The Paper's reporter Ma Zuoyu
Bryant and Vanessa.
It is said that time is the best antidote to treating pain, but some sadness is buried in the bottom of the heart and is difficult to heal for a long time.
January 27, Beijing time, marks the exact first anniversary of the tragic death of Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash.
In fact, as early as a few weeks ago, the NBA League and the Los Angeles Lakers planned to miss Kobe Bryant in various ways, but Kobe's widow Vanessa took the initiative to ask the NBA and the Lakers to "not hold various memorial activities."
It was then that all eyes were focused on Vanessa. For her request, some people are puzzled, some people question, some even criticize... But more emotion is an understanding.
In the past year, Vanessa has borne too many pains, too many doubts and pressures, but she still carries the name of "Kobe" and passes on the "Mamba Spirit" that Kobe believes in.
Vanessa posted a picture of social networks mourning her deceased husband.
Smiles and dances are just masks that cover up real hurts
In the past year, when Kobe Bryant and Gianna suddenly passed away, Vanessa was saddled with too much confusion and doubt.
Scandals about her and her suitors jump from entertainment news to sports news from time to time; her mother appears in the farce of "asking for $5 million" at her saddest time, labeling her as a "kobe family property"...
Also not understood and even controversial by outsiders is her social network status.
One of them is a video of her dancing in the room with her friends in the early hours of the morning, accompanied by the text: "Let our laughter not stop, I will continue to sing loudly to the music, happiness is the best medicine." ”
Some fans who are now following Vanessa have questioned: "Is Vanessa relieved?" It was as if the fans missed Kobe more than she did. ”
But in fact, as Kobe's wife, who has accompanied him through the lows and peaks of the past two decades, Vanessa is the one who has the hardest time coming out of grief.
Kobe Bryant memorial service, Vanessa burst into tears.
"To be honest, sadness is a mess of emotions, maybe today you are still immersed in happiness, and the next day you don't feel alive." 」 Just after some unfriendly voices appeared on the social network, Vanessa opened her heart, "I want to tell people who are caught in grief and heartbreak, find reasons to persevere." ”
For Vanessa, this "reason to insist" is her three daughters, and it is also the miss for Kobe.
On April 19, 2020, Vanessa posted a photo of Kobe Kissing herself on social media to commemorate the 19th anniversary of their marriage. She wrote: "My King, my heart and liver, my best friend, happy 19th wedding anniversary, baby. I miss it so much, and I want you to embrace me here. I love you. ”
On May 1, 2020, the 14th birthday of Kobe's second daughter Gianna, Vanessa expressed her thoughts about her daughter on social media, "You will always be a part of my soul." I miss you so much every day. I hope that when I wake up, you will be able to be by my side. I miss your smirk and your hug. ”
Bryant's family watched from the sidelines.
On August 23, 2020, which was supposed to be Bryant's 42nd birthday, Vanessa also posted a long post on social media.
"I miss you and Gianna so much that the days without you are empty. My heart was completely broken. For the sake of the children, I try to keep smiling every day, and they are stronger than me. I wish I could wake up from this nightmare and surprise the kids to welcome you home. ”
According to a number of US media reports, Vanessa has rejected many suitors in the past year, and then wrote kobe and Gianna's names on her body.
All of this confirms the state vanessa herself describes: smiles and dances are sometimes just masks to cover her truest hurts.
Vanessa thanked Los Angeles protesters for protecting the murals of Kobe's father and daughter.
A support from Gasol and "Gianna"
The pain in the heart is difficult to heal, but life will continue. As Vanessa says, "I know it's difficult, but when I see my daughters, I get over it for them." Death is inevitable, but the rest of the day must be strong against it. ”
Vanessa did, and behind her back is not only her three daughters and relatives around her, but also Kobe's close friend Paul Gasol.
According to the US media espn, just a few days after the unfortunate deaths of Kobe Bryant and Gianna, Gasol and his wife booked a plane ticket to fly back to Los Angeles to accompany Vanessa.
"We didn't think about staying in Los Angeles for long, but we decided we had to go back." Gasol recalls the scene, which is still fresh in his memory, "Whether it is a week, two weeks or a month, we have to be with Vanessa, by the children, in their familiar image of Uncle Paul, to help them do whatever they need." 」 ”
Vanessa follows gasol's family to the beach to relax.
