Basketball: 'Kobe forever', a year without Bryant

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• California helicopter crash, NBA legend Kobe Bryant dies - Photo

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January 25, 2021 "Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna die in the crash of a helicopter".

So a year ago, on January 26, 2020, the American press announced the death of the Black Mamba and his daughter: the former Lakers champion was 41 years old, Gianna only 13. Six other people died in the accident.

The group was aboard a helicopter that was supposed to take them to a basketball game in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Kobe often used a helicopter to get around to avoid traffic.

The crash was probably due to poor visibility.

A final report on the incident will be released on February 9th.

A year ago, not only a basketball star disappeared, considered

(5 titles won with the Lakers, plus two Olympic golds with the US national team), but also a character loved all over the world for his generosity and his activism.

For example, he was at the forefront against the violent police against African-Americans as well as a firm supporter of youth sport as an instrument of emancipation.

Not only a great basketball player, but also a point of reference for entire communities of marginalized people.

He was also an Academy Award winner in 2018 with director and animator Glen Keane in the category of best animated short film for 'Dear Basketball', which he scripted inspired by his farewell letter to basketball.

And then there was

.

Kobe loved the Bel Paese to the point of giving his four daughters with his wife Vanessa all Italian or Italian-inspired names: Natalia Diamante, Gianna Maria-Onore, Bianka Bella and Capri Kobe.

In Italy he spent his childhood, from 6 to 13 years moving to the various cities of the clubs for which his father Joe played.

From Rieti to Reggio Calabria, from Pistoia to Reggio Emilia.

As he himself said in an interview in 2019, in Italy he had learned the fundamentals of basketball, methods that he would never have found in America.

And his last city of residence, Reggio Emilia, has decided to dedicate a square to him to coincide with the first anniversary of his and his daughter's death.

The space will be named after Largo Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

.

The team has in fact decided to keep a low profile.

For example, players will not be wearing the 'Black Mamba' uniform during matches this week in Cleveland or Philadelphia.

For everyone, his disappearance is still an open wound.

"They say - commented LeBron James - that time heals wounds. As devastating and tragic as it was, and still is for all of us, only time will help. And it will take time".

Tribute instead by the writers of Los Angeles who have decorated some walls of the city with gigantic and colorful works inspired by Kobe.

Finally, from the widow Vanessa an appeal on social media addressed to the entire press, that of not transmitting any image relating to the crash during the programming for the anniversary.

"Our year - reads a post on Instagram - was sufficiently traumatic. We do not want to see scenes from the accident".