{"id":99709,"date":"2022-03-11T16:12:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T22:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=99709"},"modified":"2022-03-11T16:13:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T22:13:02","slug":"even-at-super-bowl-and-nba-all-star-weekend-kobe-bryants-shadow-looms-large-over-la","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/even-at-super-bowl-and-nba-all-star-weekend-kobe-bryants-shadow-looms-large-over-la\/","title":{"rendered":"Even at Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Weekend, Kobe Bryant\u2019s shadow looms large over LA"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jonathan Fernandez
\n<\/strong>Medill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2014 Super Bowl Sunday and the Rams taking the trophy on their home turf \u2013 it\u2019s the one day you would expect LA to fully live in the moment. But someone was missing.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the champagne flowing as the Rams celebrated their Super Bowl victory, wide receiver Cooper Kupp sailed into the sea of blue and gold for the Rams\u2019 championship parade last month donning a Black Mamba Kobe Bryant jersey, a tribute to the city\u2019s fallen idol.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Kobe is synonymous with LA,\u201d Kupp told <\/span>ABC<\/span><\/a>. \u201cI feel it’s only right \u2014 there’s a championship, Kobe is a part of it.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bryant played his entire career with the LA Lakers, winning five NBA championships. He died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash.<\/span><\/p>\n

A week after the Super Bowl and almost 2,400 miles away in Cleveland, the NBA celebrated the league\u2019s 75th anniversary on Feb. 20 by honoring the 75 best players in league history. The celebration took place during halftime of the All-Star Game, and although he had retired more than six years ago, and it\u2019s been two years since his death, the player who drew one of the loudest roars from the crowd was Bryant. Those playing in the game were competing for the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award, recently redesigned and renamed in Bryant\u2019s honor.<\/span><\/p>\n

As photos and videos surfaced of those among the top 75 talking, hugging and posing for photos, Bryant was conspicuous by his absence.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Kupp said, Bryant is synonymous with Los Angeles. You can feel it as you listen to Los Angelenos describe what he means to them. You can see it in the artwork that graces narrow alleys throughout the city.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are just a few of the many murals in the LA area and quotes from fans he inspired that celebrate the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant.<\/span><\/p>\n