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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kobe Bryant said his mum, not his dad, shaped his on-court persona: "She's more like a pit bull"
The late Kobe Bryant was famous for his legendary determination and relentless drive on the basketball court. But where did that competitive spirit come from? Psychologists often point out that a person's core mentality is shaped during childhood, strongly influenced by their surroundings and especially by important figures like parents. Advertisement By that logic, one might assume that Kobe's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant — who had a long 16-year basketball career, including six years in the NBA — was the main influence on his mindset, passing on lessons from his own experience. However, that is actually a misconception. Kobe himself said his mother, Pamela Bryant, had the biggest impact on how he carried himself during games. Inside the Mamba Mentality When you think of elite athletes known for their unique mindset, a few iconic names stand out — Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic or Michael Jordan. However, only a handful have managed to turn their mentality into a lasting legacy. Bryant, a legend for the Los Angeles Lakers, not only did this — he gave it a name: the Mamba Mentality. Advertisement Mamba is a deadly snake known for its speed, precision and lethal power. Kobe adopted this symbol not just as his nickname but also as a way to express a sharp and focused mindset. For the NBA's 2008 Most Valuable Player, being the "Black Mamba" meant using such a mindset in every part of life — something he often spoke about before his tragic death in a helicopter accident in late January 2020. "[It] isn't about seeking a result — it's more about the process of getting to that result," Bean said about the Mamba Mentality. "It's about the journey and the approach. It's a way of life. I do think that it's important, in all endeavors, to have that mentality. Bryant carried this mindset to the court, showing relentless resilience, a strong work ethic and a fierce competitive spirit. These qualities played a big part in why he became a five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 14-time All-Star, nine-time Defensive First Team member,and two-time scoring champion. Advertisement Related: "They had it on the wall, in my mirror when I woke up" - Jalen Brunson says his parents instilled in him the six-word mantra that has fueled his NBA success The influence of Kobe's mom and dad Roland Lazenby's 2016 book, "Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant," provides a deep understanding of how Kobe's distinctive mindset was formed. In the book, a revealing quote from the NBA legend dating back to 1999 highlights the unique influence both of his parents had on him, ultimately shaping his on-court persona. "From the enthusiasm aspect, his love to play, I'm more like my father. But on the court, I'm more like my mother," explained Bean. Advertisement Kobe's dad, who passed away in July 2024, sparked his early passion for basketball. They watched and analyzed game footage together, attended Joe's games, and even met NBA legends like Magic Johnson — their favorite player — and the Showtime Lakers squad. However, since "Jellybean," a 6'9" forward, was often away traveling as a professional basketball player, they couldn't spend as much time together as they wanted. As a result, Kobe became closer to his mother instead. "Bryant would later be known for the basketball bond with his father. But, with the father's celebrity and the frequent travel of a professional athlete during the son's formative years, it was understandable that Kobe Bean's earliest and closest bond would form with Pam," wrote Lazenby. Pam's pit bull mentality Talking about his mother, now 71, Bean described her as fiercely competitive — a real force of nature. These days, NBA players often call themselves "dogs" to show their toughness and drive, but Pamela had that same fighting spirit long before it was a trend. Advertisement "She's more like a pit bull. Her temper is like that. Very competitive," Kobe emphasized. During those early years, they had a close bond. It was then that young Bryant took on many of his mother's traits, especially her determination and strong drive — qualities that stood out more than his father's laid-back attitude. "Mother and son shared pleasant personalities for the most part, right down to demeanors that could turn surprisingly cold in a flash. That coldness could be startlingly off-putting to those who encountered it. And, combined with their capacity for sudden, sharp anger, both mother and son would use it to define the parameters of their lives. The primary driving element, however, was the perfectionism," states "Showboat: The life of Kobe Bryant." This drive for perfection, instilled by Pam, became a defining element of Kobe's remarkable 20-year NBA career. Advertisement Lazenby concluded that much of the basketball icon's success stemmed from the powerful influence of the woman who