‘That one hurt.’ Super Bowl approaches but Chiefs still coping with Kobe Bryant news
Frank Clark didn’t want to believe it when news of Kobe Bryant’s passing quickly spread Sunday afternoon on the Kansas City Chiefs’ chartered Super Bowl flight to Miami.
Clark, the Chiefs’ star defensive end who grew up in Los Angeles, first learned of the news via a tweet from a close friend in his hometown. But he thought it was a joke and quickly logged off Twitter.
He closed his eyes, only to open them when defensive tackle Chris Jones approached on the plane to let him know Bryant had indeed died in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
“That’s when I knew the news,” Clark said. “That was some of the worst news you could hear, some of the worst news I could ever hear.”
Clark, who said he grew up idolizing Bryant’s approach to life, took the loss hard. And he wasn’t alone.
Numerous Chiefs players found out on the flight and were left stunned over a life taken away too soon. And not just because of what Bryant meant to the sports world, but his cultural impact, too.
“I was in disbelief,” defensive tackle Mike Pennel said. “I was very shocked, very saddened for him and his family. Him being the icon and the positive influence for the black community and the positive influence on being a father, it really hit everybody in our locker room really hard.”
Rookie defensive tackle Khalen Saunders agreed.
“That one hurt,” Saunders said. “He was my favorite basketball player growing up. And beyond basketball, his competitiveness, his will to win, you can bring that to any sport. … His winning went beyond basketball. It went to life. He knew how to win in life and how to succeed in life.”
Rookie safety Armani Watts added: “I actually teared up. I never met Kobe, but he was a superhero to me, my favorite basketball player growing up.”
More than 24 hours later, the Chiefs players were among a larger audience still reeling from Bryant’s death. And his presence was clearly seen and felt Monday night at the Super Bowl’s Opening Night event at Marlins Park.
A moment of silence was observed before the festivities began and the video board displayed an image of Bryant, 41. When the quiet period ended, a loud chant of “Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!” broke out in the surrounding stands among fans attending the event.
Bryant had a powerful impact on so many who watched his NBA career, but now the healing process begins as the Chiefs remember a true superstar.
“We just kind of try and cope and he’s been an influence to us all,” defensive lineman Demone Harris said. “Influence to athletes period and not even just athletes but people in general his mamba mentality. We’re just grateful to have him on the turf as long as we did.”
For Jones, the death of Bryant prompted deep reflection about appreciating life and loved ones.
“It just shows you how precious life is, not only for Kobe, just the people that were on the (helicopter),” Jones said. “I had to call my kids and tell them I love them, because we take those opportunities for granted.
“You know, just to say we love our loved ones or just leaving the house and coming back. We take that 20 minutes to 30 minutes for granted. It just makes you take in perspective how important and how valuable that time is.”
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 11:30 PM with the headline "‘That one hurt.’ Super Bowl approaches but Chiefs still coping with Kobe Bryant news."
