Kobe Bryant was remembered ahead of the Super Bowl game on Sunday (02.02.20).
Players from the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs came together along the 24-yard line for a moment of silence at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for the 41-year-old basketball legend and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, who were among nine people who lost their lives last month, when his private helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California.
The crowds were then heard chanting: “Kobe!”
The league also paid tribute to Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Chris Doleman, who died last week at the age of 58 after suffering with brain cancer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1vut0xZrX0
NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, had confirmed the news in his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference that they would be honoring both of of the late sportsmen.
In his conference, Roger said: “I don’t think just Los Angeles is mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant. Kobe was a special person. I did have the opportunity to meet him. He obviously brought a lot to our world and I think all of us not only feel for the tragic events to his family but as well as everyone else who was a passenger on that helicopter. It’s hard to understand and it’s hard to process.
“We as a league have been very responsive and I think respectful of somebody who contributed so much to sports. We also lost one of our own legends last night, Chris Doleman, who I personally was very fond of and meant a great deal to me and the league. I think both of those individuals will be seen on Sunday in some fashion in a respectful way.”
The sporting spectacle comes after the Grammys paid tribute to Kobe with a song from Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men.
Organizers of the upcoming Oscars – which will take place on February 9 – also confirmed they will feature a tribute to the star, who won an Academy Award in 2018 for his short film ‘Dear Basketball’.
