HR0715 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0715 LRB101 19920 MST 69443 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, on January 26, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joe and Pamela Cox Bryant on August 23, 1978; when he was six, his family moved to Italy, and he spent many of his formative years there learning Italian and playing soccer; he returned to the U.S. during the summers to play in basketball summer leagues; he earned national recognition while playing basketball at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman; and

WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant joined the NBA directly from high school and played his entire 20-season professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers, his favorite team while growing up; and

WHEREAS, During his career, Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships (2000–2002, 2009, 2010); he was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team; he was named the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and was a two-time NBA Finals MVP; he led the NBA in scoring during two seasons, ranks fourth on the league's all-time regular season scoring, and ranks fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list; he is also a two-time Gold Medal Winner with the U.S. Men's Basketball Team (2008 Beijing, 2012 London); he is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time; and

WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 60 points against Utah in his last NBA game on April 13, 2016, outscoring the entire Jazz team 23–21 in the fourth quarter in a Lakers' victory; he became the oldest player to score 60 or more points in a game at 37 years and 234 days old; and

WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant said that he wanted more out of life than just a successful basketball career; he married Vanessa Laine at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California on April 18, 2001, and they had four daughters, Natalia, Gianna, Vanessa, and Capri; his daughter, Gianna, had a passion for basketball, and he enjoyed sharing his love of basketball with her; and

WHEREAS, Gianna Maria Onore Bryant, also referred to as Gigi, was born on May 1, 2006; she considered her Kobe a role model and cited him as a reason she wanted to play in the WNBA; she played youth basketball for the Mamba Sports Academy, where she was coached by her father; she wanted to play college basketball at the University of Connecticut and regularly attended UConn, WNBA, and Lakers games with Kobe; she had a very close relationship with her father and was usually by his side; and

WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant was the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars, an American non-profit organization that provides comprehensive after-school programs to children; he also started the Kobe Bryant China Fund, which raises money within China for education and health programs; on November 4, 2010, he was part of a group that presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans transition to civilian careers after their military service has ended; and

WHEREAS, Together with his wife, Kobe Bryant founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need; the foundation supports programs that strengthen communities and promote mutual understanding among people around the world; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, Kobe Bryant became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the first former professional athlete to be nominated and to win an Academy Award in any category for his film Dear Basketball; on October 23, 2018, his book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, was published, and most recently, he was working on a children's book aimed at inspiring underprivileged children; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, and extend our sincere condolences to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we declare January 25, 2020 as "Kobe Bryant Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Kobe and Gianna Bryant as a symbol of our deepest sympathy.