LOS ANGELES – Aug. 23 would have been the 42nd birthday of Kobe Bryant. The NBA giant and Lakers legend did not make it there as he, his daughter, Gianna, and seven other people perished in a helicopter crash in late January. The months since that breathtaking moment has been difficult. Why wouldn’t it have been? Bryant played his entire 20-year career in Los Angeles as a member of the Lakers.
Five of those years, Bryant came away with an NBA title. But Bryant’s talents exceeded the basketball court. As a result, the loss of Bryant has been immeasurable. He touched millions. The touch of his charitable works has reached global waters. With that said, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to honor the memories of Gianna and Kobe Bryant
The Los Angeles Dodgers honored the memories of Gianna and Kobe Bryant in a pregame ceremony before the team played the Colorado Rockies. Gianna and Kobe’s uniform numbers were painted on the pitchers mound for the game against the Rockies. Before the game, Dodger players wore Kobe Bryant’s Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys and the team played a tribute video, which was narrated by Vin Scully and memorialized:
“Kobe demonstrated that he was a man of many talents. He was a champion, a mentor, a creative force, an advocate. Kobe was also a husband and a father to four wonderful girls. The warrior that we knew as “The Black Mamba” was a sweetheart to his wife Vanessa, and a proud “Girl Dad” to Natalia, Bianka, Capri and his daughter known as “the Mambacita”, Gianna. Gigi was worthy of her dad’s nickname. She shared his passion for basketball and so much more. He in turn wanted her to have every opportunity to succeed, and he believed that the women’s game deserved as much respect and support as the men received.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, with six World Series championships and 22 National League pennants since its beginnings in Brooklyn in 1890, is committed to a tradition of pride and excellence.
Dennis is the editor and publisher of News4usonline. He covers sports, social and racial justice, politics, equal rights, and entertainment. Dennis has over two decades of journalism experience. He earned a degree in journalism from Howard University. “I write what I’m passionate about.”