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Gregory S. Mannion
January 27 at 7:27 PM ·
When my brother retired from playing basketball, he did the pregame, halftime and postgame show with Thurl Bailey for the Utah Jazz. Nico used to hang out in the arena before the games and meet players, get autographs (jerseys/shoes, etc). Nico was just a little tike and Kobe was favorite of his. Everyone knows that Kobe was fluent in italian.
Nico was born in Italy, where Pace played for over a decade, and Nico was fluent in Italian as well. Pace told Nico that if Kobe didn't respond to his request to sign his jersey, speak to him in Italian. As Nico waited at the end of the tunnel for Kobe to come out for warmups, Kobe came his way, but passed him by on Nico's initial request. It was at that moment that Nico addressed him in Italian and it stopped Kobe in his tracks. Kobe turned around, came back and knelt down to talk to a tiny redheaded kid. As Kobe signed the jersey, he asked Nico about basketball and Nico told him, "I'm going to play in this league."
Kobe responded to him and said, "you look me up when you get here."
Kobe's signed jersey hangs in a shadow box in his room. One of Nico's nicknames is the Red Mamba. I'm not sure how he acquired it, or who gave it to him, but it has followed him for the last 4 years. Kobe is one of the best to ever play the game. I love him and I would never compare the Black Mamba to the Red Mamba because there is no comparison. But, Nico is very good player and I know the kind of work ethic that he has...and everyone knows Kobe's work ethic. Maybe it's because Kobe was/is his fav...maybe it stemmed from Italian background , I don't know where the nickname originated. All I know is that Nico is knocking on the door to that goal of playing in "The League" and his heart was broken yesterday.
I'm sure that Kobe will be looking down and smiling when he sees that that little redheaded kid made good on his statement and has achieved his goal.
Prayers for God's love and comfort to touch everyone who lost loved one's in yesterday's accident. Prayers for God's love and comfort to touch those who lost loved one's in military crashes. Prayers for God's love and comfort to anyone who has lost a loved one and is in need of peace

That's an awesome read, Zip.  thanks for posting

BUMP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnT7pT6zCcA