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Dear Basketball,
From the moment I started rolling my dad’s tube socks And shooting imaginary Game-winning shots In the Great Western Forum I knew one thing was real:
I fell in love with you.
A love so deep I gave you my all — From my mind & body To my spirit & soul.
As a six-year-old boy Deeply in love with you I never saw the end of the tunnel. I only saw myself Running out of one.
And so I ran. I ran up and down every court After every loose ball for you. You asked for my hustle I gave you my heart Because it came with so much more.
I played through the sweat and hurt Not because challenge called me But because YOU called me. I did everything for YOU Because that’s what you do When someone makes you feel as Alive as you’ve made me feel.
Garbage can in the corner :05 seconds on the clock Ball in my hands. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1
Love you always, Kobe
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding My mind can handle the grind But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.
And that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go. I want you to know now So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other All that we have.
And we both know, no matter what I do next I’ll always be that kid With the rolled up socks
“Dear Basketball” A letter by Kobe Bryant
Dear Basketball,
From the (1) ____________________
I started rolling my dad’s tube (2) ___________
And shooting imaginary game-winning shots in the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was (3) __________
I fell in love with (4) _________.
A love so deep I gave you my (5) ____________ —
From my (6) ____________ & body, to my spirit & soul.
As a (7) _____________-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I (8) _____________ saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself running out of one. And so I (9) ___________.
I ran up and down every (10) _____________
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle, I gave you my (11) ____________
Because it came with so much more.
I played through the sweat and (12) ________
Not because challenge called me, but because YOU called (13) _______.
I did everything for (14) _________, because that’s what you do
When someone makes you (15) __________ as alive as you’ve made me feel.
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker (16) ____________
And I’ll (17) ____________ love you for it.
(Answer Key) “Dear Basketball” A letter by Kobe Bryant
Dear Basketball, From the (1) moment I started rolling my dad’s tube (2) socks And shooting imaginary game-winning shots in the Great Western Forum I knew one thing was (3) real I fell in love with (4) YOU. A love so deep I gave you my (5) all — From my (6) mind & body, to my spirit & soul. As a (7) six -year-old boy Deeply in love with you I (8) never saw the end of the tunnel. I only saw myself running out of one. And so I (9) ran. I ran up and down every (10) court After every loose ball for you. You asked for my hustle, I gave you my (11) heart Because it came with so much more. I played through the sweat and (12) hurt Not because challenge called me, but because YOU called (13) me. I did everything for (14) YOU, because that’s what you do When someone makes you (15) feel as alive as you’ve made me feel. You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker (16) dream And I’ll (17) always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much (18) longer. This (19) season is all I have left to give. My (20) heart can take the pounding My mind can handle the grind But my (21) body knows it’s time to say (22) goodbye. And that’s (23) OK. I’m ready to let you (24) go. I (25) want you to know now So we both can savor every (26) moment we have left together. The (27) good and the bad. We have given each other (28) all that we have. And we both know, no matter what I do (29) next I’ll always be that kid With the rolled up socks Garbage can in the corner :05 seconds on the (30) clock Ball in my hands. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 Love you always, Kobe
“WH’ Questions- follow up activity
1- Who did Kobe Bryant write the letter to?
2- What did Kobe fall in love with?
3- What was he doing when he realized he loved basketball?
4- Who was he rolling socks in tubes for?
5- What did Kobe give to his love?
6- What was his love?/ What did he love?
7- How old was Kobe when he fell in love with this sport?
8- What did Kobe see himself running out of?
9- Where did Kobe run?
10- What did the ball ‘ask’ Kobe for?
11. What did he give to his ball?
12- What did he play through?
13- Who ‘called’ Kobe to play?
14- What did Kobe do for basketball?
15- How did basketball make Kobe feel?
16- What dream did Kobe have as a 6 year old boy?
17- How much more to give did Kobe have when he wrote the letter?
(How long is a basketball season?)
18- What can take the pounding?
19- What could Kobe’s mind handle?
20- What does him body know it is time for?
21- What was Kobe’s body telling him?
22- What’s ‘OK’?
23- What was he ready to do?
24- What did he want to savoir?
25- What did Kobe plan to do next?
26- Who will Kobe always be?
27- Where was his garbage can standing?
28- How many seconds on the clock?
29- Where was the ball?
What was in his hands?
Early Life:
Major Accomplishments:
Job: Picture:
Family Life:
3 Interesting Facts:
Name: ___________________________
Directions: Watch the video “Dear Basketball”. Think about what Kobe meant by this. Think
about how you can inspire people in your own life. Think about who inspires you.
INSPIRATION: something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone
