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Black Mamba: The World Pays Tribute to a Legend

It’s the last week of January, but it seems the universe isn’t done beating us down. We were all shaken to our cores when news broke that basketball legend Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash. It became even more devastating when we learned that his young daughter and fellow basketball enthusiast, Gianna, passed with him, along with Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, wife Keri, and daughter Alyssa.

A legendary icon, not just in the sports industry but even beyond, Kobe Bryant is already being missed all over the world, with many grieving his loss and giving well-deserved tributes to the life he lived well, however short it was.

Grammys 2020

Hours after the news being released, the 62nd Grammys was set to be held at Staples Center, the same place that is considered the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, the team with which Kobe spent his twenty-year professional career with.

Host Alicia Keys opens the ceremony with the song “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” alongside Boys II Men as homage to Kobe in “the house he built,” the Staples Center.

The awards show was also set to pay tribute to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, and the all-star line-up from John Legend to Meek Mill ended their performance with a photo of Nipsey and Kobe.

 


The house he built

Speaking of, after the news broke, fans flocked to Staples Center sitting out in the cold just to pay homage to the Los Angeles legend.

 

LA love

Los Angeles Airport lit up in yellow and purple, the colors of the LA Lakers, in homage to Kobe. The mourning city loves him so much that everyone came together to celebrate the life he lived.

 

And love from across the states

It’s not just LA who’s mourning. Iconic locations across the USA, from United Center to Madison Square Garden, shined in Lakers colors to celebrate the brief but amazing life of Kobe Bryant.

 

The 2019–20 NBA Season

The NBA is currently in the middle of its regular season, but most of the games scheduled today celebrated Kobe’s life and career in their own way like letting a 24-second shot clock run out in honor of Kobe’s jersey number. San Antonio Spurs also release a brief tribute video of his final game in San Antonio.

In their game today against the Washington Wizards, the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young wore number 8 for his idol, while other players showed their love through their sneakers.

 

A call for more NBA tribute

Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban announced that the team will be retiring the number 24 in honor of Kobe. Fans have taken to Twitter to retire either 8 or 24 across the league. A petition has also been started by fans, calling for NBA to change its logo to feature the basketball icon.

Via change.org

Beyond the court

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zkYJvHRgP/

Beyond the court, fellow basketball players took to the Internet to express their grief. Stephen Curry changed his Twitter header, while Dwight Howard dedicates this NBA season to the icon.

And it’s not just active players who were left in shock in today’s devastating news. Fellow legend Michael Jordan refers to Kobe as a “little brother” while also being a “fierce competitor.” Fellow Lakers alum Shaquille O’Neal says “There’s no words to express the pain,” while Magic Johnson became emotional on Twitter after hearing the news. “The game of basketball & [Los Angeles], will never be the same without Kobe.”

 

Beyond basketball

From soccer icon Neymar to gymnast Simone Biles, giants from all kinds of sports didn’t fail to show their love to the basketball legend. Celebrities and famous personalities, from singer-songwriter Taylor Swift to actor Leonardo DiCaprio, also took to the internet to express their grief.


 

Rest in peace, Mamba.


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Meryl finds joy in music, movies, museums, and making her way around the world.


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