A memorial service for Kobe Bryant will be held in Los Angeles on Monday to celebrate the lives of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other seven victims aboard a helicopter that crashed into a hillside Jan. 26 near Calabasas, Calif.
Bryant’s career, spanning 20 seasons with the storied Lakers, seemed so rich and long, only for the crash to snatch his life away not even four years into retirement, at the young age of 41.
Nearly a month since the crash, numerous players and coaches leaguewide have taken to wearing various models of Bryant’s signature sneakers — and scribbling messages onto whatever they wear — to salute him. Moving remembrances have already taken place, both before the Lakers’ first home game since the accident and throughout the All-Star activities last week in Chicago. Attention turns now to Monday’s memorial, which is bound to be the most emotional public tribute.
Beside Kobe’s personal family, the Laker’s family, there will also undoubtedly be hundreds of sports celebrities, actors and other prominent people in attendance. Something, in my opinion, Kobe deserved and would have cherished.
