A volume of great historical-sporting rigor, dedicated to one of the greatest champions in the history of sport, not just basketball
Immagine: 66th and 2nd
Have you ever tried to ball up used paper and throw it at the garbage can screaming: “Jordan!”, or “LeBron!”? Well, whoever writes to you has done it for years by accompanying the gesture of the basketball shot (technically not perfect, but full of heart) with a “Kobe!”.
The reason for this mini-intro is quickly explained: when it was proposed to the editors of Newsby.it a potential gift to be included in our advent calendar, “Showboat, the life of Kobe Bryant” (published by 66th and 2nd and available on Amazon for € 23.65) was exactly my first choice. A volume that is a must for all fans of the femoneno of the wedged ball gone too far, too soon. But which, in any case, is indispensable for every single sports fan.
“Showboat”, a masterpiece of historical-sporting research
This biography of the Mamba (this is one of the most used nicknames of Kobe in the media), although missing the last, sad chapter, it touches the heart of every sportsman. And it is able to fascinate even those who, in sport, have never been interested in the least. Confirming that it is no coincidence that even those who have never seen a minute of NBA, can still say that he has heard of Kobe Bryant.
First, what is striking about the 750 pages of the volume written by Roland Lazenby and translated into Italian by Giulia Vianello it is the rigor of the historical-sporting research by the author. Beyond 60 pages, in fact, they are dedicated to thanks and to bibliography.
And even if Kobe did not actively collaborate in the making of the book, they did, through interviews with the author, characters who have made or are still making the history of this sport. Among these, just to name a few, Magic Johnson, Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Brian Shaw, Jerry Colangelo, Mike D’Antoni, Penny Hardaway, Dwyane Wade, Derek Fisher, Steve Kerr e Dennis Rodman. Besides, inevitably, a Phil Jackson e Shaquille O’Neal: friends first, then rivals, and then again brothers without being blood. Until that damn last day.
Biography, not “hagiography” of Kobe Bryant
The book is not a sanctification of character-Bryant, although it naturally highlights positive characteristics, first of all the work culture through which to improve on a daily basis. Instead, he tells, with enormous intellectual honesty, the life of the Mamba in all its facets, from the family context to the years as a teenager in Italy, where dad played Jellybean. Then moving on to the return to Philadelphia and the choice of don’t go to college to attempt an immediate assault on the NBA.
The Kobe that comes out is the one that would be revealed through his way of playing: phenomenal, spectacular, braggart (in English, precisely, “showboat”). Infused with an ambition that often led him to interrupt even important relationships in order to achieve the set goals.
The immense career in the NBA and the rivalry with Shaquille O’Neal
Of course the story of his exploits in the National Basketball Association covers most of the pages. And it could not be otherwise for one who, always with the top of the Los angeles lakers (first with the number 8, then with the 24 – both retired from franchise last year), he won 5 NBA titles, has been once MVP (most valuable player, the prize awarded to the best player ever, ed) of the regular season e twice MVP of the finals, has received 18 calls for the All-Star Game, of which it was 3 times MVP and once co-MVP with the friend-rival Shaq.
And there is no shortage, speaking precisely of O’Neal, episodes and background of a rivalry that, before blunting at the sunset of the career of Diesel, had become very poisonous. But also the behind the scenes of the relationship always on the edge of the balance between calm and storm with Phil Jackson, the coach of those Lakers who dominated the basketball scene at the beginning of the millennium. Moving on to what happened in 2003: theallegation of rape in Colorado, the pressure of the media, a family that was in danger of crumbling e a career that was in danger of collapsing in on itself.
The second part of Kobe Bryant’s career: practically without haters
After those nightmare months, personally, Kobe was able to reconstruct himself and his image. “Showboat” tells how, from being an individualist phenomenon, Bryant was able to transform himself into captain drag, starting to smile more at the reporters, creating a less cryptic and more enthusiastic self-image. He was also capable of better separate the personal and basketball spheres. This is why it is difficult to find one of his hater, unlike what happens with other polarizing sports personalities (LeBron James over all).
The volume, which also has a wonderful selection of photographs relating to the life and career of Kobe Bryant, ends with the fantastic 60 points scored at the Jazz on April 13, 2016, the last game of his career, and the famous speech by “Mamba out”, taken up in the ways even by Barack Obama, which a few months later he would leave with a “Obama out” the White House.
The book came out before the last, sad chapter: which, however, you do not miss
“Mamba out” it was supposed to be the last chapter of the first part of the history of Kobe. Who knows, maybe Lazenby himself was already working on a second part, which would begin with the sorties of the Mamba to NBA match to greet and “bless” the new generation of phenomena, from Luka Doncic a Giannis Antetokounmpo.
And then continue with the commitment it was taking to remove girls and boys from the street thanks to Mamba Foundation (Now Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation). With the resources it was making available for the growth of the women’s basketball movement, thanks to a family that saw him as the only man among his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia Diamante, Gianna Maria-Onore (this Gigi), Bianka Bella e Capri Kobe. Non-random names, which exudedlove for Italy.
Just with Tooth, the daughter with whom he often went to see matches and who was accompanying to training sessions, was on that helicopter which, on the afternoon of January 26, 2020, crashed into the hills of Calabasas, County of The Angels. Breaking their life and that of seven other people.
Of course, this last chapter, in Lazenby’s book, is not there (it came out in America at the end of 2016, in Italy a year later). Despite this, the volume it is equally complete, because “Showboat, the life of Kobe Bryant” just as it is to tell the legend. Which continues to inspire not only those who play sports, but also those who simply roll up a sheet of paper and scream “Kobe!” trying to make a basket in the garbage can.
Tag: 66th and 2ndKobe BryantbooksRoland LazenbyShowboat the life of Kobe Bryant
