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Dear Basketball

2
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[soft piano melody]

3
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From the moment I started rolling 
my Dad's tube socks

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and shooting imaginary game-winning shots
in the Great Western Forum,

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I knew one thing was real:
I fell in love with you.

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I loved so deep, I gave you my all.

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From my mind and body 
to my spirit and soul.

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As a six-year-old boy deeply 
in love with you,

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I never saw the end of the tunnel.

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I only saw myself running out of one.

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And so I ran.

12
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I ran up and down every court
after every loose ball.

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For you.

14
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You asked for my hustle.
I gave you my heart.

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Because it came with so much more.

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I played through the sweat and hurt
not because challenge called me

17
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but because YOU called me.

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I did everything for you because
that's what you do

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when someone makes you feel 
as alive as you've made me feel.

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"Welcome to The Kobe's Show!"

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"...Kobe Bryant from Lower Merion 
High School in Pennsylvania."

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"I was a Laker die-hard fan".

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"It's Kobe Bryant!"

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"Look at his style, look at his rhythm, 
check out the way he walks..."

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"What have I just seen?"

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"Hard to believe!"

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"Unreal! Are you kidding me?"

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You gave a six-year-old boy 
his Laker strain

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and I'll always love you for it.

30
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But I can't love you obsessively 
much longer.

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This season is all I have left to give.

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My heart can take the pounding.

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My mind can handle the grind.

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But my body knows it's time
to say goodbye.

35
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And that's okay.
I'm ready to let go.

36
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I want you to know now so we both can
savor every moment we have left together:

37
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the good and the bad.

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We have given each other all that we have.

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"Ohhhh..."
[crowd in outburst]

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"It is a purple and gold coronation."

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"Kobe Bryant, to me, is the best
basketball player..."

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"One of the greatest players who have
ever played this game

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who has done it all wearing
purple and gold."

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"Mamba still has venom in those fangs."

45
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"Yeah, Michael got 6
but Kobe got 5."

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"He's the best player in the game."
"I wanna be just like him."

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"You know, he's... Michael Jordan."

48
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I rushed home after school
just to watch him play."

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"Kobe Bryant is the best player
in the world."

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"Kobe Bryant, at the end of the day,
will go down as

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the greatest basketball player that
has ever been."

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"Kobe Bryant is the closest thing
to Michael Jordan since Michael Jordan."

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"And the third highest scorer 
in NBA's history,

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the 2008 MVP,

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two-time NBA finals MVP,

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five- time NBA champion,

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a 6'6" guard from 
Lower Merion High School,

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number 24,

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KOBE BRYANT."

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And we both know no matter
what I do next,

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I'll always be that kid,

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with the rolled-up socks, 
garbage can in the corner,

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five seconds on the clock,
ball in my hand.

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Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

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Heroes come and go,
"but legends are forever."