It took the death of Kobe Bryant for some us to fully appreciate the impact the NBA superstar had on athletes and sports fans worldwide.
WFAN's Boomer Esiason opened Tuesday's "Boomer and Gio" show discussing how Bryant's death Sunday in a helicopter crash is being mourned around the globe.
"I can understand why this impact of Kobe, because Kobe is an international superstar," Esiason said. "He's not just a Laker. The NBA spans all borders, and it is an international game. And this is one of the reasons why the reaction has been so significant and so swift -- because it was 20 years he was with the Lakers of all teams, won the championships with the Lakers. I mean, this is one of the great franchises."
Bryant was a popular topic at Super Bowl LIV's media night Monday, where Chiefs and 49ers players expressed their sorrow.
"He's one of those players that spans the 20-year grouping there that has impacted all of today's athletes -- all of today's athletes. ... Anybody who had a basketball in their hand loved Kobe Bryant," Esiason said.
"Look, it's international, man. It's all over the place. ... Think about how big Kobe Bryant is over there (in China). Think about how big Kobe Bryant is in Europe because he basically grew up in Italy and love international soccer. And the impact is staggering. It is staggering. And I think the outpouring of grief is showing that."
Esiason also applauded the NBA's decision to postpone the Lakers-Clippers game that had been scheduled for Tuesday night.
"I think it's smart because that's right at the epicenter of all of this," he said. "And there are millions and millions of Kobe fans, whether you agree with it or not, it's the right thing to do. I don't care what anybody says. They need time. The Lakers need time.
"We don't realize 'cause we're here, but this is significant. This is really, really significant for that organization and what he meant to that organization."
To listen to the open from the "Boomer and Gio" show, click on the audio player above.
