Michael is Kobe Bryant's biggest inspiration.

Ms. BlueGangsta

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Bryant premiered "Dear Basketball" Sunday afternoon (April 23) at Tribeca Film Festival, also taking part in a conversation with Keane and moderator Michael Strahan which revealed much more than just Bryant's love for basketball and new found love for storytelling. One of the most surprising parts? Who he revealed as his biggest inspiration.



"Michael Jackson," he said in response to an audience question. "It's the craziest story. I was working out at Gold's Gym in Venice Beach and my phone rings, and it's Michael Jackson. I was like 'What? Why?' It was this moment in time where I was really focused on my game, and I was getting a lot of flack for being too focused, being too serious. He was a big basketball fan, so he called just to tell me to stay on the right track, keep focused. I said, 'Okay, well how did you do it?' And he just went into his whole process of how he studied the greats, how he studied every note in all the Beatles' classics to try to figure out if there's a connection between that piece of music and Mozart's piece of music. He said 'You have to study the greats, learn everything about them.' He showed me all kinds of James Brown, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly -- he showed me 'This is where I learned this, this is where I learned that.' I thought I was working hard until I met him, and he became my mentor. I've had a lot of muses in my life, a lot of inspirations, but he is the chief."


Here's a link to the entire interview/article.
https://www.yahoo.com/music/kobe-bryant-recalls-meeting-beyonce-cites-michael-jackson-035237141.html

Michael's influence is and will always be extremely pervasive.

I also think it's neat that although Michael wasn't actually inspired by the Beatles like he was by James Brown, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly that he still wanted to get to the bottom of their success, most likely so he could exceed it, LOL (he did say study the greats and become greater).
And I love that Michael always made sure people knew who his inspirations were.
He gave them exposure they might not have had otherwise.:yes:
 
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Pink Diamond Princess;B said:
Here's a link to the entire interview/article.
https://www.yahoo.com/music/kobe-bryant-recalls-meeting-beyonce-cites-michael-jackson-035237141.html

Michael's influence is and will always be extremely pervasive.

I also think it's neat that although Michael wasn't actually inspired by the Beatles like he was by James Brown, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly that he still wanted to get to the bottom of their success, most likely so he could exceed it, LOL (he did say study the greats and become greater).
And I love that Michael always made sure people knew who his inspirations were.
He gave them exposure they might not have had otherwise.:yes:
I remember reading after the 84 Grammys, that when Michael mentioned Jackie Wilson's name, Jackie's record sales went through the roof.
Don't know if that was true or not, but it made me feel good that Jackie was "rediscovered."
 
Jackie

I remember reading after the 84 Grammys, that when Michael mentioned Jackie Wilson's name, Jackie's record sales went through the roof.
Don't know if that was true or not, but it made me feel good that Jackie was "rediscovered."
If that is so, it must have been hits/best of compilations, because I think most of Jackie's albums were out of print then. That is still the case today, although they might be in print in Japan. Japan has a lot of albums by old American soul & funk acts that are out of print here. The UK also have reissue labels that re-release out of print R&B/soul records, I think because they have this audience that are fans of what they call Northern Soul. They spend a lot of money trying to find rare soul 45rpm singles.
 
I love mj to death but why is it that when every single time a person dies people here make it mj related like....this seems like some real cult type ish now
 
wonderouzmj;4280276 said:
I love mj to death but why is it that when every single time a person dies people here make it mj related like....this seems like some real cult type ish now

I guess because he knew everyone under the sun and was part of a lot of people’s lives?
 
I love mj to death but why is it that when every single time a person dies people here make it mj related like....this seems like some real cult type ish now

You are on a Michael Jackson website. o
 
It's sad what happened to Kobe and his daughter but I think it's wrong that MJ fans are using his death to make it about Michael. It seems a bit tasteless to me.
 
