前洋基隊長、剛成為史上第二高得票率入選棒球名人堂成員的Derek Jeter在他所創立辦
的運動員創作平台The Players' Tribune寫了這篇弔念文。Kobe本人當年就是在這平台
發表了那篇退休宣言「Dear Basketball」。
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/
derek-jeter-kobe-bryant-tribute
https://tinyurl.com/tnbg9ca
All I ever needed to know about Kobe Bryant was this: that throughout our
friendship, the most meaningful conversations we had — they were always
about family. Put aside one of the all-time great basketball careers for a
second. Put aside his famous work ethic, the Mamba mentality, that incredible
will to win. I’ll let everyone else tackle that. But when I think of Kobe, I
really just end up thinking about those special few personal conversations
that we were lucky enough to share together, each time one of us had a new
baby daughter. I end up thinking about how, here was this guy who was beyond
gifted as an athlete, who was obsessed with being a champion, who was known
as an absolute assassin with a ball in his hands. And in the moments I got to
spend with him? He didn’t really talk about any of that. He cared much more
about being a husband to Vanessa and a dad to his girls. He loved his family
— he was his family. That’s what was important.
對於Kobe Bryant我所需要知道的就是這件事：在我們倆的友誼中，我們所進行過最有意
義的對話永遠是和家庭有關。我們先不提那些他那偉大的籃球生涯，也先不提他那出名
的工作紀律、曼巴精神、以及強烈的求勝意志，那些我留給其他人記述。但每當我想到
Kobe的時候，我最後總是想到那些我們因為各自女兒的誕生而十分有幸可以互相分享的
私密對話。我總是想，這傢伙何以成為一個天賦異稟的運動員、求冠若渴的男人、以及
一球在手萬夫莫敵的頂尖殺手。但在我們相處的時光中他幾乎不提這些豐功偉業。比起
這他更在乎的是如何當個賢夫良父。他熱愛家庭－他就是他的家庭。這才是最重要的。
And that’s the Kobe I’ll remember.
而這就是我往後會緬懷的Kobe。
I want to give my deepest condolences to Vanessa and the rest of the Bryant
family, and to the families of the other passengers. Tragedies like this have
a cruel way of reminding us of what’s important in life: spending time with
our loved ones, and being there for them no matter what. Which makes today’s
events feel especially cruel — because no one needed less reminding than
Kobe. I’ve seen the guy go for 81. I’ve seen him hit all kinds of buzzer
beaters. I’ve seen him win gold medals and championship rings. But I’ve
still never seen him look as happy, in those big moments on the court, as he
looked the other day off of it: with an arm around Gigi, sitting courtside,
and just….. talking. Yeah, sure, talking hoops — but you got the feeling in
those moments that he would have been content talking about anything.
我在此對Vanessa、其他Bryant家庭的家屬、以及機上其他乘客的家庭致上最深切的慰
問與哀悼。像這樣的悲劇是以一個殘酷的方式來提醒我們那些生命中很重要的事情：多
花時間陪伴我們的摯愛，以及不論如何都要與他們同在。這說起來讓今天的事件顯得格
外殘酷－畢竟沒有人比Kobe把這點更惦記在心。我曾看過這傢伙狂奪81分、投進各種壓
哨球、以及贏得金牌和冠軍戒指，但在這些球場上的重大時刻當中，我從沒看過他有哪
次是像在場外那樣，一手環著Gigi、坐在場邊單純地閒聊還要來得快樂。當然啦，聊的
不外乎是籃球－但你可以感受出來在那樣的時刻他不管聊什麼都會很開心。
Kobe just loved being a dad.
Kobe就是很沉浸在身為人父的感覺。
And when it comes to his legacy, I really hope we’re able to take the time
to remember that as an essential part of it.
而當我們提到他所遺留下的精神時，我真的希望我們能花點時間去緬懷以上那些不可缺
的一部分。
Rest in peace to Gianna Bryant. Rest in peace to the other passengers on
board.
願Gianna Bryant安息，也願機上的其他乘客安息。
And rest in peace to Kobe Bryant — who knew that his life was only as
important as the love he had for the people in it. Who knew that he was born
to play basketball. But it was family over everything.
最後也願Kobe Bryant安息－他知道他的生命和他所予人的愛一樣重要；他知道打籃球是
他的天命，但也深知家庭遠超過一切。
Derek Jeter