The sikis amerikaweek leading up to the Super Bowl has been more somber than usual after the tragic deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. On Saturday night, the NFL carved out some time at its annual awards show to pay tribute to the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning took to the stage at the NFL Honors show to talk about Bryant's legacy. In the two-minute clip, Manning covers everything from his first encounter with Bryant, to Bryant's love of the Philadelphia Eagles, and his dedication to passing on a love of sports to a younger generation.
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Manning rose to stardom on the late 1990s and retired in 2016, just like Bryant. In the speech, he talked about how similarly the two approached their respective crafts.
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"We immediately recognized mutual appreciation for what it took to do our jobs well," Manning said. "His sport was different, but the way that Kobe prepared, the way he analyzed the game, that was very familiar."
Kobe and Gianna accounted for just two of the nine total fatalities in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California last Sunday. The ensuing week saw no shortage of tributes, including one from the Lakers in a home game on Thursday night. Bryant's team of 20 years hosted multiple musical performances and gave current star LeBron James the microphone before their game against Portland.
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Of course, the week also saw significant discussion of how heavily a 2003 sexual assault allegation should factor into his legacy. The case never went to trial because the accuser declined to testify, but Bryant eventually settled with her to end a separate lawsuit. Bryant eventually issued an apology, but the accusation followed him throughout the rest of his playing career and life afterward.
Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa, three younger daughters, and both of his parents.
Topics Super Bowl