In this way, Gasol stayed for several months - on the 19th wedding anniversary of Kobe and Vanessa, Gasol presented Kobe Bryant with roses; on Gianna's 14th birthday, Gasol specially customized the cake.
In August last year, gasol's family accompanied Vanessa and their daughters on a boat trip to try to change their mood; and on Halloween, Gasol also accompanied Vanessa to dress up as a Star Wars character...
In the past year, Vanessa has been able to gradually get out of the huge trauma of Kobe Bryant's death with the help and care of the Gasol family.
Just last September, when Gasol's first daughter was born, he used "Gianna" as his daughter's middle name. And this daughter named "Gianna" is the photo that caused a lot of controversy posted by Vanessa on social networks - vanessa smiled so brightly, perhaps because she could hold "Gianna" and accompany "Gianna" to grow up.
Vanessa became the "godmother" of Gasol's daughter.
"It's not just about honoring Gianna, it's about the hope that this companionship will make Vanessa and her daughters stronger." Gasol and his wife's intentions are really moving, "Kobe and Vanessa are my family." ”
Vanessa, with Gasol's encouragement, cheered up a little bit, and then tried to help society avoid Kobe's accident.
In June 2020, according to US media reports, some lawmakers proposed the "Kobe and Gianna Helicopter Safety Act", requiring helicopters with 6 or more passengers must be equipped with important safety equipment, including terrain recognition and warning systems, aircraft data recorders, and cockpit voice recorders.
Vanessa pushed the bill on social networks, "I believe that if the helicopter Kobe and Gianna are riding on is equipped with equipment required by the upcoming federal law, then they will still be alive." ”
Vanessa takes her three daughters for a group photo under the portrait of Kobe Bryant and Gianna.
In the name of Kobe, continue the mamba spirit
In the year of Kobe's death, compared with some doubts and incomprehensions from the outside world, Vanessa is more responsible.
Just last May, Body Armor, a sports drink company in which Kobe bryant had invested, officially announced that Vanessa had inherited all of Bryant's stake in the company and became the company's fourth-largest shareholder.
That was an investment Bryant made in 2014, when he bought a 10 percent stake in the company for $6 million. In less than 7 years, the value of these shares has soared nearly 40 times to more than $200 million.
This is just one piece of The Thing Vanessa is now taking over Kobe's business empire.
Gasol takes good care of Kobe's daughter throughout his life.
On the first anniversary of Kobe's death, the American media Yahoo Finance tried to restore the state of Kobe's current business empire. But kobe inc. of Newport Beach, Orange County, where Kobe Bryant founded it, and his animation production company Granity Studios, as well as some companies Kobe has invested in, have refused to disclose the company's status.
According to Yahoo Sports, these companies have been quite "silent" in the past year, and the basketball academy that was once named "Kobe" has now removed the name "Kobe".
However, of all Kobe's companies, only Granity Studios has continued to launch their commercial products over the past year, and it is the same company that helped Kobe win the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film - the chairman of the company is Vanessa.
This means that Vanessa is now taking the place of Kobe Bryant and shouldering the responsibility of passing on the spirit of Mamba.
Vanessa and Bryant's three daughters.
Just in the first half of last year, the company released Kobe Bryant's posthumous work "Witchesnad Series: Season One," a novel about a young basketball player who still strives to chase his dreams after all kinds of hardships and obstacles, and once it was released, it became the number one on Amazon's children's book sales list, and then topped the New York Times bestseller list.
"5 championships, 5 New York Times bestsellers, mamba spirit strikes again." At the time, Vanessa took to her social media to honor Bryant, "My husband would be proud to see that his work can continue to influence others." Thank you all for supporting his legend. ”
Kobe Bryant used to be a player who likes to tell stories to inspire people, and now Vanessa has integrated Kobe's "Mamba spirit" into more stories, presented to fans and sports-loving children.
Not only that, Vanessa also established the Black Mamba Fund in the name of Kobe To help more unfortunate families get an education.
The dead are gone, and the living are like this. It's been a year since Bryant died, but he doesn't seem to have left, and Vanessa and her daughters are still telling Kobe's story, in the most optimistic, strong, and warm way.
Editor-in-Charge: Ascendas
Proofreader: Liu Wei