The death of a celebrity through the eyes of someone who never watched basketball.

I have never, and most likely will never, been an avid viewer of basketball (or any sport for that matter). It’s not that I dislike the sport, I just never understood how one could sit and watch other people play for hours and be entertained. So, when I heard about the death of Kobe Bryant, I ignored it, and I kept scrolling down on Twitter. But I continued to see his face, no matter how far I scrolled. As I saw how many people cared about him, about their hero, I wondered: “What differs a celebrity from a hero, and why should this impact me?” Over the past week, I have been able to answer those questions, and I found the answers to be quite surprising. 

Sure, I knew of Kobe before I saw the headlines on Sunday morning. I had heard his name on the television in my parents’ room, seen people yell “Kobe!” before shooting a paper ball into the trash can (and inevitably missing), and occasionally I’d catch a glimpse of the number 8 on the back of a jersey. But I had no idea how much he meant to other people. From Twitter to Instagram to Tumblr, his face and name were everywhere. People were posting about how much he meant to them, how he changed their lives, and how they will never forget him. I was astounded at how one person had been able to touch the lives of millions through one sport. Here, I was able to see that his death was not like any other celebrity death. He seemed to be a role model to everyone, for some as a father, others as a basketball player. And while he was talented, he chose to use his talent to benefit others, not just himself. He created foundations that supported underprivileged and homeless youth. Through donations and establishing himself as a role model, Kobe turned himself from a superstar into a superhero. 

As I read, I began to see how Kobe’s death impacted me, somebody, who had never seen him play a game of basketball in my life. Through his good deeds, Kobe changed how people viewed the world. He inspired them, to be kind, to help others in need, and to never stop reaching for their goals. By inspiring the people around me, he made my life better. This was the answer that I had been looking for all along. All celebrities have the ability to reach out to millions of people, it’s just how they use that ability that separates the heroes from the rest of the crowd.