Keeping Our Love for Kobe Alive

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It is the month of love and many hearts are still broken after the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Giana Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and Ara Zobayan last month.  On Jan 26th, my husband and I sat in the parking lot after church reading the news that flooded Facebook and the internet about the accident.  We sat there in shock as Kobe’s passing hit home for us.  

Kobe was not just a celebrity crush for our family. His name was a part of our lingo since before the beginning of our family of five, our little basketball team.

We know the heartbreak of the sudden loss of a family member does not just go away. Additionally, it  seems like after Valentines day people stop talking about love all together.  With our love for basketball and Kobe, I wanted to encourage fans to continue to keep the Kobe love alive. 

Our Love for Basketball and Kobe

While dating in 2010, my husband and I shared a love for basketball and Kobe. Before we got married, I let my hubby know that there were several doctors that told me I would not be able to have kids. Despite that news, he still pursued me and put a ring on it.

During our first year of marriage, we would go to the gym after work and on the weekends to play basketball. Every time I would hit 3s, my husband would say “Kobe!” If you know me, you know I’m a short Latina and often underestimated in athletic ability.  I loved when my hubby would root for me on the court.

From our love for basketball, “Kobe” just became apart of our normal lingo as a couple. If we had some extra money to go out of town or something good happened for us, we would thank God and say, “Kobe!” Kobe was a way for us to express that we were scoring and winning together.  

As a married couple, we adopted the “Mamba Mentality.” We knew there were people for us and against us but kept on going.  Kobe quotes even kept our marriage motivation going during on and off seasons.

Our First Slam Dunk

It was 2011 after our first year of marriage on a typical work day.  Hubby and I had planned to meet up at the gym to go play basketball after work. I remember I  was feeling really tired and nauseous. I called my hubby that afternoon. And I told him I didn’t feel like going to the gym. His response was, “Go home and get some rest for you and the baby. I’ll be home after a few games.” I knew he was joking. But at the same time I knew that despite knowing I may not be able to have children, there were signs that I could be pregnant.

On the way home that day I stopped at Walgreens and bought a box of pregnancy tests.  When I got home, I took all three tests and they all said “Pregnant.”  I sent a text to my husband right away to come home sooner. When he got home, I showed him the tests and the first thing he said was “Kobe!”  

I was still in disbelief. So I sent him back to the store to buy two more brands of tests which all came back positive. It was an exciting time for us that year game planning on how we would be successful parents. We had to prepare for a new season in our life to come. We even took Los Angeles Lakers themed maternity pictures and had a “Slam Dunk” Co-Ed Basketball Barbeque baby shower

2011 Lakers Maternity Shoot 1

Continuing Our Love for Kobe 

Basketballs and hoops were all over our house after our first son was born. Before my son could sit up, my hubby was showing him how to put the baby basketball in his toy hoops. My oldest son started to walk and play with his basketball toys for hours saying “Kobe” each time he would score.  After being blessed to have two more boys, we have continued to say “Kobe” every time our kids make difficult shots playing at home or on the court. Or even shoot their dirty socks into the hamper.  When our kids have a good day at school and they accumulate points for good behavior, we say “Kobe!” And they know they have earned a reward.

Keeping the Love Alive

As a mixed couple, our kids had recognized that our family was similar to the Bryant family. And that made it special for our kids to recognize representation despite not seeing many families like us in our city. As a family, we want to keep the love of our own lost loved ones alive along with the family traditions we have added to our #TeamP playbook for our kids. Keeping basketball and Kobe alive will be apart of that. 

We will continue saying Kobe’s name as a family on the court and during winning seasons of life.  Kobe will mean so much more when we say it. In our hearts it will hold love in our hearts for the Bryant, Altobelli, Mauser, Chester, Payton Chester, and Zobayan families.  My hope is that our children will carry on our love  for basketball, traditions, and all the life lessons we learn during our losing and winning seasons of life to pass down to their children. Kobe! 


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keeping our love for Kobe Bryant alive, ABQ Moms