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Browns, Cleveland Athletes React To Kobe Bryant’s Death

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Kobe Bryant
(Photo by PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)

 

People from all around the world are mourning the death of Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

The two were among nine total people who died after a helicopter crashed Sunday morning in Calabasas, California.

Several athletes with ties to the Cleveland area reacted to the news on social media.

“Tonight we mourn the loss of a legend in Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna,” the Cleveland Browns tweeted Sunday night. “Our players were touched, inspired and appreciative of the wisdom he shared with us in Dec. of 2018. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the victims of today’s tragedy and their families.”

The Browns attached three pictures to the tweet, including one with quarterback Baker Mayfield speaking with Bryant and another of wide receiver Jarvis Landry hugging the Lakers star.

Several Browns players posted tributes on their own social media pages, including Mayfield.

“Kobe you were my idol… period. Mentality through and through. Thank you. To your family, I wish y’all nothing but the very best,” Mayfield tweeted. “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”

Here are the reactions of other organizations and athletes with ties to Cleveland:

The Cleveland Cavaliers tweeted:

“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.”

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love spoke to media members Monday morning.

“It breaks all of our hearts whether it’s myself… I got to know him firsthand and become a friend of his and share the court with him in All-Star games and the 2012 Olympics,” Love said. “ And, just seeing not only as a basketball player, but as a father as well and as a guy that was likely to do more and that’s saying a lot in his second act.”

Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. — who played with Bryant on the Lakers during his rookie season in 2015-2016 — also spoke Monday.

“He was just such a huge part…Huge part of my story as a basketball player, as a person,” Nance said. “Just coming into this league, and…and having him as a veteran and a role model, an influence, I can’t even begin to do it justice.”

“ALL NBA teams should retire numbers 8 AND 24,” Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson tweeted.

Shaquille O’Neal, who played with Bryant on the Lakers and played for the Cavaliers, also posted about his former teammate.

“There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant,” O’Neal tweeted. “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”

“Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common,” O’Neal wrote in a second tweet. “I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gigi was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah”

Former Cavaliers forward Channing Frye tweeted: “Damn! I’m crushed. My heart and prayers go out to his family. This hurts”

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and current Cleveland Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig tweeted: “Still can’t believe it! Im saddened by the news . A Real Life Hero #RIP . My condolences and prayers to the Bryant family . #blackmamba #lakers #nba”

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About Mark Bergin

Mark Bergin is a freelance journalist and writer. He also hosts the Bleav in Steelers podcast with Ike Taylor. Mark worked for two-plus years as a digital producer at WTSP in St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida, and for two years at WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee. He’s covered the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium search, Jameis Winston’s struggles leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Butch Jones era of Tennessee football. Mark is a native of the Chicago suburbs, and he graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism production.

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