Kobe Bryant was exchanging texts with good friend and Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka about the possibility of setting up an internship for coach John Altobelli’s 16-year-old daughter Lexi prior to the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna, Altobelli and six others on January 26. Now, Bryant will have his last wish come true.
Notable baseball agent Scott Boras told the Los Angeles Times that he will create an internship for Lexi after the idea was mentioned by Pelinka who spoke at the memorial at Staples Center for Bryant and his daughter on Monday revealing the “Black Mamba’s” last request.
“I grabbed my phone and text Kobe back that I had seen the baseball agent at a Lakers game just the other night and was happy to help him with whatever he wanted,” Pelinka said Monday. “It was now just past 9:30. Kobe text back explaining his desire to help a friend of his secure a baseball agency internship for one of his young daughters. Kobe vouched for the girl’s character, intellect and work ethic. He clearly wanted to champion a bright future for her. I text Kobe right back and said I would put a plan in motion to help get that done. A handful of minutes later, Kobe and Gianna and seven other beautiful souls ascended into heaven. Kobe had been texting me from the helicopter.”
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Boras said the internship will help Lexi gain experience in”marketing, baseball operations, sports science and office administration” at his agency. “Kobe’s last human activity was heroic,” Pelinka later added. “He wanted to use his platform to bless and shape another’s life.”
