Transcription
The Knicks and the Nets coming up here on MSG. Madison Square Garden, lit up in the Lakers uniform colors, purple and gold, to honor Kobe Bryant. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash this morning in Calabasas, California, reportedly on their way to Gianna's travel basketball game. Bryant was 41 and one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA.
The New York Knicks joined the NBA family in mourning the devastating loss of a beloved NBA and global icon, Kobe Bryant, who passed away earlier today at the age of 41 in a tragic helicopter crash that also took the life of his daughter, Gianna. An 18-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a five-time NBA champion, Kobe had a multitude of iconic moments here at Madison Square Garden, including setting the Madison Square Garden record of 61 points in 2009. And tonight, we remember the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant and join the Los Angeles Lakers, the bus family, and the entire basketball world in mourning his passing. Please join us in a moment of silence in honor of number 24, Kobe Bryant.
Welcome back to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks and Nets will play on this unbelievably sad day for the NBA. And Claude, I'm on my way into the arena. I thought of Bill Gallo. Gallo is the legendary sports cartoonist that when Thurman Munson passed away, the next day he had an unbelievably touching cartoon. And it was his two characters that he had based on Bertha and Yucky. And the cartoon read, "Basement parts are saying, 'Now, Yucky, I just don't feel like playing ball today.'" And she was crying. And that's the way I think a lot of us feel tonight. Just don't feel like broadcasting. I know a lot of the players, excuse me, don't feel like playing. It's just a sad, sad day. You know, you're right, Mike. It was like a shot, man, to you. It clears these players don't know why.
[Applause] [Music] What the players are doing. This happened in the game earlier. On the first possession for each team, they're going to take a 24-second violation in honor of number 24. The Spurs and the Raptors did it earlier today, and whoever won the tip would do it first. And now the Knicks will do the same gesture in tribute.
[Applause] We barely didn't over the commissioner. Colton, in your quiet, overall view with them, to loved ones, to families and friends, and those deaths are just as tragic, and they're just as sad. But today, for basketball fans, Kobe represented the sport that we all love so much, like very few others. Chance of Kobe Bryant. We're here now, Madison Square Garden.
[Applause] There is a moment of silence. But failed again. And after the moment of silence, a chant of "Kobe! Kobe!"
[Applause]