The basketball world lost one of its most titanic figures today as Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other souls, perished in a southern California helicopter crash this morning. Bryant was huge in not just theย basketball world, but in the sporting universe as well. Not to mention he transcended sports to become a cultural and entertainment icon.
One sport in which he had a huge impact was football/soccer, and that originated with his father, Joe โJellybeanโ Bryant, who played professionally in Italy. Kobe lived in Italy from ages 6-13, and it was there and then that he developed his love for AC Milan.
We have no words to express how shocked we are to hear of the tragic passing of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time and Rossonero fan, Kobe Bryant. All our thoughts are with the families of those affected by this tragic accident. You will forever be missed, Kobe ???? pic.twitter.com/FOd365chEL
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 26, 2020
Milan was his team, but he was known to sport FC Barcelona garb as well, once brandishing a Blaugranes shirt during a magazine cover appearance. Tributes to Kobe and all that he stood for are being posted all over the world by people from all walks of life.
There have been many made by footballers and football clubs, and we simply can’t cover them all, but Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford told his social media following what an inspiration Kobe was to him, and Arsenal FC defined him perfectly: “a legend among legends.”
A true inspiration in the sporting industry. RIP legend. ?? pic.twitter.com/riqBbwRfDc
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) January 26, 2020
A true sporting icon. A legend among legends. An incredible legacy.
Kobe Bryant transcended sports and will never be forgotten.
RIP, Kobe ?? pic.twitter.com/eLfjJ1WHUE
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 26, 2020
Another club to pay tribute was Paris Saint-Germain, and it was PSG forward Neymar who probably performed the best tribute of all.
After scoring a goal he held up a 2 and a 4 with his fingers, a reference to his jersey number.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 26, 2020
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, the author ofย โNo,ย ย I Canโt Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,โ regularly appears onย WGN CLTVย and co-hosts theย โLetโs Get Weird, Sportsโ podcastย onย SB Nation.ย
You can follow Banks, a former writer forย NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.comย onย Twitter hereย and hisย cat on Instagram at this link.
