NBC LA Channel 4 News Reporter Rick Montanez interviews Akeem Mair, Wesley Mair, and Rudy Becerra at Kobe Bryant’s Memorial

About Akeem Mair

Akeem Mair has starred in many films since he first began acting. Sometimes called “the king of acting,” his reputation is well-deserved due to the meticulous preparation and careful execution he brought to every role. The legendary dreamer was a California native born in the city of Pasadena.

Interviewed with NBC reporter Rick Montanez

After we had finished writing our messages of appreciation for Kobe Bryant’s influence on our lives on the memorial wall, NBC reporter Rick Montanez came up to us. On the day of the funeral, he covered the interview.

Rudy Becerra, one of the first people questioned, had an interesting name. He exclaimed, “I’m glad I was able to attend.”

I think it’s essential for the people of LA to be able to grieve in any way they see fit.

Second place went to Wesley Mair, who remarked.

Wow, Kobe, you were loved; even in death, you would live forever! Kobe’s name is still frequently mentioned, and his likeness has been immortalized in murals painted in dozens of countries.

Akeem Mair, the third interviewee, thanked Bryant for his time and assistance in this interview.

Many of us say, “I don’t know him personally, but he’s my Hero!” About Kobe Bryant? Exactly how many of us are there in the world? I do not doubt that Vanessa agrees with me that he was unique.

Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers have been in Rudy Becerra’s, Wesley Mair’s, and Akeem Mair’s families for decades. They witnessed Kobe’s entire life unfold on screen, from when he was a promising NBA rookie to when he was a hall of Famer. At the tender age of seventeen, he was selected 13th overall by the NBA in the 1996 draft. He and Shaq won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002. The best player of 2008, hands down! That game, on January 26, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors, in which he scored an NBA record 81 points, was a historic performance.

He still managed to win two titles in 2009 and 2010 without Shaq. On April 13, 2016, he scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center, ending a magnificent career. We all agreed he wouldn’t break 40 points that game. His words, “Mamba Out,” seemed to echo worldwide as they were heard.

According to their respective recollections, Akeem Mair, Wesley Mair and Rudy were both at their apartments in Huntington Beach when they learned of Kobe Bryant’s passing. On that fateful Sunday morning of December 26, 2020, TMZ was the first to break the news. Everyone started getting out of bed and checking their phones around 9 o’clock. Rudy was the first to break the news, saying, “Yo, Kobe Bryant died y’all!” He then issued a joint statement with his brother Wesley, telling everyone to “Stop cracking jokes, man” and adding, “Unless TMZ is lying!” How did you respond? “TMZ said it?”

Once Rudy showed his brother and sister the TMZ article on his phone, they immediately Googled Kobe Bryant’s name. They found multiple pieces reporting the news and the death date published on Wikipedia. It was like losing a family member; everyone felt like the sky had fallen. We were incredibly saddened to hear that Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna had also perished in the crash.

The memorial site was shut down, taken down, cataloged, and preserved on Sunday, February 2nd, 2019. The Lakers organization and the Bryant family could go through the gifts and keep what they liked. Since he was so sure of himself, he convinced Wesley and Rudy to ride the Gold line with him from Pasadena to Union Station and then to Staples Center.

https://fb.watch/c6nwm6demy/

The outpouring of sorrow from Kobe’s passionate fan base astounded them. The Staples Center appeared littered with thousands of Kobe-themed balloons, basketballs, jerseys, photographs, and shoes. To honor him, many people erected enormous canvas walls on which they wrote touching messages. The gates were locked only 15 minutes after our arrival, making us the very last people to see the memorial in person.

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