Sporting stars unite to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna

Tributes from the sporting world and beyond poured in for Kobe Bryant after he died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people who have yet to be named tragically lost their lives when the basketball legend’s private aircraft went down in flames in Calabasas near Los Angeles, California.
Bryant, who was a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
He played for the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his 20-year NBA career before retiring in 2016 and won five NBA Championships.
He won two Olympic gold medals for the USA too, while his influence extended beyond basketball as he was awarded an Oscar for his short film “Dear Basketball” in 2018.
His tragic death has sparked an outpouring of grief and a host of sports stars past and present, and high-profile celebrities, have been paying tribute to the sporting icon and his daughter on social media.
Former US president Barack Obama tweeted: “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.”

Former LA Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal shared an emotional message on Instagram.
There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of loosing my neice Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie” he wrote.
“I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”
 

 

 

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar paid tribute to Bryant after scoring a penalty in Paris Saint-Germain’s game against Lille on Sunday night.
The Brazilian used his fingers to make the number 24 – Bryant’s shirt number – before praying.

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were among a host of Premier League stars to pay their respects to Bryant and his daughter on social media.
Golf legend Tiger Woods, a friend of Bryant’s and a lifelong LA Lakers fan, called his death “one of the most shocking, tragic days that I’ve ever been a part of in a very quick span here.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Source: Atinkaonline.com\talksports