After carrying an underachieving Lakers squad on his back for the entire season, Kobe Bryant finally cracked. And it wasn’t his back either. Bryant ruptured his Achilles tendon in the final minutes of a two-point victory against the Golden State Warriors. The Black Mamba was driving to the hoop and was fouled by Harrison Barnes when he injured his Achilles. He then buried two one-legged free throws and limped off the court, leaving the game and rest of the season up to his team.
“I made a move that I’ve made a million times, and it just popped,” said after the game to reporters.
But the fun didn’t start until all the reporters left and it was just Bryant and social media. The Black Mamba went on a major venting session on his Facebook page; one for the ages. Bryant wrote a lengthy message for all his fans to see about his disappointment about his untimely injury. This is what the Los Angeles Lakers guard posted:
“This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?? I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what’s the purpose of social media if I won’t bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever. One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day. “If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. Ive always loved that quote. Thats “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer. I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge. Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always.
Mamba Out”
Now the Black Mamba is way past his Facebook rant and is already looking toward the future. Bryant had a successful surgery on Saturday and will need between six and nine months to recover. The question lies… Is this the last we have seen of The Black Mamba? Is he really “out?” Yes. It looks like Bryant will return next year. But what will we really see out of the aging Laker star? The five-time champion turns 35 in August and one can only imagine what a 35-yr-old Bryant will look like on the court after an extensive recovery period that he is about to start. It’s hard to expect much out of anyone that has the amount of mileage that Bryant has totaled over his career. But hey, it’s Kobe Bryant and he can basically do anything. So we’ll see!
Do you think Kobe Bryant has it in him to win one more championship before he retires? Is the Mamba really “out”?
