Celebrities Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant
ALLEN: An extraordinarily sad day as the world learned of the sudden death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, the former Lakers star dying in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was just 41 years old. He and his 13 year old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed. They were headed to her basketball game. The helicopter crashed onto a hillside in Calabasas, California. That's just outside of Los Angeles. Right now, U.S. aviation officials and local authorities are on the scene investigating what happened. They say it will take a few days to identify the bodies. Bryant's professional basketball career began early in his teens, and in 20 seasons, he won five NBA championship rings and set a long list of records. CNN's Polo Sandoval has more on Bryant's extraordinary life.</s>POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was born Kobe Bean Bryant, but to the world, the 41-year-old was a global basketball phenomenon. The son of a pro basketball player, the Philly native finished high school and was quickly drafted by the</s>NBA. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greatness lies ahead for this young man.</s>SANDOVAL: At the time, Bryant was the youngest player in the league's history at just over 17 years old.</s>KOBE BRYANT, FORMER NBA PLAYER: I think a lot of people of -- even when I came out of high school, I think people were kind of -- kind of giving me the cold shoulder to begin with, because I think, unfortunately, some people wanted me to fail, because I defied the odds.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!</s>SANDOVAL: The MVP spent his entire pro career with the L.A. Lakers, winning five NBA championships with the team. During his 20 seasons Bryant became one of the league's top scoring players even surpassed Michael Jordan, becoming fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list. On two occasions, he helped secure Team USA Olympic gold on the world stage. Bryant dealt with controversy, too. In 2003, he was charged with sexual assault, accused of raping a 19-year-old hotel employee. The charge was later dropped, and the case was settled in civil court. Bryant also overcame various sport-related injuries, always determined to heal and return to the court. Then in the fall of 2015, he announced his plan to retire from the NBA and played his final game of 2016. The following year, his jersey numbers, 8 and 24, were retired. Since then, he has made his mark on Hollywood, winning an Academy Award for his animated filmed, "Dear Basketball." But his greatest accomplishment may have been off the hardwood. He was a husband and proud father of four children.</s>BRYANT: We all have moments like this in life, where it just seems like the day's never going to end. You know, it just seems like the moment that you're in just feels like the darkest moment, to you. You know, and at that point, you really kind of have to step outside of yourself and put it in perspective. And I understand that, you know, I've had many, many blessings, a lot of things to be thankful for.</s>SANDOVAL: At 6 foot 6, Bryant was more than just a literal giant. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote Bryant "inspired, amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved." Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.</s>ALLEN: Well put from the mayor there. Superstars, of course, from other sports around the world also paying tribute to Kobe Bryant. This was Brazilian footballer Neymar at Sunday's Paris St. Germain match. Walking into the net after a goal, he flashing hand signals for Bryant's jersey, No. 24. You saw there. Let's talk more about it. I'm joined here by CNN WORLD SPORT's Patrick Snell, and this, Patrick, is just hard to absorb. PATRICK SNELL, We're all in shock. We're all taking it very hard. And just an outpouring of worldwide grief, Natalie, no question about that, right across the global sporting community. We're seeing the shock as people struggle to come to terms with Sunday's devastating news. I do want to continue that footballing theme to pick up on the Neymar, because the Argentine great, Lionel Messi, such huge respect for Kobe. The Barcelona man, via Instagram earlier: "I have no words. All my love for Kobe's family and friends. It was a pleasure to meet you and share good times together. You were a genius like few others." A man like Messi, another footballing icon, with his own tribute, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, CR-7, with this: "So sad to hear the heartbreaking news of the deaths of Kobe and his daughter, Gianna. Kobe was a true legend and inspiration to so many. Sending my condolences to his family and friends and the families of all who lost their lives in the crash. RIP Legend." Well, naturally, you know, there is no question about Kobe. He really did utterly transcend the world of sport. That is in no doubt at all, and it is just no surprise when you see not just fellow athletes but also, look at as we have been seeing, U.S. presidents both past and present paying their own tributes, as well, on his powerful and highly impactful life. And on Sunday, golfing great, a huge Lakers fan himself, Mr. Tiger Woods, speaking to reporters. This was after he'd actually competed in San Diego, saying he learned of the tragedy from his own caddie.</s>TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR WINNER: I didn't know until Joey told me coming off the 18th green. I didn't really understand why the people in the gallery were saying do it for Mamba, but now I understand. It's a shocker to everyone. I'm unbelievably sad, and one of the more tragic days, and I think, well, for me, the reality is just kind of sitting in. Anytime he was in the game, he would take on their best player and shut them down for -- in all 48 minutes, and that was one of the more impressive things, I think, throughout this entire career.</s>SNELL: Tiger Woods visually moved by news of Kobe's passing. And you know, it was actually with a collectively heavy heart, Natalie, that the NBA games, they did actually go ahead as scheduled on Sunday here in the U.S. So the occasion was reportedly too much for the Australian-born Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who showed up to play against the Knicks but then left Madison Square Garden on learning of Kobe's death. That was really hard for him to take, no question. But before the game, and indeed before most of the games, a 24-second moment of silence, this in honor of Kobe who, as we mentioned, wore the iconic number 24 during his career. And in a further tribute, as well, both teams actually arranging for a choreographed 24-second violation on each of their first possessions, as well, their way of paying their own respects to honor the life and times of Kobe Bryant. Now, the L.A. Lakers' next game is on Tuesday against their local rivals, the Clippers, with emotion set to run very high, indeed, I would, imagine on that particular day in the City of Angels. The Lakers played in Philadelphia on Saturday night, returning to California Sunday. And you can just see the emotion there, all too apparent amongst their players, including current Lakers superstar, the iconic LeBron James. You know, Doc Rivers is actually the Clippers head coach with Sundays news hitting him particularly hard.</s>DOC RIVERS, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS HEAD COACH: The news is just devastating to everybody who knew him. I've known him a long time, and you know, he just -- he means a lot to me, obviously. You know, he was such a great opponent, you know. It's what you want in sports. He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have. You know, the Tiger Woods and the Michael Jordans, you know. It's funny: I was getting to know him more since he retired, you know. Yes, this is -- this is a tough one.</s>SNELL: Natalie, a really highly emotional Doc Rivers there. I do want to say I had the pleasure of meeting Kobe just once. It was in late 2014. He was so kind. He was so generous with his time, as well. That's what really impressed upon me. A class act, no question.</s>ALLEN: Absolutely, and these are tributes on day one. Imagine moving forward here.</s>SNELL: Yes.</s>ALLEN: So huge. All right. Patrick, thanks very much. Well, celebrities at the Grammy Awards paid tribute to Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center Sunday night. We'll show you the tributes from the music world there when we come back.