Speaking on behalf of an entire generation, this week has been emotional.The highs of Derek Jeter's Baseball Hall of Fame election and ensuing pre s conference were exhilarating. I was on the edge of my seat when the results of the Baseball Writer's A sociation of America's official ballot were released last Tuesday. My mouth dropped when we learned in real time that one single voter had left Jeter off their ballot -- his close call with unanimity, however, couldn't break my spirits.I listened to Jeter answer questions about his illustrious career on television and on a reporters conference call that night, -- I knew thatOne day later, I held back tears of joy as I sat in the back row of the Hall of Fame introductory pre s conference, watching Jeter put on his cream-colored Hall of Fame jersey for the first time.I had seen Jeter in person before -- in pinstripes, of course, and in his new executive role Shaun Alexander Jersey with the Miami Marlins. Seeing Jeter don his Hall of Fame threads in person, however, was indescribable. I asked myself.On Sunday came the lowest of lows. News of a helicopter accident in California made the world stand still. Once again,I held back tears.As mixed reports inundated my timeline, I felt shock, disbelief and a physical blow to the gut. The world losing an icon like Kobe Bryant is enough, but his 13-year-old daughter and a total of nine individuals losing their lives as well was just awful.I refreshed social media obse sively. We all did. Any moment now, a tweet would pop up and announce the rumors were fabricated, that it was all falsified information, or Bryant and the other pa sengers had survived... right?Once reports were confirmed, reality began to set in.My generation grew up falling in love with the games of baseball and basketball during Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant's primes.They both had their first full profe sional seasons in 1996, a year before I was born. By the time I started appreciating their greatne s, they already had multiple championships to their names.The similarities between their legendary careers are uncanny -- the list of comparisons is a long one.Both Jeter and Bryant remained on one team for their entire careers, spending exactly two decades as the face of their respective franchises. There were contract disputes, trade rumors and the like, but these icons found a way to stay in one uniform. You and I both know how uncommon that is nowadays. Not to mention their ability to fearle sly represent two of the most storied franchises -- under the spotlight of the nation Steve Largent Jersey 's two biggest markets -- in all of profe sional sports.Each superstar won five titles. Each led their own dynasty teams to three-peats.While Kobe had his heavily-publicized feud in L.A. with fellow superstar Shaquille O'Neal, Jeter had his in the Bronx with Alex Rodriguez.Jeter set Yankees' franchise records (including hits and games played). Bryant set Lakers' franchise records (in points scored and games played).They both burst on the scene as phenoms. Jeter, voted American League Rookie of the Year, helped the Yanks to a World Series championship in '96. Bryant, voted to the NBA All-Rookie team that same year, was scoring in postseason games as an 18-year-old.Their excellence made them amba sadors to the NBA and MLB, appearing in countle s All-Star Games, perennially stealing the show on nationally televised broadcasts. And yet, whether it was Game 7 of a playoff series, or a random Tuesday night and tail end of a back-to-back against a lowly opponent, they played the game one way. Their consistent competitivene s, tenacity and will to win led to moments like Jeter diving headfirst into the stands for a pop fly and Bryant knocking down two free throws after tearing his achilles. They played the game to win with a mental fortitude you simply can't teach.Finally, as fans said goodbye in the final days of their careers, Jeter and Bryant gave us all moments we won't soon forget. For Bryant, dropping 60 points in his final contest in the iconic purple and gold -- a high-volume shooting night for one of the best scorers in basketball history. For Jeter, a walk-off base hit to the opposite field in his final game in pinstripes -- a Cody Barton Jersey storybook ending in the most 'Jeterian' way.I could go on. Bottom line is for my entire life, and the entire lives of countle s sports fans around the world, Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant were as good as it gets.I'll preface this by saying, I was a diehard Dwyane Wade fan as a kid. With family in Miami, Wade's jersey was the one I would buy over and over again as I grew out of worn down and deteriorated tops with the No. 3 on the back. While Jeter was always my favorite on the diamond as a native New Yorker, Wade was my guy on the court.Even still, Kobe Bryant was one of my favorites. Just like Jeter during his prolific career, Kobe was of our heroes.I remember it all like it was yesterday. On the playground -- and eventually at organized practices -- it was all about emulating my idols.We all wanted to be like Jeter. After little league, I didn't play much shortstop, but I wished I did for that reason alone. No matter where I stood between the lines -- as long as there was a glove in my hand and a ground ball hit to my back-hand side, I'd go out of my way to make sure I'd have to reach out for it and launch myself into the air before throwing acro s my body."Jeter!" I'd yell. Jarran Reed Jersey The same goes with a basketball in my hands. Ask anyone. Fading away unnece sarily on a fairly routine jump shot in an intramural game is a pa sion of mine. When I got out of breath, I'd bend down to rest my hands on my knees together, just like Bryant did.And of course, to sing garbage into a trash can -- well, let's be honest, throwing anything into target -- was cause for the same one word each time."Kobe!" I'd yell.My generation wanted to be Kobe Bryant and Derek Jeter. Thanks to the internet and social media -- archiving years of highlights and historic moments, acce sible in an instant -- generations to come can still idolize them. They were -- and still are -- the ultimate standard.But so few of those kids with posters on their walls and eyes glued to television and laptop screens actually make it to the highest level of competitive sports. At a certain age, those dreams fade into life's realities. It happened to me, and odds are it was the case for you as well.Even for the select few that go pro, achieving their transcendent level of excellence is even more of a far-out challenge.So, in a week where my generation has been bombarded Justin Britt Jersey with the emotional highs and lows of our heroes moving on, it may seem impo sible to athletically follow in their footsteps. Over the last 48 hours alone, we've scrolled through hundreds of posts on social media from people of different colors and creeds all grieving over one man we won't hear from again.I'll speak on behalf of an entire generation one more time. As an individual that has no future wi