An Irishman Abroad

It is now one year since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on their way to a youth basketball game. In this episode Kobe’s friend and author of 'Kobe Bryant: Showboat', Roland Lazenby, makes his return to speak to Jarlath and pay tribute to the NBA legend. Roland speaks about the role of one particular man at Adidas in his early life, the organic spirit that made Kobe a great competitor and the birth of his own relationship with a kid wearing number 8. We hear of Roland’s heartbreak as how he watched him both attempt to destroy, the Jordan comparison and the touching letter Kobe wrote to his daughter.  Jarlath quizzes Roland on the big difference between Kobe and modern stars. They find common ground on a Roy Keane comparison as Roland explains how Kobe's maniacal work ethic saw him wear his body and teammates  down. Featuring rare and intimate insights into the life and mind of one of the most ferocious competitors ever to have lived, this truly is a remarkabl