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Kobe Bryant has been a marquee attraction at every stop on his ongoing retirement tour, but the excitement at opposing venues will not touch the atmosphere at his final games at Staples Center in April. Bryant's last game — April 13 vs. the Utah Jazz — figures to be a genuine event in Los Angeles and around the league, full of tributes from celebrities, NBA legends, and various dignitaries. Anyone looking for a ticket will have to call in some favors or hope for a miracle.
Unless, that is, they happen to win a new giveaway organized by Kobe, his foundation, and the charity-raffle site Omaze. A donation of as little as $10 helps three charities and gains the opportunity to win two Row A courtside seats, the chance to high-five Kobe and the rests of the Lakers, airfare, and accommodations at a four-star hotel.
Here's Kobe to explain how it works (via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News):
The Omaze page includes more information on the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, After-School Stars, and the Positive Coaching Alliance, all of which work with youth in the L.A. area. Omaze says that 80 percent of its donations go directly to the charities, while 20-percent goes to sustaining and building its for-profit business. Each dollar donated affords the entrant 10 chances to win the raffle, so the minimum donation of $10 is equivalent to 100 raffle tickets. Several of the giving thresholds include perks such as rally towels and autographed basketballs, but it's safe to say that anyone who spends $15,000 for 150,000 chances to win can purchase these items elsewhere.
[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:*The best slams from all of basketball]
Entering this competition is perhaps not the most efficient way to support these three charities, but it's pretty clearly the best opportunity most basketball fans will have to watch Kobe's final game from the first row. Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk notes that lower bowl tickets are currently going for no less than $2,000 on StubHub, and that price could go up as we get closer to the date.
Sure, one $10 donation probably isn't going to get you a win. But it could be worth it for the chance to high-five Kobe Bryant during his last game on an NBA floor. And they'll throw in Robert Sacre for no added cost!
Follow @FreemanEric
Unless, that is, they happen to win a new giveaway organized by Kobe, his foundation, and the charity-raffle site Omaze. A donation of as little as $10 helps three charities and gains the opportunity to win two Row A courtside seats, the chance to high-five Kobe and the rests of the Lakers, airfare, and accommodations at a four-star hotel.
Here's Kobe to explain how it works (via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News):
The Omaze page includes more information on the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, After-School Stars, and the Positive Coaching Alliance, all of which work with youth in the L.A. area. Omaze says that 80 percent of its donations go directly to the charities, while 20-percent goes to sustaining and building its for-profit business. Each dollar donated affords the entrant 10 chances to win the raffle, so the minimum donation of $10 is equivalent to 100 raffle tickets. Several of the giving thresholds include perks such as rally towels and autographed basketballs, but it's safe to say that anyone who spends $15,000 for 150,000 chances to win can purchase these items elsewhere.
[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:*The best slams from all of basketball]
Entering this competition is perhaps not the most efficient way to support these three charities, but it's pretty clearly the best opportunity most basketball fans will have to watch Kobe's final game from the first row. Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk notes that lower bowl tickets are currently going for no less than $2,000 on StubHub, and that price could go up as we get closer to the date.
Sure, one $10 donation probably isn't going to get you a win. But it could be worth it for the chance to high-five Kobe Bryant during his last game on an NBA floor. And they'll throw in Robert Sacre for no added cost!
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!Follow @FreemanEric