How Kobe Bryant transcended sports and inspired an NFL Champion star

The talent, skills, and overall the "Mamba Mentality" of the Los Angeles Icon and superstar Kobe Bryant are what set him apart from most players in the NBA.

Bryant's importance in basketball goes beyond it, as after two years of his tragic departure, he remains as present as ever in the mind of fans, family, and friends. But there's one NFL Los Angeles Rams player in particular that the Black Mamba had inspired.

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The current champion with the LA Rams, Bobby Wagner, tells how Kobe Bryant became an essential inspiration for his NFL career, even as a basketball player. Wagner was recently spotted using Kobe's image as his inspiration in the opening game of the regular season. 

"He's one of the first players I watched from start to finish. And so he was somebody that I looked up to growing up". Stated Wagner, who grew up in the Inland Empire. Even if Wagner has been a Super Bowl Champion, he's looking to pursue greatness like his inspiration Kobe Bryant. Wagner is an eight-time Pro Bowler and has been selected into the First-Team AP All-Pro a total of five times so far in his career.

The Black Mamba's deepest secret about Michael Jordan

It was recently revealed that Kobe Bryant was so obsessed with being like MJ and even trying to overdue him that he 'stole' after 'borrowed' some VHS tapes from a former teammate with Jordan highlights as Kobe tried to learn all the moves and more from the GOAT. Later in his career, Kobe faced MJ when playing for the Wizards and got to be the best player in the game.