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Good morning College Crosse Nation, and thanks for making us a part of your day.
If you’re looking for any college lacrosse news from the weekend, even with the first regular season game only five days away, there won’t be any today. Now is not the time. There was nothing of note that could top the tragic event that happened on Sunday that has affected the entire world.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star, 5-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, and league MVP in 2008, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others died tragically in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. He was 41, Gianna was 13. Both gone way too soon. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and 13-year-old daughter Alyssa were also victims of the crash.
To many, he was one of the greatest basketball players ever and a worldwide icon and the successor to Michael Jordan as the basketball star. To some, he was a personal hero and even a friend, and a huge advocate of women’s sports. To a generation, he was the name you said when you shot something into a trash can or the originator of a way of life, the “Mamba Mentality.” To very few, he was a husband, a father, a son, and even a grandson. Whether you loved or hated him, you had a feeling about him.
Tributes from around the world came in as word spread, especially where Kobe called home for his professional and high school basketball careers. Makeshift memorials formed outside Staples Center in Los Angeles as well as at Lower Merion High School just outside Philadelphia, where Kobe played before turning pro.
"THANK YOU, KOBE."
— ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2020
Hundreds of fans chanted outside the Staples Center to pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. https://t.co/xdOulVCI6b pic.twitter.com/ujSr5wMYdL
Heartbreak at the Staples Center as fans gather to remember one of the greatest athletes of all time. Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant. #RIPMamba #Kobe pic.twitter.com/QYgro4NQ4S
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) January 26, 2020
Outside of the Staples Center
— The Cruz Show (@TheCruzShow) January 27, 2020
Honoring the life of Kobe Bryant ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DO7609OC2H
Quinn Cook of the Lakers mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant at Staples Center today.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 27, 2020
Just... heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/21tqn0O6sX
Fans gathered at the Lakers practice facility for a candlelight vigil and wrote words on a memorial wall honoring Kobe. pic.twitter.com/IY75K58fQt
— ESPN (@espn) January 27, 2020
a Kobe Bryant remembrance outside Lower Merion pic.twitter.com/79ddd5cBP3
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) January 26, 2020
Different people at different times but a constant crowd stands in silence at the #Kobe memorial outside Lower Merion High School. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/IQBctCk73y
— Steven Fisher (@Steven_Fisher10) January 26, 2020
This evening, Philadelphia area communities are mourning the loss of basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Scenes from his high school, Lower Merion High School, and his regular Philadelphia cheese steak stop, Larry's steaks. pic.twitter.com/lk8fHBhXKd
— Mitchell Shields (@m_shields422) January 27, 2020
All eight NBA games paid tribute to Mamba with 24 second shot clock violations in honor of Kobe’s second number he wore in the NBA.
Trae Young embraces with his Mom and wipes away tears after pre-game warmups. #Hawks #TrueToAtlanta #11Alive @11AliveSports pic.twitter.com/6tXToNrpda
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) January 26, 2020
אמארה סטודמאייר לא יכל לעצור את הדמעות אחרי ששמע על מותו הטראגי של קובי בראיינט@Amareisreal couldn't hold back tears after hearing about @kobebryant tragic death pic.twitter.com/bwkH7fxxlo
— Sport5 (@sport5il) January 26, 2020
Outside of the NBA, the entire sports and entertainment world paid tribute to Kobe.
The moment Cassius Winston found out about Kobe. pic.twitter.com/K5b0dal0wV
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) January 26, 2020
Sabrina Ionescu mourns her friend Kobe Bryant ahead of her game against Oregon State. pic.twitter.com/urdYuFSNW5
— espnW (@espnW) January 26, 2020
These are the sneakers Sabrina Ionescu of @OregonWBB is wearing to honor Kobe and his daughter. pic.twitter.com/mKEW2llPyu
— Steve Tannen (@SportsTalk953) January 26, 2020
Following his goal, Neymar pays tribute to Kobe Bryant 2️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/uT1qCTg6Nq
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 26, 2020
Nick Kyrgios walked out in Kobe's jersey and is wearing it while warming up pic.twitter.com/7SkSzFoKSi
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) January 27, 2020
I’m so heartbroken. cant believe...Blessed to have chance to meet you. RIP Legend. pic.twitter.com/TlpRZdVpu7
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) January 26, 2020
"We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." At the Staples Center, @aliciakeys opens the #GRAMMYs with a touching tribute. pic.twitter.com/wPY8VkReOb
— CBS (@CBS) January 27, 2020
John Legend, DJ Khaled and more end their Nipsey Hussle #GRAMMYs tribute with an image of Kobe Bryant next to Nip pic.twitter.com/0l4STVoRcY
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) January 27, 2020
Kobe Bryant's jerseys are illuminated in the rafters of the Staples Center during the Grammys. pic.twitter.com/Db2Y6u8BT1
— ESPN (@espn) January 27, 2020
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
.....Melania and I send our warmest condolences to Vanessa and the wonderful Bryant family. May God be with you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Just Saturday, Kobe was at the Mamba Sports Academy and gave some words of encouragement to kids attending Kyle Harrison’s Session 18 event.
On hand for @KyleHarrison18’s Session 18 event yesterday. @kobebryant came out of no where high fiving the kids, saying “Hard Work” to each.
— STX Lacrosse (@STXmlax) January 27, 2020
Unreal moment. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/bnmzIgCrA0
The was in the building yesterday at @MambaSportsHQ! pic.twitter.com/gqKqFFlKVJ
— Kyle Harrison (@KyleHarrison18) January 26, 2020
Plenty of tribute pieces and soundbites have also been put together or rehashed.
One name. One icon. One legacy.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 27, 2020
Kobe. pic.twitter.com/HOprfGE0xB
Derek Jeter remembers his friend Kobe Bryant.https://t.co/Zk2FBHBYve
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 27, 2020
Kobe on Gianna: “The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans come up to me, and she'll be standing next to me ..
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 26, 2020
They’ll be like “you gotta have a boy, have soembody carry on the legacy... she’s like, “oh, I got this!”pic.twitter.com/rsIgOXbNlI
Kobe y Gianna pic.twitter.com/DvmNg67dnY
— ESPN.com.mx (@ESPNmx) January 27, 2020
Eagles fan @kobebryant met Nick Foles recently and the Super Bowl MVP really felt the need to introduce himself
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) March 23, 2019
Kobe’s response? “Fool, I know who you are!”
(via @JClarkNBCS)
pic.twitter.com/TazfrQjUO4
Every game winner of Kobe’s career pic.twitter.com/37mwSg8L0l
— NBA Syndicate (@NBAsyndicate) January 26, 2020
This will end with a couple more videos, but first a suggestion. Hug your parents, your children, your pets, or your loved ones. Call them if you’re not around them, and tell them you love them. Life can be so short, and sometimes we don’t even realize it.
Jay Williams and this Laker fan summed it up best.
"I just appreciate everything you did Kobe, for real." This fan, born the year #KobeBryant joined the Lakers, seems to speak for so many when he expresses his appreciation https://t.co/m06qqYmZMP pic.twitter.com/sw3dHBPvXL
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 27, 2020
If you have any memories of Kobe, please feel free to share below.
We’ll be back at it tomorrow. Mamba forever.