One of the greatest basketball players of a generation, and probably all-time, played their final game last night when Kobe Bryant bid farewell to thousands of Lakers fans in attendance and millions watching around the globe. It’s been a poor man’s swan song compared to Derek Jeter’s farewell season, but we can blame that on the abysmal play of the Lakers as a whole. But Kobe went out with a bang, dropping 60 points in a 101-96 come from behind win over the Utah Jazz, the most points scored by any player in their final game.
Bryant’s performance wasn’t indicative of how the night began. As is the custom before every sporting event in America, the show cannot begin before the National Anthem, a task bestowed upon one of one Los Angeles’s most well-known musicians and Lakers superfan, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
What you’re about to hear (and watch) will hurt; whether you are a proud American, music fan, or generally protective of your ear drums, this is your warning.
Here it is, Flea assaulting his beloved bass guitar without any regard for your safety.
Yeah, we know. That was bad.
It’s almost as if Flea was upset with Kobe Bryant for retiring or taking all of those excessive shots over the course of a 20-year career (Bryant, though great, is a notorious chucker who has missed more shots than any other player in NBA history).
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, but only make .447 of the shots you do take.
Flea’s attempt sounds like a poor bass accompaniment to Jimi Hendrix‘s classic rendition of the National Anthem at Woodstock in 1969.
But we’re willing to cut Flea some slack and chalk it up to an off night. He’s no stranger to performing the National Anthem before a Lakers game. His performance before a game at the Staples Center on April 13, 2014 was amazing.
