UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma is still trying to come to grips with the death of NBA star Kobe Bryant.
Tuesday marked one year since the tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., that killed Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people on board.
“I’m amazed that it’s been a year already,” Auriemma said Tuesday on a Zoom call. “I’m amazed that so much has transpired since last January. It doesn’t seem that long ago, does it?”
The loss of Bryant reverberated through the sports world, including at UConn, where Bryant had strong ties. Bryant and his daughter attended Senior Day in 2019 at Gampel Pavilion, and afterward visited the team’s locker room. Bryant was also at the 2018 Final Four in Columbus, Ohio, and a game against UCLA in Los Angeles in 2017.
UConn honored Kobe and Gianna a day after their deaths during an exhibition versus the U.S. National Team at the XL Center. The Huskies draped a No. 2 jersey — the number worn by Gianna — on their bench. A bouquet wrapped in blue and white ribbons rested on one of the chairs. In February, Auriemma spoke at Bryant’s memorial service in Los Angeles, remembering him as a fierce competitor, loving father, and ambassador for women’s basketball.
“I tried to write a long flowing speech about basketball, and I can’t do it,” Auriemma told the 20,000 in attendance at the Staples Center. “There’s too many thoughts in my head ever since Vanessa (Bryant) asked me to speak. There’s too many things that made me realize more that I’m here as a father, not as a basketball coach.”
The Hall of Fame coach said he was at his restaurant in Manchester recently when highlights of Bryant appeared on one of the TVs.
“I just kind of stood there and watched it a few minutes,” Auriemma, 66, said. “It’s almost like you needed a reminder. You’ve been hit with so many things this past year. It was good to get reminded the other day. It was really good.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma wears a jersey honoring late NBA star Kobe Bryant as watches play from the sideline in February.
Jessica Hill / Associated Press
Gianna Bryant and her father, former NBA star Kobe Bryant, attend the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller / TNS
A chair on the UConn bench is covered by a small team jersey and a bouquet of flowers in honor of Gianna Bryant, daughter of Kobe Bryant, at an exhibition game between Team USA and the Huskies on Jan. 27, 2020 in Hartford.
Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant holds the NBA's Most Valuable Player trophy with his daughters Gianna, right, and Natalia, left,Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Los Angeles. Bryant received 82-first-place votes and 1,105 points in the media vote. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
Ric Francis / AP
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 26: A view of a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant by artist Artoon Art on January 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter Gianna. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 26: A view of a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant on January 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter Gianna. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Rich Fury / Getty Images
A view of a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant by artist Mark Paul Deren, aka MADSTEEZ, in Manhattan’s Chinatown on Tuesday.
Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images
UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma speaks during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on Feb. 24, 2020 in Los Angeles.
Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
Two seats are covered with roses in honor of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna at the Staples Center on Jan. 31, days after they were killed in a helicopter accident, ahead of a game between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers in Los Angeles.
Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, right, fist-bumps his daughter Gianna after the last NBA basketball game of his career, against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles.Bryant scored 60 points as the Lakers won 101-96. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jae C. Hong / Associated Press
Gianna Bryant sits on the shoulders of her father, Kobe, as they attend a 2014 women’s soccer match between the United States and China in San Diego.
Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press“Being reminded brings a lot of melancholiness to the situation.”
Following his retirement from the NBA in 2016, Bryant became a vocal supporter of women’s basketball, and he forged a close friendship with Auriemma, whom he had met at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Gianna was especially fond of the Huskies, and had hoped to play for them someday.
“It’s still hard to grip,” Auriemma said. “I can’t get a grip on it. Hard to fathom.”
A wave of tributes poured out on social media marking the anniversary. On Twitter, the Huskies shared a letter that Gianna sent them following their Final Four loss in 2017.
“I’m so sorry you lost, but it gives you extra time to practice and get better before the next one!” Gianna wrote. “Just think …
“When you think you can’t, UConn.”
Said Auriemma: “All the noise that’s happened this year, all the incredible Hall of Famers that have died this year, death has been a big part of this year.
“But his death, that’s a hard one to reconcile.”
dbonjour@ctpost.com; @DougBonjour
January 27, 2021 at 05:14AM
https://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Still-hard-to-grip-One-year-later-15900064.php
‘Still hard to grip’: One year later, Auriemma reflects on loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant - CTPost
https://news.google.com/search?q=hard&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment