On Sunday, January 26th at 10am, a life a was lost. Kobe Bryant passed away in a fatal helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was one of the greatest NBA basketball players of all time. He was a husband, a father, and an amazing friend to others. With Kobe Bryant, eight other people were killed in the crash, including his 13 year old daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Bryant. This death was a shock across the nation. Kobe Bryant will always be remembered as the "Black Mamba."

Millions of people are honoring him in every way. Yesterday, the 62nd Grammy Awards honored him through song and speeches. Lots of celebrities are mourning the loss of a very special person. The National Basketball Association is taking his death to the core. It's crazy how Saturday, Kobe Bryant honored Lebron James, by passing him in a record how he was so proud of him. Now he's gone. Yet, if there is someone that should be in your hearts, it's his family. Vanessa Bryant not only lost her husband, she lost her daughter. We should support her by honoring their legacy.

However, after 24 hours of mourning, hate appears. The news are bringing up his rape allegations, and how he deserved to die. I find this shocking, because its sad how people can talk negative about somebody influential, and someone who changed the basketball nation. Yet, this isn't the first time. Think about other celebrities who passed away, and started to create horrible comments. Michael Jackson, XXXtentacion, Princess Diana, Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, and other famous people got backlash moments after they passed. It's sad.

Kobe Bryant should not be remembered as someone with rape allegations. Kobe Bryant is someone who is remembered as a person who had perseverance. Someone who inspired millions of youth who looked up to him. Someone who had a positive mentality. I remembered he said in one of his interviews, the moderator asked, "Everything that goes on with you, how do you feel?" He simply responded. "God is good." That's a mentality that everyone should have. When everything goes crazy, you have a positive mentality.

Kobe Bryant's death should teach all of us that life is too short. Every time you leave out of your house, its a risk to take. Everyday you see your loved ones, embrace them. Tell them that you love them. Seize every moment. Learn that your life is so precious. If there is one quote that will always stick to me, it's "I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of asoftball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that serious in the first place." He taught us that when pressure comes, perseverance follows.

To Kobe Bryant, thank you for everything. Black Mamba, you will be missed.