Bryant, other victims of crash are remembered
Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the seven others who died in a Southern California helicopter crash Jan. 26 were remembered in various ways at the Super Bowl.
Prior to the game, the teams stretched across the field on the 24yard lines during a moment of silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join in a moment of silence as the 49ers, Chiefs, and National Football League extend our deepest condolences to the friends and families of those lost this past week . ... They will never be forgotten,” was the message that blared through Hard Rock Stadium.
As that announcement was being made, two of the stadium’s four video screens showed an image of Bryant and the names of the other eight victims of the crash. The other two video screens showed an image of longtime Minnesota defensive end Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Doleman, who also died last week. Doleman spent three seasons (199698) with the 49ers.
During the pregame show, 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman — a friend of Bryant’s — read a portion of the former Lakers guard’s Academy Awardwinning short film “Dear Basketball.”
“I played through the sweat and hurt. Not because challenge called me. But because YOU called me,” Sherman read, copying Bryant’s words exactly in that particular passage. “I did everything for YOU. Because that’s what you do when someone makes you feel as alive as you’ve made me feel.”
San Francisco wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders wore a pair of shoes as a tribute to Bryant. In a photo he tweeted, Sanders showed a pair of red and gold shoes with Bryant’s uniform numbers (24 and 8) and signature and also the message, “Rest in Peace.”
Sanders shared a quote from Bryant in the tweet: “I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Whether it’s sitting on the bench waiving (sic) a towel. Handing out cups of water to my teammates or hitting the game winning shot.”
Bryant’s memory also was evident outside Hard Rock Stadium, where some fans wore his Lakers jersey. On ESPN’s pregame show Sunday morning, host Samantha Ponder and Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss both became tearful as they reflected on Bryant’s career and death.
Also on the show, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, Philadelphia tight end Zach Ertz and former 49ers and Raiders wide receiver Jerry Rice were among several players offering their memories of Bryant and his impact on the sports world.