Kobe Bryant is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. The Black Mamba was a legend in the world of sports, not just the NBA.
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Having played 20 seasons in the NBA, Kobe won it all. He won several championships and individual accolades, a success that can be attributed to his “Mamba Mentality”.
It was a competitive spirit that Bryant shared with but a few other athletes. One of them is golfing legend and the sport’s greatest ever player, Tiger Woods, who still remembers hearing the tragic news of his friend’s passing.
Tiger Woods learned of Kobe Bryant’s passing while competing for his 83rd title
Friendship among athletes isn’t uncommon. Especially when it is between two like minds. Like the friendship shared between Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods, both of whom had the drive and desire to be the best.
Given their like-mindedness, it is understandable that hearing of Kobe’s tragic passing was a shock for Woods. It was in San Diego where Tiger heard a fan scream “Do it for Mamba”. A cry that he initially ignored as he was fully immersed in the Farmers Insurance Open. Where he was competing for his 83rd title!
But, it was only after he left the 18th green that Woods learned of the significance of that cry. His caddie Joe LaCava shared the news with him.
“People yell things all the time, so I was just plodding along, doing my own thing. Then when Joey told me that, it’s unbelievable, the reality that he’s no longer here.”
A heartbreaking day, not just for Tiger, but for the world of sports. The Black Mamba, his daughter Gigi and the other passengers on that helicopter are sorely missed.
Kobe Bryant was a terrible golfer
There can be no denying, Kobe Bryant mesmerized fans on the basketball court. His competitive nature made him strive to be the best. Unfortunately, it didn’t apply to every sports Kobe tried to pick up. After all, Jason Kidd revealed that The Black Mamba was a terrible golfer.
He may have been a baller on the court, but the golf course was a whole other story. Regardless, it never stopped Kobe from playing.