A Legend does not belong to any one person or city. They are for history. They are for the world.
Whereas the Los Angeles area community grieved under the stars that light the Southern California sky during the Grammys this past Sunday, fans around the world rocked in their own ways, equally struck by news of the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other victims of the helicopter crash that morning in Calabasas.
From Puri to the Philippines, from Italy to Africa, proof that basketball, because of the life of Kobe Bryant, is now on a global stage was impossible to ignore. The farewell gatherings in and around LA echoed across the United States and the world. Messages of grief and love continued to spread like wildfire on a day after the fatal crash. But rather than leave devastation like the many fires that have gripped the world the past year, this ember sparked by such tragedy was one of love.
A minute's silence was observed exactly at 8:24 PM today before Sonics Club and Lourdes Convent played a game of basketball in honour of Kobe Bryant in Porvorim, Goa
(via ekalavyas/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/ffF7GCt0Ng
— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) January 27, 2020
big tears today. i wish he could know how much he inspired me & this little team on their inter district matches in small towns outside of Bangalore, India. going to bed with a heavy heart thinking of the Bryant family and the Altobelli family. love you Kobe. #RIPMamba pic.twitter.com/1ZhT1I1Va4
— Vasudhaa Narayanan (@vasudhanarayan) January 27, 2020
How can Kobe Bryant be gone?
The pinned post on Kobe's Weibo account was a short video uploaded on January 24 of his wishing "dear friends in China" a happy Lunar New Year.
Underneath that post, tens of thousands of fans have left tributes and messages of mourning pic.twitter.com/8m0nMWJPMR— Xinhua Sports (@XHSports) January 27, 2020
Kobe Bryant performing during a Global Shopping Festival gala in Shenzhen, China. in 2016.
the philippines honoring kobe bryant 🇵🇭💜💛 pic.twitter.com/YqUMFHHGY6
— KB 8/24 ∞ 💜💛 (@_originathaliee) January 27, 2020
Kobe Bryant remembered around the world.
A memorial wall near the "House of Kobe" gym in Manila.
A sand sculpture by artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on a beach in Puri, India.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios wears a Lakers jersey with #KobeBraynt's number at the Australian Open in Melbourne pic.twitter.com/0Kjk5sqfZ0— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 28, 2020
During the World Cup in South Africa, Kobe Bryant visited a poor area of Johannesburg.
He could embrace the whole world with a sweep of his arms
🙏 #RIPKobeBryant pic.twitter.com/VyhUPBzn1N
— VBET News (@VBETnews) January 27, 2020
There is nothing more devastating than the loss of a loved one. Kobe Bryant who, “could embrace the whole world with a sweep of his arms,” found a way to bring the world together in life and in death. May that positive influence extend into the hearts of everyone.
Rest in Peace to John Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Ara Zobayan, Gianna Bryant, Kobe Bryant, all torn from lives that were built on bringing joy and service to others, the greatest gift anyone can give.
featured image: Photographer – STR/AFP via Getty Images
