA. So much for blaming injuries on Tom Thibodeau and his practices.
In the end, injuries are not just luck. Great organizations can’t prevent all of them, but they do a good job of managing them and have a staff competent enough to keep their best players on the court. So, blaming lack of success on injuries is no longer an outside problem. John Paxson and Gar Forman cannot escape heat when they play a large part in them missing games in the first place.
The Bulls first go around without Markkanen? The Kings snapped a 6-game losing streak in what was an awful effort. Jerry Reinsdorf blessed us with his presence for that one. Do you see what your side project has become under your watch, Jerry? Bulls basketball is going to be a sight for sore eyes in the foreseeable future.
Cubs:
The Reds are now apparently the frontrunner for Nick Castellanos, according to Jon Morosi. At this point in free agency, with a lot of other heavy hitters sitting out for the rest of the winter, they could get him at a good price.
This is bad because 1. The Reds are in the NL Central, and will be better because of this and because 2. The Cubs will not have him, because the Reds do, and he was the best player on the team down the stretch last year.
And that, right there, is the analysis you subscribe for, folks!
I’m still wondering how the MLB tackled a massive sign-stealing investigation this offseason but hasn’t been able to figure out the contract situation of one of the game’s best stars in one of the country’s biggest markets.
White Sox:
A fan thanked Rick Hahn at SoxFest for not spending $300 million on Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. Rick Hahn smiled.
Somewhere, Jerry Reinsdorf smiled too. No matter what you think of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, you should never—especially as a fan of the Sox or the Bulls—thank management for NOT spending money.
That Stockholm Syndrome bullshit is what keeps teams buried in mediocrity.
Bears:
Speaking of owners, the Bears account got hacked Sunday morning.
I’ve never been one to shout “Sell the team!” at the Bears ownership all that much, but sometimes I wonder if I should. They’re not as incompetent or aggravating as Reinsdorf and co., so they get a pass. The lesson is probably that you shouldn’t be smug if you’re also bad at running a team. The McCaskeys, for what it’s worth, are not smug.
It’s hard to scream at the 97-year-old daughter of Papa Bear Halas, too.
Blackhawks:
The Hawks return in Phoenix on February 1st. Keep it going, boys. Come on. The city desperately needs something to root for.
Elsewhere in Chicago:
I thought this was pretty cool:
Ayo Dosunmu, the sophomore guard for Illinois, is playing a large part in putting the Fighting Illini back on the map. It’s great to see a Chicago guy do it. He went to Morgan Park high school.
Ayo Dosunmu is the best closer in the Big Ten and it’s not close. Good lord what a shot. First place in the Big TenOnions! Illinois is in first place in the Big Ten.
This week in Chicago:
Bulls: Tonight at Home vs. the Spurs at 7:00; Wednesday at the Pacers at 6:00; Friday at the Nets at 6:30; Sunday at the Raptors at 2:00
Blackhawks: Saturday at the Coyotes at 7:00
This newsletter is a little bit shorter because of how much we covered on Friday. Remember to check that one out if you haven’t. If you’re new and need a primer on what SGCTC looks like week to week, Friday’s is a good example. Keep sending this to all your friends and family. I appreciate the hell out of it, and we’re gaining some momentum.
Betting Pick:
Record: 19-12.
Well, god dammit. That’s three losses in a row for your boy. I know a lot of you put a lot of stock in this pick each week so I apologize for letting you down. Let’s get back on track.
I’ll send a pick out Friday because I don’t like Monday’s slate of NBA games, and that’s all we got right now. Stay tuned.
Before you go, comment on this week’s thread. Remember, comments on the thread can also just be a response or comment on this week’s newsletter. Any engagement is welcome. And, again, tell your friends to subscribe. I appreciate you all.