Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 2-4-20

Sports
Anthony Davis Joins LeBron James In Honoring Kobe Bryant With 'Black Mamba' Tattoo
The Lakers legend was honored by Anthony Davis, left, and LeBron James, right, with tattoos.
Los Angeles Lakers Honor Kobe
In the wake of Kobe Bryant's death, tributes to the fallen legend have been popping up all over the NBA. Teams have honored him with 24-second and 8-second viola- tions in remembrance of the two numbers he wore during his 20 years with the Lakers.
A lot of players who had been wearing No. 8 or No. 24 have switched numbers, while others, such as Kemba Walker, have said they would like to keep wearing Kobe's number.
The Lakers, of course, have had to deal with this tragedy
on a different level. They had their game against the Clip- pers postponed, and when they finally got back on the court for the first time since Bryant's death, LeBron James delivered a heartfelt speech just before their game against Portland on Friday.
James also revealed on his Instagram account a "Black Mamba" tattoo he recently got in remembrance of Bryant.
Now, LeBron's Lakers teammate Anthony Davis has also gotten some Mamba artwork done in honor of Kobe.
Every fan in attendance of Friday night’s Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trailblazers re- ceived a free Kobe Bryant tribute shirt.
Staples Center employees draped number 8 and 24 shirts on each seat, 20,000 in all with half the arena get- ting Kobe #8 shirts, the other half getting #24 shirts.
The game was the Lakers’ first since the sudden and tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna on Sunday.
There was a moment of
The lakers also left roses on Gianna and Kobe Bryants’ empty seats.
Bryant’s Legacy By Giving Out
20,000 Number 8 And 24 Shirts
silence, as well as visual trib- utes to Kobe around the arena.
The Lakers honored
Kobe with his number 8 and 24 added to the court design as well as his initials on the baseline.
Shaquille O’Neal Honors Kobe Bryant During Annual Super Bowl Bash
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Shaquille O’Neal hon- ored Kobe Bryant several times during his Shaq’s Fun House Super Bowl party in Miami on Friday night.
The seven-foot-one NBA star paid tribute to his for- mer Lakers teammate — who was killed in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gigi and 7 other people last this month — with a video before coming on stage to play a set as DJ Diesel. The pair infamously clashed dur- ing their playing days, but they later reconciled. O’Neal attended Kobe’s final game, and also hosted him on his podcast and on TNT.
“If you love Kobe Bryant put your hands up!” Shaq shouted to the crowd.
The former baller looked energized but emotional as he spun tunes for a packed audience.
At one point, he asked partygoers to hold up Bryant’s number, 24, with their hands.
Shaq previously broke down into tears over Kobe’s death and revealed that he wasn’t doing well, but de- cided to still throw his an- nual super bowl party because it’s what the late bas- ketball icon would have wanted.
O’Neal will donate all of the proceeds from the party to the families of those lost in
Joins Tom Brady As Only
Unanimous Picks For NFL MVP
Not all NFL MVPs are the same. Some transcend a sea- son. A few even change the league.
We will remember Lamar Jackson’s 2019 season in a historic way. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback won his first MVP award on Saturday night at the NFL Honors show, and he did it with a season un- like anything else in the NFL’s first 100 seasons.
The voters recognized how special the season was. He was the second unanimous MVP in history, joining Tom Brady in 2010.
“He’s the guy who has six Super Bowls,” Jackson said. “I have to get my first one.”
Jackson led the NFL in passing touchdowns and set a single-season record for rush- ing yards by a quarterback, which seems like an impossible combination. Randall Cun- ningham, Steve Young, Russell Wilson, Cam New- ton and a few other dual- threat quarterbacks had great seasons. None of them had a season like this.
It seemed like a seismic shift in the way NFL teams will look at different possibilities on
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
LAMAR JACKSON
offense. Only one problem: Jackson is an uncommon player.
Lamar Jackson Is A Unique Talent
The NFL has always been a copycat league. The Ravens had a marvelous season, albeit with a rough end in a playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans. But assuming any team can have success like Jackson and the Ravens by drafting a mobile quarterback is selling Jack- son’s talent short.
Jackson is likely the best runner at quarterback we’ve seen. Michael Vick was prob- ably faster, but Jackson could probably be an All-Pro running back if he wanted. But he’s too valuable as a passer for that.
the crash that rocked the na- tion.
Others to perform and
pay tribute include Diddy, Pitbull, Carnage, Diplo, and DaBaby.
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