Every popular athlete will reach a point where he or she will fall and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has been through that time and again.
Being in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 20 years is a feat that only some cagers are able to do and everyone knows the success and stumbles that the Black Mamba has had.
Hence, if there is one person who can give good advice, then Bryant would be it. Even though he has never been closely linked to former UFC women's champion Ronda Rousey, the Lakers star did try to reach out to her when she fell last year to Holly Holm after UFC 193.
Rousey was someone who saw her world crumble to a mysterious fighter, outfought, and dominated by the Australian boxer which shocked the world. It was a bitter pill to take on the part of Rousey who seemed to have everything going her way.
Many took their shots at Rousey for her cocky character, although it was understandable. For someone who was holding a perfect record, "Rowdy" had all the reason to be confident and a bit of arrogant. However, being at a high step on the popularity ladder, the fall was devastating.
Through the months, it was understandable that Rousey would opt to be out of the limelight. It was new territory, with people taking turns blasting her for the loss. One of the exceptions is Bryant, who knows the feeling of being a favorite and yet fall unexpectedly.
Rather than join the people who have lambasted her, Bryant told Rousey that the loss was a beautiful thing. Champions need to fall at some point and how to come back from that is what defines a person's character, according to USA Today.
Aside from his injuries which have hampered the Black Mamba the past years before eventually deciding to call it quits, Bryant also singles out how boxing greats like Muhammad Ali had to be put down several times.
Summing it all up, falling happens even to the best — including Bryant and Rousey.
Right now, Rousey is on the comeback trail and is looking forward to avenging that knockout loss to Holm sometime this year. The loss only showed Rousey that she is far from perfect and that is something that she needs to address as she rebounds from a hard fall to reality.
