They say never meet your heroes, but in the case of sportscaster Boom Gonzalez, meeting the late Kobe Bryant proved to be one of the biggest highlights of his career.
Bryant was a frequent traveler to the Philippines. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar first visited Manila in 1998, when he famously stood for a picture with former president Joseph Estrada. Bryant returned four more times before his death — 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2016 — with each visit tied to a Nike event, all of which were hosted by Gonzalez.
“It came at the right time when I had just enough experience in radio and TV,” said Gonzalez in an episode of Rolling Stone Philippines’ YouTube series, Greatest Hits, “that I could approach [the interviews] with confidence and bravado.”
During his 2011 visit, Bryant played alongside NBA superstars Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, and James Harden against players from the PBA, winning 131-105. “I enjoy sharing the game of basketball,” said Bryant of his time in the country, “and Manila, of all the places that I’ve traveled, has so much passion and enthusiasm for the game. That’s why I love coming back, because I enjoy being around kids. I enjoy being around people who have the same passion.”
When asked about Bryant’s visits to the Philippines, Gonzalez recalled that the athlete enjoyed going off script. Although he wasn’t allowed to enter the audience, Bryant would often walk offstage to interact with his fans. “He was really well loved,” said Gonzalez. “[Interviewing Bryant] changed my life in terms of opportunities, credibility, and recognition,” added Gonzalez. “None of which I’ve ever taken for granted.”
In Rolling Stone Philippines’ Greatest Hits, Gonzalez breaks down five milestones in his career that have cemented his place as one of the most dedicated Filipino sportscasters in the industry. You can watch it now exclusively on our YouTube channel.
