前洋基队长、刚成为史上第二高得票率入选棒球名人堂成员的Derek Jeter在他所创立办
的运动员创作平台The Players' Tribune写了这篇吊念文。Kobe本人当年就是在这平台
发表了那篇退休宣言“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.
对于Kobe Bryant我所需要知道的就是这件事：在我们俩的友谊中，我们所进行过最有意
义的对话永远是和家庭有关。我们先不提那些他那伟大的篮球生涯，也先不提他那出名
的工作纪律、曼巴精神、以及强烈的求胜意志，那些我留给其他人记述。但每当我想到
Kobe的时候，我最后总是想到那些我们因为各自女儿的诞生而十分有幸可以互相分享的
私密对话。我总是想，这家伙何以成为一个天赋异禀的运动员、求冠若渴的男人、以及
一球在手万夫莫敌的顶尖杀手。但在我们相处的时光中他几乎不提这些丰功伟业。比起
这他更在乎的是如何当个贤夫良父。他热爱家庭－他就是他的家庭。这才是最重要的。
And that’s the Kobe I’ll remember.
而这就是我往后会缅怀的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.
我在此对Vanessa、其他Bryant家庭的家属、以及机上其他乘客的家庭致上最深切的慰
问与哀悼。像这样的悲剧是以一个残酷的方式来提醒我们那些生命中很重要的事情：多
花时间陪伴我们的挚爱，以及不论如何都要与他们同在。这说起来让今天的事件显得格
外残酷－毕竟没有人比Kobe把这点更惦记在心。我曾看过这家伙狂夺81分、投进各种压
哨球、以及赢得金牌和冠军戒指，但在这些球场上的重大时刻当中，我从没看过他有哪
次是像在场外那样，一手环著Gigi、坐在场边单纯地闲聊还要来得快乐。当然啦，聊的
不外乎是篮球－但你可以感受出来在那样的时刻他不管聊什么都会很开心。
Kobe just loved being a dad.
Kobe就是很沉浸在身为人父的感觉。
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.
而当我们提到他所遗留下的精神时，我真的希望我们能花点时间去缅怀以上那些不可缺
的一部分。
Rest in peace to Gianna Bryant. Rest in peace to the other passengers on
board.
愿Gianna Bryant安息，也愿机上的其他乘客安息。
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.
最后也愿Kobe Bryant安息－他知道他的生命和他所予人的爱一样重要；他知道打篮球是
他的天命，但也深知家庭远超过一切。
Derek Jeter