Kobe moved by Pinoy spirit

LOS ANGELES – The affection he has for his millions of Filipino fans was written all over his face as Kobe Bryant spoke passionately about his visits to the Philippines and how he empathizes with those adversely affected by typhoon Yolanda during a Star interview on the occasion of the launch of his new Kobe 9 Elite shoe at the Geffen Contemporary of the Museum of Contemporary Art here Wednesday.

Bryant was visibly moved when asked his reaction on the photograph that went viral in social media showing typhoon victims enjoying a game of basketball in a makeshift goal mounted on debris, rubble and crumbled walls in a devastated neighborhood in Tacloban.

Bryant said he was heartened by the homeless Filipinos’ upbeat spirit. “They’re playing, competing and enjoying themselves in the worst of times,” he said. “Look at us, sometimes we can afford to even say we’re having a bad day. Hey, are we really having a bad day? Those kids out there are smiling, playing basketball in the absolute worst of times. I was very, very moved.”

Bryant said all it takes for the victims to rise is perseverance. “It’s not success, it’s not about being great, it’s perseverance,” he said. “It’s having a goal, you get knocked down then you get up, you get knocked down and you try again. Eventually, you will get to where you want to go but you’ve got to have the perseverance and determination to get there.” That perseverance is what Bryant’s moniker The Black Mamba stands for.

Regarding his personal relationship with Filipino fans, Bryant said he’s felt a rare intimacy since his first visit in 1998-99. He has made at least six visits to the country, including a promotional trip for Lenovo last August. “I don’t know why it is (the bond with Filipinos),” he said. “The first time I came over to Manila, I played in a 3-on-3 tournament in a mall. It was a great response. Every time I visit, I feel the energy and passion of the fans. They push me to continue to be better to inspire them. I’m very thankful I have that response.”

Nike Creative Director and Vice President for Innovation Eric Avar said Bryant is involved in the creation and development of the nine shoes so far in his series every step of the way. “He’s involved throughout the entire process,” said Avar. “From the first idea of a design to the creative sketches to the prototype until the finished product. We meet on a regular basis. Working with Kobe is intense because he sets high standards, he pushes us and that’s why we love working with him.”

Bryant said he makes no bones about sharing his views. If he doesn’t like what the so-called Nike Kitchen shows him, it’s in the garbage can. “We’ve had a lot of meetings where the mood is pretty grim,” he said. “But I love the shoe, it’s a heckuva a challenge to take the Flyknit technology of a running shoe and incorporate it into a dynamic sport like basketball, it took a lot of hard work but we’re here.”

As for the Kobe 9 Elite shoe, Bryant said without the Flyknit technology, it would’ve been impossible to make a lightweight high-top model. The Kobe 8 was the lightest basketball shoe ever produced and the next edition is about an ounce or two heavier, necessitating what Bryant said would only be a minimal adjustment. “It’s perfect timing for the Flyknit because now, you’ve got high-tops which are responsive to the movement of the ankles,” he said. “You’re talking of adding several layers of material but it’s Flyknit so it’s light but sturdy strands of fabric.”

Bryant said the common denominator in his nine signature shoes is innovation. “Keep pushing forward,” he added. “Don’t rest on what you’ve accomplished. We don’t say it’s safe, let’s just do this. No, we want to continue to innovate, starting from the first all the way to the ninth, we’re pushing boundaries.” Bryant said the work don’t stop with Kobe 9 Elite and he’s already thinking of what to do with Kobe 10.

Nike CEO Mark Parker said designing Bryant’s shoes leaves no room for compromise. “We created the shoe to Kobe’s specifications,” he said. “The new era of design allows us to eliminate trade-offs. We don’t do compromise. Kobe wanted high and light and that’s what we did. We didn’t trade off one to do the other. With us, there is no finish line. We just want to get better and better. It’s not just the technical aspect. From the athlete, we want inputs like in Kobe’s case, the design process took into account the mamba, the ninja warrior, the great white shark, the emotional side of things. With digital technology and our research lab, we’re able to create a design to match the engineering aspect to enhance the performance of our athletes.”