raised him, stating, "In terms of Bryant's achievement, it's fair to say in so many ways, the mother made the man." Family feud Despite growing closer at the time and ultimately sharing many similarities, it didn't help the relationship in the long run. The turning point came after Bryant married Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo in April 2001 — something Pamela and Joe disapproved of, partly because of the now-widow's Latina background. They ultimately decided to skip the wedding. The conflict intensified in 2013 when Beans' parents tried to sell memorabilia from his career, including a Lakers championship ring, without his knowledge. This betrayal prompted their son to sue them, after which Pamela and Joe issued a public apology for the pain and misunderstanding caused. Advertisement Before Kobe's tragic death in 2020, there were hopeful signs of reconciliation. "The Black Mamba" reportedly made efforts to rebuild his relationship with his parents, with reports of affectionate moments such as a warm embrace with "Jellybean" at a basketball camp. Still, after the helicopter crash that took the Lakers legend, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, Pamela was reportedly cut off entirely from his estate and is believed to have no contact with his remaining children. Related: Kobe Bryant put together his first scouting tape as a nine-year-old: "I had to wait for the tapes. I used to wait for the mail guy to drop them off"
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'It's a blessing:' Thousands in Orange County receive letters about their medical debt
Thousands of Orange County residents are getting letters telling them their medical debt has been wiped away and it's not a scam! It comes after Orange County Commissioners decided to use leftover COVID-19 funds on a medical debt relief program for qualifying residents. Through a partnership with the non-profit Undue Medical Debt, more than $472.5 million in medical debt has been eliminated for over 310,000 Orange County residents. The non-profit was given $4.5 million from Orange County's American Rescue Plan Act funding to clear the debt and so far, about $3 million has been spent to buy debt in bulk and then erase it. The debt relief includes accounts acquired from both local hospital systems and third-party debt collection agencies. 'We like to say that medical debt is not a debt of choice, it's a debt necessity,' said Courtney Story, with Undue Medical Debt, ' You don't choose to get sick, you don't chose to get injured, you don't choose the cost of care.' Story is the Vice President of Government Initiatives at the non-profit, Undue Medical Debt. She shared that approximately 25 cities and counties nationwide have collaborated with the non-profit on comparable debt relief initiatives. Orange County is the first in the state to use COVID-19 cash to clear medical debt for residents. Lifelong Orange County resident Pamela Bryant is one of thousands who qualified for the program and had their debt cleared. She told Channel 9 it was hard to believe when a letter came explaining just over $1400 worth of hospital debt she's owed since 2021 was now cleared. 'I thought it was a scam at first,' said Bryant, 'It's a blessing.' Even though she worked full-time and had insurance, she stated that a hospital visit in 2021 still incurred an expense she couldn't manage. Bryant said every paycheck covers just enough to make ends meet. 'I am able to pay my bills, my rent, my life stuff. But if I had to do something else, like go to the emergency room and they're asking you for $400 upfront, No, I'm not able to. Because something at my house would be behind,' said Bryant. According to Orange County, the program does not accept applications. Instead, eligible debt is identified through partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers and collectors, then purchased directly by Undue Medical Debt. Qualifying debt from an Orange County resident meets one of two criteria: Resides in a household with income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines Has medical debt that equals or exceeds 5% of their total household income Once acquired, the debt is fully paid and requires no action from the affected residents. Recipients will be notified by mail with an official letter from Undue Medical Debt confirming the relief. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Volunteers conduct biennial count of Austin-area homeless population