Thriller_MJ;4280321 said:
It's sad what happened to Kobe and his daughter but I think it's wrong that MJ fans are using his death to make it about Michael. It seems a bit tasteless to me.

This thread is about Michael being Kobe’s inspiration, though. :)
 
ScreenOrigami;4280322 said:
This thread is about Michael being Kobe’s inspiration, though. :)

I know. But Kobe just died and people are making it about Michael. Its tasteless.
 
Were just trying to remind ppl how MJ was the #1 INSPIRATION TO SO FREAKING MANY PPL... did you see what P. DIDDY JUST SAID AT THE GRAMNY PRE SHOW..????
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Me and my brothers sat in on some of the phone calls between Kobe and my uncle. They both had such mutual respect for the other. Thank you for being a true friend Kobe. You will be greatly missed. <a href="https://t.co/Wl1gc5K6Rj">https://t.co/Wl1gc5K6Rj</a></p>&mdash; Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) <a href="https://twitter.com/tajjackson3/status/1221527423226744833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">26. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For all the MJ fans that follow me. One of my favourite pieces. <a href="https://t.co/IU81LGtQy5">https://t.co/IU81LGtQy5</a></p>&mdash; Danny Wu (@dannywuyue) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannywuyue/status/1221547364130803712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">26. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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I know. But Kobe just died and people are making it about Michael. Its tasteless.

I don't see how this is making it about Michael. They both knew each other, and Kobe always spoke positively about him, so it's only natural this would come up with Kobe now being gone.
 
Amaya;4280373 said:
I don't see how this is making it about Michael. They both knew each other, and Kobe always spoke positively about him, so it's only natural this would come up with Kobe now being gone.

I agree with you,
It&#8217;s not making this about Michael. It&#8217;s natural to bring this up on a Michael Jackson site. I have been on another site and that artist&#8217;s fans are doing everything they can to tie him to Kobe, even asking if they knew each other or if there are any photos of him and Kobe. Why is Michael treated differently from ANYONE else who knew Kobe and telling THEIR stories. Let&#8217;s not forget that Kobe ACTUALLY spoke at Michael&#8217;s memorial and was FRIENDS with him.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Bryant bailando como Michael Jackson. &#10084;&#65039; <a href="https://t.co/nTTOXxiz3Z">pic.twitter.com/nTTOXxiz3Z</a></p>&mdash; Sebastián Martínez &#127769; (@sebasmjjj) <a href="https://twitter.com/sebasmjjj/status/1221951601369325570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Bryant named five of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a> songs in ten seconds <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KobeBryant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KobeBryant</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MambaMonday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MambaMonday</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJacksonBlackHistory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJacksonBlackHistory</a> <a href="https://t.co/AX9kk5XfK0">pic.twitter.com/AX9kk5XfK0</a></p>&mdash; Rich Habits (@TheRich_Habits) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRich_Habits/status/1221985037110927361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I feel so numb. Please tell your loved ones you love them as often as you can!!...love &amp; embrace them. Life is both precious &amp; fragile.....I love each of you from the bottom of my heart &amp; soul!!.... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KobeandGianna?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KobeandGianna</a> <a href="https://t.co/JFxpaQvuhB">pic.twitter.com/JFxpaQvuhB</a></p>&mdash; Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett (@jmoffettmjm) <a href="https://twitter.com/jmoffettmjm/status/1221922354021847040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">27. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Bryant on how Michael Jackson influenced his life and career: <a href="https://t.co/FDibXT2U7t">pic.twitter.com/FDibXT2U7t</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Andrew Greene (@AndrewGreene864) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewGreene864/status/1221574195970265089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">26. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a> influencer of influencers... Don't you love it? <a href="https://t.co/pjy0ZbtXAl">https://t.co/pjy0ZbtXAl</a></p>&mdash; MJJJusticeProject (@MJJJusticePrjct) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJJJusticePrjct/status/1222013932983836673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28. Januar 2020</a></blockquote>
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