Inspirational Text Kobe Bryant Sent to Coach John Altobelli in 2019 Should Get You Motivated to Attack the Day

Kobe Bryant and baseball coach John Altobelli spent their final moments together. But the tragic Los Angeles helicopter crash that took their lives on January 27 doesn't have to be the only shared moment the pair is remembered for.

A text message that Bryant sent to Altobelli last March reveals a greater bond between the two, but also, a message for us all.

Altobelli coached the Orange Coast College baseball team for 27 years, and became a beloved figure at the school. He was also a close personal friend of Bryant, and when the team was struggling last March, Altobelli turned to Bryant for help.

Bryant came in as a guest speaker the season before, and gave Altobelli's team a lecture for the ages. When Altobelli reached out for help the following year, the Mamba sent his team a text message, which hung beneath a photo of Bryant on the clubhouse bulletin board for the rest of the season.

Bryant's message to the team was truly transcendent, reaching beyond the walls of the games of baseball or basketball. Bryant's message was a familiar one for fans, a message consistent with his flagship mentality — the Mamba Mentality.

At its core, Bryant's message to Altobelli's team was that of tenacity. He encouraged the players to have no patience in their pursuit of what they want, because it could be taken away at any moment.

Bryant's message even featured an eerie anecdote that only rings even stronger in the wake of his tragic death.

"It's not as [if] life can be taken away from you at any moment, Nooo that would be crazy. That would be cruel," Bryant sarcastically stated in the text. "When the day comes you realize baseball, that life doesn't work that way. You will understand that the best way to play is by any means necessary. By any means. No Excuses. No waiting. F--- Patience."