- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
Kobe Bryant: that's how basketball reacted to his death 1:23
(CNN) - Kobe Bryant was one of those superstars who transcended his sport and became known simply by a name.
At its peak, the graceful NBA legend with a competitive streak seemed to float across the field. He became an icon of basketball, culture and fashion, and was a frequent visitor to the White House, celebrating another championship for his Los Angeles Lakers dynasty. Past and present presidents rushed to pay tribute after the helicopter crash that cost him his life.
On January 28, 2002, former President Bush holds a Lakers shirt that was handed to him by Kobe Bryant at a ceremony for the 2001 NBA world champions.
Bryant's aura meant that it was part of American life in the early years of the 21st century. That, as well as his comparative youth at the age of 41 and his shocking death, explains why his death resonates beyond the ranks of sports fans and why his legend will only grow.
READ : Celebrity reactions to the death of Kobe Bryant
“Always one of us”
The news of Bryant's death provoked reactions of shock and sadness throughout the world, from the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the questioned President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
But the news particularly shook the small Italian city of Reggio Emilia, which claims among its most famous exports an educational philosophy, Parmesan cheese and Bryant himself.
“Always one of us,” tweeted the city's basketball team, with photos of a young Bryant in a local team uniform. "Kobe Bryant, a champion grown up in Reggio Emilia," said the headline of the local newspaper Gazzetta di Reggio.
Per se uno uno di noi ❤️ 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MaPrV7Jjpf
- Pall. Reggiana (@PallacReggiana) January 26, 2020
The American basketball star was not just a global figure: he himself was a product of globalization, growing in Italy during the golden era of basketball in the country, while his father Joe played for a series of local teams. When the Bryant arrived in Reggio Emilia in the 1990s, everyone knew it.
"We always consider American professional players as idols," said Davide Giudici, a former teammate and friend of Reggio Emilia. Also, "in Italy, there were no people of color in that period, so it was very easy to recognize a big guy like Joe."
Bryant spoke Italian fluently and played most days of the week in the city's youth team, Cantine Riunite, named after a local winemaker from the region's bright red lambrusco, an experience he recognized as formative for his skills in court.
READ : Kobe Bryant leaves a business empire that stretches beyond the courts
“Obviously it was really good. We had a strong team, but he was better than all of us. At 11, I was already very sure of his power and what it would become, ”Giudici said.
“I mean, I think we knew he would become a professional basketball player. We didn't know it would be one of the biggest stars in the world. ”
Kobe Bryant