Sporting KC’s Matt Besler on how Kobe Bryant influenced him as an athlete and father
Sports really hammers home just how fast time passes.
For example, defender Matt Besler will start his 12th season with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, and it doesn’t seem all that long ago he was playing at Notre Dame and before that Blue Valley West. Besler had appeared in 338 games, making 328 starts and played 29,540 minutes, which are all club record.
It’s also been more than a month since former Lakers star Kobe Bryant and one of his daughters died along with seven others, in a helicopter crash. A memorial for Bryant was held Monday, and many people spoke of the basketball legend’s impact on their lives.
Besler, who has played on soccer’s biggest stage (the World Cup), wrote in an Instagram post about Bryant’s influence, not only as an athlete but as a father of daughters. Besler shared photos of his two girls and this message about Bryant:
“In a time of such disbelief and loss of words, it’s hard to say anything substantial. That’s why most of us can’t put many words together that are worth sharing. But the more I watch the tributes, hear the stories, and realize the extraordinary impact Kobe Bryant made on this world, the more inspired and compelled I get to speak up. Playing professional soccer for my hometown is a dream come true. I have tremendous pride in representing Kansas City in everything I do. I love competing. I love grinding and showing up everyday and putting my body on the line. I love pushing my mind farther than I thought was possible. Kobe represented all these at the very highest level.
“I also embrace the pressure of being judged by performance. As an athlete, most of the time we’re judged by successes and failures, winning and losing, stats, awards, and championships. I’m ok with that, it’s what I signed up for. Kobe was too.
“However, more than anything, Kobe made me realize whatever happens on the soccer field will not DEFINE me. The biggest ‘game’ I’ll ever play is raising a family with my wife and setting an example for my kids.
“Thanks to Kobe, it’s now more clear than ever before. Our greatest accomplishments are the relationships we build with people and the impact we have on them.”
Here is the post:
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 10:53 AM.
