Kobe Bryant now picks candidates over Sex and The City

Barack Obama or Mitt Romney are now the choices. Carrie Bradshaw is off the ballot.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has penned an editorial for iVillage.com encouraging everyone to vote. In the middle of the plea he reveals a former habit that he's now given up for bigger things.

Why vote?

The idea that each vote matters and that we individually have the power to influence how we are governed is why so many of our men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice....

...That's a powerful feeling, one that I've taken for granted in the past. In the past I believed that not exercising my right to vote would not make a difference in who became the next president so why should I take the time to learn the issues?

I'd rather be shooting hoops! The change occurred when Vanessa and I had our babies. Neither of us grew up in politically charged households so the issues weren't things we were necessarily excited to read about and discuss to say the least. It was ESPN for me and "Carrie Fever" (Sex and the City) for her. (Yes, I watched the show and loved it... It was quite "informative.")

Bryant said he daughters now have questions about civil rights and women's rights and the history of both.

The most important answer we can give them outside of the ones found in our history pages is that our world has CHANGED for the better because individuals fought for their rights while inspiring others to do the same.

We tell them, YOU too can change the world if you so dream and that YOUR opinion matters....