In the wee hours Sunday, Pamela Bryant drove to a sprawling encampment in South Austin where about 40 people experiencing homelessness live in tents and other temporary shelters. Her car was loaded with donated clothes and groceries. Bryant, the founder of the religious service organization Walking by Faith Prison Ministry, was among 600 volunteers who traversed Austin and Travis County from about 3 to 9 a.m. Sunday to tally the region's unhoused population — and hand out supplies. 'When I go out, I try to relate to people just as much as possible so that we can save lives through food and relationships,' said Bryant, who herself has experienced homelessness. The biennial point-in-time count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The process has serious limitations — bad weather, for example, can skew results — but it can capture larger trends that help the agency decide how to dole out federal funding. The latest numbers won't be available until spring, so it's impossible to say whether homelessness has increased locally since the last count. But recent reports estimate rates of homelessness nationwide are at an all-time high, and various figures kept locally suggest the Austin area might be a part of that trend. The nonprofit Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO, coordinates Travis County's point-in-time count and keeps its own, more comprehensive running total, which it calculates with the help of various local organizations that keep track of people requesting services. The most recent point-in-time count, conducted overnight in January 2023, showed there were 2,374 people experiencing homelessness in Travis County. The one before that, in 2020, logged 2,506. ECHO's running tally from last October puts the total at about 5,300. That much larger number could be evidence of an actual increase, but outreach services also have expanded, meaning more people might be getting services and thus included in ECHO's tally. ECHO spokesman Chris Davis noted that the 2023 count showed the city's camping ban and a change in service providers had drawn the homeless population farther outside downtown Austin. Evette Sutton, another count volunteer whose day job is being a housing supervisor for Integral Care, said Sunday that she thinks any increase in homelessness is not being driven by people who are newly unhoused. Rather, she said many people she's interacted with recently have been experiencing homelessness for a prolonged time, with some having come from out of town and others recently released from prison with nowhere to stay. "The numbers have increased because the situation and circumstances have changed," Sutton said. Austin's count comes as the city is struggling with dwindling federal aid doled out during the COVID-19 pandemic that it has used to boost its supply of permanent supportive housing units. But its efforts might not be enough to keep up with the growing demand. ECHO estimates thousands more bed spaces will be needed in the next decade. Data that ECHO provided to the Statesman last May showed the number of people seeking homeless services in Austin had doubled between 2021 and 2024 — though experts said that seemingly staggering metric could be a reflection of increased homeless outreach. A report ECHO released earlier this month revealed a staggering increase in the mortality rate among the homeless population. The leading causes of death, according to the report, were drug overdoses, accidents involving vehicles and heart disease. It also found that the number of deaths caused by narcotics — namely, methamphetamine and fentanyl — increased threefold between 2018 and 2023. Bryant, one of the count volunteers, said fentanyl is everywhere now. 'It's like heroin,' she said. 'When they don't have it, they get sick.' Bryant said that finding housing for people is often not enough to help them turn their life around. They need to learn life skills and have someone to check on them, especially in the first few weeks, she said. And Bryant and other volunteers said they have come across people who don't want to go into housing. One man she recently spoke to said it came with 'too many regulations.' At the South Austin encampment, Bryant and her fellow volunteers began their count as people emerged from tents. Foxx Long, who has lived in the South Austin camp for about six months, said he became homeless after his fiancée died of an accidental drug overdose three years ago. The pair were living in Houston at the time — Long was working as a bartender and his fiancée ran an online resale store. They lived in a two-bedroom apartment and were making a substantial income. "Then she died, and I lost everything," Long said, acknowledging that he has recently struggled with substance abuse. At one point during his time in Austin, Long said a police officer who approached him helped him get into the Northbridge shelter — one of the hotels the city converted during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stayed for a few days but ultimately decided shelter life wasn't for him. As Long headed back to his tent, Bryant and others continued combing the camp — coaxing its residents to answer the point-in-time questionnaire. Some happily answered; others were more hesitant or declined outright. One, a soft-spoken woman who said she had fled a domestic violence situation and has been homelessness off and on for years, had only recently begun to sleep in the camp. As she answered the questions, Bryant draped a red coat over her lean shoulders and handed her boxes of food. "It's like Christmas," the woman said. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Volunteers conduct biennial homeless population count in Austin area
