LOS ANGELES – Nagulantang ang buong mundo, partikular ang basketball community, sa biglaang pagkamatay ng basketball legend na si Kobe Bryant at ng kanyang anak sa helicopter crash sa California.
Ayon sa report, alas-10:01 ng umaga ng Enero 26 nang makita ng ilang indibidwal ang pagbagsak ng helicopter.
Kasama ni Bryant, 41, at ng kanyang 13-anyos na anak na si Gianna na nasawi ang tatlong iba pa na lulan ng private helicopter na pag-aari ng NBA superstar.
Sinabi ni Lady Mavericks team director Evelyn Morales na patungo ang mag-ama sa Mamba Sports Academy sa Thousand Oaks para sa isang basketball game nang maganap ang malagim na aksidente. Inaasang maglalaro si Gianna at si Bryant ang magko-coach sa kanya.
Sa ngayon ay inaalam pa ng mga awtoridad ang sanhi ng pagbagsak ng sinasakyang helicopter ng basketball legend.
Nagtipon-tipon ang fans ni Bryant, isang five-time NBA champion sa Los Angeles Lakers at two-time Olympic gold medallist, sa labas ng Staples Center upang magbigay-pugay sa isa sa all-time greats ng basketball.
Sa San Antonio, ang Spurs at Toronto Raptors ay kapwa gumawa ng 24-second shot-clock violations sa kanilang opening possessions bilang pag-pupugay kay Bryant – na nagsuot ng No. 24 jersey sa mga huling bahagi ng kanyang career.
“The NBA family is devastated,” wika ni NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning.
“He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game.”
Sinabi ni six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan na hindi malilimutan si Bryant bilang isa sa pinakamahusay sa basketball.
“Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling,” ani Jordan. “I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me.”
Ganito rin ang damdamin ni Shaquille O’Neal – na nagwagi ng tatlong NBA titles.
Ang kalungkutan at pagdadalamhati ay naramdaman din sa labas ng basketball court.
“The world lost a legend today, but the impact and legacy he leaves behind will last forever,” tweet ni Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, isang avid basketball fan.
Inialay ni Brazilian footballer Neymar ang kanyang ikalawang goal sa 2-0 panalo ng Paris Saint-German sa Lille kay Bryant, at inilarawan ang kanyang pagkamatay bilang “deeply saddening for the world of sport and for all of us — not just for basketball fans but for everything he did for sport.”
Inalala naman ni golf superstar Tiger Woods, na ang professional career ay nagsimula sa kaparehong taon ni Bryant, ang mga kumpetitibong katan-gian na taglay ng NBA legend.“The fire,” sabi ni Woods sa higit niyang naaalala kay Bryant. “He burned so competitively hot. He had such a desire to win. He brought it every night.”
“Any time he was in the game he would take on their best player and shut him down for 40 minutes. I think that’s one of the best things about him his whole career.”
Isa lamang ito sa napakaraming signature moments na nagawa ni Bryant sa kanyang career. Subalit para sa kanyang fans, marami pa ang makakamit ni Bryant sa kanyang post-NBA life.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” tweet ni dating US President Barack Obama, isa pang avid basketball fan.
Comments are closed.