With athletes from all over the world reacting to the untimely death of Laker’s legend Kobe Bryant, the Jacksonville Jaguars released a statement citing a number of their players who responded to this weekend’s events.
Bryant, along with his daughter Gigi (Gianna), and several other prominent Orange County athletic personalities, died early Saturday when Bryant’s private helicopter crashed into a fog-shrouded Calabasas hillside.
Tributes poured out from Orange County as the names of the other crash victims became known. They included Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerri and daughter Alyssa, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.
According to the “JagsWire,” “many former NFL players were shocked and saddened by the news. “There were a few current and former Jags who reacted to the tragedy, too, as Bryant was a hero in their eyes for many different reasons.”
“Former Jags tight end Mercedes Lewis, who is a California native and was born in Los Alamitos, paid tribute for the example he set as an athlete.
In a tweet posed by Lewis, the former tight end featured a wide shot of Bryant at the foul line during a Lakers’ game. There are no other players visible as Bryant holds the ball in his left hand.
His words were short but clear. “You set the precedent. A beautiful mirror for me.”
Bryant was 41-years-old.
