科比·布莱恩特,美国职业篮球运动员,自1996年起效力于NBA洛杉矶湖人队,他是无数的荣誉和传奇的缔造者,同时被誉为21世纪NBA最强王者。
2015年11月30日,在职业生涯的第20个赛季,科比正式宣布他将在本赛季结束之后退役,而且还在《球员论坛》发表了一篇名为《致亲爱的篮球》的文章作为告别文。
2016年4月14日,NBA常规赛最后一天,也是科比的最后一战,湖人队在主场后来居上,以101—96击败爵士,科比个人成绩拿下了60分,赛后,科比在斯台普斯的球场中央向全场致辞,并正式告别NBA。
To my dear basketball
Dear basketball,
From the moment,I started rolling my dad's tube socks. And
从小时候,我穿着老爸的直筒靴。
shooting imaginary game-winning shots in the Great Western
假装着我在大西部论坛球馆投中制胜球的样子
Forum,I knew one thing was real:I fell in love with you.A love so
我就清楚地知道一件事情:我爱上你了。我爱你如此
deep I gave you my all——From my mind and body,to my spirit
之深,我已奉献我的所有——从我的思想到身体,从我的
and soul.
精神到灵魂。
As a six-year-old boy deeply in love with you.I never saw the
六岁的我深深地爱着你,我从没想过这段旅程结束时
end of the tunnel.I only saw myself running out of one.And so I ran,
的样子,我只看到我自己在这条路上奔跑。我不停奔跑,
I ran up and down every court,after every loose ball for you.You
每场比赛我都不停奔跑,为争取每一次得到你的机会。
asked for my hustle,I gave you my heart,because it came with so
你需要我拼尽全力,我为你奉献上我的心,因为这需要的不仅
much more.I played through the sweat and hurt,not because
仅是尽力。我为打球流尽血汗和受了一身伤,不是因为困难
challenge called me,but because you call me.I did everything for
在挑战我,而是因为你在呼唤我。我已经为你做了一切,
you,because that's what you do.When someone makes you feel as
因为你也是这样对待我,因为你让我感觉到自己是一个
alive as you've made me feel.You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker
鲜活的人。你让一个6岁的孩子实现了他的湖人梦,
dream,and I'll always love you for it.But I can't love you
为此我将永远爱你。但是我不能再如此迷恋你了,
obsessively for much longer.This season is all I have left to give,my
这个赛季是我所能给的仅有,我的心还能继续承受各种打击,
heart can take the pounding,my mind can handle the grind,but my
我的意志也还能继续坚持下去,但我的身体让我知道
body knows it's time to say goodbye.And that's OK,I'm ready to let
是时候说再见了。这也很好,我已经做好准备跟你说再见了,
you go.I want you to know now,so we both can savor every
我现在只是想让你知道,我们俩都可以永远珍藏着彼此一起度
moment we have left together.The good and the bad we have given
过的每一段时光。无论是好的还是坏的,我们已经给了彼此
each other all that we have.
我们所能给的全部。
And we both know no matter what I do next,I'll always be that
我们都知道接下来无论我去做什么,我都会是那个穿着
kid with the rolled up socks,garbage can in the corner:five seconds
直筒袜,瞄准角落里的垃圾桶,假装进攻时间还有5秒,
on the clock,ball in my hands 5...4...3...2...1...
手里拿着篮球的小孩,5秒,4秒,3秒,2秒,1秒......
Love you always,
Kobe
科比