在退役的那一年，科比曾經(jīng)為自己熱愛(ài)的籃球創(chuàng)作了一首小詩(shī)。詩(shī)的原文如下：
Dear Basketball,（親愛(ài)的籃球：）
From the moment I started rolling my dad’s tube socks And shooting imaginary Game-winning shots In the Great Western Forum I knew one thing was real:I fell in love with you.（從我幼時(shí)，偷偷穿上父親的筒襪，幻想自己在大西部論壇球館投進(jìn)制勝一球時(shí)，我就清楚地知道——我被你征服了?。?/b>
A love so deep I gave you my all — From my mind & body To my spirit & soul.（我對(duì)你的愛(ài)如此之深，以至于我奉獻(xiàn)了一切——從我的思想到我的身體，從我的精神到我的靈魂。）
As a six-year-old boy Deeply in love with you I never saw the end of the tunnel.（一個(gè)6歲的孩子，深深地愛(ài)著你，從沒(méi)想過(guò)這條路也有走到盡頭之時(shí)。）
I only saw myself Running out of one. And so I ran.（我只看到自己在這條路上不斷奔跑，所以我不停地奔跑?。?/b>
I ran up and down every court After every loose ball for you.（為爭(zhēng)取每一次得到你的機(jī)會(huì)，我在每一場(chǎng)比賽中不停奔跑。）
You asked for my hustle I gave you my heart Because it came with so much more.（你讓我拼盡全力，為你付出全部的身心，因?yàn)檫@需要的不僅僅是盡力。）
I played through the sweat and hurt Not because challenge called me But because YOU called me.（我在球場(chǎng)上流血流汗，不是因?yàn)槔щy在挑戰(zhàn)我，而是因?yàn)槟阍诤魡疚?。?/b>
I did everything for YOU Because that’s what you do When someone makes you feel as Alive as you’ve made me feel.（我總是為你付出一切，你也總是這樣待我。是你讓我覺(jué)得，我是一個(gè)鮮活的人?。?/b>
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream And I’ll always love you for it.（你讓一個(gè)6歲的孩子實(shí)現(xiàn)了他的“湖人”夢(mèng)，而我將一直深?lèi)?ài)著你。）
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.（但是現(xiàn)在，我不能再如此迷戀你了，）
This season is all I have left to give.（這個(gè)賽季是我能給你的所有。）
My heart can take the pounding, My mind can handle the grind, But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.（我的心依然在為你跳動(dòng)，我的意志也能為你堅(jiān)守下去，但是我的身體告訴我，是時(shí)候說(shuō)再見(jiàn)了。）
And that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go.（不過(guò)這也很好，我已經(jīng)做好準(zhǔn)備跟你說(shuō)再見(jiàn)了。）
I want you to know now So we both can savor every moment we have left together.（現(xiàn)在，我只想讓你知道，我們都可以永遠(yuǎn)珍藏著彼此一起度過(guò)的時(shí)光。）
The good and the bad. We have given each other All that we have.（不管是好的，還是不好的記憶，我們都已經(jīng)給了彼此所能付出的一切。）
And we both know, no matter what I do next I’ll always be that kid With the rolled up socks Garbage can in the corner :05 seconds on the clockBall in my hands. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1（我們都知道，不管我接下來(lái)會(huì)做什么，我都是那個(gè)曾經(jīng)穿著老爸的筒襪，瞄準(zhǔn)墻角的垃圾桶，假裝進(jìn)攻時(shí)間只有0.05秒的籃球小子：5、4、3、2、1……）
Love you always, Kob（永遠(yuǎn)愛(ài)你的科比）
