Showing some respect to Kobe Bryant, the Mamba Sports Academy has decided to retire “Mamba” from its name, per ESPN.
The name “Mamba” was a part of Bryant’s nickname, “The Black Mamba”, which he gave to himself. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among the nine victims who lost their lives in a helicopter crash on the morning of Jan. 26.
The Mamba Sports Academy was launched in 2018 as a joint athletic-training business venture. The name of the academy was changed back to the Sports Academy on Tuesday, with a new website and logo rebranding.
The Sports Academy sent out a release on Tuesday, saying the name change was a mutual decision between it and Bryant’s estate.
“Our beliefs and thoughts are Kobe is one of one. ‘Mamba’ is one of one,” Faulkner told The Undefeated. “And with that as we carry on as the Sports Academy, it’s more appropriate to put Kobe in another hall of fame, if you will, and to really respect a legacy that is really unrivaled, frankly, and let that live on its own. We will continue to do the work we do.”
“We were fortunate to learn from Kobe. We will carry on much of those learnings that we have in a respectful way.”
