The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Cleveland sports figures react.
The death of retired Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna on Jan. 26 — plus seven others — after a helicopter crash in California shocked and saddened the sports world.
Here’s a sampling of the reaction from the Cleveland sports scene on Twitter:
• “We stand in disbelief and shock at the horribly sad news of the tragic passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Emotions and sentiments are very heavy for all of us and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Vanessa and family. As one of the greatest to ever take the court, Kobe also had a very special, inspiring, iconic, global presence with the game of basketball and we will be forever grateful for his impact and miss him greatly.”
@Cavs
• “ALL NBA teams should retire the numbers 8 AND 24” player Tristan Thompson
• “No words. Rest in peace #KobeBryant” @CediOsman, Cavs player
• “Kobe you were my idol... period. Mentality through and through. Thank you. To your family, I wish y’all nothing but the very best. Prayers and thoughts with you don’t begin to describe what we want for y’all. Love and respect to #8 & #24 forever. #MambaMentality #Mamba” @BakerMayfield, Browns quarterback
• “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant. I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW”
@Shaq, former teammate of Bryan with the Lakers and former Cavs player
• “Devastated. A global icon who made so many love basketball, but had talents so far beyond the court, too. Today, he was just being a dad taking his daughter to her game. RIP Kobe. RIP Gigi. Bless those lost in the crash and prayers to their loved ones.” @CoachLindsayG, Cavs assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb
• “Still can’t believe it! Im saddened by the news. A Real Life Hero #RIP. My condolences and prayers to the Bryant family.” @YasielPuig, outfielder who played with the Dodgers and Indians in 2019
• “His legacy was not only left in his family, but in ther hearts and minds of all of us who were blessed to be able to watch him grow as a man and a basketball player. Thank you KB, every second of yours was truly a gift.”
@MylesLGarrett, Browns defensive end
• “Damn! I’m crushed. My heart and prayers go out to his family. This hurts.” @ChanningFrye, former Cavs player
• “Everyone is hurting right now! EVERYONE! Rest in heaven Kobe!” @Kirko58, Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey
• “Shocked. Rest in paradise @kobebryant. Thank you for all you have done for athletes and everyone in the world’s communities. You are a legend. Sending love from the Miocic family on this unthinkable day. God bless.”
@StipeMiocic, UFC heavyweight champion and Eastlake North grad
• “One of the greatest ever minds to play the game, a great teacher and tactician, creative while being an excellent critique of the game. #KobeBryant Kobe Kobe... gone to soon. Appreciated all you gave on and off the court.” @EByner, former Browns player Earnest Byner
• “This is so damn sad. Life is so precious. Tell the people you care about that you love them today and every day.” @ShaneBeiber19, Indians pitcher