This is one of those topics that never goes away. Are athletes role models? I think there are certain things for which they can be idolized: their athletic talent, their commitment to their chosen profession – but in the electronic age, we sometimes tend to think that what we see in our TV – mostly them at their job – embodies everything about them as people. This obvious is not true. Like the rest of us, what athletes do professionally is only a slice of who they are as people. Like the rest of us, they do and say stupid things all the time. The difference between us and athletes is that they are viewed under the proverbial microscope that is our modern media.
I wrote on this topic roughly one year ago. As always, you can check out the original post below…
When it comes to these “recycled prompts” I typically just bed last heats’s response and call it a day. However, today I want to add another name to Rob’s List of Respected. Athletes: Kobe Bryant.
I respect Kobe Bryant for the dedication that he showed towards his craft; a dedication that bordered on obsession. This mindset was referred to in his book – and now I’m pop culture as “the mamba mentality” Check out the video below, as Bryant explains this best himself:
Bryant’s Mamba Mentality was simple: be relentless in your dedication to your chosen craft. Don’t let other worldly distractions distract from you from your work. Whatever else he may or may not have done in his personal life, his work ethic alone has earned my respect.
I can’t sit here at 50 years old and tell you “Kobe Bryant is my role model” and I shouldn’t. No one should. But there absolutely are elements of The Mamba Mentality I have applied to my own life: Get to work one hour early. Wake up one hour before the rest of your household. Get at it before the rest of the world does. They’ll never catch up to you.
It’s hard to remember sometimes that Kobe Bryant’s tragic death happened 8 years ago. Were he alive today, I have no doubt that he be either writing books or giving motivational speeches.
Who are the athletes you respect most and why?
Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts:
- Acknowledge Me: The Simple Art of Being Seen
- Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984) – The Movie That Scaled to Eleven
- A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
- The Supporting Cast: Navigating the Eras of Male Friendship
- Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision
The article “Kobe Bryant and The Mamba Mentality” first appeared in Rebuilding Rob
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