Late last night, Bad Bunny released a song called “6 Rings” in recognition of Kobe’s five championship rings and his wedding ring. The song is heartfelt tribute to Kobe’s life, reflecting on the first time San Benito saw him play, how much Kobe meant to him and how he (Kobe) inspired him to live with fierce passion.
Kobe Bryant meant so much to several different communities and no doubt his family, the city of Los Angeles, and the Lakers, will forever carry this pain with them.
L.A. was once part of Mexico and therefore Mexican culture can be found at every turn. Mexicans, along with other Latinx communities, make close to half of the population, which also means a large part of Kobe’s fan base is Latino.
Kobe married into the Latino fam; his wife, Vanessa, is Latina (Mexican) and his girls are Mexican/African-American Latinas, which makes Kobe part of our community, our tribe, like a querido “primo” or “cuñado.” Latinos have a lot of love for Kobe, and he had a lot of love for us as well, he even learned to speak Spanish out of respect for his Latino fans:
“My Latino fans are very important to me because they were the first ones who embraced me the most when I first got here…so I told them, ‘Give me two or three years so that I can learn a little bit of Spanish.” – Kobe Bryant 2016
The Latino community is mourning the tragic loss of not only Kobe “Black Mamba” but also “Gigi” Gianna Maria Onore, whose nickname was a perfect blending of both worlds, nuestra querida “Mambacita.”
TMZ reported that Kobe had just filed the nickname “Mambacita” for trademark last month. It seems (according to docs) the plan was to launch an apparel line.
Gigi had undeniable talent, already – at just 13 years old – she was carving out her own name. Her dream was to one day play for UConn and then carry on her father’s legacy in the WNBA.
The UConn Women’s Basketball honored her yesterday with her own jersey.
Our hearts are breaking for all the nine victims, the families that are now torn apart, children that lost their parents and siblings, and the parents who had their greatest fear come to pass, they lost a child, a spouse…on that fateful day.
Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, Capri, con todo nuestro amor…
REACTIONS FROM THE LATINX COMMUNITY
Marc Anthony closed his show with a tribute to Kobe, and choked back the tears as he sang “Vivir Mi Vida.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y87_tgwH7/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zdCwBHU14/
NOBLEZA MAGAZINE 