The sports world found itself in complete shock and sadness on Sunday when news broke that former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California.
Bryant was traveling with his 13 year old daughter Gianna and seven other people to a youth basketball game when their helicopter crash landed on a hillside. There were no survivors.
Speaking with a reporter from KCBS at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last night, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft shared his perspective on Bryant’s passing.
“It makes us all realize how we can’t take anything for granted…Seeing his beautiful little beloved daughter, [who] is 13, and I know the pride he took in her. Here we are in Kobe’s home in the Staples Center. I had a chance to see him in one of his last games here and he was such a gentleman and great competitor.”
As word of the tragedy made its way around the country, the New England Patriots community shared reactionary posts of reflection and remembrance over social media for the basketball icon and all those lost on board.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y6Zkdhp8A/
What are some people’s favorite Kobe moments… please share…. 1 of mine has to be Kobe hitting 2 free throws on a torn Achilles to tie the game!! Can’t Imagine the pain he had shootin but he made it look so easy. He inspired generations Pure greatness! #MambaMentality #rip
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) January 26, 2020
I’m heartbroken. When my grandma and I first moved to the United States, we would tune into every Laker game we could just to watch Kobe. Seeing him play gave us a feeling that can never be replicated. #RIPMamba
— Keal (@NkealHarry15) January 26, 2020
Legends never die #RIPMamba
— Matt LaCosse (@Mattylac11) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/McCourtyTwins/status/1221605312215560194?s=20
https://www.instagram.com/p/B71CNSGnHTP/
https://twitter.com/SweetFeet_White/status/1221580056901963776?s=20
https://twitter.com/SweetFeet_White/status/1221581726570467328?s=20
https://twitter.com/Danny_Shelton55/status/1221525169421766656?s=20
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y8ToBFnkz/
Multiple pieces of multiple families gone in an instant. That’s what I keep thinking on in this helicopter crash. Young lives & the parents that loved mentoring ‘em—both sides of the dream suddenly over. Feel blessed to have another 24 w/ loved ones. Some don’t. That’s ??breaking
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) January 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/deionbranch84/status/1221534797077655561?s=20
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