Philly mother pens moving letter to her sons following Kobe Bryant's death

Invitee Commentary: Why Kobe Matters

Guest Commentary: Why Kobe Matters

A mother'southward letter of the alphabet to her sons nearly the lessons learned from the basketball legend's life

January. 27, 2020

As a publicist, I have spent ii decades representing, worrying virtually and doing my best to improve Philadelphia's image.

I was in elementary school during the MOVE bombing, started my career during Ed Rendell'southward terms as mayor and watched equally the Sixers and their incredible leader Pat Croce united us every bit young professionals to believe in what someone, anyone, here in Philadelphia could accomplish.

Corie Moskow with her husband and sons. Photo: Corie Moskow

As a metropolis we are caught betwixt knowing we are good plenty, and an ceaseless need to bear witness it to the world.

I alive in Lower Merion and, yes, while that'south not technically Philadelphia, we are not only a urban center—we are a region, united by media outlets, teams and highways that make Philadelphia so much greater than the urban center proper.

As such, Kobe is ours. We loved him, we raised him and we really needed him.

I call up when my high school team played outside of our league, simply to come across what nosotros could practise against Lower Merion, which had a rock-star freshman who was sure to become pro.

Our own soon-to-exist-pro, Alvin Williams, united usa and we all watched as the Patriots and Aces elevated the loftier school game.

I never knew Kobe, only as a gimmicky who hails from the community I alive in, I'm feeling a sense of loss.

These are the accomplishments that I wish for you lot—to atomic number 82 a life filled with camaraderie, community, connection, believing in yourself, challenging yourself and always writing your next story.

Now I am a mom to my own soon-to-be-high-schoolhouse-basketball-player in the Lower Merion district, and wondering what to say to him and my fifth grade son and so that nosotros tin can take this tragedy and learn from it.

Here is what I came up with …

Information technology'due south 2022 and race is yet a thing in Philadelphia. It should not be. Change that, starting now.

Love all people and connect with all people. Don't just run across color; come across what'due south skilful in people. Make racism disappear in your lifetime.

Poignantly, today is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration army camp. Put an end to hatred everywhere you can, and always stand up upwardly against injustice.

Hard work pays off. We all have talents, but hard work makes the difference of where your unique talents will have you in life.

America is a very foreign place right now—and sports have an exalted identify. Information technology unites us in a way that we every bit Philadelphians, Americans and humans truly need.

Yous've been lucky enough to feel the sense of community and jubilation that comes from winning a Super Bowl … and now you see the other side, when we need to connect with our neighbors for something that is then sad and tragic that everyone is feeling it together.

The flood of social media you are seeing from your friends on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok is from kids who are proving the case that we demand to connect and require community.

The celebrities yous see posting are people who feel deeply hurt that their friend is gone.

This is non simply a tragedy because Kobe was a professional athlete. A lot of people cared a whole lot nearly him, because they really knew him.

America is a very strange place right now—and sports take an exalted place. It unites united states in a fashion that we equally Philadelphians, Americans and humans truly demand.

If you are in someone'southward life personally you likely matter to them in ways that you may non know. Tell people that yous care about them and testify people your unique kindness. This allows you to ever be true to yourself.

I am your biggest fan. I love seeing you win games on your basketball game and soccer teams. Practice I recall the Sixers will i twenty-four hours include you in the process that nosotros are at present trusting or the Union will add together y'all to their roster? Probably not.

As a parent, Kobe's afterward accomplishments interest me the most.

He was a founder of a venture fund, a funder of cool companies like Body Armor, a creator of art, an skillful leader and a true friend.

These are the accomplishments that I wish for you—to atomic number 82 a life filled with camaraderie, community, connexion, believing in yourself, challenging yourself and always writing your side by side story.

Corie Moskow, president of Gloss PR, is The Denizen'south events manager.

Photograph courtesy Alexandra Walt / Flickr

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Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/kobe-bryant-mother-letter/