Did Kobe Bryant have ties to WMass?

[temery]

I just spoke to a friend who ran into him 20 years ago at the Holyoke Mall. Kobe said whenever he's in the area he liked to go to the mall. He got his autograph, and said he was very down to earth.

 

[outlaw]

his memory and career will live in Springfield forever

 

[Kitaman]

his memory and career will live in Springfield forever

Question answered. Please close the thread after this post!

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I just spoke to a friend who ran into him 20 years ago at the Holyoke Mall. Kobe said whenever he's in the area he liked to go to the mall. He got his autograph, and said he was very down to earth.

He was a HS friend and rival of Richard Hamilton. They came from the same area of PA. ??? That was about 20 years ago.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Probably for the basketball hall of fame, otherwise why would he go to springfield?

 

[Kenny11]

Hearing the stories about Kobe, he probably visited the Basketball Hall of Fame several times for motivation, education, etc and not for only for events.

 

[HooperScooper]

Kobe apparently understands Italian, walked over and said "Kobe Bryant."

His father played professionally in Italy and Kobe was born there and spent the first few years of his life in Italy. So yes, he spoke Italian.

 

[Zanzman]

Kobe moves there when he was six and returned to philly when he was 13

 

[HooperScooper]

Kobe moves there when he was six and returned to philly when he was 13

Oh, I thought he was born there. Thanks for the correction.