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Wake Forest man treasures memento from chance meeting with Kobe Bryant

When Stephen Tyson met his idol by chance at a restaurant in Texas in 2002 at age 19, Bryant had no idea Tyson was dealing with cystic fibrosis and was desperately in need of a double lung transplant.
Posted 2020-01-27T21:16:14+00:00 - Updated 2020-01-28T00:33:15+00:00
Basketball star Kobe Bryant autographed a pair of shoes he wore in a playoff game and game them to Stephen Tyson in 2002 after meeting Tyson and later learning the teen was battling serious health issues.

Tributes have been pouring in from people all over world after the death of NBA great Kobe Bryant.

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles early Sunday.

Many celebrities admired Bryant, but there are also regular people who were touched by the basketball legend, including one man in the Triangle.

Stephen Tyson was 19 when he met his idol by chance at a restaurant in Texas in 2002. Bryant had no idea that Tyson was dealing with cystic fibrosis at the time and was desperately in need of a double lung transplant.

"I was, at that time, four or five weeks in the hospital. It was just bad news after bad news," Tyson said Monday. "I was probably 105 pounds."

Bryant was incredibly gracious with his time, Tyson said, and he even sent Tyson a pair of autographed shoes after he learned about his health issues from a thank-you email Tyson's father sent to the Los Angeles Lakers. The shoes were the ones Bryant had won in a playoff win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Basketball star Kobe Bryant autographed a pair of shoes he wore in a playoff game and game them to Stephen Tyson in 2002 after meeting Tyson and later learning the teen was battling serious health issues.
Basketball star Kobe Bryant autographed a pair of shoes he wore in a playoff game and game them to Stephen Tyson in 2002 after meeting Tyson and later learning the teen was battling serious health issues.

Tyson says he has kept the shoes close since then as a source of inspiration throughout his health struggles.

"He had this motivation, this drive, and for people like me, people battling diseases, it sort of encapsulates your daily grind," Tyson said. "You have to be on it 24/7. You have to have that motivation."

Bryant's untimely death hit Tyson hard.

"Someone of that persona, that drive, he was sort of immortal on the court," he said. "Then, one minute you're gone, and it's just unbelievable."

Now, the sneakers have an even deeper meaning.

Tyson said he never imagined he would outlive his idol, but he will never forget the lessons he learned from the basketball superstar.

Tyson did get his lung transplant and is in good health. He said Bryant will continue to inspire him to keep fighting.

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